Most Vezina Trophies Won by One Goalie (Ranked)

1. Jacques Plante: 7 Vezina Trophies

Jacques Plante sits atop the all-time Vezina leaderboard with seven wins, a record confirmed by both NHL records and Guinness World Records.

The Dominance:

• Seven total Vezina wins
• Five consecutive (1956-60) with Montreal
• Another in 1962
• Shared one with Glenn Hall (1969)
• Won under old "fewest goals against" format

Why It Matters: Plante wasn't just collecting team awards. He revolutionized goaltending by popularizing the goalie mask after being hit in the face during a 1959 game. Before Plante, goalies played barefaced.

His five consecutive Vezinas with Montreal came during their dynasty years, but Plante was the engine driving that defensive success. His positioning, puck-handling, and innovation changed how the position was played.

The fact that he won a seventh Vezina at age 40 with St. Louis (shared with Glenn Hall) showed remarkable longevity in an era when goaltending was far more physically punishing than today.

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Tied for 2nd: Two Goalies with 6 Vezina Trophies

Two legendary goalies share second place with six Vezina wins each, representing different eras:

Bill Durnan: 6 Vezina Trophies (1940s)

• Montreal Canadiens
• Won six times in seven-year span
• Dominant run in "fewest goals against" era
• Played in 1940s during wartime hockey
• Ambidextrous goaltending style

Durnan's six Vezinas in seven years represent one of the most dominant stretches in goaltending history. He was so good that he won the award in six of his seven NHL seasons before retiring.

His ambidextrous style (could catch with either hand) was unique and gave him advantages in positioning that other goalies couldn't replicate.

Dominik Hasek: 6 Vezina Trophies (1994-2001)

• Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings
• Six Vezinas under modern "best goalie" format
• Record for current voting system
• Elite peak, frequently led in save percentage
• Acrobatic, unorthodox style

Hasek's six Vezinas under the modern format represent the greatest individual goaltending dominance in the award's current era. He won despite playing for mostly mediocre Buffalo teams, proving his value was purely individual rather than team-dependent.

His save percentages during his peak (.930+ multiple seasons) were unprecedented for the era. His acrobatic style looked chaotic but produced elite results year after year.

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4. Ken Dryden: 5 Vezina Trophies

Ken Dryden collected five Vezinas while backstopping the Montreal Canadiens through their 1970s dynasty.

The Achievement:

• Five Vezina wins
• All with Montreal's dynasty teams
• Won Conn Smythe before Calder (unique achievement)
• Retired early at age 31
• Later became NHL President

Why It Matters: Dryden's five Vezinas came during an era when Montreal's defense made the award easier to win, but his individual brilliance was undeniable. He posted a .922 career save percentage in an era when league average was around .880.

His decision to retire at 31 (after winning another Cup) means he likely would have won more Vezinas if he'd played a full career. His early retirement makes his five wins even more impressive given the shortened timeline.

Tied for 5th: Multiple Goalies with 4 Vezina Trophies

Several legendary goalies won four Vezinas:

Martin Brodeur: 4 Vezina Trophies

• New Jersey Devils
• Four under modern voting format
• Also won multiple Jennings Trophies
• Central to Devils' trap defense
• Most wins in NHL history (691)

Brodeur's four Vezinas under modern voting put him second among goalies in the current format (behind Hasek's six). His combination of individual excellence and team success made him arguably the most complete goalie of his era.

Terry Sawchuk: 4 Vezina Trophies

• Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Four wins bridging Original Six eras
• 103 shutouts (second all-time)
• Played through injuries and pain
• Tragic early death at age 40

Sawchuk's four Vezinas came during the Original Six era when competition was limited to six teams but included the absolute elite. His 103 career shutouts remain second all-time behind only Martin Brodeur.

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Modern Era Contenders

Several active or recent goalies have multiple Vezinas:

Connor Hellebuyck: 3 Vezina Trophies (2020, 2024, 2025)

• Winnipeg Jets
• Three wins by age 31
• Could add more
• Elite save percentage and workload

Andrei Vasilevskiy: 2 Vezina Trophies

• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Back-to-back Cup winner
• Consistently elite
• Peak years potentially ahead

Carey Price: 1 Vezina Trophy (2015)

• Montreal Canadiens
• Historic 2014-15 season
• Injuries limited Vezina potential
• Won Hart same year (rare)

Igor Shesterkin: 1 Vezina Trophy (2022)

• New York Rangers
• Elite save percentage
• Young enough to add multiple more

Understanding the Two Eras

The Vezina's format change in 1982 complicates all-time rankings:

Old Format (1927-1981):

• Team allowing fewest goals wins
• Often shared by tandems
• Team defense matters more
• Plante, Durnan, Sawchuk won under this system

Modern Format (1982-Present):

• GMs vote for best individual goalie
• Save percentage, workload matter
• Can win on weak team
• Hasek, Brodeur won under this system

This makes direct comparisons challenging. Hasek's six under modern voting might be more impressive than some old-format wins since it requires individual dominance rather than team success.

Could Anyone Catch Plante?

Connor Hellebuyck represents the most realistic modern threat to climb the rankings:

Hellebuyck's Path:

• Has 3 Vezinas at age 31
• Needs 4 more to tie Plante
• Playing on strong Winnipeg team
• Elite workload and consistency

Challenges:

• Modern goalie usage limits games played
• Increased competition among elite goalies
• Injury risk with heavy workload
• Voter fatigue (spreading awards around)

The reality is Plante's seven Vezinas will likely never be matched. The modern NHL's goalie rotation, increased parity, and tendency to spread awards make sustained Vezina dominance nearly impossible.

The Complete Vezina Hierarchy

The ranking of most Vezina wins:

1. Jacques Plante: 7
2. Bill Durnan: 6
3. Dominik Hasek: 6
4. Ken Dryden: 5
5. Martin Brodeur: 4
6. Terry Sawchuk: 4
7. Connor Hellebuyck: 3 (active)

Among modern-format winners (since 1982):

1. Dominik Hasek: 6
2. Martin Brodeur: 4
3. Connor Hellebuyck: 3
4. Multiple goalies: 2

Why These Numbers Matter

Vezina Trophy totals tell the story of goaltending greatness across generations. Plante's seven represent revolutionary dominance and innovation. Hasek's six under modern voting show individual brilliance. Brodeur's four demonstrate sustained excellence with elite team success.

For current goalies like Hellebuyck, Vezina wins define legacy. Three already puts him among modern elite. If he can reach five or six, he'll rank among all-time greats regardless of era.

The Vezina isn't just an annual award. It's the measuring stick for goaltending excellence, and the players with multiple wins represent the absolute best the position has ever seen.

Goaltending is unique in that one player can dominate a game more than any skater. That's why Vezina totals carry special weight. When a goalie wins multiple Vezinas, they've proven they can be the difference between winning and losing night after night, season after season.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

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