NHL: The best goalie from each franchise’s history (Updated 2023)
In the NHL, a great goalie can easily be the difference between winning and losing. Luckily, over the past few decades, hockey fans from across the globe have come to love everything that embodies those players that play one of the toughest positions on an NHL team.
From awesome hockey masks to extraordinary defensive plays, many legendary goalies have truly made a name for themselves through their abilities to stop anything from getting past them. The best of the best have done everything from winning Stanley Cup championships to being a driving force in leaving games victorious.
Let’s go down memory lane and remember some of the best goalies to ever do it for every NHL team. Of course, these were all chosen based on various criteria, from classic goalies of the 80s to even some newer goalies still actively playing today. Please keep in mind that it’s not always about winning Stanley Cup championships that solidified one particular goalie over another but it’s all about the impact they had on their team.
This wasn’t easy to pick the goalies selected here for each team but these are the ones that stood out the most when it came to everything they brought to the table. Let’s fire up breaking down each team’s pick and why this goalie stood out ahead of others on their respective teams.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Boston Bruins – Tiny Thompson
Let’s take a trip back to the very early days of the NHL, during the time goalie Tiny Thompson was making history in 1928, his rookie season. There’s always something special about being the first in greatness as Thompson was part of one of the famous “Original Six” teams in the NHL with the Boston Bruins. He was a big part of the franchise winning its first-ever Stanley Cup championship that very same season.
In his rookie season, Thompson not only won it all with the Bruins but he made NHL history by being the only goalie to have a shutout in his first game when compared to other goalies in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He also played in every game for the Bruins that season and was truly a force to reckon with, nothing would get past him at all.
Opposing teams could not figure out how to get him to crack, even in close games to try to tie things up or go for a lead. He ended up with a 1.15 goals-against average in his rookie season which was unheard of at the time and goes to show how hard it was to score against him.
Thanks to everything Thompson brought to the table, the Bruins had a perfect record in the Stanley Cup playoffs as opposing teams combined for just three goals against him. It should also be noted that Thompson was the creator of the famous glove save that we see often in today’s NHL. He was and forever will be a legendary goalie that even to this day, people still speak highly of when it comes to the rich history of the Bruins.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Buffalo Sabres – Dominik Hasek
For those of you that love the Buffalo Sabres, the nickname “The Dominator” should bring a smile to your face. Goalie Dominik Hasek will go down as one of the greatest goaltenders of all-time but gets special recognition for his nine seasons spent on the Sabres in the 90s to bring them back into the spotlight.
I know many will likely correlate Hasek with the Detroit Red Wings since he won two Stanley Cup championships there but make no mistake about it, he turned things around big time for the Sabres. Hasek’s presence protecting the net helped turn the Sabres into instant contenders.
Hasek’s dominance sent the Sabres to eight postseason trips as he won numerous NHL awards from the Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy, and even the Hart Memorial Trophy. It’s a shame the Sabres didn’t go the whole way but his ability to shut out opposing high-octane offenses is what enabled him to eventually get traded to the Red Wings in the first place.
At this point in time, Hasek still owns the NHL record for the highest career save percentage ever at 0.9223. His jersey No. 39 was eventually retired by the Sabres as Hasek had a phenomenal career once he officially retired in 2012.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: New Jersey Devils – Martin Brodeur
The man, the myth, the legend himself. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, I’m talking about one of the most legendary goalies of all time, Martin Brodeur. He will go down as not only an elite goalie but a beloved sports icon in New Jersey.
Brodeur spent two decades on the Devils and during that time, won not one, not two, but three Stanley Cup championships. He’s the all-time leader in wins at 691 and shutouts at 125 as he also represented the Devils in nine NHL All-Star Games.
In the grand scheme of things, Brodeur was all about consistency, being a stout defender of the net, and doing whatever it took to help win a plethora of hockey games. Considering he won close to 700 hockey games is quite impressive for a goalie that won at least 30+ games in an NHL record 12 straight seasons.
