Jacob Markstrom has been the one of the best goalie in the NHL over the past month-plus. Since December 1, Markstrom has played 14 games. He has a 1.63 goals against average, which is tops among all players with at least 10 games played, and a .926 save percentage. It brought his season totals to 2.19 GAA (fourth in the league among goalies with at least 500 minutes), and a .911 save percentage.
The numbers aren't anywhere near Connor Hellebuyck, who is very deservedly the leader in the clubhouse for the Vezina Trophy. The betting odds have Hellebuyck so far out in front for the Vezina Trophy, that it's not even worth considering him for a parlay.
Mackenzie Blackwood has played his way into the Vezina Trophy conversation with the @Avalanche.
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 11, 2025
Colorado's new netminder has brought reliability to the crease. pic.twitter.com/zAkmdENB34
Markstrom is in the top five because he's been playing out of his mind over the last few weeks. He's making the most insane saves we've ever seen. Just against the Seattle Kraken, where the Devils were desperate to end a four-game losing streak, Markstrom made three Save of the Year candidates in one game. He's been incredible on the hardest saves, stopping 162 high-danger shots on 193 attempts according to Natural Stat Trick.
Does Jacob Markstrom have any chance to take the Vezina Trophy away from Connor Hellebuyck?
On Saturday night, Markstrom once again had an insane save, stopping Brayden Point on a shot that, if it had gone in, would have ended up winning the game.
Surprise, surprise...
— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2025
Jacob Markstrom with yet ANOTHER unreal save 😱 pic.twitter.com/aZHNS5e0jC
And the NHL tweet is the reason why Markstrom still has a shot at this. While Hellebuyck has been out of his mind all season long, and his numbers are untouchable, the possibility that he could move back towards just simply above average for the second half could get other goalies in the mix.
Markstrom is not the only one trying to get in the mix. Former Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood has been incredible since his trade to the Colorado Avalanche, which immediately made them contenders again. Logan Thompson has been awesome for the surprising Washington Capitals. Linus Ullmark has taken his early-season woes and become possibly the best goalie in the league over the last few weeks, putting the Senators back in playoff contention.
However, nobody has a laundry list of insane saves like Markstrom. He is on the NHL social media feeds almost every game, and sometimes multiple times per game. Should those saves get him in the Vezina Trophy contest alone?
Well, no, but he's combining it with consistency. Markstrom has been a workhorse, just like Hellebuyck. He's been incredible even in Devils losses. For weeks, the Devils defense was stopping everything. That's not the case anymore. There have been some serious struggles, and it might be time for a change, but it does help get Markstrom in the race for the Vezina, even if he's an outside candidate.
Now to the question at hand. Is there anyone who can catch Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy? The short answer is no. If Hellebuyck doesn't see his stats drop by large swaths or if he avoids an injury, the trophy is probably his. However, his best starts coming in the first half of the year does open the door. If Markstrom plays like this through April (a big ask but definitely possible), and Hellebuyck falls off a little (still a big as), then maybe the Devils can bring another Vezina home.