The National Hockey League has named Ilya Sorokin (New York Islanders), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), and Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning) as the three finalists for the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy. This award recognizes the goaltender deemed "the best at his position." General managers across the league submitted their ballots following the regular season to determine the top three vote-getters. The announcement of the finalists occurred on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Ilya Sorokin led the NHL in several key categories, including shutouts (seven), high-danger saves (452), and road wins (18). He also posted an .864 save percentage on high-danger chances, which was the league's best. Despite Sorokin's statistical prowess, his Islanders team did not secure a playoff berth, finishing seven points shy. His record stood at 29 wins, 24 losses, and 2 ties, with a 2.68 goals-against average (GAA) and a .906 save percentage.
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Jeremy Swayman, a first-time finalist for the Vezina, had a career-high 31 wins in 54 games for the Boston Bruins, contributing to their ninth playoff appearance in the last decade. Reports indicate he led the league in wins, ranked second in GAA, and was third in save percentage. His record was 31-18-4, with a 2.71 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning is making his sixth career appearance as a Vezina finalist, a testament to his consistent elite performance. This marks his second consecutive year as a finalist. He finished the season with a 39-15-4 record, a 2.31 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. Vasilevskiy's pursuit of a second Vezina Trophy places him in a category with only a few other active goalies who have achieved multiple wins in this category.
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The Vezina Trophy award ceremony is part of a series of NHL trophy announcements. Following the goaltender award, finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy will be unveiled on Thursday, April 30.
Background on the Award
The Vezina Trophy has been awarded annually since the 1926-27 NHL season. It is named in honor of former Montreal Canadiens owner Georges Vezina. The selection process involves active NHL general managers casting votes at the end of the regular season. The finalists represent the consensus among league executives regarding the league's premier goaltenders.
