Vezina Trophy: What It Is + Every Winner

The Format Change That Changed Everything

From 1927 to 1981, the Vezina was awarded to the goaltender or goaltenders of the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. This was a team stat rather than an individual honor, and tandem goalies often shared the award.

In 1982, the format shifted to recognize the goalie judged to be the best at his position, regardless of team success. The William Jennings Trophy took over the "fewest goals against" distinction, allowing the Vezina to become a true measure of individual goaltending excellence.

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Legendary Vezina Winners

Martin Brodeur, Jacques Plante, Dominik Hašek and Carey Price are among the trophy's most decorated winners. Brodeur's four Vezinas came during an era of neutral-zone traps and elite team defense, while Hašek's back-to-back wins in the late 1990s showcased acrobatic brilliance on mediocre Buffalo teams.

The modern Vezina typically requires elite save percentage, high win totals, significant workload, and ability to steal games for your team. The best goalies combine technical excellence with mental toughness across 60+ starts per season.

Complete List of Vezina Trophy Winners (1927-2026)

1927-1950s: Team-Based Era

1927: George Hainsworth (Montreal Canadiens) The inaugural Vezina winner posted a microscopic 1.52 GAA across 44 games.

1928: George Hainsworth (Montreal Canadiens) Hainsworth's second consecutive Vezina came with 13 shutouts in 44 games.

1929: George Hainsworth (Montreal Canadiens) Three straight Vezinas with a record 22 shutouts in 44 games, a mark that still stands.

1930: Tiny Thompson (Boston Bruins) Thompson's 2.23 GAA led Boston to the fewest goals against.

1931: Roy Worters (New York Americans) Despite playing for a weak team, Worters' 1.61 GAA earned the Vezina.

1932: Charlie Gardiner (Chicago Black Hawks) Gardiner's 1.92 GAA helped Chicago allow the fewest goals.

1933: Tiny Thompson (Boston Bruins) Thompson's second Vezina came with 11 shutouts.

1934: Charlie Gardiner (Chicago Black Hawks) Gardiner won his second Vezina, tragically dying two months after leading Chicago to the Cup.

1935: Lorne Chabot (Chicago Black Hawks) Chabot stepped in after Gardiner's death and posted a 1.83 GAA.

1936: Tiny Thompson (Boston Bruins) Thompson's third Vezina showcased sustained excellence.

1937: Normie Smith (Detroit Red Wings) Smith's 2.13 GAA led Detroit to the Stanley Cup.

1938: Tiny Thompson (Boston Bruins) Thompson's fourth and final Vezina came at age 34.

1939: Frank Brimsek (Boston Bruins) "Mr. Zero" won the Vezina and Calder in his rookie season with 10 shutouts.

1940: Dave Kerr (New York Rangers) Kerr's 1.54 GAA remains one of the best in modern NHL history.

1941: Turk Broda (Toronto Maple Leafs) Broda's first Vezina began a Hall of Fame career in Toronto.

1942: Frank Brimsek (Boston Bruins) Brimsek's second Vezina came with another stellar season.

1943: Johnny Mowers (Detroit Red Wings) Mowers won the Vezina and Stanley Cup before leaving for military service.

1944: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Durnan's first of six Vezinas in seven seasons began an unprecedented run.

1945: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Back-to-back Vezinas as Durnan dominated the wartime era.

1946: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Three consecutive Vezinas with a 2.60 GAA.

1947: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Four straight Vezinas cemented Durnan's place among all-time greats.

1948: Turk Broda (Toronto Maple Leafs) Broda's second Vezina came during Toronto's championship run.

1949: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Durnan's fifth Vezina after missing 1948.

1950: Bill Durnan (Montreal Canadiens) Six Vezinas in seven years before Durnan retired due to nerves.

1951: Al Rollins (Toronto Maple Leafs) Rollins won sharing duties with Turk Broda.

1952: Terry Sawchuk (Detroit Red Wings) Sawchuk's first Vezina came with 12 shutouts and a 1.90 GAA.

