NHL: Elimination of ties changed goaltenders forever

The way we evaluate NHL goalies changes frequently. However, no change was as huge as the recent elimination of ties, which occurred after the 2005 lockout.

The all-time wins list for NHL goaltenders is arguably the most prestigious of records kept for that position. A list of legends at the top from decade’s past up until today’s active leaders. Since the elimination of ties to end regular season games, this generation and future generations have a clear advantage to climb up the list faster than the legends before them.

The number one objective for any goaltender at any level is to win the game. Whether they make 15 saves or 50 saves, as long as they win the game on that given night, they are satisfied.  Goaltenders don’t celebrate after every huge save like a skater would after every goal.

The only time you really see a goaltender celebrate is after the game is finished and their team came out with the victory. Wins are a team accomplishment but have been tracked with goaltenders historically.

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Throughout the 103 year history of the NHL, a countless number of records have been set both for team achievements and individual player accomplishments. Over time the league has evolved and some rules have changed. The various rule changes have helped some record holders and subsequent placeholders on all time lists stay in tact longer. Some changes have given the modern generations and beyond advantages over their predecessors.

Beginning in the 2005-06 season, the NHL eliminated ties as a way to end regular season games. Shootouts were installed to end games that were still tied after the overtime period, with a definitive winner in every game from that season moving forward. This, in turn, gave goaltenders more wins and losses instead of ties. Huge advantage for goalies playing post 2005, disadvantage for goalies pre 2005.

Here is a look at the top 10 on the NHL All Time Wins list with the amount of ties they had in their careers. All information obtained through records.nhl.com

1. Martin Brodeur: 691 wins (105 ties)
2. Patrick Roy: 551 wins (131 ties)
3. Roberto Luongo: 489 wins (33 ties)
4. Ed Belfour: 484 wins (111 ties)
5. Marc-Andre Fleury: 466 wins (2 ties)
6. Henrik Lundqvist: 459 wins (0 ties)
7. Curtis Joseph: 454 wins (90 ties)
8. Terry Sawchuk: 445 wins (171 ties)
9. Jacques Plante: 437 wins (145 ties)
10. Tony Esposito: 423 wins (152 ties)

From this list, Lundqvist leads with 61 Shootout wins, Fleury has 58 shootout wins, Roberto Luongo has 52 shootout wins and Brodeur has 42 shootout wins. Belfour and Joseph played a few seasons post-2005 but didn’t have a significant amount of shootout wins.

Looking at this list, if all the shootout wins were counted as ties, Lundqvist and Fleury would drop out of the top 10 to this point and Luongo would slide down to number eight.

Arguably, if ties never happened and every game had a definitive winner and loser, imagine how this list would change. Even if they won half of those ties, the entire list outside of Brodeur and Roy would be placed definitely. Here is what that rough estimate of what the NHL top 10 would look like:

1. Martin Brodeur: 744 wins
2. Patrick Roy: 617 wins
3. Curtis Joseph: 599 wins
4. Ed Belfour: 540 wins
5. Terry Sawchuk: 530 wins
6. Jacques Plante: 510 wins
7. Roberto Luongo: 505 wins
8. Tony Esposito: 499 wins
9. Glenn Hall: 489 wins (407 wins, 164 ties currently)
10. Marc-Andre Fleury: 467 wins

This isn’t to knock the efforts of all the great goaltenders listed in this piece. Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy’s place would be solidified no matter what way you look at it. Brodeur’s career stretched through both eras so his accomplishments are a wash either way. Lundqvist and Luongo historically carried subpar lottery teams into the playoffs for most of their careers.

Every goaltender in this piece is a hockey legend no matter what way you look at the all-time wins list. Long careers of health, tremendous talent and longevity. Comparing eras and ranking goaltenders through career wins is tougher to do with the existence then elimination of ties.