The Top 10 NHL Goalies of All-Time

By Edcel Panganiban July 02, 2024 03:49

Photo by Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Hockey has enjoyed tremendous legions of legendary goalies throughout history. Playing goaltender in the NHL is a special profession requiring a high level of skill, intense concentration, and clutch stops when your team needs them most. This Top 10 Ranking of the Best NHL Goalies will examine the careers, styles, and impacts other legendary backstops had on creating/evolving throughout hockey.

1. Martin Brodeur

Full Name: Martin Brodeur
New Jersey Devils (1991-2014)
691 Wins, 125 Shutouts
2.24Goals Against Average (GAA)
4x Vezina Trophy winner
3x Stanley Cup Champion

Brodeur changed the game for goaltenders with his unprecedented puck-handling abilities. He acted almost as a third defenseman behind the net, which gave his team an added advantage. He was a force because he showed up regularly without the flair and panache to which we've become accustomed from goalies of his era.

Brodeur ranks so highly simply because he was the most successful of all time in wins and shutouts.

2. Patrick Roy

Full Name: Patrick Roy
Montreal Canadiens (1984—95)
Colorado Avalanche (1995–2003)
551 Wins
3x Conn Smythe Trophy winner
4x Stanley Cup Champion
3x Vezina Trophy winner 2.54 GAA

Roy was an incredibly aggressive player who wanted to destroy sub-par opponents in big moments. His butterfly style and ability to play bigger when it mattered most made him such a game-changer.

Roy was a playoff hero and one of the most consistent goaltenders in NHL history.

3. Dominik Hasek

Full Name: Dominik Hasek
Chicago Blackhawks(1990–1992)
Buffalo Sabres(1992–2001)
Detroit Red Wings(2003—04, 2005-08 )
389 Wins, 81 Shutouts, 2.20 GAA
6x Vezina Trophy winner
2x Hart Trophy winner

Hasek was an unorthodox goalie whose acrobatics redefined the goaltender position. His reflexes set him apart from the crop.

Hasek's career stats and signature style of play set him apart from the rest in NHL history.

4. Terry Sawchuk

Full Name: Terry Sawchuk
Detroit Red Wings (1949–1955, 1957–1964),
Toronto Maple Leafs(1964–67)
Wins 103 Shutouts 2.51 GAA
4x Vezina Trophy winner
4x Stanley Cup Champion

Sawchuk was renowned for his agility and anticipation. His strengths were agility and tracking. He was an icon in making categorizations. His style and bravado between the pipes helped raise the bar for all those who followed him.

Sawchuk's longevity, stats, and championships make him one of the best.

5. Jacques Plante

Full Name: Jacques Plante
Montreal Canadiens (1952–1963)
New York Rangers (1963–1965)
Wins 82 Shutouts 2.38 GAA
7x Vezina Trophy winner
6x Stanley Cup Champion

Plante was the most innovative force in goaltending history after being one of the first to wear a mask regularly. His technical ability and awareness of the game made him a pioneer in this position.

Plante's creativity, wonderful numbers, and team success easily place him as one of the best NHL goalies ever.

6. Ken Dryden

Full Name: Ken Dryden
Montreal Canadiens (1970-79)
258 Wins 46 Shutouts 2.24 GAA
6x Stanley Cup Champion

Dryden was so physically impressive in the net and poised at a young age that he seemed well ahead of his time. Indeed, his prowess in clutch situations earned him a prominent position on the Goalie Mount Rushmore.

He won so much with Montreal and finished in or near the top five of major goaltending statistical categories almost every time he had an entire season.

7. Glenn Hall

Full Name: Glenn Hall
Detroit Red Wings (1952–57),
Chicago Black Hawks (1957–67),
St. Louis Blues
407 Wins, 84 Shutouts, 2.49 GAA
3x Vezina Trophy winner
1x Stanley Cup Champion

Hall is a model of consistency between the pipes, often playing through various injuries, leading to his being sometimes called "Mr. Goalie." His technical ability, mental strength, and smarts made him an example for many wrestlers when considering performances against world-class players.

8. Tony Esposito

Full Name: Tony Esposito
Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)
Chicago Black Hawks (1971-84)
Here are the Key Statistics and Accomplishments: 423 Wins, 76
Shutouts 2.92 GAA
3x Vezina Trophy winner

Esposito was a landmark figure of the 1970s due to his butterfly style and exceptional lateral movement. His ability to anticipate plays and make the acrobat just unbelievable.

Esposito's legacy in Chicago and outstanding career statistics back this up—he is one of the NHL's great goalies.

9. Grant Fuhr

Full Name: Grant Fuhr
Edmonton Oilers (1981–1991),
Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–93) and others
The Numbers, And What It Accomplished 403
Wins 25 Shutouts 3.38 GAA
5x Stanley Cup Champion

A superb athlete who could change a game behind the high-powered Oilers, Fuhr was unique in that he would make more acrobatic saves as demand increased to accommodate 300 shots faced throughout an NHL season. This effectiveness in high-pressure situations was a large part of what made him such an integral figure in the Oilers dynasty.

10. Billy Smith

Full Name: Billy Smith
New York Islanders (1972-1989)
305 Wins, 22 Shutouts, 3.17 GAA
4x Stanley Cup Champion

He was known for his aggressiveness, which not only rubbed off on players they were acting up against but also created fear. His clutch play in the playoffs and knack for stepping up when needed were essential to fostering the dynasty atmosphere.

These 10 goalies led the way in shaping what it means to play that position and influenced how hockey is played between the pipes for many years. All 10 goalies below have been some of the best ever simply because they were so good, so intense, and made such a big impact on their sport.

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