The Nineteen Eighties was the golden period of the Nationwide Hockey League (or so I’m instructed).
It was a time of dynastic groups, high-scoring video games and among the greatest worldwide hockey that’s ever been performed.
In fact, there have been additionally the shady house owners (from ‘Peter Puck’s final stand,’ Globe and Mail, 12/23/2008), the fixed violence, scrums after each whistle and no matter the exact opposite of “parity” is. (from ‘Oilers ’84: Gretzky kilos Devils, calls them ‘Mickey Mouse’,’ Edmonton Solar, 10/09/2014)
However, the on-ice product is fondly remembered, primarily for the sheer quantity of targets it produced. A big a part of this scoring was made potential by an inflow of generational offensive expertise, which the goaltending of the period merely couldn’t catch as much as.
That mentioned, not all of the goaltending was dangerous. The Nineteen Eighties made legendary the backstops of perennial powerhouses, similar to Billy Smith, Grant Fuhr and Mike Vernon. There was what might have been with Pelle Lindbergh and what was along with his successor, Ron Hextall. And, in fact, 1985 noticed the debut of Patrick Roy, arguably the best goaltender to ever play the sport.
Nostalgia apart, what do the statistics say? Who was one of the best when it got here to tending aim within the Nineteen Eighties?
What Have been the Nineteen Eighties, in NHL Phrases?
To begin with, after we discuss concerning the “Nineteen Eighties,” everyone knows we’re speaking concerning the decade that lasted from the start of 1980 till the tip of 1989. Clearly.
Nonetheless, in an NHL context, “Nineteen Eighties” refers extra to an period of the sport; an period by which targets had been plentiful and superstars reigned supreme.
In 1978-79, goal-scoring jumped to a median of three.50 targets per sport per workforce, a mark unseen since 1944-45, whereas the 1992-93 marketing campaign – a 12 months considered one of the best of all time, noticed groups common 3.63 targets per sport, a statistic which dropped off sharply the next two seasons.
The height of this offensive binge got here from 1980-81 till 1985-86, inclusive when mentioned common by no means dropped beneath 3.84.
For reference, groups in 2017-18 averaged 2.97 targets per sport, the very best whole for the reason that 3.08 registered in post-lockout 2005-06.
Thus, for the needs of this text, “Nineteen Eighties” shall seek advice from the time between the 1978-79 and 1992-93 NHL seasons, inclusive.
Statistical Qualifiers
Moreover, goaltenders needed to have began no less than 200 video games throughout the time-frame in query to qualify for inclusion in cumulative classes. For single-season classes, goalies needed to have began 40 or extra video games, which can appear a low threshold, however permits for harm, and in addition the actual fact groups usually performed their backups very practically as usually as their starters (the dynastic New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers are each nice examples).
The Prime 5 Greatest NHL Goalies of the Nineteen Eighties, by Statistical Class
Most Whole NHL Wins within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 293 Wins: Mike Liut (St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals)
2. 279 Wins: Andy Moog (Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins)
An Oilers draft decide, Moog cut up regular-season video games with batterymate Fuhr all through a lot of the Nineteen Eighties, posting numbers practically equivalent to these of the Corridor-of-Famer. Nonetheless, except 1983, Fuhr at all times obtained the nod within the playoffs, although Moog did take over from an injured Fuhr within the 1984 Stanley Cup Remaining to safe the Oilers’ first championship.
After a 1988 commerce to the Bruins, Moog was once more compelled to share the crease, this time with veteran Réjean (“Reggie”) Lemelin, earlier than lastly assuming the starter’s function in 1990-91 after taking on from Lemelin the earlier postseason and guiding the Bruins to the Remaining.
There’s little question Moog’s numbers had been considerably deflated due to being caught behind the prodigious Fuhr and the veteran Lemelin all through a lot of the time-frame in query. It must also be famous Moog briefly left the NHL, enjoying a lot of 1987-88 with the Canadian Nationwide Group.
Nonetheless, Moog performed practically twenty years within the league, ending his profession seventeenth in all-time regular-season wins (372), rating second solely to Liut on this period – even forward of Fuhr. Not dangerous for a second fiddle.
3. 275 Wins: Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres)
4. 246 Wins: Pete Peeters (Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals)
5. 244 Wins: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins)
Most NHL Wins in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 43 Wins (61 Begins): Tom Barrasso (1992-93, Pittsburgh Penguins)
In an period that featured a lot sharing of the crease – to not point out video games that resulted in ties, that Barrasso received 43 video games in a season is noteworthy sufficient, not to mention the actual fact he solely needed to begin 61 occasions to take action.
The Penguins received the Presidents’ Trophy that 12 months, helped by an NHL-record 17-game successful streak in direction of the tip of the season, spurred on by the return of captain Mario Lemieux from most cancers. Barrasso received 14 of these video games en path to his greatest statistical season up till that time in his profession.
