Full Breakdown
Andrei Vasilevskiy Wins Second Vezina Trophy
6/7/2026, 6:56:39 AM
Award Announcement and Surprise Presentation
On June 6, 2026 the NHL announced that Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy earned the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy, the league’s award for the goaltender adjudged best at his position. As he left Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Bay police and a K-9 unit presented the trophy in a staged surprise.
Vezina History and Vasilevskiy’s Place Among Elite Goaltenders
Vasilevskiy’s second Vezina follows his first in 2018-19, marking his sixth finalist appearance—tying Dominik Hasek and trailing only Martin Brodeur (nine) and Patrick Roy (seven). He joins the six goaltenders with nine 30-win seasons, second to Brodeur’s twelve.
2025-26 Regular-Season Performance
Vasilevskiy posted a 39-15-4 record in 58 starts, leading the NHL with 39 wins. He recorded a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage, ranking second in GAA and third in save percentage among qualified netminders. The season included two shutouts, 42 quality starts, and a league-leading 35 games allowing two or fewer goals, highlighted by a 17-0-1 stretch from Dec. 20 to Feb. 25.
Voting Breakdown and Finalist Overview
General managers awarded Vasilevskiy 114 points, 17 first-place votes, and placement on 28 of the 32 ballots (some reports list 28 of 31). Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders finished second with 51 points and eight first-place votes; Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins was third with 46 points and two first-place votes. Logan Thompson (Washington) and Scott Wedgewood (Colorado) each earned two first-place votes but fell outside the top three, while Dan Vladar, Igor Shesterkin and Jake Oettinger also received votes.
Impact on the Tampa Bay Lightning
Vasilevskiy’s award reinforces his status as Tampa Bay’s defensive anchor. Under a contract through 2028 at $9.5 million per season, he remains central to the franchise’s championship window. Although the Lightning fell to the Montreal Canadiens in the first-round playoffs, his league-leading win total and historic consistency sustain the team’s contention narrative.
Official Statements & Responses
The NHL defines the Vezina as “the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” selected by general managers. Vasilevskiy thanked teammates, coaches and staff, calling the honor a team award.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total ballots counted—some cite 31, others 32—affecting the precise proportion of Vasilevskiy’s 17 first-place votes. The vote total (114 points) is consistent across reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm really grateful,” he told NHL.com. “Professionally, this is one of your ultimate goals, but it’s all about the team. It takes a lot to have a good defensive team. I can’t say enough about (my teammates), about this organization, the trainers, coaches, the fans … it’s a team award.” — Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender
- “It was a surprise,” “I was just happy that my car was in one piece and I didn’t want to go through the insurance process. Big surprise. This was a great show.” — Andrei Vasilevskiy, on the police-K-9 trophy presentation
- “It was a whirlwind of a year and half on and off the ice and I think it’s really structured out to be an incredible story and the growth that has come from it internally and also with the team, too, is pretty spectacular,” — Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins goaltender (finalist)
- “I’m so blessed. Truthfully, I’m just so grateful for the journey that I’ve been on and mindset I have and the outlook I have on life and on hockey has completely shifted. It was worth the adversity, I’d say, and it’s definitely shifted my entire life to a different level.” — Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins goaltender (finalist)
- “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” — NHL description of the Vezina Trophy
