Linus Ullmark has been the Vezina Trophy front runner basically all season long, however, a late season surge has put a surprising goalie in the conversation.
According to moneypuck.com, Juuse Saros has passed Ullmark for the league lead in GSAx, becoming the first to do so since the start of the 2022-23 season.
A Predators team that also traded away Mattias Ekholm, Nino Niederreiter, Markus Granlund and Tanner Jeannot, and are also without Roman Josi, Ryan Johanson, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and William Carrier, but are still one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
For the season, Saros has a record of 31-22-7, while carrying a 2.71 GAA and a .918 SV%. Although his late dominance has put him in the running, it will be hard for any goalie to take home the Vezina over Ullmark.
When it comes down to it, Ullmark should - and most likely will - win the Vezina because of his consistent dominance. The Swede currently leads all NHL goalies in wins (38), GAA (1.90) and SV% (.937), and maybe the best part, one goal scored.