Andrei Vasilevskiy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andrei Vasilevskiy |
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Vasilevskiy with the Tampa Bay Lightning in May 2018
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| Born | 25 July 1994 Tyumen, Russia |
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| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Tampa Bay Lightning Salavat Yulaev Ufa |
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| National team |  Russia |
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| NHL Draft | 19th overall, 2012 Tampa Bay Lightning |
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| Playing career | 2010–present | ||
Andrei Andreyevich Vasilevskiy (born 25 July 1994) is a professional ice hockey goaltender from Russia. He plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Lightning picked him in the first round of the 2012 NHL entry draft. Many people think he is one of the best goaltenders playing today, and maybe even one of the best ever!
Andrei is often called the "Big Cat" or "Vasy". He won the Vezina Trophy in the 2018–19 NHL season, which is given to the league's best goaltender. He has also led the NHL in wins for five years in a row (from 2017–18 to 2021–22). Vasilevskiy helped the Lightning win two Stanley Cup championships in a row, in 2020 and 2021. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in the 2021 playoffs, which means he was the most valuable player during the playoffs. He holds an NHL record for the most wins in a single postseason, with 18 wins in 2020.
Contents
Andrei Vasilevskiy's Hockey Journey
Starting in Junior Hockey
Andrei Vasilevskiy began his hockey journey in Russia. He was first chosen by a team called Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft. This was a big step for him.
Then, in 2012, the Tampa Bay Lightning picked him 19th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft. On 6 May 2014, he signed his first professional contract with the Lightning.
Becoming a Pro Player (2014–Present)
First Years with Tampa Bay (2014–2016)
On 27 September 2014, Vasilevskiy was sent to the Syracuse Crunch. This team is the top minor league team for the Lightning. He quickly showed how good he was. In December, he was named the AHL Player of the Week. He had a great week, letting in only one goal in two games.
Vasilevskiy was called up to the Tampa Bay Lightning on 16 December 2014. He made his NHL debut that same night! He helped his team win 3–1 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was also the first NHL goaltender to wear jersey number 88. On 3 March 2015, he got his first NHL shutout (meaning he didn't let the other team score any goals).
His first playoff win came on 6 June 2015. He played during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Lightning lost the finals that year to the Chicago Blackhawks.
In September 2015, Vasilevskiy had surgery for a blood clot. He was expected to be out for a few months. But he worked hard and returned to practice in October. He came back to play in the NHL on 1 November 2015.
In the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vasilevskiy stepped in again. The Lightning's main goalie, Ben Bishop, got injured. Vasilevskiy played well, but the Lightning lost in seven games. They were just one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals again.
Becoming a Star: Vezina, Stanley Cups, and MVP (2016–Present)
On 1 July 2016, the Lightning signed Vasilevskiy to a new contract. On 28 December, he got his first NHL point by assisting on a goal. He finished the 2016–17 NHL season with a strong record.
On 26 October 2017, Vasilevskiy played in his 100th NHL game. He won his 8th game in a row, tying a team record. Four days later, he broke that record with his 9th straight win! He also tied an NHL record for most wins in October with 10. By 12 December, he had 20 wins in just 25 games. This was one of the fastest times in NHL history to reach 20 wins.
In January 2018, Vasilevskiy was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game. On 22 January, he got his 7th shutout of the season. This tied the Lightning record for most shutouts in one season. He also set a new team record for most road shutouts. By 3 April, he had 43 wins and 8 shutouts in the season. Both were new Lightning records! He was nominated for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie.
In November 2018, Vasilevskiy broke his left foot during practice. He was out for about a month. He returned on 13 December, making 48 saves in a game. This tied a team record for most saves in a game. In January 2019, he was again named an NHL All-Star.
On 14 February 2019, Vasilevskiy got his 17th career shutout. This tied the Lightning record. Two days later, he broke the record with his 18th shutout! On 20 March, he made an amazing 54 saves in one game. This set a new Lightning record for most saves in a single game. On 25 March, he became the Lightning's all-time leader in career saves. On 19 June, Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy! He was the first Lightning player to ever win this award.
On 29 July 2019, Vasilevskiy signed a big 8-year contract with the Lightning. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy again for the third year in a row. On 11 August 2020, he made an incredible 61 saves in a playoff game. This was the most saves ever by a Lightning goalie in a playoff game.
On 28 September 2020, Vasilevskiy got his first career playoff shutout. This happened in the game where the Lightning won the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals! He set an NHL record for most minutes played by a goalie in the playoffs that year. He also set a record for most playoff wins in a single season with 18.
Vasilevskiy continued to play amazingly in the 2020–21 NHL season. He was a Vezina Trophy finalist for the fourth time. In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, he got a shutout in every game that clinched a series win for the Lightning! On 7 July 2021, he got a 1–0 shutout to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. This gave the Lightning their second straight Stanley Cup! Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He was the first goalie since 2012 to win this award.
On 23 May 2022, Vasilevskiy set another NHL record. He got his sixth series-clinching shutout! He played incredibly well, letting in only three goals in a four-game series. The Lightning made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for a third time in a row. However, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
In September 2023, Vasilevskiy had back surgery. He missed the first two months of the 2023–24 NHL season. He returned on 24 November, helping the Lightning win 8–2. On 14 November 2024, Vasilevskiy earned his 300th NHL win. He became one of only 40 goalies in NHL history to reach 300 wins, and the fastest to do it! On 12 December, he played his 500th NHL game. He was the first Lightning goalie to reach this milestone.
