Reggie Lemelin

[Joe Pelletier]

Hi Guys. I was just looking for some impressions and memories of Reggie Lemelin. Why do you think he was never able to establish himself as an elite goalie? He always seemed to be a notch below that, with a group of guys like Bob Froese and Bob Sauve

Joe Pelletier
http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com

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[Big Phil]

More than likely because he never had that one defining moment in the playoffs. In Boston Andy Moog was better. In Calgary they were always beaten by Edmonton. Plus Lemelin never was a lights out goalie. You never thought Reggie Lemelin was going to be the guy that beat you. He did have one bright moment in '84 when he was on the Canada Cup team. But then again That was one of the worst eras of goaltending in NHL history. With him were Pete Peeters and Fuhr. While Fuhr hadnt hit his prime yet. Somehow Billy Smith wasnt there, always wondered that.......

 

[brianscot]

Lemelin is also a major reason why Boston went to the finals in 88 against Edmonton. (He played 17 playoffs games that year to Moog's 7).

The Bruin's entire goaltending situation earlier that year was a mess. Bill Ranford had showed the previous season that he simply wasn't ready to be a number one, Doug Keans was a solid backup, but that's about it.

Lemelin came in, helped solidify the team in front of him and during the season a growing confidence surrounded the squad.

None of this would have been possible without Lemelin's veteran presence.

 

[JaymzB]

Lemelin is also a major reason why Boston went to the finals in 88 against Edmonton. (He played 17 playoffs games that year to Moog's 7).

The Bruin's entire goaltending situation earlier that year was a mess. Bill Ranford had showed the previous season that he simply wasn't ready to be a number one, Doug Keans was a solid backup, but that's about it.

Lemelin came in, helped solidify the team in front of him and during the season a growing confidence surrounded the squad.

None of this would have been possible without Lemelin's veteran presence.

I remember he played really well against the Habs in 88.

 

[revolverjgw]

Gotta love those Aeroflex pads

 

[blamebettman*]

Lemelin was a weird goalie. Too good to be a backup, but never reliable enough to be a full time starter that can backstop a team. A tease really.

 

[MS]

Lemelin was a weird goalie. Too good to be a backup, but never reliable enough to be a full time starter that can backstop a team. A tease really.

Really?

Take a look at where he finished in award voting from 1983-1990 :

1983-84 - 2nd in Vezina plus 8th in Hart voting
1984-85 - 3rd in Vezina
1985-86 - ---
1986-87 - 8th in All-Star voting
1987-88 - 7th in Vezina, 6th in All-Star
1988-89 - 7th in Vezina
1989-90 - 4th in Vezina

Aside from the 85-86 season where he struggled somewhat and lost his #1 job to a young Mike Vernon late in the year, he was one of the most consistent (and underrated) goaltenders of the 1980s. Selected a top-8 goalie in the league every other season, and narrowly lost the 1984 Vezina to Tom Barrasso in one of the closest votes ever (Lemelin actually had more first-place votes).

It's odd that he's now remembered more for his off-year in 1986 and as Moog's backup on long playoff runs in 1990 and 1991, while his great years from 1983-85 and his standout 1988 playoffs where he carried Boston to the Finals have been largely forgotten.

Referring back to the original post, he was clearly a notch ahead of guys like Sauve and Froese, even if he isn't remembered as such now.

 

[Steelhead16]

Referring back to the original post, he was clearly a notch ahead of guys like Sauve and Froese, even if he isn't remembered as such now.

I agree. I remember him as a solid goaltender he just didn't happen to be flashy or really athletic. Just got to where he needed to be early so he was in postion for a shot and wasn't flying all around like a Hasek. He just happened to be at the tail end of that "style" of goaltending.
I grew up playing with the guy who came in and replaced him his final year and he was a great puckhandler and skated all over to get pucks. The fans loved that but he only lasted a couple of years in the NHL.