Barrasso additionally sits fifth in cumulative wins from this period, to associate with successful each the Calder and Vezina trophies throughout his rookie season of 1983-84 – when, extremely, he made the NHL straight out of highschool hockey.
When it comes to the all-time greats, Barrasso sits nineteenth in regular-season wins, with 369 – borderline Corridor of Fame numbers. Nonetheless, Barrasso’s poor private rapport with many within the hockey world would appear to place his induction doubtful.
2. 43 Wins (70 Begins): Ed Belfour (1990-91, Chicago Blackhawks).
3. 41 Wins: Ed Belfour (1992-93, Chicago Blackhawks)
4. 40 Wins (61 Begins): Pete Peeters (1982-83, Boston Bruins)
5. 40 Wins (63 Begins): Pelle Lindbergh (1984-85, Philadelphia Flyers)
Honourable Point out
40 Wins (73 Begins): Grant Fuhr (1987-88, Edmonton Oilers)
Most NHL Shutouts within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 25 Shutouts: Mike Liut (St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals)
Regardless of making the playoffs in all however one in every of his 13 seasons within the league, Liut performed on a workforce that completed the common season over .500 solely 5 occasions, so maybe it shouldn’t come as a shock that Liut leads all NHL goalies throughout this period in each photographs confronted and saves made.
Nonetheless, Liut additionally leads in wins and shutouts, an already spectacular accomplishment made all of the extra distinctive when one considers the middling-to-poor nature of a lot of the groups he performed on.
Though his profession totals don’t actually stand out when in comparison with the all-time greats, Liut being saddled with mediocre groups, to not point out having to retire early on account of harm troubles, must be taken into consideration when judging his netminding résumé.
One could make a really convincing argument Liut was, all issues thought of, the easiest goaltender of the Nineteen Eighties.
2. 21 Shutouts: Pete Peeters (Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals)
3. 20 Shutouts: Patrick Roy (Montréal Canadiens)
4. 19 Shutouts: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins)
5. 17 Shutouts (459 Begins): Andy Moog (Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins)
Honourable Point out
17 Shutouts (582 Begins): Greg Millen (Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Québec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Crimson Wings)
Most NHL Shutouts in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 8 Shutouts: Pete Peeters (1982-83, Boston Bruins)
2. 7 Shutouts: Ed Belfour (1992-93, Chicago Blackhawks)
3. 6 Shutouts (51 Begins): Greg Millen (1988-89, St. Louis Blues)
Millen performed for six completely different groups throughout his 14-year NHL profession, with the journeyman’s greatest all-around season coming in 1988-89, when he posted the second-highest win whole of his profession (22) and registered six shutouts in simply 51 begins.
Millen posted three consecutive shutouts at one level in the course of the season and went 8-1-2 down the stretch, guiding the Blues to their Tenth-consecutive playoff berth earlier than backstopping them to a first-round sequence win over the Minnesota North Stars.
By no means thought of one of many greats, even throughout his period, Millen nonetheless put collectively a strong NHL profession punctuated by probably the greatest single seasons – shutout-wise, anyway – within the entirety of the Nineteen Eighties.
4. 6 Shutouts (69 Begins): Tony Esposito (1979-80, Chicago Black Hawks)
5. 5 Shutouts (41 Begins): Tommy Soderstrom (1992-93, Philadelphia Flyers)
Honourable Mentions
5 Shutouts (42 Begins): Don Beaupre (1990-91, Washington Capitals)
5 Shutouts (45 Begins): Bob Essensa (1991-92, Winnipeg Jets)
5 Shutouts (47 Begins, 47 Video games Performed): Ken Dryden (1978-79, Montréal Canadiens)
5 Shutouts (47 Begins, 51 Video games Performed): Bob Froese (1985-86, Philadelphia Flyers)
5 Shutouts (51 Begins): Ed Belfour (1991-92, Chicago Blackhawks)
5 Shutouts (54 Begins): Tom Barrasso (1984-85, Buffalo Sabres)
5 Shutouts (63 Begins): Kirk McLean (1991-92, Vancouver Canucks)
5 Shutouts (66 Begins: Patrick Roy (1991-92, Montréal Canadiens)
Lowest NHL Targets Towards Common within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 2.70 GAA: Ed Belfour (Chicago Blackhawks)
2. 2.79 GAA: Patrick Roy (Montréal Canadiens)
Whereas Belfour’s numbers are definitely marvellous, additionally they got here in direction of the tip of the period being profiled (Belfour performed briefly in each 1988-89 and 1989-90, earlier than making the NHL on a full-time foundation in 1990-91).
In the meantime, Roy debuted smack within the center, and immediately shot to stardom due to backstopping the Canadiens to a shock Stanley Cup as a rookie in 1986, taking down the Calgary Flames and incomes himself the Conn Smythe Trophy alongside the way in which.
