Ranking the Top Early Candidates for the 2015-16 Vezina Trophy

There are some impressive early numbers among the NHL's goaltending brethren. Most of them have been put up by the usual suspects, but there are some blasts from the past you might not expect to be among the early Vezina Trophy contenders, as well as a newcomer to the starting ranks.

It's early, and every game can drastically affect a netminder's save percentage and goals-against average, so ranking these guys involves a bit of a combination of strong personal stats along with the victories. Bonus points are given to guys performing without much in the way of goal support.

We feel for Frederik Andersen, who has been one of the best goalies early this season by the numbers but has a noose of an Anaheim Ducks team around his neck so has just two victories thus far. And being stuck in a platoon doesn't help guys such as the St. Louis Blues' Brian Elliott, Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen in Dallas or Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek of the Detroit Red Wings.

In the end, tiebreakers in the real world will go to the voters' personal preferences—that's where reputation often comes into play.

There are a lot of games to play for this award to shake out, but let's take a look at the early-season Vezina Trophy rankings.

Leave your choices in the comments section.

Honorable Mentions

Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues: Jake Allen looks to be taking over the starting role in St. Louis, and his numbers are jaw-dropping considering he started with three goals against in his first three games. He's top four in even-strength save percentage (.947) and has a 1.93 GAA and .935 save percentage in all situations.

Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild: Devan Dubnyk's got a strong win/loss record at 7-2-1, but his .898 save percentage and 2.59 GAA are way too high to garner votes. All eyes are on him to see whether last year was a fluke or if he's the real deal as a shutdown goaltender.

Ryan Miller, Vancouver Canucks: Ryan Miller is posting the best personal numbers of the past few years with a .923 save percentage and 2.14 GAA to go with his 5-3-4 record. If the Canucks can get some more wins in regulation or overtime instead of dropping the extra point, Miller could rise back into the Vezina conversation.

9. Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 6-4-0 record; .923 save percentage; 2.16 goals-against average; one shutout.

What they mean: First-year San Jose Sharks starter Martin Jones has been solid and certainly looks capable of being a surprise contender for the Vezina Trophy. His early work includes the third-best even-strength save percentage of .950, and he's tied for the league lead in shutouts.

Projection for 2015-16: It may be optimistic, but Jones has the size, athleticism and mental strength to be a top-five goalie every season. He could find himself among the Vezina Trophy finalists as early as this year if his Sharks continue to exceed external expectations of them after missing the playoffs last season.

8. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 6-3-1 record; .922 save percentage; 2.16 goals-against average.

What they mean: The New Jersey Devils weren't expected to win too often this season, but Cory Schneider has been a rock. He has allowed more than three goals just once, along with three three-goal games in 10 appearances.

Projection for 2015-16: Schneider is not getting much in the way of goal support so far this season, but the Devils are still winning close games thanks to their starting netminder's stoic play. If the Devils do manage to make the postseason and Schneider's numbers improve slightly, a significant number of people could vote him as the league's best goalie.

7. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Nelles/Associated Press

By the numbers: 6-3-1 record; .924 save percentage; 2.20 goals-against average; two shutouts.

What they mean: Corey Crawford's surrounding cast continues to change, yet the Chicago Blackhawks keep finding ways to stay competitive. Sure, credit goes to a strong defensive group, but Crawford is continuously undervalued by the general public, and his numbers to start this season of uncertainty are proof he's at least among the top 10 starters in the league.

Projection for 2015-16: Crawford will get the Hawks back into the playoffs. He's not the most dynamic in any category, but his statistics should still be good enough to finish in the top 10 at the position in wins, GAA and save percentage.

6. Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 3-4-2 record; .936 save percentage; 2.11 goals-against average.

What they mean: The Florida Panthers aren't exactly tearing it up in the Eastern Conference, but the team is hanging in there in the early battle for a wild-card spot thanks in part to Roberto Luongo's strong start. He's the NHL leader in even-strength save percentage (.961), which may be the best indication of a goalie's personal play.

Projection for 2015-16: Luongo's actual Vezina chances depend on whether the Panthers can get into the playoffs. Realistically, it's going to be tough. But if they do, it will be because of Luongo's heroics. He established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the league a long time ago, and the 36-year-old doesn't look to be relinquishing that status anytime soon.

5. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 6-1-2 record; .925 save percentage; 1.97 goals-against average; one shutout.

What they mean: Pekka Rinne has only lost one game in regulation this term, earning a point in eight of the nine games he's started for the Nashville Predators. He's proving the injury-riddled season two years ago was a blip on the radar as opposed to a sign of the 33-year-old slowing down.

Projection for 2015-16: Rinne likely won't get to the 70-game mark, so his 43-win career best is probably safe. But he's going to get the majority of starts, and the team is among the most competitive in the Western Conference's tight Central Division. Chances are he'll miss a few games with some sort of injury, but as long as nothing serious strikes him, he'll be a top-five 'tender.

4. Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 4-1-1 record; .936 save percentage; 1.65 goals-against average; two shutouts.

What they mean: Jaroslav Halak missed the start of the season with an upper-body injury suffered in the preseason, but he has come in hot with just one regulation loss in his first half-dozen starts and shutouts in a third of them. His GAA is second best in the NHL, and his save percentage is fifth.

Projection for 2015-16: Halak has always been talented but inconsistent. He was OK last season for the Isles but good enough to help them back into the playoffs. This year, he looks dynamite, and if he finally cobbles some consistency together for the full season, a Vezina Trophy will become a realistic possibility.

3. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

By the numbers: 7-2-0 record; .936 save percentage; 2.01 goals-against average; two shutouts.

What they mean: Last year's league MVP (yeah, we know the Hart Trophy is technically the league's most valuable player to his team, but that's a lot of words) helped his Montreal Canadiens get off to a record start and was right up there as a front-runner in the early race for the Vezina.

The numbers were even more impressive before he stunk it up in a couple of starts before the team announced he'd miss a week with injury, allowing nine goals and recording sub-.900 save percentages in a pair of losses.

Projection for 2015-16: Despite the pair of awful games before his absence, Price will be among the league's top two or three goaltenders by the end of the year and in contention for the Vezina Trophy and potentially even the Hart Trophy once again.

2. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 6-4-0 record; .939 save percentage; 1.74 goals-against average, two shutouts.

What they mean: The Pittsburgh Penguins started the season horribly, losing three straight out of the gate, but Marc-Andre Fleury was the lone bright spot, stopping 85 of the 93 shots he faced. He hasn't let his play slip, and the team has turned things around. Fleury has won six of his last seven games and has the second-best save percentage among those who have started at least five times.

Projection for 2015-16: Fleury was once the easy scapegoat for playoff failures in Pittsburgh, but now he's their best player—better than Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang at the moment. If he keeps up his impressive play and the Penguins win the Metropolitan Division, he should receive some Vezina votes.

1. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

By the numbers: 6-2-2 record; .943 save percentage; 1.88 goals-against average.

What they mean: New York Rangers backstop Henrik Lundqvist has the best save percentage among the league's starters and has the fifth-best GAA. He hasn't recorded a shutout yet but has only allowed more than two goals against in just a single game so far this season. His team is a strong defensive group, but Lundqvist has earned those impressive numbers with his steady elite play.

Projection for 2015-16: King Henrik is always mentioned among the best goaltenders in the league, and this year will be no exception come the end of the season if the 33-year-old stays healthy. The team was confident enough in him to deal away backup Cam Talbot over the summer, and Lundqvist will reward the club's loyalty with his usual royal play. He's a front-runner for the Vezina.