Who Is the Best NHL Goalie of All Time?
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We’re taking a look at the best NHL goalies of all time. From legends like Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur to modern greats like Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price, we’re ranking the best of the best.
NHL Basics
What is the NHL?
The National Hockey League, or NHL, is the top professional ice hockey league in the world. Founded in 1917, the NHL today consists of 31 teams across the United States and Canada. The NHL is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, with each conference having three divisions.
The Stanley Cup, which is awarded to the NHL playoffs champion at the end of each season, is one of the most coveted trophies in all of professional sports. Some of the greatest players in NHL history have hoisted the Stanley Cup, including Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Mario Lemieux.
What is a goalie?
A goalie is a player who tries to stop the puck from going into the net. He or she is also known as a goaltender, netminder, or goaltender.
The best NHL goalies of all time
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one best goalie when there have been so many greats throughout NHL history. However, there are a few that stand out above the rest. Here are the best NHL goalies of all time.
Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur is often considered the best goalie of all time. He played 22 seasons with the New Jersey Devils, winning three Stanley Cups and setting numerous league records. He is the NHL’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts, and he has more regular season and playoff wins than any other goalie in history.
Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy is widely considered to be the best NHL goalie of all time. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and played his entire career with the Canadiens, winning four Stanley Cups. He is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden is often considered the best NHL goalie of all time. He played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1971 to 1979, leading the team to six Stanley Cup wins. He was also a member of Team Canada’s 1972 Summit Series squad, which defeated the Soviet Union in a legendary eight-game series.
Dryden was known for his exceptional skating ability and positioning, as well as his quick reflexes and ability to make acrobatic saves. He was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 1972 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 1971. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
Why these goalies are the best
In the NHL, there have been many great goalies. These goalies have led their teams to Stanley Cups and have won many individual awards. But, who is the best NHL goalie of all time? This is a difficult question to answer.
Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur is widely considered to be the best goaltender of all time. He is the NHL’s all-time leader in both wins and shutouts, and he has won four Stanley Cups in his illustrious career.
Brodeur began his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils in 1991, and he quickly established himself as one of the league’s top goalies. He helped lead the Devils to Stanley Cup titles in 1995, 2000 and 2003, and he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 2000.
In addition to his on-ice success, Brodeur is also known for his work ethic and his dedication to his craft. He is one of the few goalies who regularly practices with his team’s forwards, and he is always one of the first players on the ice for practice.
Brodeur retired in 2015 after 21 seasons in the NHL, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy is often considered the best NHL goalie of all time. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 and played for them until 1995. He then played for the Colorado Avalanche from 1995 to 2003. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion, three-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2001. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.
Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden was born on August 8, 1947, in Hamilton, Ontario. He is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1970 to 1979. He is also a writer and lawyer.
Dryden was drafted by the Canadiens in the first round of the 1964 NHL amateur draft, and he made his debut with the team in 1971. He won six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, including five consecutive championships from 1976 to 1980. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, and his number 29 was retired by the team in 2007.
Dryden is widely regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He was named one of the 100 Greatest Players in NHL history by The Hockey News in 1998. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time by the NHL itself.
