Tampa Bay Lightning stud Andrei Vasilevskiy has been named one of the three finalists for the George Vezina trophy, awarded to the top goaltender in the league that season. Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets have also bee voted as finalists. [Raw Charge]
The offseason saw countless articles wondering whether Vasy could backstop what was poised to be a top-tier team in the league for an entire season (not us). Some questioned whether he had the ability to step into Ben Bishop’s enormous shoes, especially to replicate play that Bishop earned by experience, and to sustain what he’s been able to do for a full season.