During his prime, the Devils were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference and as much as head coaches tried to gameplan against Brodeur, not many were even able to make a dent. To add even more to Brodeur’s legacy, he’s the only goalie in NHL history to score three goals, much to the delight of Devils fans across the globe. To this day, Brodeur is still with the Devils but in an executive role handling business development as an executive vice president.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: New York Islanders – Billy Smith
All it takes is an opportunity elsewhere whenever your name is selected in an NHL Expansion Draft and something extraordinary can occur. Such is the case with goalie Billy Smith who, back in 1972, was drafted by the New York Islanders in that year’s Expansion Draft from the Los Angeles Kings. The rest is NHL history as Smith went on to become one of the best goalies of all time.
With the Islanders, Smith won four straight Stanley Cup championships in the early 80s where everything fell right into place. Smith averaged a .894 career save percentage as watching him do what he did best always captivated hockey fans everywhere. He was so fluid in his movement that the way he pulled off his saves was so much fun to watch.
Of course, for all the greatness Smith accomplished, he was a fierce competitor in that opposing teams knew that once he got into a mood, his temper would flare up where it would be quite intimidating. During the 80s, many stories were told that Smith always kept interactions and conversations focused on hockey games and nothing else. Nobody knew his hobbies, his favorite kind of music, nothing. It was all about who the next opponent was and what needed to get done to win.
Smith will also go down in NHL history as the first goalie to ever score a goal and when he retired in 1989, everyone knew he’d be a future Hockey Hall of Famer. Not only did he achieve that in 1993 but the Islanders did the right thing and promptly retired his iconic No. 31 that very same year.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: New York Rangers – Mike Richter
If you were a fan of the New York Rangers back in the 90s, you more than likely want to thank everything goalie Mike Richter accomplished for the franchise. It was back in the mid-90s that Richter hit the NHL by storm and put the Rangers on a path of major success.
The year 1993 will go down in history as one of the best seasons ever for the Rangers. Richter was a big part of that legacy as he played lights-out hockey as a goalie. He had career-highs in regular-season wins at 42 and four shutouts when it mattered most in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Richter played at a whole other level which resulted in the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup that season and continued playing at this high level until 2003. Once he retired that year, it was only a matter of time before the Rangers honored him for 15 years of service.
The Rangers retired his No. 35 a year later in 2004 as at this point in time, Richter’s jersey is only the third one to ever be retired in Madison Square Garden. Richter was then inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008 as many hockey gurus and pundits predicted he would have a long and successful career once he got drafted into the NHL.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Philadelphia Flyers – Bernie Parent
Philadelphia has always been a huge sports town but it was in the early 70s that their hockey team got a ton of recognition across the hockey world. Goalie Bernie Parent was a huge driving force in proving that the Flyers had what it took to keep up with the best of them.
Parent’s abilities to protect the net by stopping anything and everything coming his way helped the Flyers win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1973 and 1974. If you combine both seasons, he had 30 shutouts in both regular and postseason action. Besides winning championships and winning a ton of hockey games, he also helped bring a national audience to the Flyers’ way of hockey dominance.
Parent made the cover of Time magazine in 1975 and to this day, is one of only four hockey players to ever grace it. His popularity is still evident to this very day as fans of the Flyers at home games would often chant his name anytime one of their goalies had a clutch save or big stops in power play situations.
Not only is Parent a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame but also the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. Parent continues to stay close to the organization as the Flyers officially made him their Ambassador of Hockey, much to the joy of fans everywhere who will forever appreciate everything he did with the franchise as one of their best goalies to ever wear their uniform.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Pittsburgh Penguins – Marc-Andre Fleury
If any hockey fan is making a Mount Rushmore of the best goalies of all time to ever play in the NHL, Marc-Andre Fleury would undoubtedly be included. He embodied everything anyone can ask for in a goalie with his unique style of energy every single time he deflects, blocks, and stops incoming pucks with such precision.
During his prime years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he did his part for the franchise to win three Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and again in 2017. The goalie that made putting flowers on his amazing goalie masks cool, Fleury still owns the franchise record for most goaltender wins at 375.
After many amazing years with the Penguins and after his third championship with the team, Fleury decided to test the waters elsewhere due to the franchise wanting to go in a different direction at goalie. He entered the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and landed with the Vegas Golden Knights.
