Ranking the top 5 greatest black NHL players of all-time

2. Grant Fuhr

Grant Fuhr is the most famous black goaltender of all-time. He’s also the most prolific. Fuhr is best known for his time with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s. Though Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier got most of the attention, Fuhr’s importance to their dynasty shouldn’t be overlooked. He helped the Oilers win five Stanley Cups and he was the starting goalie for four of them.

Fuhr is also best known for being the first black goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy, as he won the award in 1988. He nearly became the first black player to win the Hart Trophy that same year, as he finished second in the Hart Trophy race. Fuhr is also the first black goaltender and player to be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He is among the NHL’s career leaders in games played by a goalie (868) and wins (403). Fuhr’s the career leader among black goaltenders in both categories. He played 19 seasons in the NHL, with 10 of those seasons coming in Edmonton.

Fuhr also played for the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and Calgary Flames. He’s one of the most decorated black athletes in hockey history, trailing only the guy ahead of him.