Vezina Trophy Winner?

Question

Who do you think should have won? I think it should have been Nabby because I saw almost every single game he played for the Sharks. I can't completely say he was the best because I didn't see the other goalies much but what are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Nabby had a better season overall, and deserved to win in my opinion.

I am still confused why he did not win.

Answer 2

I think this one was really close between Nabby and Marty.  As a Devils fan, I'm thrilled Marty won, but I really thought Nabby would get it since their numbers were so close and Nabby played so many games.  But I think some consideration went into the teams in front of them.  Nabby had a team in front of him that was a legitimate Cup contender, where Marty dragged the team in front of him kicking and screaming into the playoffs.  Marty had lousy defense, no goal scorers on his team,  had to play some very tough teams in the East, and many nights it looked like he was the only guy who showed up to play.  Also, don't forget, the Vezina is supposed to be for regular season play, not the playoffs.  

I also read somewhere (sorry I can't remember the source) that the voting was very close, something like 7 votes difference between Marty and Nabby.

I like the Sharks (they are my local team) and I have great respect for Nabby.  This was his first nomination and if he continues to play in the future like he did this season, he will definitely see the Vezina in his trophy case.  But congrats to Marty and GO DEVILS!

Answer 3

I think they made the right call with Brodeur. He's numbers were very slightly worse than Nabokov's, but Nabokov's got a h**l of a team ahead of him Brodeur is the only reason the Devils are worth jack S**t.  Don't get me wrong I love Zubrus and Elias, but they should not be considered your best players.  Nabokov's an absolutely stunning goalie, but Brodeur's got the edge.

Answer 4

Obviously when you have Martin Brodeur in the league you are going to be facing an uphill battle.  Brodeur had a good season, and he is getting older, I don't really agree with the pick, but I can't really argue it.  He had a good year, was it worthy of the Vezina, maybe, maybe not, but when you are Martin Brodeur, you get the benefit of the doubt.

Answer 5

I think Nabokov should have won it. Broduer is an amazing goalie, but he didn't have his best year. I don't think that he deserved that one. Nabokov did very well this season and, I think, deserved that trophy much more.

Answer 6

well as a sharks fan, i think nabby should have won. i saw almost every game too. he had a great season. the only times i saw the other goalies play was during the playoffs. maybe next year it will be the sharks year to win the cup & for nabby to win the vezina. ;)

Answer 7

I thought it should have been Nabokov too.  When they said "Brodeur" I was shocked, but I'm not complaining.  I'm a Devils fan :-)

I think overall Nabokov had the stats, but he did have a better team in front of him.  The Devils defense was HORRIBLE this year, especially with the loss of Niedermayer and Rafalski, arguably our two best defenseman in recent years.

Answer 8

Well, I think that it was stragely odd that Nabokov was on the 1st NHL All Star Team but still didn't win Vezina. Was it the 1st time in history this has happened?

Answer 9

It definitely should have been Nabokov. It's supposed to go to the goalie with the best season. It's pretty obvious that Nabokov had the superior season. But no, just give it to Brodeur, why not, he is Brodeur after all which is like having the respect that God gets. He won because of his reputation. And I am not totally biased, I am a big fan of Brodeur and I root for the Devils after the Sharks, but seriously, come on.

Answer 10

I must admit I'm a Devils fan but I am in almost every way ANTI rangers and I think if it didn't go to Brodeur it should have gone to Lundqvist. He was AMAZING this year.

I do think Brodeur deserved it though. He may not have had the best stats, but look at the team he had playing infront of him this year . If not for Elias and Parise I dont think they would have managed to be 4th in the EC. In the first round of the Playoffs, they forgot how to even play as a team, the only game they won was the game they actually had someone on the net prepared to score.

Based on how the goalies did based on all factors Brodeur more then deserved it. Throw him in the new with the Rangers or Sharks team and his stats would have been 10 times better. The devils were NOT at their best this year.

Answer 11

You can't discount that Nabakov had a better team in front of him. I just want to say that.

BUT usually it goes to a goalie whose team is very good at defense and thus helps pad goalie stats.

I dunno, Brodeur may be a sentimental pick. Then again I am not really sure how the award is chosen or by who. I personally think Brodeur is more spectacular to watch so maybe thats why it tips it to him.

Answer 12

No one says anything about Fleury? I watched the entire Cup series and I'm from Detroit, but I thought he was fantastic, brilliant at times. Young, yes, he has more days ahead of him, but he was every bit the reason Pittsburgh was there as was Crosby and Malkin.

Answer 13

Teal Town

2002 - Theodore wins Hart and Vezina.............Roy is the 1st Team All-Star

1957, 1958, and 1960  Plante won the Vezina, Hall was the 1st Team All-Star

It happened a few times before that as well as several times in the 1970s

Devsfan

Nabokov was 3rd in Vezina voting in 2001, 4th in voting in 2002.............He's certainly not new to the award

Mikey..............is that really you?  If only Bob were here to see this!

Answer 14

Yeah Nabby didn't have much of a chance going against Marty too bad, let's face it this just wasn't the Sharks year for anything

Answer 15

the OZ MAN

Answer 16

http://www.blooddeepthemovie.com/images/...

I wish Nabby won it, but he got Brodeur'd.

Answer 17

Brodeur won it, and he should have won it. Nabokov had a good season, and his GAA and wins were better than Brodeur's (not by much), but his SV% was much lower than Brodeur's. And personally, I think SV% is a more precise statistic when it comes to measuring a goalie's performance.

~

btw, I also like to say that stats don't tell the whole story, and they certainly don't. Nabokov played for a really good team full of all-stars, while Brodeur played for a really sucky team who would have finished last if it weren't for him.

~

LITY: Didn't we go over this? lol. All these years, I genuinely thought that Brodeur was good because of the great defense in front of him, this was the year without great defense. This was supposed to be the year he sucked, but he didn't, so I now realize that he is a good goalie. However, I still don't think he's as good as Hasek or Roy all-time. And my mind won't be changed on that unless he gets at least one Conn Smythe, or wins a couple more Vezinas, or wins another Cup.

Answer 18

Nabokov was a victim of east coast bias (yes it still happens, some people can deny it). Maybe the players should vote next season, like Kovalchuck in the all star game. When the sharks play on the west most GM's are asleep on the east coast. Seriously though, the award is suppose to go to the best Goalie for the season not based on history. Yeah, Brodeur is a HOF goalie but seriously look at the stats this season. Nabokov had more wins, lesser loses, more shutouts, a lesser GAA and apparently the .010 save percentage that Brodeur had better was enough for him to win it? Come on! Sharks defense in front of Nabokov was lousy this season, and it wasn't until Campbell came that made somewhat of a difference. Overall scoring was down in San Jose (with the exception of Thornton, everyone else was horrible). Many 1 goal games won by Nabokov entirely all season

Was defense worse in front of Brodeur? I disagree, Devils had a team total +/- rating of +27 (total of all active players +/- stats) where San Jose finished the season with a -3. So that argument doesn't work.

I welcome your thumbs down as I'm sure many will disagree, but come on people look at the numbers.

Answer 19

I don't think it's a secret that anyone could have won and it would have been deserved. That being said, I was rooting for Brodeur, but if he didn't get it I was going for the Nabby, but honestly it could have been anybody. All three deserved it, it could only go to one.