Connor Hellebuyck Favored To Win Vezina Award Again

When it comes to the 2026 NHL Award Bets oddsmakers start getting antsy. The regular season cannot soon enough. Starting next week, we will have regular picks and wagers here at Online Sports Betting.

Yes, it feels like forever but it has been a little less than four months since Florida repeated as Stanley Cup Champions. Now, the Panthers have sadly suffered several key injuries including losing Matthew Tkachuk for a few months and Aleksander Barkov for the year. These are tough blows that teams do not typically recover from. Florida will be tested and so will Sergei Bobrovsky in goal.

The NHL odds project Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets as a favorite to repeat in Vezina Award betting. Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is not too far behind. After that, there are several quality choices. However are these sportsbooks missing something? At any rate, our table is below:

NHL 2026 Awards
Vezina Award
Connor Hellebuyck	+400	+350	+400
Igor Shesterkin	+700	+600	"""+650"
Andrei Vasilevskiy	+900	+950	+900
Jake Oettinger	+1500	+1400	+1500
Ilya Sorokin	+1500	+1500	+1600
Logan Thompson	+2000	+2000	+2500
Juuse Saros	+2500	+2500	+2500
Jacob Markstrom	+2500	+2800	+2500
Dustin Wolf	+2500	+3000	+2800
Anthony Stolarz	+2500	+3000	+3000

This may be just the beginning. Click here for more NHL online betting sites.

NHL Award Betting Tips

Before we further dig into the 2026 NHL Award Futures, why not check out our updated NHL betting odds to see where the best NHL picks are located. Also, our online sportsbook reviews will help you pick the sites that are going to take care of all your NHL wagering needs. Also, if you have a phone or tablet, these are the best sports betting apps that can help you place your NHL bets before the NHL season gets underway.

The 2026 NHL Award Bets Start With The Vezina

Prior to making your NHL picks, realize that the 2026 NHL Award Bets start with the Vezina. Keep in mind that numbers will start to shift but the fact that we have updated numbers as the season approaches. We get a considerable window into where the odds may go once the season gets underway.

Also, be aware that award numbers can be very fickle. Unfortunately, all it takes is one injury or slump to derail the hopes of a goaltender.

NHL Vezina Award Bets Favor Connor Hellebuyck

Yes, NHL Vezina Award Bets favor Connor Hellebuyck to open the season. Now, the reason is obvious. Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy last season. He triumphed 47 times in 63 games played. The 2024-25 campaign was his most successful ever. There really was not other choice but Hellebuyck to take the top honor for goaltenders. Routinely, Hellebuyck flirted with a goals against average below 2 all season. He ended right at 2.00 with a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Yes, he was not quite the same goalie in the playoffs but no one could take away what Hellebuyck pulled off during the regular season. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has played 60+ games in four straight seasons. If it had not been for COVID, that might be more like eight. Hellebuyck gives Winnipeg the best chance to win. Period! With a high danger save percentage of .859 last season, that was one of the best by a starting goalie. It is why Hellebuyck gets the nod to repeat.

Connor Hellebuyck To win the Vezina Award again

+400

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The other contenders to the throne include Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Both are former winners and Vasilevskiy is a two-time Stanley Cup winner. and Conn Smythe plus Vezina winner. Shesterkin, by the way won the Vezina in 2021-22. It does seem that the award for best goaltender expects to be far more competitive this season. Which contenders to the throne have a good chance?

What About Igor Shesterkin And Andrei Vasievskiy

2026 NHL Award Bets ask what about Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy? Simply, Vasilevskiy is 31 with a lot of NHL mileage. This is Vasilevskiy's 12th season in the NHL and 10th as a starter. Again, he brings a postseason and regular season pedigree to the table that few goalies can match. Last season, he played the most regular season minutes in the league and won 38 games. His 14.2 GPS was the highest of his entire career.

Vasilevskiy led the league in goalie wins five consecutive years. Last season, he had 41 quality starts. Only Hellebuyck had more. Vasilevskiy ended up second in the Vezina voting last season. He believes he has a chance to win this year if Hellebuyck should falter in any way. At the very least, Vasilevskiy at +900 is a better look perhaps than Shesterkin (+700).

Even Jake Oettinger might be worth a shot here. However, Shesterkin has declined every year since his Vezina run four years ago. That .935 save percentage was next level. His Vezina season saw him save nearly 45 goals above average. Shesterkin has played 50+ times in four straight years and 61 last year. It was 2024-25 that truly wore him down. The New York Rangers' defense was horrific but Shesterkin's mental outlook was a concern. It is why Vasilevskiy is a safer bet at a better value.

Andrei Vasilevskiy To win the 2025-26 Vezina Award

+900

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There are some slightly off the board choices as options. Do we have one? Yes.

Longer Shots For The Road?

2026 NHL Award Bets examine longer shots for the road. At some point, it is inevitable that someone could come from further down the odds. One such goaltender may just be Filip Gustavsson. Gustavsson has been up and down over the past 2+ seasons. However, when he is in form, Minnesota is awfully difficult to beat. His 2022-23 season was amazing with a .931 save percentage in 37 starts. After a down campaign the year after, Gustavsson rebounded with 58 starts and a career high 12.9 goalie point share.

As tempting as goalies like Jacob Markstrom and Anthony Stolarz are at +2500 to +3000, Gustavsson at +3500 is seriously worth a deeper look.

Filip Gustavsson To lead NHL Rookies in points

+200

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