NHL futures: Best bets for the 2027 Vezina Trophy

There are less than two months remaining in the MLB campaign and the NFL preseason gets underway this week with the Hall of Fame Game. But we're going to take an early look at the upcoming 2026-27 NHL season and who will come away with the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the league's top goaltender.

Reigning winner Andrei Vasilevskiy has been one of the NHL's finest netminders since taking over in the crease for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2016-17 season. Selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, he won the Vezina in 2019 and helped the club capture the Stanley Cup each of the following two campaigns.

Vasilevskiy has led the league in wins on six occasions - including last season, when he recorded 39 victories and went on to earn the Vezina Trophy for the second time. There's no reason the 32-year-old Russian, who has posted a 2.50 goals-against average and .917 save percentage over his career, can't continue to play at a high level in 2026-27.

Another strong contender is Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. The 33-year-old, who was a member of Team USA's Olympic gold medal-winning team this year, has won the Vezina three times, the Jennings Trophy twice and took the Hart Trophy in 2025. He has led the NHL in wins twice and had a league-best 2.00 GAA in 2024-25.

Hellebuyck wasn't his usual stellar self last season, as his 2.87 GAA was his highest in four campaigns and his .895 save percentage was the worst of his career. But it wouldn't be surprising in the least to see him return to form in 2026-27 and help prevent the Jets from missing the playoffs a second consecutive time.

Others who should receive consideration are Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood. All three received multiple first-place votes for the Vezina last season and respectively finished second, fourth and fifth in the overall voting for the award.

Although the 2026-27 NHL season doesn't begin until Sept. 29, we'll take an early look at the best bets to win the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the league.

Who are the best bets to capture the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender during the 2026-27 NHL season? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Scott Erskine's picks, all from the expert who has covered the league and the sport of hockey for more than 20 years!