Henrik Lundqvist: 5 Reasons Rangers Goalie Is a Lock for the Vezina Trophy

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie in the NHL and is the most deserving choice for the Vezina Trophy this season.

Lundqvist has been one of the most consistent players in the NHL for years, but this season he has taken his game to another level.

Let's look at five reasons Lundqvist is a lock for the Vezina Trophy.

Lundqvist Steps Up in Big Games

The bigger the moment, the better Henrik Lundqvist plays. He's won a Gold Medal with Sweden at the Winter Olympics, and has stepped up for the Rangers on numerous occasions this season against the best NHL teams.

Lundqvist has dominated the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks and many other of the league's best teams this season.

One of the true signs of a great goaltender is when he doesn't get rattled against the best teams, and this is a quality that makes Lundqvist so good.

His Stats Are Incredible

Lundqvist is second in the NHL with a 1.82 GAA and first in the league with a .939 save percentage. He also is tied for first in shutouts with six and is fifth for most wins with 23.

Lundqvist's stats are spectacular, but not only that, he is always consistently great no matter how often he plays. The Rangers rely on Lundqvist to play a ton of games each season yet he doesn't let that affect his performance on a nightly basis.

Martin Biron has played well backing up Lundqvist this year, but the Swedish star still has played in 37 games.

Lundqvist Has Stepped Up with Injuries on Defense and a Poor Powerplay

The Rangers have battled injuries to key defenseman this season, most notably Marc Staal who missed most of the first half recovering from a concussion.

Lundqvist has also been crucial to New York's ability to win games despite having real difficulty being effective on the power play.

No matter the challenge(s) facing the Rangers, one thing that will never be an issue is Lundqvist's ability to step up when his teammates need him the most.

It's Time to Stop Disrespecting Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy just three times in his brilliant career, which is an absolute joke.

Lundqvist will certainly be nominated this season for the award and will likely win it, not just because he is deserving for this season, but because it's an award he should already have won at least once before.

Not only will King Henrik be nominate for the Vezina Trophy this season, he should be a top candidate for the Hart Trophy too.

He's the Reason New York Is in 1st Place

Henrik Lundqvist is the primary reason the New York Rangers are the best team in the NHL right now. Sure, the addition of Brad Richards in the summer via free agency and Marian Gaborik's ability to stay healthy have been huge for the team, but the Rangers' success begins and ends with Lundqvist.

The Rangers have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the best record in the NHL despite having two games in hand.

The Blueshirts have reached another level they haven't been at for many years, and Lundqvist's phenomenal play is the reason why.