Vezina: Vladar Has a Stronger Case than You Think

The Flyers blogs on Hockey Hot Stove powered by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, by Cover All Exteriors, and our newest sponsors, The Mens and Boys Store and Carl’s Cards and Collectibles. Today: Dan Vladar and the Vezina Trophy.

Every voter has their own way of looking at the awards and what should be used to back a candidate. For some, it’s the stats or data. Others look at value or how they’ve looked in big games. Then, some love a great story, and Dan Vladar has that narrative to win the Vezina Trophy.

The Philadelphia Flyers are on the verge of a playoff spot. Their surge up the Metropolitan Division standings can be a credit to a lot of things, from the youth movement to the defense coming into form, and the depth scoring stepping up.

The big reason throughout the season is Vladar. The Flyers gave him a shot to be the primary starter and give him the major workload, something he had never had previously in his career. It’s safe to say that bet paid off. The question is whether Vladar’s value to his team is enough to get him the Vezina. There’s no clear-cut favorite to win the award, so he has a strong case for the award.

Vladar Backstopping the Flyers to Brink of Playoffs

A question voters must ask themselves is where the Flyers would be without Vladar? The same can be asked about the Boston Bruins with Jeremy Swayman and the New York Islanders with Ilya Sorokin. When the Flyers were treading water, many saw them as a team that otherwise would have been in lottery position or the same spot they were a season back but Vladar was holding them up.

The Flyers, with baseline goaltending, are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Not only are they in playoff position now, they are also on track to secure the third-best record in the Metropolitan Division. It’s thanks mostly to Vladar, who has been their most valuable player all season.

The Vezina is usually awarded to the best goaltender on the best team or the goaltender with the best stats. In 2023, Sorokin willed the Islanders into the playoffs and came up short, while Linus Ullmark won it with the Bruins, even with a lighter workload. The same story might be developing this season with Vladar and a handful of other goaltenders. That said, if the Flyers make the playoffs, it will be hard to deny his value to the team and the impact he has had on them this season.

Vladar lacks typical Vezina stats

Vladar’s numbers don’t stand out as “elite”. Saverpercentages are down leaguewide, but his numbers will be held against him by some. A .907 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.40 goals-against average (GAA) are not typical modern-day “Vezina finalist” stats. Moreover, Vladar has zero shutouts this season. By contrast, Ilya Sorokin has seven shutouts.

For NHL general managers (they’re the Vezina voters) who haven’t paid close attention to Philly all season, Vladar’s season may appear good but not great. In fact, media in other markets have said Vladar has rarely “taken over” and single-handedly won games for the Flyers this season.

The goaltenders with more impressive numbers are Andrei Vasilevskiy and Scott Wedgewood. Both goaltenders have not only had great seasons but have also led two of the best teams in the NHL. When stacking up both goaltenders to Vladar by the numbers, they seem to have better cases for the award.

Goaltending is NOT just about numbers, however. It’s about situational saves. It’s about the confidence of the team playing in front of the goalie. It’s about comparing netminders from the same roster: is there a big contrast in the success of one versus his partner goalie? These are intangibles, yes. But Vladar subjectively ranks right up near the top of the league when these factors are weighed with the raw stats.

When comparing Wedgewood to Vladar, Vladar has the edge with a greater workload. Wedgewood has split the workload, or had a reliable backup in Mackenzie Blackwood, and has had the help of the Colorado Avalanche, who have a better defense and team around him to help. The same can’t be said about Vasilevskiy, who has put together a great season despite a revolving door of defensemen with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Who will win rhe Vezina in the end?

Ultimately, voters will have to squint if they want to vote for Vladar. Vasilevskiy has a better overall case, and Swayman has willed the Bruins to the playoffs with better numbers at that. There’s also time for the Islanders to sneak into the playoffs, which will give Sorokin a similar narrative but with a more impressive season.

That said, Vladar has a strong case working in his favor right now. The Flyers are in playoff position and wouldn’t be without him. If he keeps putting together strong starts, he will be a finalist at the very least and might receive a few first-place votes as well.

Vladar does tell the story of the season. In a year where goaltending is down around the NHL and the average SV% is hovering around .900, the Flyers gave a goaltender who was seen as average or a backup a shot. He not only took the starting job but gave them something they haven’t had in years, reliable play in the net. His rise and ability to will the Flyers to a playoff spot won’t go unnoticed, and it can possibly put him in the Vezina conversation.