NHL Awards: Top 10 Vezina Trophy Candidates

There is a lot of talent between the pipes in the NHL these days, but when it comes time to select the 2010-11 Vezina Trophy, there can be only one.

Who is it going to be?

With about a quarter of the regular season to play, there are a host of goaltenders that could lay claim to the award with a strong finish to the season.  Last year's Vezina winner, Ryan Miller (pictured) may find it difficult to hold on to the honor for a second year in a row.

In fact, at this point I don't even have Miller in my top 10.

Who is in my top 10 of this season's Vezina Trophy candidates?  Let's take a look...

10. Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Goaltender Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on February 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sharks defeated the Penguins 3-2 in overtime

22-15-3, 2.43 GAA, .919 Save Percentage

Niemi was flat-out terrible as the season got underway, but since regaining the starting job he has led the Sharks up the Western Conference standings.

Niemi has played in just 41 games, but is among the top 10 in both Goals Against Average and Save Percentage.  He also has five shutouts this season.

He is red hot right now (8-2-0, 1.49, .947) and could garner a nomination if he continues to help anchor San Jose.

9. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

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CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 20: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens tends net against the Calgary Flames during the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic Game at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Canadiens 4-0

28-21-6, 2.41 GAA, .919 Save Percentage

Price has six shutouts for Montreal and is posting his best numbers of his four year NHL career.

He has appeared in more games (55) than any goalie in the league.  Despite trading playoff hero Jaroslav Halak, the Canadiens look to return to the playoffs.

8. Sergei Bobrovsky, Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers watches the puck in warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators at the Wells Fargo Center on February 3, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (P

24-9-4, 2.46 GAA, .918 Save Percentage

The 22-year-old Bobrovsky came out of nowhere, won the job in goal for the Flyers and has helped them to the top of the East.

The question remains whether the NHL rookie will have enough starts this season to merit serious Vezina consideration.   He has started 38 games.  His career high is 35.  Will he wear down as the season winds down?

This guy was 9-22-3 in the KHL last season.  His play this season with the Flyers is quite the reversal of fortune.

7. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 18: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks follows the action in front of him during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center on February 18, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Jackets defeated the Blackh

21-12-3, 2.11 GAA, .923 Save Percentage

Chicago's rookie net minder took advantage of mediocre play by Marty Turco to claim the starters job.  He is fifth in the league in save percentage and tied for second in GAA among starters.

Crawford is in the same boat as Bobrovsky as far as games started, having just 34.  He will likely have 50 or so at season's end.  He recorded his fourth shutout of the season Thursday in Nashville and has been a big reason that the Blackhawks are still in the playoff hunt.

6. Jonas Hiller, Anaheim Ducks

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks and Team Lidstrom takes a break during their game against Team Staal in the 58th NHL All-Star Game at RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty

26-16-3, 2.50 GAA, .925 Save Percentage

Hiller has missed the bulk of this month with fatigue and dizziness.  He is currently on injured reserve, so his Vezina stock is dropping by the day.  However, you can't ignore what he has done for the Ducks so far this season.

He is currently third in save percentage and had Anaheim in strong playoff position before being out of the lineup.  Look at how the Ducks have fallen in the West lately and you can see how much Hiller has meant to that club.

5. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck during the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Consol Energy Center on February 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sharks defeated the P

27-15-2, 2.27 GAA, .921 Save Percentage

Fleury has put up career-best numbers this season and is in the top five in wins and GAA.  He is keeping Pittsburgh in games despite being hit hard by injuries.

He is currently 3-4-2 in his last nine decisions.  Three of those losses came despite giving up two goals or less.

4. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

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DENVER, CO - JANUARY 20: Goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators defends the net against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 20, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Rinne had 32 saves as the Predators defeated the Avalanche 5-1. (Photo b

21-17-6, 2.14 GAA, .928 Save Percentage

The big Finnish goalie has continued to keep the offensively-challenged Predators in games this season, posting the NHL's second-best save percentage to go with the league's fourth-best GAA.

Since returning from a knee injury in December, Rinne has been in net for all but three of Nashville's 28 games in that span.

3. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 19: Goalie Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings signals the team during an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 19, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty

27-15-2, 2.27 GAA, .921 Save Percentage

Quick has six shutouts for the Kings, who currently have vaulted into the fifth playoff seed in the Western Conference.

He's tied for third in the NHL in wins and is tied with Crawford for second place in GAA.

Could a strong finish by the Kings lead to him getting a Vezina nomination?

2. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 02: Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks in action during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on February 2, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 6-0. (Photo by Ch

28-11-7, 2.27 GAA, .924 Save Percentage

The Canucks are currently the team with the highest point total in the league, and Luongo is a big part of Vancouver's big season so far.

After seeing a five game win streak come to an end, Luongo has lost three of his last four starts.  Still, he is in the top five in wins, GAA and save percentage.

Could Luongo hoist his Vezina Trophy at season's end?

1. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

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CALGARY,CANADA - FEBRUARY 22: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins makes a save against the Calgary Flames their NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome, February 22,2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

27-8-6, 1.99 GAA, .939 Save Percentage

The 36-year-old Thomas, is in line for his second Vezina Trophy, an award he picked up in the 2008-09 season.

Thomas, who was not even expected to be the best goalie in Boston this fall, leads the NHL in GAA and save percentage by a fairly wide margin.  He has helped earn 60 of his teams 75 points this season.

Right now, I would say Thomas is the front-runner for the trophy.  There is still a lot of hockey to be played, however, and one of the other men behind the mask could stake a claim by getting hot in the last two months.