1953: Terry Sawchuk (Detroit Red Wings) Back-to-back Vezinas as Sawchuk dominated for Detroit.

1954: Harry Lumley (Toronto Maple Leafs) Lumley's 1.86 GAA earned Toronto the Vezina.

1955: Terry Sawchuk (Detroit Red Wings) Sawchuk's third Vezina in four years showcased consistency.

1956: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Plante's first of multiple Vezinas began his legendary career.

1957: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Back-to-back Vezinas as Plante anchored Montreal's dynasty.

1958: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Three consecutive Vezinas during Montreal's five straight Cups.

1959: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Four straight Vezinas as Plante revolutionized goaltending.

1960: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Five consecutive Vezinas, matching Bill Durnan's dominance.

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1960s-1970s: Plante, Hall, Dryden

1961: Johnny Bower (Toronto Maple Leafs) Bower won at age 36, one of the oldest Vezina winners.

1962: Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens) Plante's sixth Vezina extended his record.

1963: Glenn Hall (Chicago Black Hawks) Hall's acrobatic butterfly style earned his first Vezina.

1964: Charlie Hodge (Montreal Canadiens) Hodge won sharing duties with Plante in Montreal.

1965: Terry Sawchuk / Johnny Bower (Toronto Maple Leafs) The tandem shared the Vezina, both in their late 30s.

1966: Gump Worsley / Charlie Hodge (Montreal Canadiens) Montreal's tandem won as the team dominated defensively.

1967: Glenn Hall / Denis DeJordy (Chicago Black Hawks) Hall's second Vezina came sharing duties with DeJordy.

1968: Gump Worsley / Rogie Vachon (Montreal Canadiens) Montreal's goalie tandem won again during the dynasty years.

1969: Glenn Hall / Jacques Plante (St. Louis Blues) Two legends shared the Vezina in St. Louis.

1970: Tony Esposito (Chicago Black Hawks) Esposito's rookie season featured 15 shutouts and a modern-record 1.77 GAA.

1971: Ed Giacomin / Gilles Villemure (New York Rangers) The Rangers tandem won with stellar team defense.

1972: Tony Esposito / Gary Smith (Chicago Black Hawks) Esposito's second Vezina came sharing with Smith.

1973: Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens) Dryden's first Vezina began his short but dominant career.

1974: Bernie Parent / Tony Esposito (tie) Parent won for Philadelphia's Cup-winning defense, Esposito for Chicago.

1975: Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers) Parent's back-to-back Vezina came with Philadelphia's second Cup.

1976: Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens) Dryden's second Vezina as Montreal's dynasty continued.

1977: Ken Dryden / Michel Larocque (Montreal Canadiens) Montreal's tandem won during the franchise's dominant run.

1978: Ken Dryden / Michel Larocque (Montreal Canadiens) Dryden's fourth Vezina (third shared) came in his second-to-last season.

1979: Ken Dryden / Michel Larocque (Montreal Canadiens) Dryden's fifth and final Vezina before his premature retirement.

1980: Bob Sauve / Don Edwards (Buffalo Sabres) Buffalo's tandem won with stellar team defense.

1981: Richard Sevigny / Denis Herron / Michel Larocque (Montreal Canadiens) Three goalies shared the final team-based Vezina.

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1982-1990s: Individual Award Era

1982: Billy Smith (New York Islanders) Smith won the first individual Vezina during the Islanders' dynasty.

1983: Pete Peeters (Boston Bruins) Peeters posted a 40-win season with a 2.36 GAA.

1984: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres) Barrasso won the Vezina and Calder in his rookie season at age 18.

1985: Pelle Lindbergh (Philadelphia Flyers) Lindbergh's only Vezina came months before his tragic death in a car accident.

1986: John Vanbiesbrouck (New York Rangers) "Beezer" carried the Rangers with a stellar season.

1987: Ron Hextall (Philadelphia Flyers) Hextall won the Vezina and Conn Smythe despite losing in the Finals.

