Andrei Andreyevich Vasilevskiy (Russian: Андрей Андреевич Василевский; born 25 July 1994) is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the Lightning at the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Nicknamed the "Big Cat" and "Vasy", Vasilevskiy is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, as the league's top goaltender in the 2018–19 season and the 2025–26 season. He was also nominated for the 2017–18 NHL season. He led the league in wins for five consecutive seasons (2017–18 to 2021–22). He backstopped the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020, where he set a record of 18 playoff wins (only possible because that year's postseason had play-in games), and again in 2021 where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
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Playing career
Junior
He was originally selected by Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2011 KHL Junior Draft.
Vasilevskiy was selected 19th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 6 May 2014, he was signed by the Lightning to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Professional (2014–present)
On 27 September, Vasilevskiy was assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL), the top minor league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 15 December, Vasilevskiy was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week. In the previous week, he allowed just one goal on 56 shots faced in two games, which was good for a 0.50 goals against average (GAA) and a .982 save percentage. Vasilevskiy had a 29-save shutout against the Springfield Falcons, which snapped their franchise-record 11-game winning streak. In the next game, he made 29 saves in a 4–1 victory over the Hershey Bears. Vasilevskiy had compiled a record of 8–3–3 in 14 appearances with Syracuse that season, with a 2.34 GAA, .918 save percentage and two shutouts. On 2 January 2015, he was named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December, posting a 4–0–1 record with a 1.17 GAA and a .962 save percentage. He was the first Syracuse goaltender to win the award since Karl Goehring was honored in March 2008.
On 16 December 2014, Vasilevskiy was recalled to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He then started that night in his NHL debut, a 3–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. In the process he also became the first NHL goaltender to ever wear uniform number 88. He recorded his first NHL shutout on 3 March 2015, over the Buffalo Sabres in a 28-save performance. Vasilevskiy's first playoff win came on 6 June, when he replaced starting goaltender Ben Bishop twice during the third period of game two of the Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks; he thus became the first goalie in 24 years to win a playoff Final in relief and the first to earn his first career playoff win in relief in the Final since Lester Patrick in 1928. The Lightning lost the finals against the Blackhawks in six games.
On 3 September, Vasilevskiy had successful surgery to remove a blood clot from near his left collarbone and to treat a type of thoracic outlet syndrome. Vasilevskiy was expected to return to the ice in 2–3 months. On 21 October, Vasilevskiy was cleared to come off of his blood thinner medication, allowing him to return to practice. On 1 November, the Lightning recalled Vasilevskiy from his conditioning stint with the Crunch, where he made 56 of 58 saves in two wins. Vasilevskiy made his return to the NHL that same day, in a 4–3 Lightning victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Vasilevskiy once again filled in for Ben Bishop in round three of the 2016 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins after Bishop got injured. Despite Vasilevskiy's strong performance, the Lightning lost in seven games, one win shy of a second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Vasilevskiy appeared in 24 games with the team during the 2015–16 season, posting a record of 11–10–0 to go along with a 2.76 goals-against average and .910 save percentage, as well as one shutout in his second season. He also played in eight Stanley Cup playoff games, recording a record of 3–4 to go along with a 2.76 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.
International play
In winning the 2014 IIHF World Championship with the Russian senior team, Vasilevskiy was awarded the Order of Honour on 27 May 2014.
On 2 March 2016, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation named Vasilevskiy to its roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Vasilevskiy was joined by Lightning teammates Vladislav Namestnikov, and Nikita Kucherov. The tournament took place from 17 Sep to 1 October 2016, in Toronto.
On 9 April 2017, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation named Vasilevskiy to its roster for the 2017 World Ice Hockey Championships. Vasilevskiy was joined by teammate Nikita Kucherov. On 21 May 2017, Vasilevskiy helped Russia capture a bronze medal when they defeated Finland in the bronze medal game. Additionally, Vasilevskiy was voted the top goaltender of the tournament.
Personal life
His father, Andrei Vasilevski (born 1966), was also a goaltender who competed in the Russian Superleague as a member of Salavat Yulaev Ufa. His elder brother, Alexei, plays in the KHL for Salavat Yulaev Ufa.
Vasilevskiy and his wife have one son. He considers himself a family man, spending time with his family when not busy with ice hockey, avoiding bars and social media. He has his wife's and son's names painted on his goaltender mask.
Vasilevskiy is a passionate Eastern Orthodox Christian, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church. He regularly attends Church service at the Russian Orthodox Church in Tampa and has kept a plaque of Andrew the Apostle in his dressing room stall since joining the NHL.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Bold indicates led league
Records
Single season
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
Most wins by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 314
Most shutouts by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 37
Most games played by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 515
Most career saves by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 11,261
Most shots against by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 12,251
Most saves in a game by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 54
Career playoffs
NHL record most wins in a single postseason – 18 (2020)
Most playoff wins by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 33
Most playoff games played by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 58
Most saves in a playoff game by a Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender – 61
Most series clinching shutouts in NHL history - 6