After a few years with the Golden Knights, believe it or not, Fleury is still getting the job done on yet another new team, the Minnesota Wild. He is continuing his legacy in what is a guaranteed Hockey Hall of Fame career.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Washington Capitals – Olaf Kolzig
When you get a goalie that spends well over a decade with your franchise and continues as a coach to further help your organization, that’s a whole other level of commitment. Such is the case with goalie Olaf Kolzig and his 14+ years with the Washington Capitals.
During his playing years in the 90s and 00s with the Capitals, Kolzig earned his starting role the old-school way by working hard and being a team player. He never complained about his minutes on ice or missed opportunities and just waited until his number was called to step in and take care of business.
Boy, did Kolzig take care of business as all he did was win hockey games and break many franchise records he still owns to this very day. Kolzig has the franchise records for most career wins at 301, more career shutouts at 35, and most career Stanley Cup playoffs shutouts at 6.
Unfortunately, Kolzig never won it all as a player but thanks to being the goaltending coach of the Capitals back in 2018, was finally able to earn a Stanley Cup championship. Sure, it might have been as a coach but there is no denying the impact Kolzig has had with the Capitals as a player, coach, and role model for well over a decade thanks to hard work and consistency.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Carolina Hurricanes – Cam Ward
It was not all that long ago that goalie Cam Ward was winning a ton of hockey games and being so good at what he did, even the best-scoring players couldn’t figure him out. Ward spent well over a decade being an anchor on the Hurricanes after his incredible rookie season with the team back in 2005.
Once Ward got promoted to being a starting goalie for the Hurricanes, the rest is NHL history. Not only did he do his part to win 14 games during the regular season, but he also went on to 15 more in the Stanley Cup playoffs straight to a championship. He posted two shutouts as many couldn’t believe a rookie of such caliber stepped right in to take care of business with ease and precision.
It was truly a magical season for the Hurricanes as Ward’s incredible play earned the Hurricanes their first-ever Stanley Cup in franchise history. He even won the Conn Smythe Trophy after being named MVP of that surreal playoff run. He was the first goaltender to ever win it all as a rookie since the mid-80s, as he made an impact immediately upon arrival.
Ward eventually retired in 2019 after a long career mostly with the Hurricanes and a brief stint with the Chicago Blackhawks. He will forever be remembered by Hurricanes fans across the globe as he still owns the franchise record for most wins at 218 and most shutouts at 27 which will more than likely not be broken anytime soon.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Chicago Blackhawks – Charlie Gardiner
In the late 20s and early 30s, there was only one goalie in the NHL that everyone kept talking about and that was Charlie Gardiner of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a legendary player that will go down in NHL history as the only goalie that was also a team captain that ever won a Stanley Cup championship.
Gardiner accomplished this back in 1934 and before that won the Vezina Trophy twice for being the best goalie to allow the fewest goals in a season. He was so great at what he did that in his seven seasons with the Blackhawks, he got major recognition when it came to what his career meant to the world of professional hockey.
It was in 1945 when the Hockey Hall of Fame was created that the committee made sure to recognize Gardiner and all his talents as an inaugural inductee. It was an amazing thing to do considering that unfortunately, Gardiner passed away just a few months after that incredible championship season due to a brain hemorrhage.
It’s a shame that is what ultimately happened to Gardiner as one can only imagine what else he could have accomplished if he was able to keep on playing for the Blackhawks. Regardless, he is a staple of franchise history and was mostly responsible for bringing the first Stanley Cup championship to the Windy City.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Columbus Blue Jackets – Steve Mason
Unfortunately for the Columbus Blue Jackets, they haven’t done much in their 20+ years of existence. They haven’t won a Stanley Cup championship, a Conference championship, or even a Division championship. One of the very few bright spots, however, was the rookie season of goalie Steve Mason.
In 2008, the Blue Jackets called up Mason to step in for their injured starting goalie and he took that golden opportunity in stride. He had an incredible rookie season in which he totaled 33 wins, 20 losses, and a career-high 10 shutouts. Hopes were high as the Blue Jackets were headed into the Stanley Cup playoffs but unfortunately, reality hit them hard as it tends to always do.
