One month into the 2023-24 NHL season, the race for the Vezina Trophy is starting to heat up. Last season's winner, Linus Ullmark, will undoubtedly warrant consideration, given his remarkable start.
So far in 2023-24, Ullmark has a 4-1-1 record, a 0.926 save percentage, and a 2.30 GAA. While these are sound numbers, they are not up to par with a trio of front-runners whose respective performances have been the class of the league.
If Ullmark wants to reclaim the Vezina Trophy he is currently defending, there are quite a few goaltenders he must outplay between now and April. And one of the top three netminders who could take the trophy from him hits home, since they have played a shade better during the season's early stages.
3. Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Jeremy Swayman continues to find himself in a timeshare with Linus Ullmark, but so far, one can argue he's been the better of the two goaltenders, In six starts this season, Swayman is 6-0-0, and he has allowed just nine goals this season in 189 shots on net.
This gives Swayman an outrageous 0.952 save percentage, a goals allowed average (GAA) of 1.49, one shutout, and a 1.000 quality starts percentage (QS%). He's posting an amazing 9.11 goals saved above average (GSAA), which ranks second in the NHL behind only Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.
If there is one downside to Swayman, it's that one can argue the Boston Bruins ability to play sound defense consistently has been a huge help. But that doesn't erase Swayman's efficacy so far in 2023-24, and if he keeps up his stellar play in the crease, he will be a Vezina finalist at the end of the season.
2. Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
Like Swayman, the 27-year-old Adin Hill had yet to lose in regulation until last night, when the Vegas Golden Knights lost 4-1 to the Los Angeles Kings. Before that, a single overtime loss served as the only blemish on his now 6-1-1 record. Hill has faced 242 shots against this season and has saved 226, giving him a 0.934 save percentage.
Also like Swayman, Hill has posted a shutout, and his goals-allowed average sits at a stunning 1.97 through 488 minutes of play. Hill's GSAA ranks fifth in the NHL, at 7.24, substantially ahead of Semyon Varlamov, who sits in sixth place at 6.35.
One downside with Hill is that his QS% is just 0.750. While this is an impressive number, it ranks eighth in the NHL among goaltenders who have started at least four games this season. But overall, Hill is showing us that his incredible 2022-23 season was no fluke when he logged career-highs in GAA (2.45) and QS% (0.640).
Hill will face the challenge of staying consistent, as he has never appeared in over 27 regular season games. So far, he is on pace to appear in 50 games, nearly doubling his career-high if he stays healthy from now until April.
1. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks
Finally, Thatcher Demko looks like he has been on a mission since the season began, posting a 7-2-0 record, and serving as a major reason the Vancouver Canucks are among the NHL's best teams one full month into the 2023-24 season.
Demko has seen 523 minutes of ice time, and in that span, he has allowed 14 goals in 270 shots against, giving him a 0.948 save percentage. With a GAA of 1.61 and a QS% of 0.889, Demko is neck-and-neck with Swayman in both categories. The only difference is that he's seeing much more ice time, which is one reason he's ranked Number 1 at the moment.
As of Thursday morning, Demko is one of just four goaltenders to have recorded multiple shutouts this season, and he leads the NHL with an 11.93 GSAA. Numbers-wise, Demko has been the NHL's best goaltender in the early stages of the 2023-24 season.
The only real question is whether Demko will keep up this legendary pace, as he has never played at this level in the past. To date, Demko's best season came in 2021-22 when he recorded 61 starts, a 33-22-7 record, a 0.915 save percentage, and a 2.72 GAA.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)