Which NHL team has had the richest tradition in goal?

[Zam Boni]

Certain teams are associated with certain strengths during different eras, the old Habs Firewagon, free wheeling Oilers of the 80's and the trapping Devils of the 00's.

But what franchise has the richest tradition in goal?
I know the quality of the goalies on each team differs over time, but I would like to hear from the knowledgable poster in the History section what franchise you hold as the best in this regard, and of course why?!

And is there a franchise that over the years has had really sub-par goaltending year in and year out?

Click to read more...

 

[BraveCanadian]

I would have to think it is Montreal with the richest tradition in goal.

Philly is the team that seems to be annually stopped by poor goaltending despite brief times with Parent, Lindbergh and Hextall.

Over the last 15 years the Flyers would probably have 2-3 cups if they would just get a good goalie. It's ridiculous that they never plug that hole. If I was their GM I would have overpaid to pick up a Hasek or Roy or someone close to them just to say "There, now we can't use that excuse this year!"

 

[Canadiens1958]

Montreal Goalies 1917-2010

List of the HHOF quality goalies that have played regularly for the Montreal Canadiens 1917 to 2010.

Georges Vezina,George Hainsworth, Bill Durnan, Jacques Plante, Gump Worsley, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy.

Add passing thru: Tony Esposito.

 

[RStar*]

I'd probably go with MTL I guess.

 

[akalaM]

The same NHL team that has had the richest tradition in pretty much everything.

 

[reckoning]

Can't see an argument for anyone other than Montreal here. They had at least two elite goaltenders in all three eras (pre-Original 6, Original 6, and expansion.)

Chicago would likely rate 2nd: Gardiner, Hall, Esposito, Belfour.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Goalie Management

Can't see an argument for anyone other than Montreal here. They had at least two elite goaltenders in all three eras (pre-Original 6, Original 6, and expansion.)

Chicago would likely rate 2nd: Gardiner, Hall, Esposito, Belfour.

Boston had a nice string.

Regular:Tiny Thompson, Frank Brimsek

Semi Regular: Cheevers (WHA stint)

Flow thru: Terry Sawchuk, Harry Lumley, Bernie Parent, Jacques Plante.

Nice string of HHOFers. Problem is that starting with Terry Sawchuk the Bruins badly mismanaged the position by making bad choices especially Parent vs Cheevers.

 

[IggyFan12]

Not the richest tradition of all time but a place where alot of good goalies have gone is San Jose. The following have all played for San Jose one time or another: Nabokov, Kipprusoff, Toskala, Vernon, Hrudy, Belfour.

 

[begbeee]

I would say Rangers as member of O6 have pretty sub-par goalies, when we look at them throught history glasses.
Mike Richter, Giacomin, Worsley, Vanbiesbrouck and Lundqvist as best goalies for 100 years old franchise look not very impressive to me.

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

And is there a franchise that over the years has had really sub-par goaltending year in and year out?

Ottawa's always been somewhat of a goalie graveyard.

 

[Fuzzy Logic]

I'd go with Montreal as the best tradition for goalies and Philadelphia as the worst.

 

[IggyFan12]

Besides the 4 newest teams some of the worst recent goaltending graveyards include:

Philly, L.A, Vancouver(Until Luongo but they had a stretch of some very bad goalies), St. Louis( Could never find that number 1 goalie to lead them to the Cup), and Ottawa.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Original Senators

Ottawa's always been somewhat of a goalie graveyard.

The original Senators had elite goaltending frpm 1917 thru 1933 with Clint Benedict and Alec Connell. Bill Beveridge during their last season was solid.

Contrasting with their goaltending since 1992.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The richest is Montreal, easily. There are other strong candidates but Montreal is in a category above.

Philly gets a lot of heat but their goaltending hasn't been that bad. It just always has a way of undoing them in big playoff games, which is more than you can say for some teams.

Just throwing out a team that hasn't been mentioned: the Florida Panthers. In their entire history they have had the following starters: Vanbiesbrouck, Burke, Vernon, Luongo, Belfour, Vokoun. Plus some really solid backups like Kirk McLean, Craig Anderson and Scott Clemmenson.

 

[Sinter Klaas]

Since expansion Montreal has won the Vezina 11 times I certainly equate the Canadiens with great goaltending.

The team with the second most is Buffalo, winning it 9 times. Roger Crozier, the first goaltender immediately put legitimacy with the squad and he was part of their early success. Buffalo had one of the best goaltending tandems in the late 70's early 80's with Bob Sauve and Don Edwards. Tom Barrasso also copped the award during the 80's and we all know what Dominik Hasek did for the franchise. Since then Ryan Miller has picked up the slack in goal and has done a great job.

I am just perturbed that despite the success in goaltending this team has not once used it to its advantage to get into the Finals and win it all.

BTW, the stat I read is that the Sabres have won the Vezina 23% of the time they have been in the league.

 

[begbeee]

Since expansion Montreal has won the Vezina 11 times I certainly equate the Canadiens with great goaltending.

The team with the second most is Buffalo, winning it 9 times. Roger Crozier, the first goaltender immediately put legitimacy with the squad and he was part of their early success. Buffalo had one of the best goaltending tandems in the late 70's early 80's with Bob Sauve and Don Edwards. Tom Barrasso also copped the award during the 80's and we all know what Dominik Hasek did for the franchise. Since then Ryan Miller has picked up the slack in goal and has done a great job.

I am just perturbed that despite the success in goaltending this team has not once used it to its advantage to get into the Finals and win it all.

BTW, the stat I read is that the Sabres have won the Vezina 23% of the time they have been in the league.

So every fourth year the Sabres goalie is winning the Vezina...
How many fourth years there was between 1994 and 2001?

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

The original Senators had elite goaltending frpm 1917 thru 1933 with Clint Benedict and Alec Connell. Bill Beveridge during their last season was solid.

Contrasting with their goaltending since 1992.

...and since we're on HF, the original Senators don't count because it happened before 1981

 

[JackSlater]

Montreal saw the best years of arguably four of the ten best goaltenders ever, and also the goaltender for whom the NHL's top goaltender trophy is named. The gap between the Canadiens and the next team, most likely Chicago, is massive.

 

[timekeep]

montreal by far, Chi second and Buf third.

 

[kmad]

Since expansion Montreal has won the Vezina 11 times I certainly equate the Canadiens with great goaltending.

I think for this stat to be effective, we need to measure Vezinas only from 1982 and onwards... before 1982, we need to count first-team all star goalie selections.

 

[committedindian86]

So every fourth year the Sabres goalie is winning the Vezina...
How many fourth years there was between 1994 and 2001?

Don't remind me of that trade

 

[Big Phil]

Okay someone had to mention the Leafs eventually. Come on, they are in the running for #2 IMO. Chabot, Broda, Lumley, Bower, Sawchuk, Joseph, Belfour.

Pretty nice talent there. Lots of Cups on their backbones as well.

 

[Zam Boni]

Thanks for all the posts, much appreciated!
I had Montreal as a favorite myself but it is always intresting to hear the opinion of those who followed the league before i did.

Seems there is no clear cut runner-up though, so please continue!

 

[JaymzB]

Okay someone had to mention the Leafs eventually. Come on, they are in the running for #2 IMO. Chabot, Broda, Lumley, Bower, Sawchuk, Joseph, Belfour.

Pretty nice talent there. Lots of Cups on their backbones as well.

One problem with the Leafs is the almost total dearth of quality goalies between Bower and I guess Joseph (though in an all-time setting, Joseph is pretty weak). Plante had one amazing year, Palmateer was a flash in the pan, and Potvin started off strong, but really, that is an almost 30 year gap with not much between the pipes.

 

[Moridin]

One problem with the Leafs is the almost total dearth of quality goalies between Bower and I guess Joseph (though in an all-time setting, Joseph is pretty weak). Plante had one amazing year, Palmateer was a flash in the pan, and Potvin started off strong, but really, that is an almost 30 year gap with not much between the pipes.

The cat had 2 back to back conf finals though.