The Blue Jackets got swept and have had nothing but major disappointment ever since. Since Mason’s tenure with the Blue Jackets, they still have a big question mark when it comes to their goalie situation. At least during Mason’s rookie year with the Blue Jackets, they were some of the better moments in franchise history.
2008 was the last time that the Blue Jackets enjoyed the potential to have a strong goalie ready to push the envelope as a staple of the franchise. Unfortunately, Mason never lived up to or surpassed what he accomplished in his rookie season and eventually moved on to other teams.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Dallas Stars – Eddie Belfour
Fans of the Dallas Stars will have fond memories come back into their minds whenever you hit them with the nickname of “Crazy Eddie” thanks to his dominance in the last 90s and early 00s. A Stanley Cup champion with the Stars in 1999, Belfour was one of the best goalies of all-time as he achieved 484 career regular-season wins protecting the net.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Belfour achieved 88 wins over his 20+ year career on top of 14 shutouts when it mattered most. He always wore an amazing goalie mask featuring an eagle as he was always soaring above the competition every single time he hit the ice.
Even though Belfour had stints with several other teams including the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers, it was Dallas that he’ll be remembered for the most. It’s the only place where most fans will remember him having the most success on.
It was a great sight to see Belfour inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the first year of eligibility back in 2011. Keep in mind, he went undrafted into the NHL and still made it to the top.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Detroit Red Wings – Terry Sawchuk
Goalie Terry Sawchuk made the Detroit Red Wings the team to beat in the mid-50s. At 5-11 and 195lbs, Sawchuk used his speed and tenacity to enjoy three Stanley Cup championships with the team in 1952, 1954, and 1955, respectively.
Sawchuk played in over 1,000 hockey games and totaled 971 regular-season wins, 103 shutouts, and was one of the best goalies playing in the 50s, 60s, and even early 70s. In the postseason, Sawchuk achieved 54 wins and 12 shutouts.
Once Sawchuk retired back in 1970, he was one of just 10 players to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the following year without having to wait the usual waiting period. This is how legendary Sawchuk was and it wasn’t until decades later, the Red Wings did right for his legacy.
In 1994, the Red Wings finally retired his jersey No. 1 and hung it proudly in Little Caesars Arena. Sawchuk’s legacy will never be forgotten on the Red Wings as he’ll go down in franchise history as their best goalie of all time.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Florida Panthers – John Vanbiesbrouck
The Florida Panthers are another team that has never won a Stanley Cup championship and until 1993, had many problems when it came to their goalie situation. It was that year that an experienced veteran goalie was made available via trade in John Vanbiesbrouck.
Vanbiesbrouck made a name for himself in the big apple after spending almost a decade with the New York Rangers. At the time, they wanted to go with goalie Mike Richter and decided to part ways with Vanbiesbrouck, which, at the end of the day, worked out well for everyone.
Once he arrived on the Panthers, it only took a few years until he was able to, and get this, bring the franchise to their first and so far, only Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Sadly, the Panthers could not seal the deal but the fact that he was able to finally get them there spoke volumes of his goalie abilities.
With over 350 wins and 40 shutouts in his career, Vanbiesbrouck was a much-needed catalyst on a team that was in dire need of such a dynamic player to bring some excitement to the mix. Watching him use his unique style of deflecting shots and making clutch saves will be something many fans of the Panthers always remember what he meant for the team during his five-year tenure.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Nashville Predators – Pekka Rinne
Good things can indeed come from a very late-round draft pick to be a future franchise player. Such is the case with goalie Pekka Rinne and being a future star goalie capable of setting major franchise records and doing his part to help the Nashville Predators become contenders.
As they say, if you have a great goalie, you have a great chance to win a lot of hockey games thanks to opponents being unable to score at all. Simply put, defense wins games, and Rinne was and still is the best goalie in the history of the Predators.
He owns the franchise record for most wins and shutouts in a regular season at 43 and 8, respectively. Most importantly of all, thanks to his superb goaltending skills, Rinne did his part to bring the Predators their first-ever playoff win in franchise history. This was back in 2009 and since then, the Predators are almost always household names in the postseason.
