NHL Best Bets: Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender) 2020-21
With NHL action slated to begin in a week’s time, it’s time for us to get our remaining future bets in. Today we’ll be analyzing our best bets for the Vezina Trophy – focusing on goaltenders with 15/1 odds or better, as we understand who the favorites already are.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>
Best Bets
Philipp Grubauer – Colorado Avalanche (+1500)
An important thing to consider when handicapping awards such as the Vezina is projected team performance. The Avs are the +700 favorite to win the Stanley Cup on FanDuel – so it’s easy to understand their expectations.
While backup Pavel Francouz lurks and performed admirably last season, Grubauer will command a majority of the starts in net this year, barring injury. Last year, his first as a starter after years behind Semyon Varlamov and Braden Holtby in Washington, Grubauer started 36 regular-season games. Finishing with an 18-14-4 record, .916 SV%, and 2.63 goals-against average. He was also 5-1 in the playoffs before succumbing to injury in Game 1 against Dallas. A free agent after 2020-21, look for Grubauer to be even more motivated and continue to build off his previous campaign, as the Avs look to make a deep playoff run.
Darcy Kuemper – Arizona Coyotes (+2000)
The Coyotes were placed into the daunting West division for the 2020-21 season. This realigned division is exceptionally top-heavy with the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and St. Louis Blues the unquestioned top three. However, the fourth spot will be up for grabs as the rest of the squads are in rebuilding mode.
With the exception of Taylor Hall, the Coyotes return their core of top offensive performers. While last season left much to be desired, the core of Phil Kessel, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Christian Dvorak have the skillsets to fill up the scoresheet – they just need to execute.
However, with a projected O/U 56.5 season point total, if Arizona does secure the fourth divisional seed and make the playoffs, Kuemper will be the leading factor as to why. Last season, he finished 16-11-2, with a 2.22 GAA and .928 SV%. Additionally, he posted a ridiculous 16.65 GSSA (Goals Saved Above Average)
These numbers tell us that Mr. Kuemper is elite and capable of being one of the top goaltender’s league wide.
John Gibson – Anaheim Ducks (+2200)
The Ducks enter the season with a projected O/U 51.5-point total. While that number doesn’t inspire much confidence, like the Coyotes, Anaheim has a chance at the fourth spot in the West division – although unlikely.
But if this team does exceed expectations, John Gibson will surely be a major reason why. Although he is coming off a career-worst season where he posted a 3.00 GAA and .904 SV%, to go along with a putrid -8.66 GSAA, much of this can be attributed to the team in front of him, rather than his skill set.
We’ve seen what Gibson is capable of. In 2017-18, he posted a ridiculous 25.30 GSAA that supplemented his .926 SV%.
The addition of puck-moving defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk should help the Ducks transition game, which will hopefully aid the offensive bounce back needed from Rikard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg. If youngsters Sam Steel and Max Comtois take the next step, this team has room to grow.
If this team does clinch a postseason berth, the team will undoubtedly enter riding the coattails of Gibson.
Join the BettingPros Discord Chat for Live Betting Advice >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced sports betting strategy — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.