Connor Hellebuyck or Roberto Luongo?

[SeanMoneyHands]

Who was better at their peak?

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[Coffee]

Canucks fan saying Luongo

 

[LevelingSolo]

Luongo at his best was insane

 

[Voight]

Lu for sure. Arguably robbed of at least one or two Vezinas.

 

[centipede2233]

I’d prolly take luongo, with that said, it’s amazing the guy with 2 vezina’s and the reigning vezina winner to boot is losing to a zero vezina winner

 

[JackSlater]

Luongo, but I'd take an option between the two Luongo options if possible. I like Hellebuyck but Luongo's main weakness is an even bigger weakness for Hellebuyck, and I would take Luongo's highs if I had to choose.

 

[BB79]

Canucks fan saying Luongo

Bruins fan and I say Luongo. That guy was a stone wall. He shut us out so many times during his Florida years. I remember seeing one in person from about 10 rows behind the net.

 

[Coffee]

Bruins fan and I say Luongo. That guy was a stone wall. He shut us out so many times during his Florida years. I remember seeing one in person from about 10 rows behind the net.

Appreciate that, BB79

 

[Fatass]

Is Hellybuck a prima donna?

 

[BB79]

Appreciate that, BB79

Hah, I actually remember this was the game I was at. 20 years flew by

Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: February 23, 2004 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins game played on February 23, 2004 on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

Had the Bolts eliminated us in 2011 I'd have been behind Vancouver, I did like a lot of their players.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Lu for sure. Arguably robbed of at least one or two Vezinas.

And which ones would those be?

Because I can probably make just as strong a case for Helle being “robbed” of Vezinas in 2018 and 2023.

 

[Coffee]

Luongo, but I'd take an option between the two Luongo options if possible. I like Hellebuyck but Luongo's main weakness is an even bigger weakness for Hellebuyck, and I would take Luongo's highs if I had to choose.

Exactly, even as a Canucks fan I say Hellebuyck is better than Demko,

But Luongo was different

 

[Voight]

And which ones would those be?

Because I can probably make just as strong a case for Helle being “robbed” of Vezinas in 2018 and 2023.

2004 & 2007. Tho robbed may be too harsh of a word to use.

 

[Romang67]

Exactly, even as a Canucks fan I say Hellebuyck is better than Demko,

But Luongo was different

Well yeah, Hellebuyck and Demko aren't on the same playing field. Hellebuyck has one more Vezina trophy win than Demko has top 5 finishes. And Hellebuyck has 5 top 5 finishes in the last 5 years, none of which sticks out as a reputation vote. You should think Hellebuyck is better than Demko, because he inarguably is.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

2004 & 2007. Tho robbed may be too harsh of a word to use.

Fair, and I definitely wouldn’t say Hellebuyck was robbed in 2018 or 2023. He had a VERY strong case in 2018, mind you.

I’m hugely biased in this, and not diminishing Lu who was a beast in his prime. I just think people are sleeping on Helle because of very recent playoff struggles.

What he’s done in Winnipeg during the prime of his career has been unbelievable. 2 Vezina wins, with 3 more seasons of top-5 votes. Many of those seasons with absolutely wretched defensive play in front of him.

 

[Coffee]

Well yeah, Hellebuyck and Demko aren't on the same playing field. Hellebuyck has one more Vezina trophy win than Demko has top 5 finishes. And Hellebuyck has 5 top 5 finishes in the last 5 years, none of which sticks out as a reputation vote. You should think Hellebuyck is better than Demko, because he inarguably is.

Agreed but now if we compare Luongo,I can rightfully say Luongo is better . But do note time saying this while saying Hellebuyck is my favourite goalie and I think he’s better than Igor


Even if Luongo was not a Canucks I would pick Luongo

 

[Regal]

Luongo, but I'd take an option between the two Luongo options if possible. I like Hellebuyck but Luongo's main weakness is an even bigger weakness for Hellebuyck, and I would take Luongo's highs if I had to choose.

Agree with this and didn’t vote because I didn’t like the options. I think Luongo is clearly better, but I don’t think it’s “not even close”

 

[Voight]

Fair, and I definitely wouldn’t say Hellebuyck was robbed in 2018 or 2023. He had a VERY strong case in 2018, mind you.

I’m hugely biased in this, and not diminishing Lu who was a beast in his prime. I just think people are sleeping on Helle because of very recent playoff struggles.

What he’s done in Winnipeg during the prime of his career has been unbelievable. 2 Vezina wins, with 3 more seasons of top-5 votes. Many of those seasons with absolutely wretched defensive play in front of him.

