Even though Belfour took it home pretty handidly with 15 1st place votes and 94 overall votes, I think this season has a good chance of one of the other Finalists being voted as more deserving since they both had strong cases.
Curtis Joseph
Finished 3rd in voting with 27 votes and only 2 first place votes, 4 2nd place votes and 5 3rd place votes.
One of few seasons in which Curtis Joseph was a finalist but didn't win the Vezina.
This isn't even the closest he's gotten to taking the trophy, but statistically this actually seems to be his best season.
He led the league with a .911 sv% and with a pretty huge gap over the competition. 10th place had a .894sv%.
He also led the league with a 57 GSAA. Belfour in 2nd place had 39, 10th place had 10.
To make things more impressive, he had an incredible workload. He played 68 games, 2nd most in the league, just 3 fewer than Belfour.
He also led the league with 2006 saves, and Essensa in 2nd place had 1892. 10th plave had 1490 saves.
Looking at all of this, it seems odd that he didn't get more support, especially since his team made the playoffs. He has a real solid argument for best goalie this season. Granted he was on one of the best defensive teams in the league which I'm sure helped with his stats. But he wasn't exactly alone in that among the vezina finalists..
Tom Barasso
Finished 2nd in vezina voting with 7 1st place votes, 10 2nd place votes, 5 3rd place votes and 70 overall votes. So he had quite a bit of support, the clear runner up, even if he decisively lost.
Statistically, this was also one of Barasso's best seasons. He was 4th in the league with a .901sv%, 4th in GSAA (31), 5th in saves (1699).
I think it was a strong season, finalist worthy even. Better than Joseph? Eh.. Barasso was on a even better team (3rd in GA) and was worse than Joseph in most statistical categories. I can only assume him being 1st in wins with 43 is what placed him ahead.
Ed Belfour
Was a 3rd place Hart finalist, led the league in GP (71), 4th in saves, 3rd in sv% (.906) and 2nd in GSAA (39).
He also led the league in shutouts (7) and was 2nd in wins (41). Definitely a strong winner even though I think Joseph deserved it more
HM to Felix Potvin who was 2nd in sv% (.910) and was 3rd in GSAA (32). I can see why he finished 4th though, since he "only" played 48 GP while the other Finalists played 60+
All goalies who got votes were included. Everyone past Kay Whitmore got no votes. Let me know if I should add anyone else
But who do you think should have won the vezina? And do you think they got the 3 finalists right?