Unfortunately, the Predators are still one of the few NHL teams that have yet to win a Stanley Cup championship. In July 2021, Rinne officially retired and the following year, the Predators retired his jersey No. 35. Rinne is the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired by the organization.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Tampa Bay Lightning – Nikolai Khabibulin
Before their recent Stanley Cup championship win, it was goalie Nikolai Khabibulin that helped bring it first for the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2003. The famous “Bulin Wall” led the charge with the Lightning as he totaled the best year of his career that season.
In 2003, Khabibulin was impenetrable against some of the top-scoring players in that year’s Stanley Cup playoff picture. In the postseason, he totaled 16 wins, five shutouts, and had a strong save percentage of .846.
Khabibulin was as tough as nails and made sure the opposition knew it. Even his teammates use to admit to the media that even in warmups and team practice, Khabibulin spent endless amounts of hours honing his craft before it was game time.
Besides everything he did in his NHL career on various teams, Khabibulin took his amazing goaltending abilities to the next level by representing Russia in the World Olympics. He won a Gold and Silver medal in 1992 and a decade later in 2002, respectively.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Anaheim Ducks – Jean-Sebastian Giguere
When it comes to the true definition of clutch goalies, many names come to mind, especially Jean-Sebastian Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks. Desperate to find some kind of stability at goaltender, the Ducks traded for Giguere and the rest was one of the greatest stories of the 00s.
Giguere worked his way through the farm system and eventually earned a starting role where he exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations. It all came together in 2006 when he totaled the best year of his career by helping push the Ducks to be Stanley Cup champions for the first time and so far, the only time in franchise history.
During the regular season, Giguere totaled 36 wins, 4 shutouts, and had a save percentage of .918. During the postseason, he went off and played the absolute best hockey of his entire career. Straight to a championship, he totaled 13 wins, one shutout, and had a slightly higher save percentage than he did during the regular season at .922.
Throughout the process, Giguere would often have to share starting duties at goalie or deal with nagging injuries that undoubtedly motivated him to make the most out of his opportunities. Luckily for him and the franchise, everything fell into place when it mattered most in 2006 and he delivered.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Arizona Coyotes – Ilya Bryzgalov
Just like the Blue Jackets, the Arizona Coyotes have unfortunately been a franchise that hasn’t done much of anything in 20+ years of existence. No championships, Division titles, Conference titles, nothing. When it comes to the many goalies they’ve had over the years, only one comes to mind that truly stood out from the rest.
Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov truly did his best during the brief stint of four years on the Coyotes. During his tenure, he made headlines quickly as he helped the Coyotes squeak into the Stanley Cup playoffs twice in 2009 and 2010. Sadly, they didn’t win any championships but Bryzgalov at least made those seasons memorable for fans of the Coyotes.
To this day, Bryzgalov owns the franchise record for most wins in a season at 42. Even though he didn’t stay for long with the franchise, this was at least something positive the hockey world spoke of involving the Coyotes then.
Sometimes the best goalies in a franchise aren’t always those that won numerous championships or still own many team records. It’s all about the impact they had to at least be a turning point toward hope. For teams like the Coyotes, sometimes hope can go a long way to keep people excited about what can happen.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Colorado Avalanche – Patrick Roy
Make no mistake about it, Patrick Roy is not only one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, but he indeed appears twice on this list. More on his impact on the Montreal Canadiens in a bit but my goodness, what Roy achieved on the Colorado Avalanche is simply legendary and the ultimate payback.
After winning two Stanley Cup championships and being an anchor on the Canadiens for over a decade, Roy was abruptly traded in the middle of 1995 due to tensions with the team’s leadership regime. It’s a long story but once Roy got to Colorado, he picked up immediately where he left off.
In a new town with a focused determination to make the Canadiens regret ever trading him, he was a man on a mission. Not only could you see it in Roy’s eyes but he was goaltending as if he was playing in his last ever season ever with everything to prove. He won a Stanley Cup championship that very same year with the Avalanche which undoubtedly made those decision-makers in Montreal feel a certain type of way.