Playing for His Country
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | ||
| Representing Russia |
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| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2014 Belarus | |
| Bronze | 2017 Germany/France | |
| Bronze | 2019 Slovakia | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Silver | 2012 Canada | |
| Bronze | 2013 Russia | |
| Bronze | 2014 Sweden | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2011 Germany | |
Andrei Vasilevskiy has also played for the Russian national team. In 2014, he helped Russia win a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Championship. Because of this, he received the Order of Honour.
He also played in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In 2017, he helped Russia win a bronze medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. He was even voted the best goaltender of that tournament!
Andrei's Life Off the Ice
Andrei Vasilevskiy's father, Andrei Vasilevski, was also a goaltender. He played in Russia's top hockey league.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is married and has a son. He likes to spend time with his family when he's not playing hockey. He even has his wife's and son's names painted on his goalie mask!
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2010–11 | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 730 | 22 | 3 | 1.81 | .937 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 87 | 3 | 0 | 2.05 | .936 | ||
| 2011–12 | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | 27 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 1,477 | 55 | 0 | 2.23 | .931 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | .931 | ||
| 2012–13 | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 1,613 | 52 | 3 | 1.93 | .930 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 9 | 0 | 2.85 | .897 | ||
| 2012–13 | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | KHL | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 298 | 11 | 1 | 2.22 | .924 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | KHL | 28 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1,601 | 59 | 3 | 2.21 | .923 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 1,144 | 38 | 1 | 1.99 | .934 | ||
| 2014–15 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 25 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 1,469 | 60 | 2 | 2.45 | .917 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 864 | 34 | 1 | 2.36 | .918 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 113 | 6 | 0 | 3.19 | .895 | ||
| 2015–16 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 12 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 711 | 23 | 1 | 1.94 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 24 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1,259 | 58 | 1 | 2.76 | .910 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 434 | 20 | 0 | 2.76 | .925 | ||
| 2016–17 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 50 | 23 | 17 | 7 | 2,832 | 123 | 2 | 2.61 | .917 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 65 | 44 | 17 | 3 | 3,826 | 167 | 8 | 2.62 | .920 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 1,000 | 43 | 0 | 2.58 | .918 | ||
| 2018–19 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 53 | 39 | 10 | 4 | 3,204 | 128 | 6 | 2.40 | .925 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 236 | 15 | 0 | 3.83 | .856 | ||
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 52 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 3,122 | 133 | 3 | 2.56 | .917 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 1,709 | 54 | 1 | 1.90 | .927 | ||
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 42 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 2,524 | 93 | 5 | 2.21 | .925 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 1,390 | 44 | 5 | 1.90 | .937 | ||
| 2021–22 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 63 | 39 | 18 | 5 | 3,761 | 156 | 2 | 2.49 | .916 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 1,403 | 59 | 1 | 2.52 | .922 | ||
| 2022–23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 60 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 3,597 | 159 | 4 | 2.65 | .915 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 388 | 23 | 0 | 3.56 | .875 | ||
| 2023–24 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 52 | 30 | 20 | 2 | 3,063 | 148 | 2 | 2.90 | .900 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 298 | 16 | 0 | 3.22 | .897 | ||
| KHL totals | 36 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 1,899 | 70 | 4 | 2.21 | .923 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 1,144 | 38 | 1 | 1.99 | .934 | ||||
| NHL totals | 477 | 293 | 143 | 30 | 28,049 | 1,199 | 34 | 2.56 | .917 | 115 | 66 | 46 | 6,968 | 280 | 7 | 2.41 | .920 | ||||
International Play Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Russia | U18 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 272 | 12 | 0 | 2.65 | .897 | |
| 2011 | Russia | U18 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 344 | 15 | 0 | 2.62 | .936 | |
| 2012 | Russia | U18 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 299 | 11 | 1 | 2.20 | .922 | |
| 2012 | Russia | WJC | 5 | 4 | 1 | 299 | 10 | 2 | 2.01 | .953 | |
| 2013 | Russia | WJC | 4 | 3 | 1 | 164 | 5 | 1 | 2.04 | .943 | |
| 2014 | Russia | WJC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 328 | 10 | 0 | 1.83 | .933 | |
| 2014 | Russia | WC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 1 | 1 | 0.50 | .985 | |
| 2017 | Russia | WC | 9 | 6 | 2 | 523 | 15 | 3 | 1.72 | .936 | |
| 2019 | Russia | WC | 8 | 7 | 1 | 488 | 13 | 2 | 1.60 | .946 | |
| Junior totals | 31 | 19 | 11 | 1,706 | 63 | 5 | 2.22 | .935 | |||
| Senior totals | 19 | 14 | 3 | 1,131 | 29 | 6 | 1.54 | .946 | |||
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| KHL | ||
| Alexei Cherepanov Award | 2014 | |
| NHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 | |
| Vezina Trophy | 2019 | |
| First All-Star Team | 2019, 2021 | |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2020, 2021 | |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 2021 | |
| International | ||
| Order of Honour | 2014 | |
| WC All-Star Team | 2017, 2019 | |
| Best Goaltender | 2017, 2019 | |
| WJC All-Decade Team | 2019 | |
Records
Andrei Vasilevskiy holds many impressive records!
Single Season Records
- Most wins in a single season by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 44 (2017–18)
- Most shutouts in a single season by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 8 (2017–18)
- Most saves in a single season by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 1,908 (2017–18)
- Most shots against in a single season by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 2,075 (2017–18)
Career Regular Season Records
- Most wins by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 293
- Most shutouts by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 34
- Most games played by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 477
- Most career saves by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 11,999
- Most shots against by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 13,048
- Most saves in a game by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 54
Career Playoff Records
- NHL record for most wins in a single postseason – 18 (2020)
- Most playoff wins by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 66
- Most playoff games played by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 115
- Most saves in a playoff game by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 61
- Most series-clinching shutouts in NHL history - 6
