Boston Bruins: The 5 most likely NHL awards a Bruin could win in 2020-21

2 of 5

LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 24: Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins poses with the Vezina Trophy during the 2014 NHL Awards at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on June 24, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. The Vezina Trophy – Tuukka Rask

In 2019-20, Rask finished with a league-best 2.12 goals-against average (GAA), .929 save percentage (SV%), five shutouts, .683 quality start percentage (QS%), and a 26-8-6 record. But yet he was just the runner-up to the Vezina Trophy.

Instead, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck took home the honor of being the league’s best goalie even though his SV%, GAA, and QS% were all worse than Rask’s.

You may be asking what made Hellebuyck better than Rask. Well, I have an answer.

The difference is that Hellebuyck played and started a considerable number of more games than Rask. While Rask played and started just 41 games, Hellebuyck played in a league-most 58 games (56 starts).

The same thing happened to Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop in 2018-19 when he was beaten by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Bishop had the better stats but only started 45 games, while Vasilevskiy started 53 games.

If Halak goes down, Rask will most likely be given more starts. If he can copy his success from last year over 50+ starts, the 33-year-old should be a lock for his second-career Vezina.

Home/Editorials