I agree 100%. He would have a lot more attention/talk about his abilities/resume if he played in Toronto, New York, Pittsburgh etc. Hes arguably the best goalie in the league, given how consistent hes been.

 

[Romang67]

Agreed but now if we compare Luongo,I can rightfully say Luongo is better . But do note time saying this while saying Hellebuyck is my favourite goalie and I think he’s better than Igor


Even if Luongo was not a Canucks I would pick Luongo

I probably pick Luongo too. I'm not what backs it up though. I might have too many memories of Luongo stonewalling the team I rooted for.

Luongo was only a Vezina finalist thrice in his career, and only made a second All-Star team twice. This compared to Hellebuyck's four time finalist and two-time Vezina winner. So on paper, Luongo didn't peak as high in the regular season, nor over as condense a period. On the one hand, Luongo might have missed out on winning a Vezina because the Panthers sucked. On the other hand, Hellebuyck won a Vezina while dragging a god awful 2020 Jets to the playoffs.

 

[Coffee]

I probably pick Luongo too. I'm not what backs it up though. I might have too many memories of Luongo stonewalling the team I rooted for.

Luongo was only a Vezina finalist thrice in his career, and only made a second All-Star team twice. This compared to Hellebuyck's four time finalist and two-time Vezina winner. So on paper, Luongo didn't peak as high in the regular season, nor over as condense a period. On the one hand, Luongo might have missed out on winning a Vezina because the Panthers sucked. On the other hand, Hellebuyck won a Vezina while dragging a god awful 2020 Jets to the playoffs.

Yeah pretty much nailed it. Though I pick Luongo, I should also say anyone picking Hellebuyck is not wrong in my books

 

[Regal]

I probably pick Luongo too. I'm not what backs it up though. I might have too many memories of Luongo stonewalling the team I rooted for.

Luongo was only a Vezina finalist thrice in his career, and only made a second All-Star team twice. This compared to Hellebuyck's four time finalist and two-time Vezina winner. So on paper, Luongo didn't peak as high in the regular season, nor over as condense a period. On the one hand, Luongo might have missed out on winning a Vezina because the Panthers sucked. On the other hand, Hellebuyck won a Vezina while dragging a god awful 2020 Jets to the playoffs.

Luongo also had better Vezina competition. The top of the goalie pile has been mostly questionable in recent years. In Hellebuyck’s wins, he beat out a good season from Rask, but one where he didn’t have a large workload, and an average season from Vasi in ‘20, and last year he was almost the winner by default with a good seasons by Demko and Bobrovsky but ones that would unlikely be finalists 90% of the time. Luongo lost to Brodeur in both his best years, including Brodeur’s best season in ‘07, and was behind Kipper in ‘04 as well who had a huge narrative push behind the Flames becoming good after his trade.

Both goalies also have 5 top 4 finishes for the Vezina, so I’m not sure only focusing on finalists is giving the full picture.

 

[Romang67]

Luongo also had better Vezina competition. The top of the goalie pile has been mostly questionable in recent years. In Hellebuyck’s wins, he beat out a good season from Rask, but one where he didn’t have a large workload, and an average season from Vasi in ‘20, and last year he was almost the winner by default with a good seasons by Demko and Bobrovsky but ones that would unlikely be finalists 90% of the time. Luongo lost to Brodeur in both his best years, including Brodeur’s best season in ‘07, and was behind Kipper in ‘04 as well who had a huge narrative push behind the Flames becoming good after his trade.

Both goalies also have 5 top 4 finishes for the Vezina, so I’m not sure only focusing on finalists is giving the full picture.

Yeah, the competition argument is certainly valid. Whether that be because of all the recent rule and equipment changes has just lowered the level of goaltender on average and Hellebuyck has handled it much better, or because the talent level is just much lower is a bit more questionable.

I looked at top 3 finishes for Vezina because it was readily available at the website I was on, so the top 4 finishes does change the equation a bit for sure.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Nostalgia is playing a big part in these results I think

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I’d prolly take luongo, with that said, it’s amazing the guy with 2 vezina’s and the reigning vezina winner to boot is losing to a zero vezina winner

Voters robbed Luongo of a clear Vezina win.

Looking at awards is yes great to compare all time greats but sometimes voters get it wrong or a player misses out by another great season and that player is just consistent for years being a top 3 or top 4 guy never winning.

Hellebuyck is an amazing goalie and I do not want to downplay him here. He's amazing.