All-Time Best Hurricanes Goalie

[garnetpalmetto]

So Kevin Weekes put up an article yesterday on NHL.com on the best goalie in each team's history. Shady Eighty had this to say for us:

Carolina Hurricanes - Cam Ward

This is a toss-up. I'd give Ward the edge over Arturs Irbe, but I know firsthand how tough of a call this is having been around both of them. Ward has been a staple since his rookie season in 2005-06, when the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup and he was the Conn Smythe winner. He's tailed off in recent years but has been a rock for this franchise. Irbe was the main guy for the franchise's first five years in Carolina and played extremely well.

So given this and other discussions on Canes goaltending history I thought it might not be a bad idea to do one of those oh-so popular rank order polls. So let's start at the top? Who's the best goalie to have played for the Canes? Cast your vote and next week we'll tally up and move on to the 2nd best.

And to provide some numbers - their regular season stats:

Goalie | Season | GP | Min | W | L | T | OTL | GA | SO | GAA | SA | Sv% | G | A | PIM
Tom Barrasso|2001-02|34|1908|13|12|5|N/A|83|2|2.61|886|.906|0|0|4
Brian Boucher|2011-12|10|546|1|6|N/A|1|31|0|3.41|260|.881|0|0|0
Sean Burke|1997-98|25|1415|7|11|5|N/A|66|1|2.80|655|.899|0|1|6
Patrick Desrochers|2002-03|2|122|1|1|0|N/A|7|0|3.44|71|.901|0|0|0
Dan Ellis|2012-13|19|997|6|8|N/A|2|52|1|3.13|555|.906|0|2|0
Eric Fichaud|1999-2000|9|490|3|5|1|N/A|24|1|2.94|206|.883|0|0|2
Mark Fitzpatrick|1999-2000|3|107|0|2|0|N/A|8|0|4.49|68|.882|0|0|0
Mike Fountain|1997-98|3|163|0|3|0|N/A|10|0|3.68|68|.853|0|0|2
Martin Gerber|2005-06|60|3493|38|14|N/A|6|162|3|2.78|1719|.906|0|2|4
John Grahame|2006-08|45|2363|15|20|N/A|3|125|0|3.17|1126|.889|0|4|6
Arturs Irbe|1998-2004|309|17816|130|122|44|N/A|739|20|2.49|7884|.906|0|4|46
Pat Jablonski|1997-98|5|279|1|4|0|N/A|14|0|3.01|115|.878|0|0|0
Anton Khudobin|2013-15|70|4004|27|31|N/A|7|167|2|2.50|1950|.914|0|0|0
Trevor Kidd|1997-99|72|4043|28|31|9|N/A|158|5|2.34|1877|.916|0|0|2
Eddie Lack|2015-present|12|629|3|6|N/A|2|35|0|3.34|282|.876|0|2|0
Manny Legace|2009-10|28|1596|10|8|N/A|6|77|1|2.89|800|.904|0|1|0
Michael Leighton|2007-10|29|1537|8|12|N/A|2|82|0|3.20|739|.889|0|0|4
Kirk McLean|1997-98|8|401|4|2|0|N/A|22|0|3.29|181|.878|0|1|0
Tyler Moss|2000-01|12|557|1|6|0|N/A|37|0|3.99|251|.853|0|0|0
Mike Murphy|2011-12|2|36|0|1|N/A|0|0|0|0.00|9|1.000|0|0|0
Justin Peters|2009-14|68|3702|22|31|N/A|8|188|3|3.05|1949|.904|0|2|8
Jamie Storr|2003-04|14|660|0|8|2|N/A|32|0|2.91|262|.878|0|0|0
Cam Ward|2005-present|534|30552|255|199|N/A|61|1388|23|2.73|15270|.909|1|11|24
Kevin Weekes|2001-04|119|6850|39|54|20|N/A|275|11|2.41|3131|.912|0|0|8

Click to read more...

 

[Cane mutiny]

Arthurs Irbe will always be my fav. Also liked Manny Legace, and wanted to re-sign him. He reminded me a lot of Irbe for some reason.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Yeah, I love Cam, and certainly no one took this franchise where he did, but I went with Archie. It's not like any of the choices are amazing.

Going with one of our recent discussions, Storr was one of my least favorite goalies ever to play here. Fairly bad stats in a low scoring era, and just looked awful most of the time, albeit in front of a bad team.

 

[DaveG]

Cam and Irbe are 1 and 2. Though if we're talking about career outside of the Canes it's Barrasso AINEC.

 

[GoldiFox]

Glad to see Weekes as one of the top statistically. He will always be my favorite Canes goalie. Obviously Ward is the best all-time, you can't top his Cup run.

 

[HisIceness]

Really can't argue against Ward being the #1. Unfortunately we wore his ass out but man when he was on, he was on.

HM to Martin Gerber. He won 38 games for us 05/06. Hell we're lucky to win that many today. I was quite disappointed he wasn't brought back the following year and I feel in some ways his departure hurt us that year and the next. I think he is one of the more under appreciated players to suit up for us.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Cam and Irbe are 1 and 2. Though if we're talking about career outside of the Canes it's Barrasso AINEC.

To make it clear for guys like Barrasso, Legace, Kidd, McLean etc. who had lengthy and distinguished careers elsewhere, we're only discussing their time as a Hurricane.