Roy won another championship with the Avalanche in 2000, making it four altogether in his career. His No. 33 was retired by both franchises, he made it into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He ultimately proved that he would be successful no matter what team he was on.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Los Angeles Kings – Jonathan Quick
A two-time Stanley Cup champion in 2012 and 2014, goaltender Jonathan Quick has done an extraordinary job as a staple protecting the net of the Los Angeles Kings. Not only is he still getting the job done with the Columbus Blue Jackets but what a third-round steal by the Kings back in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Quick is another example that no matter where you start on a franchise, keep at it until you achieve greatness. Quick worked his way up the depth chart and once he proved he was more than able to hold down the fort, the Kings never looked back.
So much so, after he won his first Stanley Cup championship, the Kings gave him a whopping 10-year extension to make him quite a wealthy goalie. He earned a $58M contract proving that yes, even goalies can get mega huge contracts in the NHL to have such stability.
Even though he played most of his career with the Kings and is on a new team, Quick will go down in Kings’ history as one of the best goalies they’ve ever had. Hopefully, he plays out the final few years well in what should be a future Hockey Hall of Fame career remembered mostly for wearing that iconic black and white jersey.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Minnesota Wild – Niklas Backstrom
Unfortunately for the Minnesota Wild, they are also in that group of NHL teams that have never won a Stanley Cup championship. For almost a decade, however, goalie Niklas Backstrom put the team on his back to at least turn some of that frustration into some fun moments in his tenure.
Backstrom immediately went to work the moment he landed on the Wild back in 2006 as he had a tall task of getting them back into the postseason spotlight. If one can sum up his career with the Wild is that as long as he was on the ice, they at least won many more games than expected.
Even though the Wild only made it to two playoff appearances in the time Backstrom was holding it down, he did do very well in other key areas of success. To this day, he owns both the franchise record for most regular-season wins at 196 and most shutouts in a season at 8.
Yeah, it’s not much when compared to the scale of other goalies mentioned here but at the end of the day, he’s the best the Wild has had in franchise history. Hopefully, in the future, they continue developing future goalies to one day be on par or even surpass everything Backstrom accomplished.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: San Jose Sharks – Evgeni Nabokov
Continuing with another franchise that has never won a Stanley Cup, goalie Evgeni Nabokov, aka Nabby, sure did his best to change that. In the 10 years he spent with the San Jose Sharks, he was a huge reason they made nine playoff trips during his tenure.
It’s a shame the Sharks didn’t do enough to build around him and his strengths as if he was on a better team in his prime, it would be an entirely different story. Regardless, Nabokov represented the Sharks in two NHL All-Star Games while also setting many franchise records.
Nabokov owns the franchise records for most goaltender games played at 430, wins at 293, and shutouts at 50. Despite a long career in the NHL, Nabokov retired in 2015 without winning a championship.
It remains to be seen if he’s done enough to earn his name being in the Hockey Hall of Fame but only time will tell. For now, he’ll mostly be remembered for his time on the Sharks, and despite having contract negotiation issues that ultimately led to him being placed on waivers, maybe in the future peace can be made to honor everything he’s done with the franchise.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: St. Louis Blues – Glenn Hall
There is a reason why hockey fans and historians refer to Glenn Hall as “Mr. Goalie” due to what he created back in the mid-40s. Oh yes, Hall is indeed credited as the first goalie to ever invent the butterfly technique we see used to this very day.
Hall didn’t land on the St. Louis Blues until the final years of his career but believe it or not, in the last four years of his career, he spent it with the Blues setting several franchise records. It took almost 30+ years later for their most regular-season shutouts by a goalie (16) franchise record to be broken but Hall’s a small yet rich part of their legendary history in the NHL.
History is always a glorious thing and when it comes to the Blues, having an instant and established star in Hall set the tone for those four seasons. Hall helped send them to four straight playoff appearances in 1967 – 1971, bringing an incredible amount of legitimacy to the franchise.
Hall went to 13 NHL All-Star Games and represented the Blues in his final two appearances to celebrate the best of the best in professional hockey. It was a fitting way for him to end his historic career and even though he didn’t win a Stanley Cup championship with the Blues, his experience helped boost the franchise tremendously.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Vegas Golden Knights – Marc-Andre Fleury
Earlier, you saw how goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was picked as the best goalie in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and well, here he is again. Fleury continues his greatness through everything he accomplished with the Vegas Golden Knights. From the moment he arrived in the Neon Capital of the World, they’ve been nothing but successful.
