This was pretty much a slam-dunk for Sergei Bobrovsky.
Following one of the best goaltending seasons in Blue Jackets franchise history, Bobrovsky was awarded the Vezina Trophy on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The 2017 Vezina is the second of his career, having also win in 2013 after his first season with the Blue Jackets.
Bobrovsky set a personal and club record with 41 wins in 2016-17 as the Blue Jackets went from lottery team to the NHL's fourth-best record (50-24-8). His .931 save percentage in 63 starts was far and away the best in the league, and he added seven shutouts on to that impressive body of work, as well.
"Thank you to the whole Blue Jackets organization for believing in me," Bobrovsky said, referencing the turbulent 2015-16 season. "We're going in the right direction now."
He was the Blue Jackets' backbone, as his coach and teammates often called him, leading Columbus to its third Stanley Cup playoff berth in franchise history.
If you're wondering what kind of an effect Bobrovsky's stellar play has on the Blue Jackets, allow his head coach -- the new Jack Adams Award winner, John Tortorella -- to explain:
Bobrovsky beat out Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price and Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby for the Vezina Trophy. He also became the first player in Blue Jackets history to be named a finalist for the Hart Trophy (which went to Connor McDavid), given annually to the NHL's most valuable player.
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