Price & Hellebuyck Both See 2020 Vezina Odds Improve During Preseason

• Carey Price & Connor Hellebuyck have seen their 2020 Vezina odds improve even though they’ve had poor starts in the pre-season
• Sergei Bobrovsky is the only active goalie to have won the award more than once
• See the latest odds to be named the NHL’s top goaltender in 2019-20

Carey Price and Connor Hellebuyck have both seen their Vezina Odds improve despite terrible starts to the pre-season.

2020 Vezina Trophy Odds

*Odds taken 9/24.

Price has a 3.15 goals against average and .815 save percentage this pre-season and, believe it or not, he’s been the better of the two goalies.

Hellbuyck is sporting a 3.88 GAA and .789 SV% so far. All of this is to say the only reason their odds have jumped from +2000 to +1500 is public money. My advice is to ignore the movement and focus on the new goalie in the sunshine state.

Sergei Bobrovsky Set to Shine in Florida

Here’s a fun trivia question that could win you a beer at the bar with your buddies – who is the only active goalie with multiple Vezina trophies? The answer is Sergei Bobrovsky.

Fresh off signing a seven-year, $70 million deal in free agency with the Panthers, he is in prime position to contend for a third award this season. He’s now between the pipes for an up-and-coming Florida Panthers team that includes elite two-way center Aleksander Barkov.

#FlaPanthers practice fun…

Round 1: Bobrovsky

Round 2: Barkov 🔥 pic.twitter.com/R7dZ7t3ze2

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2019

Bobrovsky is offering +1100 thanks to a down year in 2019 that saw him finish tied for 17th with a 2.58 goals against average and tied for 21st with a .913 save percentage. You should be as worried with those numbers as the Panthers were when they handed him his monster new contract. He’s an elite goalie primed to make a good impression with his new team; he’s the best bet to win the Vezina in my opinion.

Could Carter Hart Be a Dark Horse?

Only one goalie has played more than once in the pre-season and not given up a goal – Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was 16-13-1 as a rookie last year, posting a 2.83 goals against and .917 save percentage.

He’s the next big thing in net and his sophomore campaign could be a coming out party. Forget the Vezina Trophy; if Hart can lead the Flyers to the postseason, you may see his name popping up in the Hart Trophy odds.

Carter's got a Hart of gold. ♥️

(Carter Hart) pic.twitter.com/bsZqm6Hpa5

— NHL (@NHL) September 24, 2019

He’s a riskier play than a proven winner like Bobrovsky, but with that risk comes a +2000 price tag, which I find very intriguing. He’s going to see the bulk of action in the crease in Philadelphia this year so playing time won’t be an issue. It will come down to whether he can improve on his rookie numbers and lead the Flyers to a playoff spot.

Final Verdict

It’s always tough settling on a choice for this prop bet considering the depth of talent at the position. That said, it’s important to get your money in early because the odds swing in a hurry once the puck drops for regular-season play.

I’m making a strong play for both of my picks here in Bobrovsky and Hart and I plan on doing it before the season starts October 2nd.