The Vezina Trophy is presented annually to a goaltender who is “adjudged to be the best at this position”. The trophy is named in the honor of former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Georges Vezina, who died in 1926 due to tuberculosis.
The award was first presented after the conclusion of the 1926-27 NHL season, to the top goaltender. Since its inception, the award has undergone many changes in its criteria and formats. The current voting process involves all the 32 NHL general managers to vote to determine the winner.
Many legendary goaltenders have etched their names on this prestigious trophy, including Jacques Plante, Turk Broda, Tony Esposito, Bill Durnan and Patrick Roy.
Vezina Trophy Winners List
The Vezina Trophy is named in honor of Georges Vezina, goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens from 1910 until 1925. Vezina had allowed the fewest goals in the thrice in his NHL career. He also became the first NHL goaltender to both record a shutout and earn an assist on a goal. Vezina’s unfortunate death in 1926 due to tuberculosis prompted the Montreal Canadiens to donate a trophy in the name of Vezina, which would be awarded to the goaltender who allowed the fewest goals during the season. Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins is the current holder of the award.
Shown below are all the winners of the Vezina Trophy since its inception:
| Season | Winner | Team |
| 1926–27 | George Hainsworth | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1927–28 | George Hainsworth | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1928–29 | George Hainsworth | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1929–30 | Tiny Thompson | Boston Bruins |
| 1930–31 | Roy Worters | New York Americans |
| 1931–32 | Charlie Gardiner | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1932–33 | Tiny Thompson | Boston Bruins |
| 1933–34 | Charlie Gardiner | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1934–35 | Lorne Chabot | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1935–36 | Tiny Thompson | Boston Bruins |
| 1936–37 | Normie Smith | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1937–38 | Tiny Thompson | Boston Bruins |
| 1938–39 | Frank Brimsek | Boston Bruins |
| 1939–40 | David Kerr | New York Rangers |
| 1940–41 | Turk Broda | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1941–42 | Frank Brimsek | Boston Bruins |
| 1942–43 | Johnny Mowers | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1943–44 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1944–45 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1945–46 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1946–47 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1947–48 | Turk Broda | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1948–49 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1949–50 | Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1950–51 | Al Rollins | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1951–52 | Terry Sawchuk | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1952–53 | Terry Sawchuk | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1953–54 | Harry Lumley | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1954–55 | Terry Sawchuk | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1955–56 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1956–57 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1957–58 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1958–59 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1959–60 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1960–61 | Johnny Bower | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1961–62 | Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1962–63 | Glenn Hall | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1963–64 | Charlie Hodge | Montreal Canadiens |
| The NHL started allowing teammates to split the Vezina Trophy | ||
| 1964–65 | Johnny Bower Terry Sawchuk | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1965–66 | Gump Worsley Charlie Hodge | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1966–67 | Glenn Hall Denis DeJordy | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1967–68 | Gump Worsley Rogatien Vachon | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1968–69 | Glenn Hall Jacques Plante | St. Louis Blues |
| 1969–70 | Tony Esposito | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1970–71 | Eddie Giacomin Gilles Villemure | New York Rangers |
| 1971–72 | Tony Esposito Gary Smith | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1972–73 | Ken Dryden | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1973–74 | Tony Esposito Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers) | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1974–75 | Bernie Parent | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1975–76 | Ken Dryden | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1976–77 | Ken Dryden Michel Larocque | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1977–78 | Ken Dryden Michel Larocque | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1978–79 | Ken Dryden Michel Larocque | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1979–80 | Don Edwards Bob Sauve | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1980–81 | Denis Herron Michel Larocque Richard Sevigny | Montreal Canadiens |
New changes were made during the 1981-82 season which allowed general managers of the NHL teams to vote on the most outstanding goaltender. The format is in effect till date.
| Season | Winner | Team |
| 1981–82 | Billy Smith | New York Islanders |
| 1982–83 | Pete Peeters | Boston Bruins |
| 1983–84 | Tom Barrasso | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1984–85 | Pelle Lindbergh | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1985–86 | John Vanbiesbrouck | New York Rangers |
| 1986–87 | Ron Hextall | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1987–88 | Grant Fuhr | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1988–89 | Patrick Roy | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1989–90 | Patrick Roy | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1990–91 | Ed Belfour | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1991–92 | Patrick Roy | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1992–93 | Ed Belfour | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1993–94 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1994–95 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1995–96 | Jim Carey | Washington Capitals |
| 1996–97 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1997–98 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1998–99 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1999–00 | Olaf Kolzig | Washington Capitals |
| 2000–01 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres |
| 2001–02 | Jose Theodore | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2002–03 | Martin Brodeur | New Jersey Devils |
| 2003–04 | Martin Brodeur | New Jersey Devils |
| 2005–06 | Miikka Kiprusoff | Calgary Flames |
| 2006–07 | Martin Brodeur | New Jersey Devils |
| 2007–08 | Martin Brodeur | New Jersey Devils |
| 2008–09 | Tim Thomas | Boston Bruins |
| 2009–10 | Ryan Miller | Buffalo Sabres |
| 2010–11 | Tim Thomas | Boston Bruins |
| 2011–12 | Henrik Lundqvist | New York Rangers |
| 2012–13 | Sergei Bobrovsky | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 2013–14 | Tuukka Rask | Boston Bruins |
| 2014–15 | Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2015–16 | Braden Holtby | Washington Capitals |
| 2016–17 | Sergei Bobrovsky | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 2017–18 | Pekka Rinne | Nashville Predators |
| 2018–19 | Andrei Vasilevskiy | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2019–20 | Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets |
| 2020–21 | Marc-Andre Fleury | Vegas Golden Knights |
| 2021–22 | Igor Shesterkin | New York Rangers |
| 2022–23 | Linus Ullmark | Boston Bruins |
Note: The 2004-05 season was cancelled due NHL lockout.
Players With The Most Vezina Trophies
Since its inception, the Vezina Trophy has been won by many players. Some notable players have also gone on to win the trophy more than once in their careers.
The current record holder for the most Vezina trophies is held by Jacques Plante, who won this award a record seven times in his career.
Shown below is a list of players who won the award the most times:
| Players | Teams | No. of Vezina Trophies |
| Jacques Plante | Montreal Canadiens | 7 |
| Bill Durnan | Montreal Canadiens | 6 |
| Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres | 6 |
| Ken Dryden | Montreal Canadiens | 5 |
FAQ's on NHL Vezina Trophy
A. Jacques Plante holds the record for holding the most Vezina Trophies the most times. He won the prestigious award seven times during his career.
A. Bill Durnan was the first rookie ever to win the Vezina Trophy.
A. Tom Barasso claimed the Vezina Trophy at the age of 18 years in the 1983-84 season.
A. The award was named after Georges Vezina, a legendary goaltender for the Montreal Canadien who played during the early years of the NHL.
A. The trophy is given to the goaltender judged to be the best at his position. The voting is conducted at the end of the regular season by the 32 general managers of the NHL teams.
