Holtby pulling for Bobrovsky to capture Vezina Trophy

Braden Holtby doesn't foresee himself repeating as the Vezina Trophy winner.

The Washington Capitals goaltender and reigning victor has been blunt about who deserves the trophy this year, suggesting Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky should take home the hardware.

"He definitely deserves it," Holtby said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "That's my expectations and I think that's what it should be. It goes to show what kind of season he had."

Bobrovsky will be looking to earn his second Vezina after capturing it during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

Holtby insists Bobrovsky's season compares favorably to that of Carey Price's 2014-15 campaign, when the Montreal Canadiens netminder earned the Vezina, the Hart, and the Ted Lindsay Award.

"It's not far off," Holtby said. "It's pretty special and I hope he gets the praise that he deserves because he put in a lot of work and us goalies around the league realize that and appreciate (that) what he's done this year is pretty special."

The 28-year-old certainly put up the numbers to back up the vote of confidence from Holtby. Bobrovsky constructed a record of 41-17-5 in 63 games, pacing the league among goalies with at least 25 games played with a .931 save percentage, a 2.06 goals-against average, and tying for third in shutouts with seven.