What was invented first, the cup or the goalie helmet? It was the cup, wild right? Goalies did not start wearing masks until 1959 and Andy Brown was the last goalie to play without a mask in the 70’s. The goalie is the most important position on the ice, and they are the warriors of the net. Here are the top ten goalies of all time.

Honorable Mention

Carey Price

Team(s): Montreal Canadiens

Drafted 5th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Price is one of the most consistent goalies of his generation. He started his professional career with the Hamilton Bulldogs, winning the Calder Cup.

He has won Gold three times representing Canada, along with a bevy of individual awards. Price had to take a break from hockey in 2021 after years of ignoring his mental health.

During this time, he also had surgery on his knee and went under massive rehabilitation. He returned to the Canadiens at the end of the 2021-22 season, the NHL awarded him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Accolades:

• 7x NHL All-Star Game (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)

• NHL All-Rookie Team (2008)

• William M. Jennings Trophy (2015)

• Vezina Trophy (2015)

• Ted Lindsay Award MVP (2015)

• Hart Memorial Trophy (2015)

• NHL First All-Star Team (2015)

• Lou Marsh Trophy (2015)

• Lionel Conacher Award (2015)

• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2015)

Top 10 NHL Goalies

10. Henrik Lundqvist

Team(s): New York Rangers

He has only been retired from the NHL for about two seasons now, and I honestly miss him. Drafted 205th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft, Lundqvist was probably the best goalie of the 2000’s.

He made his debut for the Rangers in 2005 and spent his entire career with them. He won five Vezina Trophies in his time, but never won a Stanley Cup. He played 887 games for the Rangers.

Accolades:

• NHL All-Rookie Team (2006)

• 9x New York Rangers’ MVP (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018)

• Victoria Cup – New York Rangers (2008)

• John Halligan Good Guy Award (2008)

• 5x NHL All-Star Game (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019)

• Vezina Trophy (2012)

• NHL First All-Star Team (2012)

• NHL Second All-Star Team (2013)

• NHL All-Decade 2nd Team (2010s)

9. Bernie Parent

Team(s): Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs

Ask any Flyers fan who their favorite goalie is of all time, they will say either Ron Hextall or Bernie Parent. He is mostly remembered for being a Flyer, but he was also a Bruin and Maple Leaf as well.

In 1972-73 he was the goalie for the Philadelphia Blazers of the WHA. Before returning to the Flyers. Bernie played 608 games for the Flyers and won two Stanley Cup’s with the Broad Street Bullies.

Accolades:

• 2x NHL First All-Star Team (1974, 1975)

• 2x Conn Smythe Trophy (1974, 1975)

• 2x Vezina Trophy (1974, 1975)

• 2x Stanley Cup champion (1974, 1975)

• 5x NHL All-Star (1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (1984)

• The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (1998)

8. Grant Fuhr

Team(s): Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames

Grant Fuhr was undeniably the best goalie to ever play for the Edmonton Oilers, all time. He won all five of his Stanley Cup’s holding up the net for the Oilers.

He also played for the Leafs, Sabres, Kings, Blues, and much to every Oilers fans dismay, the Calgary Flames.

In 1996, Fuhr recorded the record for most consecutive appearances by a single goalie in an NHL season with 76 games started. He retired in 1999 after two games for the Saint John Flames in the AHL.

Accolades:

• 6x NHL All-Star Game (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989)

• First All-Star Team (1988)

• Second All-Star Team (1982)

• 5x Stanley Cup champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990)

• Vezina Trophy (1988)

• William M. Jennings Trophy (1994)

• The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (1998)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (2003)

7. Tony Esposito

Team(s): Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks

Like Bernie Parent, Tony Esposito is adored and worshiped by Blackhawks fans. He is for sure best known as a Blackhawk but did play 13 games for the Canadians in 1968-69, the same year he won his only Stanley Cup.

He then played for the Blackhawks for 14 years. He retired in 1984 and just four years later he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the Blackhawks. He tragically passed away in 2021 from cancer.

Accolades:

• Stanley Cup Champion (1969)

• Calder Memorial Trophy (1970)

• 3x NHL First All-Star Team Goalie (1970, 1972, 1980)

• 2x NHL Second All-Star Team Goalie (1973, 1974)

• 3x Vezina Trophy (1970, 1972, 1974)

• 6x NHL All-Star Game Goalie (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980)

• The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players – 79 (1998)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (1988)

6. Ken Dryden

Team(s): Montreal Canadiens

Despite being drafted by the Bruins 14th overall in 1964, Dryden played his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens.

During that time, he won six Stanley Cups with Montreal and won the Vezina five times. He retired in 1979 and his number was retired by Montreal in 2007.

Since retiring he has dabbled in writing, politics, and law, receiving several honorary doctoral degrees from several universities.