1988: Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers) Fuhr's acrobatic style earned him the Vezina during Edmonton's dynasty.

1989: Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) Roy's first Vezina began a legendary career spanning two decades.

1990: Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) Back-to-back Vezinas as Roy established himself as the game's best.

1991: Ed Belfour (Chicago Black Hawks) Belfour's stellar rookie season earned him the Vezina and Calder.

1992: Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) Roy's third Vezina came in his final season with Montreal.

1993: Ed Belfour (Chicago Black Hawks) Belfour's second Vezina showcased sustained excellence.

1994: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Hašek's first Vezina began the "Dominator" era.

1995: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Back-to-back Vezinas as Hašek's acrobatic style dominated.

1996: Jim Carey (Washington Capitals) Carey's surprise Vezina season proved to be an outlier in his career.

1997: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Hašek's third Vezina in four years with a Hart Trophy.

1998: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Four Vezinas in five years cemented Hašek among all-time greats.

1999: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Hašek's fifth Vezina came with another Hart Trophy.

2000s: Brodeur, Luongo, Thomas

2000: Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals) "Olie the Goalie" carried Washington with a stellar season.

2001: Dominik Hašek (Buffalo Sabres) Hašek's sixth and final Vezina before joining Detroit.

2002: Jose Theodore (Montreal Canadiens) Theodore won the Vezina and Hart in a surprise breakout season.

2003: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Brodeur's first Vezina came after years as a finalist.

2004: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Back-to-back Vezinas as Brodeur dominated with the trap system.

2005: (Lockout, no winner)

2006: Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames) Kiprusoff's 2.07 GAA led the league in his only Vezina win.

2007: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Brodeur's third Vezina came at age 35.

2008: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Four Vezinas put Brodeur among the trophy's most decorated winners.

2009: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins) Thomas' unorthodox style earned his first Vezina at age 35.

2010s: Price, Bobrovsky, Holtby

2010: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres) Miller carried Buffalo and won Olympic silver for Team USA.

2011: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins) Thomas' second Vezina came with a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe.

2012: Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers) "King Henrik" finally won his only Vezina after years of excellence.

2013: Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets) Bobrovsky's first Vezina began Columbus's rise from basement dweller.

2014: Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) Rask's stellar season earned his only Vezina.

2015: Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) Price's historic season earned him the Vezina, Hart, and Jennings.

2016: Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals) Holtby's 48-win season set a modern record.

2017: Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets) Bobrovsky's second Vezina in five years showcased consistency.

2018: Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) Rinne finally won at age 35 after years of elite play.

2019: Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning) Vasilevskiy's first Vezina began Tampa's championship window.

2020s: Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck, Shesterkin

2020: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) Hellebuyck carried Winnipeg with elite save percentage.

2021: Marc-Andre Fleury (Vegas Golden Knights) Fleury won at age 36, his first Vezina after 17 seasons.

2022: Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) Shesterkin's dominant season put him among the game's elite.

2023: Linus Ullmark (Boston Bruins) Ullmark posted a .938 save percentage in a historic season.

2024: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) Hellebuyck's second Vezina came six years after his first.

2025: Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) Shesterkin's second Vezina at age 29 suggests more could follow.

2026: [Current season; update when announced]

Notable Trends and Records

Most wins (old format): Jacques Plante (7), Bill Durnan (6)

Most wins (new format): Dominik Hašek (6), Martin Brodeur (4)

Youngest winner: Tom Barrasso (18 years old, 1984)

Oldest first-time winner: Johnny Bower (36 years old, 1961)

Only winners of Vezina, Hart, and Jennings in same season: Dominik Hašek (1998), Carey Price (2015)

The Evolution of Goaltending Excellence

The Vezina Trophy remains goaltending's ultimate individual honor, evolving from a team stat to a true measure of excellence between the pipes. From Georges Vézina's ironman durability to Jacques Plante's innovation to Dominik Hašek's acrobatics to Carey Price's technical perfection, the Vezina captures each era's goaltending pinnacle and continues spotlighting the masked heroes who steal games and championships.

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

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