Vezina Trophy Rankings: Hellebuyck starting to stake his claim

Welcome to the third in-season edition of theScore's 2023-24 Vezina Trophy rankings, a monthly look at the top goalies across the NHL.

As has been the case in our previous versions, there's been plenty of changeover in our top five. No netminders have established themselves as clear-cut favorites, making this a more compelling race than the past few years when Linus Ullmark and Igor Shesterkin were shoo-ins to win the prestigious award by the midway point.

It'll be fascinating to see if any of these contenders can pull away from the pack now that the calendar has flipped. But we're not holding our breath based on the way this season's gone between the pipes. Case in point: this is the third consecutive version of this exercise in which we have a new No. 1.

Let's dive in.

GSAA = Goals saved above average
GSAx = Goals saved above expected

5. Adin Hill, Golden Knights

Previous rank: 1st

Hill held the top spot in our December rankings before an injury forced him from the throne. He's only made one start since Nov. 30, and it's no coincidence the Golden Knights hit the skids during that span. Over 14 games, Vegas is 7-6-1 while averaging 3.4 goals against per contest. The reigning champs' struggles with its No. 1 on the shelf amplifies his importance to the operation, but Hill needs to get back in the crease soon to save his Vezina hopes and remain on our list.

Hill has an outside chance to reinsert himself into the mix if he can carry over his pre-injury form. The 27-year-old still leads the league in save percentage and goals against average and ranks third in goals saved above average.

4. Connor Ingram, Coyotes

Previous rank: 2nd

Ingram isn't quite as hot as when he burst into a podium position in December, but his overall body of work this season has kept him in the mix for the time being. He's tied for the league lead in shutouts (four), ranks third in save percentage among goalies to play at least 20 games, and is top-10 in both advanced statistics in his chart.

The Coyotes are in the hunt for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference largely because of Ingram's contributions. However, he's won just two of seven starts while posting a .893 save percentage since our latest rankings on Dec. 6, so how he rebounds from a cold spell will be pivotal in Arizona's postseason pursuit and his chase for hardware.

3. Cam Talbot, Kings

Previous rank: 4th

Talbot's numbers declined over the past month or so, but they're still strong enough to place him among the league's best netminders for the season. Most impressively, the 36-year-old sits first in goals saved above average and fourth in goals saved above expected at all strengths, showing he's imperative to the Kings' success.

It's still difficult to fully buy into Talbot's Vezina chances considering he's made 40-plus starts only once since 2018 and doesn't carry the pedigree of those ahead of him. Still, there's no denying he's as worthy of a candidate as anyone to this point.

2. Thatcher Demko, Canucks

Previous rank: 3rd

Demko and the West-leading Canucks are riding high this season. Although he's been one of the busiest goalies in the league and ranks sixth in shots faced, Demko has been up to the task almost every night, sitting in the top 10 in goals-against average and save percentage while tied for second in victories.

Vancouver is still battling plenty of skeptics on the sustainability of its winning recipe, but a hot goalie trumps all in this sport and certainly isn't a negative when ranking the best puck-stoppers in the league. Demko's an old-school workhorse, and voters appreciate a good narrative - like the Canucks making the playoffs for only the second time since 2015 on the back of their star goaltender.

1. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets

Previous rank: N/A

It's hard to believe Hellebuyck hasn't made our rankings since our preseason prognostications, but he looks here to stay now. He's far and away been the best goalie on our list since the last rankings, failing to lose in regulation through nine starts while posting a sparkling .934 save percentage. The hot streak has brought his numbers firmly into the mix among the league's elite, which is where we've grown accustomed to seeing him after finishing in the top five in Vezina voting in four of the past six campaigns.

Much like Demko and the Canucks, Hellebuyck and the Jets have their fair share of naysayers doubting the club's legitimacy. However, both teams are within reach of first place in the league standings, and a Vezina battle between the two Canadian-team stars, tied in with a race for Western Conference supremacy, makes for a tremendous subplot for the rest of the season.

(Stats source: Evolving-Hockey)