A few years ago in 2017, the Golden Knights, in their first season ever, did the unthinkable and made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Fleury looked just as great as he did with the Penguins and came so close to earning a fourth Stanley Cup championship in his career.
Unfortunately, they lost but Fleury continues as it looks like he’ll spend the final few years of his career with the Wild. It’s great to see Fleury continue to flourish and succeed as he will no doubt be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
It’s going to be quite the event especially since he’ll get the red-carpet treatment for being one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. Jersey number retirements, more awards, statues, and a ton more due to the impact he’s had in the world of professional hockey.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Calgary Flames – Mike Vernon
The Calgary Flames have one of the most passionate fan bases in all of hockey but it was back in 1988 that to this day, is one of the best years in franchise history. This was when they won their first and only Stanley Cup championship as goalie Mike Vernon had the best year of his Alberta Sports Hall of Fame career.
During that magical year, he totaled 37 regular-season wins and a save percentage of .897. In the postseason, he turned it up a notch and won it all after totaling 16 wins, three shutouts, and an even high save percentage of .905.
It was undoubtedly a huge year but even more so, Vernon still holds the franchise record for most playoff games won at 43. Needless to say, he was a winner at heart and set the standard in the 80s, 90s, and early 00s for being one of the smartest, toughest, and most durable goalies to ever play the game.
Vernon might not be in the Hockey Hall of Fame but the Flames honored him by retiring his jersey No. 30 to remember all his contributions to the franchise. His time spent on the Flames is what most fans will remember him by, even though he won a Stanley Cup as well but with the Detroit Red Wings.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Edmonton Oilers – Grant Fuhr
Goalie Grant Fuhr is one of the most winningest of all-time in the positional group. He was as important to the Edmonton Oilers as Wayne Gretzky was during their dynasty era of the 80s. They were the team to beat and rightfully so since Fuhr was playing at an elite level every year he was on the Oilers.
Fuhr spent an entire decade on the Oilers from 1981 – 1991 and helped win five Stanley Cup championships during his tenure. He still owns many NHL records for his dominance in hockey. The biggest easily being the longest undefeated streak by a goalie in their rookie season at 23. That’s how amazing he was from the moment he was drafted.
It’s hard to comprehend the impact Fuhr had on the Oilers as he did his part with their multiple straight playoff appearances as a starting goalie. Year after year they always got their ticket in and were relentless in their pursuit of greatness. He went to six NHL All-Star Games in his career, representing the Oilers every single time.
Needless to say, the Oilers retired his No. 31 back in 2003 as he’s a beloved sports icon in Canada. To achieve so much as a goalie, especially on a single team, is something aspiring goaltenders can only dream of. He’s a Hockey Hall of Famer, Alberta Sports Hall of Famer, and easily worthy of putting on your Mount Rushmore of goalies.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Montreal Canadiens – Patrick Roy
Goalie Patrick Roy joins Marc-Andre Fleury as being featured twice in the same list. Before he won two Stanley Cup championships with the Colorado Avalanche, Roy got his humble beginnings with the Montreal Canadiens.
As a third-round draft pick back in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft for the Canadiens, it was a hopeful answer to their problems at goalie. They didn’t have any consistency or someone that would be a difference-maker protecting the net. The moment the leadership regime heard of how proficient Roy was preparing for his call-up to the NHL, they knew they had someone special on their hands.
Roy stepped in and immediately took care of business and bolstered their goalie situation instantly. It didn’t take long at all for him to earn more starts until he became their full-time goalie and enjoyed many winning seasons and of course, two Stanley Cup championships.
It’s a shame that things transpired the way they did since if Roy stayed on with the Canadiens for the rest of his career, there is no telling how many more championships they could have won together. They had a stellar squad built around Roy but tensions happened behind the scenes between Roy and the coaching staff which encouraged them to trade him away. Thankfully, time heals all and both sides were able to forgive, forget, and embrace Roy for what he meant to the Canadiens.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Ottawa Senators – Patrick Lalime
The goaltender with the famous Marvin the Martian-inspired goalie masks was quite popular on the Senators back in the 00s. Once goalie Patrick Lalime entered the mix, he brought some great veteran leadership to a young team that was still trying to find its identity.
