The NHL season is fast approaching and there are plenty of fun future bets to look at it. The BET FTW and For The Win writers shared their over/under picks for the team’s point totals so it’s now time to look at sleeper picks for the Vezina Trophy!
The goalie in hockey is the most important position for a squad. If you don’t have a good netminder, you can kiss your Stanley Cup dreams goodbye.
Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the class of the NHL for some time now and he has the second-best odds to win the Vezina Trophy. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is the betting favorite.
Here are the three best sleeper bets for the Vezina Trophy!
Thatcher Demko
The Canucks netminder is one of the best up-and-coming goalies in the league. He first burst out onto the scene during the bubble playoffs when he stopped 128 of 130 shots the Vegas Golden Knight fired his way. He sported a 0.64 goals against average and a .989 save percentage which is ridiculous.
Demko’s play has been inconsistent the past couple of years and that can be attributed to the defensive play in front of him as well as injuries. He had a full offseason to rest and if his play has the Canucks in a playoff spot, he should be considered for the Vezina Trophy. Demko put up great numbers last year with a 2.72 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
THATCHER DEMKO WHAT A SAVE 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/qyRE3cAifj
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 27, 2022
Jake Oettinger
Jake Oettinger is another netminder who made himself a household name thanks to his stellar postseason performance. He had the Flames’ forwards befuddled with his play and his numbers were absurd. Oettinger sported a .956 save percentage and his GAA was 1.67. He was the sole reason the Stars almost upset Calgary in their seven-game series last year.
53rd save of the night for Oettinger #StanleyCup #Game7 pic.twitter.com/X9MmwYAicE
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 16, 2022
The Stars goalie has a new contract and is poised to carry the torch for them. Dallas has an aging core, a new coach, and young talent. Oettinger’s Vezina hopes will dependent on team success and how far he drags him. He may not win it this year but his name should be in the conversation for years to come.
Jack Campbell
The Oilers have finally found their number-one netminder and it’s something they sorely needed. Jack Campbell couldn’t find playoff success with the Leafs but could he find it with Edmonton? Well, having Connor McDavid certainly helps his case.
Jack Campbell snags a 30-save @pepsi shutout in his return! pic.twitter.com/NDst9KiKch
— NHL (@NHL) February 28, 2021
Campbell was an All-Star last year but battled injuries to finish the season/playoffs. He’ll have people’s attention if he puts up great numbers, the team is rolling and he’s a big reason for their success. Campbell recorded two shutouts and put up a 2.64 GAA. Taking a shot a could be beneficial to your bank account once the season ends.
