Who were the best NHL goalies ever

[HarryCaray]

I'm fairly young (33), been watching hockey since I was in high school. I remember Roy, Hasek, and Brodeur.

Who am I missing? Some of you vets tell me about some of the great old-timers.

Does anyone nowadays have any shot at getting up in the upper rungs? I think Tim Thomas is the only multiple Vezina winner recently that I didn't mention.

I think Crawford has a shot to be really really good but I'm a homer.

 

[bigtendominator]

Ken Dryden.

Pelle Lindbergh would have been a great, he had not died in a car wreck.

 

[slapshot]

Jacques Plante

Ken Dryden

Terry Sawchuk

Vladislav Tretiak

 

[scottcarter]

Hasek was the greatest to ever play the position. There is no argument there.

Roy and Brodeur of course are right up there.


Others just off the top of my head:

• Tony Esposito
• Grant Fuhr
• Richard Brodeur
• Bernie Parent

 

[scottcarter]

Jacques Plante

Ken Dryden

Terry Sawchuk

Vladislav Tretiak

for sure

 

[Acebb]

Last week I was listening to Mad Dog Unleashed and a bunch of Rangers fans were saying King Henrik was one of the best of all time and Doggie went ballistic as he's never won a cup. Obviously he has a good chance this year.

I don't think you can say Grant Fuhr is the best ever simply because he had 5 hall of famers in front of him. Though Fuhr was runner up for the Hart trophy in '83-84 which is very impressive.

Tony Esposito: No cup wins but had a modern record 15 shutouts in 69-70 (1st full year!). Credited for the "Butterfly" style. Has to be in the top 5 all time, IMO.

I'm not sold on Brodeur being in that class given the style the Devils played.

 

[HarryCaray]

Hasek was the greatest to ever play the position. There is no argument there.

Really is that just common knowledge? I knew he was up there. I would have guessed Roy as best ever but it's purely based of memory, maybe it's cause I was a bit younger he just had this legendary status.

 

[RenoChazz]

Here's Yahoo Sports rankings preseason for active Goalies, I agree with their top three.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl--rankings--the-top-30-starting-goalies-in-the-nhl-154114642.html

They have Crawford ranked 11th, though Crawford is having a good playoffs this season.

Terry Sawchuk, and Eddie Belfour are two others, that were pretty good.

Canadian homers may disagree with me, but Quick and Lunqvist are the best in the game right now.

 

[RenoChazz]

Roy>Hasek

 

[scottcarter]

Canadian homers may disagree with me, but Quick and Lunqvist are the best in the game right now.

Raask also in Boston.

Price has to be mentioned for sure and nothing to do with being a homer. D'oh 2-0 hawks

 

[HarryCaray]

Here's Yahoo Sports rankings preseason for active Goalies, I agree with their top three.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl--rankings--the-top-30-starting-goalies-in-the-nhl-154114642.html

They have Crawford ranked 11th, though Crawford is having a good playoffs this season.

Terry Sawchuk, and Eddie Belfour are two others, that were pretty good.

Canadian homers may disagree with me, but Quick and Lunqvist are the best in the game right now.

I remember Belfour being really good.

Quick and Lunqvist are definitely top 5 for me. They're really good. Crawford at 11 on that list is kind of a joke though IMO, I know I'm a homer but come on dude's gotta crack the top 8.

 

[bigtendominator]

Was going to mention Jacques Plante, way before the OP and myself (38). Forgot about Fuhr and Bernie Parent.

 

[RenoChazz]

I remember Belfour being really good.

Quick and Lunqvist are definitely top 5 for me. They're really good. Crawford at 11 on that list is kind of a joke though IMO, I know I'm a homer but come on dude's gotta crack the top 8.

He will be moving up after these playoffs, especially if he get another Cup and the Con Smyth, which he will probably win this year if they won the cup.

 

[StevieRay]

Never been to a professional hockey game , don't follow it but who I heard the most of on highlights was Roy

 

[cloverleaf]

I don't have enough knowledge of all NHL goalies to name one as the best...but...

back in the 70's when I was first introduced to professional hockey with the Atlanta Flames, the best goalie was Philadelphia's Bernie Parent. The guy was simply amazing during the 73-74 and 74-75 seasons when the Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups. He won the Vezino Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy both seasons.

Bernie's career was cut short by an eye injury in 1979. He's a member of the NHL Hall of Fame.

 

[bigtendominator]

Never been to a professional hockey game , don't follow it but who I heard the most of on highlights was Roy

Best sport to see live.

 

[stale]

mr roy for me

 

[stale]

Best sport to see live.

ditto

 

[RenoChazz]

Best sport to see live.

So much going on that the cameras don't pick up. It is getting better on TV though with HD 90' screens. Hockey in standard def is unwatchable.

 

[bigtendominator]

So much going on that the cameras don't pick up. It is getting better on TV though with HD 90' screens. Hockey in standard def is unwatchable.

So true. No sport has a much of a difference between Hi-def and non.

Reno, I disagree with on the high def making the game better. The problem is when the puck goes in the corners, always have to change camera shot/angle. Live (like football) you see the play developing. Also, one things that fans miss on TV is that they don't see actually how wide the rink is and how much spacing is there between the players. On PP it looks like 11 guys in 20 feet of space.