Accolades:

• Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1971)

• Calder Memorial Trophy winner (1972)

• 5x Vezina Trophy winner (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)

• 6x Stanley Cup champion (1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)

• 5x NHL All-Star (1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)

• 5x NHL First All-Star Team (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)

• NHL Second All-Star Team (1972)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (1983)

• The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players – 25 (1998)

5. Jacques Plante

Team(s): Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers

Yet another great Montreal Canadians goalie, Plante might be the best besides Roy. Despite all of his success with Montreal, he played for the Rangers, Blues, Leafs, Bruins, and Oilers.

He won six Stanley Cups between 1953 and 1960 and also won seven Vezina Trophies. He retired from hockey in 1975 and tragically passed away in 1986 at just 57 years old. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.

Accolades:

• 8x NHL All-Star (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1970)

• 3x First All-Star Team (1956, 1959, 1962)

• Hart Memorial Trophy (1962)

• 4x Second All-Star Team (1957, 1958, 1960, 1971)

• 6x Stanley Cup winner (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)

• 7x Vezina Trophy winner (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1969)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (1978)

4. Terry Sawchuk

Team(s): Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers

Finally, a Red Wing! Sawchuk had a 21-year NHL career playing for the Red Wings, Bruins, Leafs, Kings, and Rangers.

Sawchuk holds the distinction of being the first goalie to record 100 shutouts in a season. He won four Stanley Cups during his career, winning all of them with Detroit.

Terry Sawchuk tragically passed away too young at just 40 years old in 1970 from a problem with his liver. Sawchuk also struggled with depression for most of his career.

Accolades:

• Calder Memorial Trophy winner (1951)

• 11x NHL All-Star Game (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1968)

• 3x NHL First All-Star Team (1951, 1952, 1953)

• 4x NHL Second All-Star Team (1954, 1955, 1959, 1963)

• 4x Vezina Trophy winner (1952, 1953, 1955, 1965)

• 4x Stanley Cup championships (1952, 1954, 1955, 1967)

• Lester Patrick Trophy winner (1971)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (1971)

• The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players – 9 (1998)

• ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history (2017)

3. Martin Brodeur

Team(s): New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues

The goalie everyone hated because he was not on their team. Martin Brodeur is one of the best goalies the province of Quebec ever produced.

Despite seven games in 2014-15, Brodeur played almost all of his career with the New Jersey Devils and was even present for the team to draft his son.

Brodeur played 1259 games for the Devils and won three Stanley Cups with them. He also won four Vezina Trophies. There is a statue erected outside of the Devils arena for all of his contributions.

Accolades:

• All-Rookie Team (1994)

• 9x NHL All-Star (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007)

• Calder Memorial Trophy (1994)

• 3x First All-Star Team (2003, 2004, 2007)

• 4x Second All-Star Team (1997, 1998, 2006, 2008)

• 3x Stanley Cup champion (1995, 2000, 2003)

• 4x Vezina Trophy (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)

• 5x William M. Jennings Trophy (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010)

2. Dominik Hasek

Team(s): Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators

Despite being one of the greatest goalies of all time, Hasek only won two Stanley Cups, in 2002 and 2008. Drafted 199th overall in the 1983 draft, Hasek played for the Blackhawks, Red Wings, Sabres and Senators.

Despite retiring from the NHL in 2008 after winning his second Cup with the Red Wings, he played one season in the Czech Republic. He also played 44 games for Moscow in the KHL, retiring in 2012 for the third time.

Accolades:

• NHL All-Rookie Team (1992)

• 3x William M. Jennings Trophy (1994, 2001, 2008)

• 6x Vezina Trophy winner (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)

• 6x NHL First All-Star Team (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)

• 6x NHL All-Star Game (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002)

• 2x Hart Memorial Trophy (1997, 1998)

• 2x Lester B. Pearson Award (1997, 1998)

• 2x Stanley Cup Champion (2002, 2008)

1. Patrick Roy

Team(s): Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche 

Patrick Roy is the greatest goalie in NHL history and may have one of the greatest stories of all time. Drafted 51st overall by the Canadiens in 1984, he played in Montreal for only ten years, winning two Stanley Cups.

Almost mid game in 1996, Roy requested a trade mid game after being left in net to dry. He was traded to the newly relocated Colorado Avalanche for the biggest trade in NHL history.

Colorado found immediate success with Roy, winning a Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. Roy retired in 2003 and has since been a coach.

Accolades:

• Calder Cup winner (1985)

• 4x Stanley Cup Champion (1986, 1993, 1996, 2001)

• 3x Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1986, 1993, 2001)

• 5x William M. Jennings Trophy winner (1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2002)

• 3x Vezina Trophy winner (1989, 1990, 1992)

• 11x NHL All-Star (1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003)

• 4x NHL First All-Star Team (1989, 1990, 1992, 2002)

• 2x NHL Second All-Star Team (1988, 1991)

• NHL All-Rookie Team (1986)

• 2x Trico Goaltending Award (1989, 1990)

• Hockey Hall of Fame (2006)

How would you rank these great Goaltenders? Rank below to be added in the NHL Power Rankings 

Related Links:

• Top 10 Best Left Wingers in NHL History
• Top 10 Best Right Wingers in NHL History