After Lalime worked all the kinks out when he arrived via trade thanks to the Anaheim Ducks, it only took him a year to get everyone on the same page. Behind Lalime’s strong play at defending the net, the Senators enjoyed four straight years of postseason trips.
Sadly, the Senators were unable to put everything together to win championships during those amazing runs between 2000 – 2004, but Lalime did everything he could to help the cause. To this day, Lalime owns the franchise record for most regular-season wins at 39 and most career playoff wins at 21.
The Senators haven’t had much luck since then as they have yet to win a Stanley Cup championship. Lalime even mentioned this several times after his playing days were over as he’s been enjoying life as a hockey broadcaster and analyst.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Toronto Maple Leafs – Johnny Bower
In the late 50s and 60s, Johnny Bower was the talk of anything and everything to do with professional hockey. He created the poke check and made it famous for bringing relentless aggression to the ice anytime a player tried to attack the net with him in front of it.
When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bower will go down in history as their best goalie ever. He won four Stanley Cup championships with the team and is considered by many to be hockey royalty thanks to how he revolutionized the positional group.
Bower earned many huge accolades in his career from the Calder Cup, Vezina Trophy, and even has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Needless to say, Bower was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, AHL Hall of Fame, and had his famous No. 1 retired by the Maple Leafs as well.
The amount of success, innovation, and proficiency that Bower accomplished during those glory days of hockey are some of the things that have yet to be duplicated. It was one of those times in life you just had to be there to witness such glory right before your eyes. Yes, Bower was that extraordinary, that elite, and that surreal doing what he did best as a complete, all-around goalie.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Vancouver Canucks – Roberto Luongo
When it comes to elite goalies that never won a Stanley Cup championship, Roberto Luongo joins that club. After an amazing 19-year NHL across multiple teams, Luongo was one of the best to do it despite never winning a championship.
Luongo broke and still holds many NHL records to this very day despite not going all the way. As a natural workhorse, Luongo has the most saves ever in a single season at 2,303, most home games played in a single season at 41, and used to have the nickname “Mr. Overtime” due to how clutch he was with hockey games on the line.
If you can believe it, he still owns the NHL record for most regular-season wins in overtime at 49. With the Vancouver Canucks back in 2006, his rookie season, he was spectacular. He won a career-high 47 games and put on clinics in the postseason every season after that. His most success came from the eight seasons he spent with the Canucks as he was also team captain for many years.
Unfortunately, he never won a championship as he undoubtedly played at such a level, especially with his defense and how well his glove saves were in the heat of the moment in close hockey games. He might not have ever officially been a champion but to the hearts of Canucks fans, he’ll forever be considered one.
Best NHL goalie from each franchise: Winnipeg Jets – Connor Hellebuyck
Unfortunately for the Winnipeg Jets, they’re also one of those teams that have never really won much of anything. No Stanley Cup championships, Conference championships, you get the drift. Hopefully, the efforts of a young star goalie in Connor Hellebuyck will help change that mindset over the next decade or so.
Hellebuyck was drafted by the Jets back in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and has quickly made a name for himself in the league as a top goalie through years of minor league development. Hopefully, he can be that anchor the Jets so desperately need as by the looks of it, he’s going to be an extremely good goalie with more regular-season and postseason experience under his belt.
So far in his young career, Hellebuyck has over 100 wins and a very high save percentage average of .917. The Jets have seemingly turned things around as of late as they’ve consistently gone to the Stanley Cup playoffs over the past few years thanks to Hellebuyck being a part of that youth revolution towards better days ahead.
All Hellebuyck has been doing is winning with his defensive speed, great reaction time, and ability to shut down even the best-scoring teams shooting his way. At the rate he’s going, it’s only a matter of time before the Jets build around him and their other young stars to hopefully, create a future NHL powerhouse for many years to come.
Next. The best captain in each NHL team's history. dark