 

[Wolfpuck]

Wardo

 

[Cane mutiny]

I also thought our prospect call up Justin Pogge was fun to watch, he had such a temper...crazy kid (not gonna win us many, though).

 

[CioCio]

Grew up wearing cheap toy goalie equipment with my dad taking shots at me tending a cheap plastic net in a garage. I just did what felt natural and my dad sure as **** didn't know what to teach me; doubt I ever went into a butterfly.

Irbe, cause I empathize with the acrobatics.

 

[cptjeff]

Clearly John Grahame. No other possible answer. He had boobs and nascar on his mask.


But yeah, gotta go with Ward. He's had lows for sure, and his recent, burnt out performance colors our view, but playing at his peak he can be one of the most spectacular goalies in the league. And he hit one of those peaks when it mattered most and won us a Cup, winning the Conn Smythe in the process. That does count for something in my book.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Really wanted to go with Burke as he is my favorite goalie, but had to give the nod for best to Irbe.

 

[nobuddy]

Irbe, obviously.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

As a person that wasn't a NC resident or Canes fan back when Irbe was here, I realize a lot of fans have an affinity to Irbe, but what makes him the best? I'm not debating this as I couldn't possible give an informed answer on him, just trying to understand the reasoning for that?

 

[Joe McGrath]

As a person that wasn't a NC resident or Canes fan back when Irbe was here, I realize a lot of fans have an affinity to Irbe, but what makes him the best? I'm not debating this as I couldn't possible give an informed answer on him, just trying to understand the reasoning for that?

Didn't Irbe come out to the circles to drill a Devil in that first playoff series? That'll do it.

Seriously though, Irbe was my favorite goalie the franchise ever had. He was my favorite NHL goalie after the Sharks run in '94 (I think) and when the Canes got him I was stoked. Saw him shutout Ottawa 1-0 in Kanata the only time I visited. Route for Latvia to this day in international competitions because of him.

In 10 years? My vote will probably change. The sting of Cam's last 3 years will probably disappear and the nostalgia of Archie will fade a bit more.

 

[VAcaniac]

As a person that wasn't a NC resident or Canes fan back when Irbe was here, I realize a lot of fans have an affinity to Irbe, but what makes him the best? I'm not debating this as I couldn't possible give an informed answer on him, just trying to understand the reasoning for that?

While I wouldn't personally put Irbe #1, his playoff performance in 2002 was unbelievable. He had a .938 save% and 1.67 GAA. He helped defeat one of the greatest goalies ever in the first round, outgoalied Curtis Joseph in the third round, and kept the Canes in games with the Red Wings against Dominik Hasek.

I think some of this might be colored by the fact that he was a fan favorite. He was a fun goalie to watch because he was so athletic. Just watch this video to see his athleticism:

 

[AD Skinner]

I'd rather watch irbe than Ward any day, but I think Wards tenure with the canes edges Archie's ever so slightly. Looking at those stats, I didn't realize Ward has a goal and 11 assists to lead goalies in those categories. Irbe has 46 penalty minutes which I didn't realize either which has to be franchise leading I imagine.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Thanks for the feedback. Watching that video, do you think Irbe, with that style, could make it in the NHL today (when he was in his prime)? Plays (and was) awful small, left a lot of the net open, the numerous two pad stacks, sprawling on the ice, relying on athleticism, etc.. Seems like he'd get chewed up in today's NHL. He looks like he had great reflexes, was quick and lots of natural instincts though, which would make for some entertaining hockey.

I guess that's what makes this kinda difficult. Trying to assess goaltenders from different eras.

 

[Elsker]

Irbe by far my favorite goalie to watch as a STH fan. Never a dull moment. So many stories.

And for role played on the team, would have to go with Irbe over Ward. Irbe carried those teams from his era. And, as VAcaniac noted above, his 0.938 SV% during that incredibly fun '02 playoff run made for some great series against elite opposing goalies.

Judged by current standards, it's Ward. Best value for the dollar, it's Irbe.

 

[AhoLottaLove]

Mike Murphy. He stopped 100% of the shots he faced as a Hurricane. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Mike Murphy. He stopped 100% of the shots he faced as a Hurricane. It doesn't get any better than that.

True, but he's 0-1 as a Cane even though he's never allowed a goal.

 

[Joe McGrath]

True, but he's 0-1 as a Cane even though he's never allowed a goal.

#Loser.

 

[Joe McGrath]

So once we get down to like #5 it will be unquestionably the worst 5th best goaltender of any franchise other than maybe CBJ right?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

#Loser.

That statistical quirk (or whatever you want to call it) is one of my favorites in the NHL. A guy that has a perfect save% in the NHL is 0-1 is pretty fascinating. And the fact that Chad LaRose played a role in making it happen is even better.

 

[Cane mutiny]

Thanks for the feedback. Watching that video, do you think Irbe, with that style, could make it in the NHL today (when he was in his prime)? Plays (and was) awful small, left a lot of the net open, the numerous two pad stacks, sprawling on the ice, relying on athleticism, etc.. Seems like he'd get chewed up in today's NHL. He looks like he had great reflexes, was quick and lots of natural instincts though, which would make for some entertaining hockey.

I guess that's what makes this kinda difficult. Trying to assess goaltenders from different eras.

At 5'8" I don't think Irbe would even be given a chance to play today, but man, what fun he was!

Also, thanks to VAc for sharing that video...I almost forgot the pleasure.