Top 10 Hockey Goalies of All Time
As a lifelong hockey fan and former goaltender, I have always been fascinated by the incredible skill and athleticism of the game’s greatest netminders. In this article, I will be counting down the top 10 hockey goalies of all time, based on their accomplishments, statistics, and impact on the sport.
Curiosities, Top Statistics, and Interesting Information
- The first goalie to wear a mask in an NHL game was Jacques Plante in 1959.
- The most wins by a goalie in NHL history is held by Martin Brodeur, with 691.
- The highest career save percentage in NHL history belongs to Dominik Hasek, at .922.
- The only goalie to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player more than once is Dominik Hasek, who won it twice in the late 1990s.
- The oldest goalie to play in an NHL game was Johnny Bower, who was 45 years old when he appeared in a game for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969.
- The most shutouts in a single season by a goalie is held by George Hainsworth, who recorded 22 shutouts in the 1928-29 season.
- The only goalie to score a goal in an NHL game is Ron Hextall, who did so twice in his career.
- The only goalie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL’s playoff MVP twice is Patrick Roy, who won it in 1986 and 1993.
- The highest career goals against average (GAA) in NHL history belongs to Tiny Thompson, at 2.08.
- The only goalie to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender more than seven times is Jacques Plante, who won it seven times in a row from 1956-1963, and then again in 1969.
10. Glenn Hall
Glenn Hall was one of the most durable and consistent goalies in NHL history, playing in a then-record 502 consecutive games over 10 seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy three times and was named to the All-Star team six times. Hall’s signature move was his butterfly style, in which he dropped down to his knees and spread his legs to cover the bottom of the net. He also pioneered the use of the trapezoid behind the net to limit a goalie’s ability to handle the puck.
9. Bernie Parent
Bernie Parent was the backbone of the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championship teams in the 1970s, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy both times as the playoff MVP. He was a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and had a career GAA of 2.55. Parent was known for his quick reflexes and acrobatic saves, and he was one of the first goalies to regularly use the catching glove to catch shots instead of just blocking them.
8. Grant Fuhr
Grant Fuhr was the goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty of the 1980s, winning five Stanley Cups with the team. He was known for his athleticism and ability to make big saves in pressure situations. Fuhr was also a pioneer for African-American players in the NHL, and he remains the only black goaltender to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
7. Terry Sawchuk
Terry Sawchuk was one of the most dominant goalies of the 1950s and 1960s, winning four Stanley Cups and four Vezina Trophies. He holds the record for the most shutouts in NHL history with 103. Sawchuk was known for his toughness and willingness to play through injuries, as well as his acrobatic style in which he would contort his body to make saves.
6. Tony Esposito
Tony Esposito was a pioneer of the butterfly style of goaltending, in which the goalie drops down to his knees and spreads his legs to cover the bottom of the net. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1970 and went on to win three Vezina Trophies and a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks. Esposito had a career GAA of 2.92 and a save percentage of .906.
5. Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden had one of the most dominant stretches of any goalie in NHL history, winning six Stanley Cups in eight seasons with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 1971 and had a career GAA of 2.24. Dryden was known for his size and his calm demeanor in pressure situations.
4. Dominik Hasek
Dominik Hasek is widely considered one of the most unorthodox and unpredictable goalies in NHL history, known for his acrobatic saves and unorthodox positioning. He won six Vezina Trophies and two Hart Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player, and he led the Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999. Hasek’s career save percentage of .922 is the highest in NHL history, and he also holds the record for the most shutouts in a single season with 13.
3. Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante revolutionized the goaltending position with his use of the mask, which he first wore in a game in 1959. He won the Vezina Trophy seven times, including six times in a row, and he was the first goalie to regularly handle the puck behind the net. Plante was also known for his durability and his ability to play through injuries, and he won six Stanley Cups in his career.
2. Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy is widely considered one of the greatest playoff performers in NHL history, winning four Stanley Cups and three Conn Smythe Trophies as the playoff MVP. He won the Vezina Trophy three times and holds the record for the most playoff wins by a goalie with 151. Roy was known for his mental toughness and his ability to rise to the occasion in pressure situations.
1. Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur is the most successful goalie in NHL history, with 691 career wins, five Vezina Trophies, and three Stanley Cup championships. He holds the record for the most shutouts in NHL history with 125, and he is the only goalie to have scored more than one goal in his career. Brodeur was known for his consistency and his ability to play at a high level for extended periods of time, and he also pioneered the use of the trapezoid behind the net to limit a goalie’s ability to handle the puck.
FAQs
Who is the best goalie of all time?
While there is no definitive answer to this question, many experts and fans consider Martin Brodeur to be the greatest goalie of all time due to his longevity, consistency, and numerous records and accolades.
Who has the most shutouts in NHL history?
The goalie with the most shutouts in NHL history is Martin Brodeur, with 125.
Who is the most successful goalie in NHL history?
By many measures, the most successful goalie in NHL history is Martin Brodeur, with 691 career wins, five Vezina Trophies, and three Stanley Cup championships.
Who was the first goalie to wear a mask in an NHL game?
The first goalie to wear a mask in an NHL game was Jacques Plante, who did so on November 1, 1959, while playing for the Montreal Canadiens.
Who is the only goalie to score a goal in an NHL game?
The only goalie to score a goal in an NHL game is Ron Hextall, who did so twice in his career, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs.