3 Stanley Cup Successful Goalies Not within the Hockey Corridor of Fame – The Hockey Writers – Hockey Historical past

After the HHOF Choice Committee introduced the 2024 class of inductees, which incorporates Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber, Colin Campbell, David Poile, Krissy Wendell-Pohl, and Natalie Darwitz, it’s time as soon as once more for the annual debates about who bought in, who hasn’t gotten in, and why.

Since so many eligible gamers are nonetheless ready for his or her name, which can occur in June 2025, let’s talk about three Stanley Cup-winning goalies nonetheless ready for the correct recognition for his or her excellent careers. 

Mike Richter (1988 – 2003) 

Mike Richter is taken into account a legend in New York Metropolis after his playoff heroics within the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, ensuing within the New York Rangers breaking a 54-year championship drought by hoisting the Stanley Cup at Madison Sq. Backyard. Though their run to the title is most remembered for Mark Messier’s “assure” win in Sport 6. There’s additionally Stephane Matteau’s Sport 7 extra time winner within the Japanese Convention Last, and it might be argued {that a} penalty shot save in opposition to Pavel Bure in Sport 4 of the Last remains to be one of many sport’s most talked about moments on their journey to the Cup.

Associated: Mike Richter: New York Rangers’ Legendary Cup-Successful Goalie

On the 1985 Entry Draft, the Rangers chosen Richter as a first-round choice (twenty eighth general), believing the gifted child from Abington, Pennsylvania, was their man for the longer term. Nonetheless, earlier than he stopped pucks on Broadway, he performed with the College of Wisconsin (two years) and represented the USA at a number of worldwide competitions, together with the 1998 Winter Olympic Video games. Despite the fact that he’s fondly remembered for his time in New York, most of his skilled hockey accomplishments occurred whereas representing his nation.

When the NHL launched the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, Richter led the USA to the primary championship and was named Most Useful Participant. Because the unanimously primary netminder for the U.S. at worldwide occasions for over a decade, he was their starter on the first-ever NHL Olympic Video games in 1998, incomes a 1-3-0 document. Regardless of strolling away with out a medal that 12 months, he gave a career-defining efficiency on the 2002 Winter Olympics on residence soil in Salt Lake Metropolis, successful a Silver Medal.

Sadly, concussions led Richter to retire at 36, departing the Rangers as their winningest goalie (301) and ending his distinguished profession as considered one of simply 20 goalies to surpass 300 wins by 2003. Nonetheless, since leaving the sport twenty years in the past, he’s dropped to thirty eighth on the all-time checklist. Inside a 12 months of hanging up his skates, the Rangers honored him by retiring his #35, changing into solely the third participant (on the time) in workforce historical past to see their quantity within the rafters.

Since retiring, Richter has been busy, first changing into a scholar at Yale College (the place he later coached) and serving as President for Brightcore Vitality. Though he’s by no means run for political workplace, he’s talked about it a number of instances. In 2008, he entered the U.S. Hockey Corridor of Fame. In 2014, the NCAA (Nationwide Collegiate Athletics Affiliation) established the Mike Richter Award, which is given yearly to the most effective goalie in faculty hockey.

Surprisingly, Richter has been eligible for the HHOF for 18 years however has not acquired the decision but. As one of many few netminders with a retired quantity, a Stanley Cup, and a ton of worldwide expertise, many surprise if and when one of many biggest American-born gamers will obtain this recognition.

Andy Moog (1980-1998)

In 1955, Don Moog, Andy Moog’s father, received the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation World Championship as a member of the Penticton Vees. Twenty-five years later, his son Andy turned a member of the Edmonton Oilers because the 132nd general decide within the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. The Oilers already had their goalies, so Moog waited his flip earlier than debuting on Dec. 23, 1980. 

After solely seven video games within the common season, Moog stepped up and have become the primary goalie for the Oilers, who shocked the hockey world by upsetting the closely favored Montreal Canadiens in a three-game sweep in 1981. Finally, the Oilers fell to the New York Islanders in six video games throughout the second spherical, however Moog confirmed he might be the goalie of the longer term. The next season (1982), he suited up for under eight video games earlier than administration shuffled the deck and constructed their tandem with Moog and 20-year-old Grant Fuhr for 1983-84.

Associated: Andy Moog Impressed a Era: A Profession Retrospective

Moog earned the primary job in 1983, which resulted in a Stanley Cup Last loss; nonetheless, he rebounded in 1984, taking up for an injured Fuhr to guide the Oilers to their first championship. The duo repeated as champions in 1985 and secured one other ring in 1987. A 12 months later, on Mar. 8, 1988, Moog discovered himself on the best way to the Boston Bruins for a second-round draft decide in 1988 (Petro Koivunen), Geoff Courtnall, and Invoice Ranford. As destiny would have it, Moog and his new associate Reggie Lemelin led the Bruins to the Last in opposition to the Oilers. Two years later, the 2 groups met once more in 1990, when Ranford led his new membership to the title and received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Whereas in Boston, Moog led the Bruins to the playoffs in six seasons and served as Vice President of the Nationwide Hockey League Gamers Affiliation. After growing a awful relationship with then-Bruins coach Brian Sutter, Moog turned a member of the not too long ago relocated Dallas Stars in a commerce for Jon Casey.

After being pushed out of the crease when the membership signed Ed Belfour in 1998, he opted to signal with former rival, the Canadiens, that summer season. Regardless of a historical past of eliminating the franchise in 4 playoff races, Moog led the workforce to their first sequence win since successful the Stanley Cup in 1993. 

Traditionally, Moog turned the second-fastest goalie to achieve 300 wins, which took solely 543 video games, falling in need of Plante’s document of 526. On the time of his retirement, he was the fifth goalie in league historical past to surpass 370 wins and at the moment ranks nineteenth all-time. Out of the goalies above him, solely Marc-Andre Fleury, Curtis Joseph, Chris Osgood, Ryan Miller, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Jonathan Fast will not be within the Corridor of Fame. Conversely, the vast majority of these gamers all performed after Moog retired, that means he ranked increased when he hung his skates up. 

Moog’s trophy case contains three Stanley Cup rings, a William M. Jennings Trophy, and 4 All-Star Sport appearances. Internationally, he performed on the 1988 Olympic Video games, producing a 4-0-0 document with a shutout, however he didn’t win a medal. 

Twelve goalies have 4 or extra championships, leaving Moog tied with eight different netminders with three. Twenty-three years after he turned eligible for the HHOF, he nonetheless has not heard his title referred to as for induction. It’s unfair that one of many sport’s finest puck-stoppers continues to get bypassed. 

Chris Osgood (1992-2011)

Throughout the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Crimson Wings discovered their goalie of the longer term, Chris Osgood, with the 54th general decide. Nonetheless, he didn’t debut till the 1993 season, suiting up for 41 video games earlier than taking the brunt of the warmth when the younger San Jose Sharks upset the Crimson Wings within the playoffs. Throughout the workforce’s run to the 1995 Stanley Cup Last, he noticed restricted motion within the common season (14 video games) and postseason (two video games). 

He was given one other probability in 1995-96 earlier than the Crimson Wings acquired Vernon to make them the Stanley Cup in 1997. That 12 months, Vernon received the Conn Smythe, departing within the offseason, leaving Osgood to deal with the beginning duties once more. He didn’t disappoint, main the workforce to their second consecutive championship in 1998.

By 2001-02, the Crimson Wings had been going face to face with the Colorado Avalanche for Western Convention supremacy; nonetheless, they might by no means get previous their rivals. Finally, the workforce uncovered Osgood, so the Islanders picked him up within the waiver draft. After 103 video games in New York, he made his approach to the St. Louis Blues in a commerce, the place he suited up for 76 video games. Then, in the summertime of 2005, he reunited with the Crimson Wings as a free agent. 

Associated: 3 Former Detroit Crimson Wings Deserving of Corridor of Fame Induction

After coming full circle in his profession, Osgood led the Crimson Wings to a different Stanley Cup title in 2008, successful an exciting six-game sequence. Moreover, in 2009, at 36 years outdated, he led his workforce again to the Last in a repeat matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, this time shedding in Sport 7. 

Osgood led the Crimson Wings to Stanley Cup titles ten years aside, a feat not completed since Sawchuk in 1955 and 1967. He ranks thirteenth all-time in wins (401), changing into the final goalie in league historical past to achieve the 400-win plateau in 2010. Throughout his 17-season profession, he had one shedding season, 7-9-4 in 23 video games, in 2009-10. He earned the William M. Jennings Trophy twice and performed in two All-Star Video games. 

Regardless of all of the workforce success Osgood skilled, his crowning achievement could have occurred on Mar. 6, 1996, when he turned simply the second goalie in NHL historical past to attain a purpose by taking pictures the puck into his opponent’s web.   

When Osgood’s title comes up in HHOF debates, folks normally level out that he was lucky sufficient to play behind a strong Crimson Wings lineup loaded with future Corridor of Famers. Nonetheless, it’s an unfair argument as a result of if he was a byproduct of the surroundings, what number of wins can we credit score the sport’s winningest goalie, Brodeur, who performed many years with a workforce that deployed the “lure.” Moreover, Osgood performed in New York and St. Louis and didn’t produce a shedding document in both metropolis. Furthermore, he was stapled to the bench quite a few instances throughout his profession and barely failed when referred to as upon in another person’s absence.

13 years after retirement, Osgood has but to earn his plaque on the HHOF. Of the goalies ranked above him in wins, solely Joseph (454) has but to earn enshrinement since Fleury remains to be taking part in and Lundqvist is a member of the 2023 class. The longer it takes the choice committee to tug the set off, the longer considered one of the sport’s biggest netminders has to attend for his rightful place amongst his former teammates.

Yearly, the debates proceed about which gamers will not be within the HHOF but and who will get inducted that doesn’t measure up. We simply gave you three Stanley Cup-winning goalies with this debate, and we are able to’t wait to see who you wish to discuss within the feedback.

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