Certainly one of – if not the – best netminder to ever strap on the pads, Roy was as constant as he was clutch, offering the Habs with nicely above-average goaltending season after season, taking house the Vezina Trophy in 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1991-92, together with one other Conn Smythe in 1993 because the Canadiens received their second Cup throughout this period.
I imply, simply look on the yawning chasm between Roy’s 2.79 GAA and the remainder of this listing.
3. 3.09 GAA: Pete Peeters (Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals)
4. 3.10 GAA: Bob Froese (Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers)
5. 3.26 GAA: Bob Essensa (Winnipeg Jets)
Lowest NHL Targets Towards Common in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 2.30 GAA: Ken Dryden (1978-79, Montréal Canadiens)
2. 2.36 GAA: Patrick Roy (1991-92, Montréal Canadiens)
3. 2.37 GAA: Pete Peeters (1982-83, Boston Bruins)
Peeters’ unimaginable 1982-83 marketing campaign, a season which earned him the Vezina Trophy, makes a number of appearances on these lists, however I felt it most impactful to spotlight his exceptional 2.37 GAA.
Although GAA typically has extra utility as a workforce statistic, versus judging goaltenders, I felt this one important on account of simply how significantly better it’s than anybody else’s. Peeters’ 2.37 GAA is 0.13 decrease than some other goalie from that 12 months, and 0.29 greater than any with 40 or extra begins.
Whereas that’s spectacular by itself, it’s value noting that Peeters’ 2.37 GAA, which might nonetheless be relatively good right now (solely 10 goalies that performed frequently in 2017-18 fared higher), comes smack in the midst of peak ‘80s hockey, when groups had been averaging 3.86 targets per sport.
Peeters’ mark is the one one on this class to have been posted halfway via the period in query, with the others all coming on the much-less-crazy bookends.
Peeters definitely had a strong profession, however the reality it lasted solely (“solely”) 13 seasons – and got here at a time when platooning goaltenders was the norm, leaves him out of most discussions of the NHL’s all-time best netminders.
That mentioned, with solely 156 losses in 467 whole begins, I’d say Peeters deserves an entire lot extra recognition for his physique of labor.
4. 2.47 (2.471) GAA: Patrick Roy (1988-89, Montréal Canadiens)
5. 2.47 (2.472) GAA: Ed Belfour (1990-91, Chicago Blackhawks)
Highest NHL Save Proportion within the Nineteen Eighties
1. .901 SV%: Ed Belfour (Chicago Blackhawks)
2. .901 SV%: Patrick Roy (Montréal Canadiens)
3. .896 SV%: Bob Essensa (Winnipeg Jets)
Essensa was a strong professional for a fairly very long time, however his performances within the early years of his profession, which overlap with the time-frame for this evaluation, are fairly darn spectacular. 1991-92 was the second-best greatest season of his profession, save percentage-wise (his greatest would are available 1997-98), his .910 SV% leaving him second solely to Vezina-winning Roy.
A extremely aggressive workforce all through a lot of the Nineteen Eighties that fielded some actually wonderful gamers, the Jets had the misfortune to be caught within the Smythe Division with the Oilers and their fellow Alberta powerhouse, the Flames.
Essensa would have given Winnipeg a viable possibility in aim to fight the constant competence of the Alberta groups’ netminding. Sadly for the Jets, their goaltending salvation got here too late, as Essensa debuted in 1988-89, by which period the workforce was on the decline.
4. .891 SV%: Billy Smith (New York Islanders)
5. .890 (.89007) SV%: Ron Hextall (Philadelphia Flyers, Québec Nordiques)
Honourable Mentions
.890 SV% (.89004): Jon Casey (Minnesota North Stars)
.890 SV% (.8899): Kelly Hrudey (New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings)
.890 SV% (.8898): Bob Froese (Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers)
Highest NHL Save Proportion in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. .914 (.914175) SV%: Patrick Roy (1991-92, Montréal Canadiens)
2. .914 (.914170) SV%: Glenn (“Chico”) Resch (1978-79, New York Islanders)
Far much less acclaimed than tandem accomplice Smith, who obtained nearly all of the playoff begins, Resch shared the crease with “Battlin’ Billy” nearly totally equally earlier than Resch was traded to the Colorado Rockies late within the 1980-81 marketing campaign, thereby depriving him of membership of the ultimate three Stanley Cups of the Islanders dynasty.
Resch spent a lot of the remainder of his profession behind the abysmal Rockies and the not-very-much-better New Jersey Devils (the Rockies’ successor), earlier than ending up with the Flyers in 1986-87.
However, Resch received the Cup with the Islanders in 1980, was in style wherever he performed and holds the second-best save proportion of the period. Not too shabby for somebody who went undrafted.
3. .912 SV%: Patrick Roy (1989-90, Montréal Canadiens)
4. .911 SV%: Curtis Joseph (1992-93, St. Louis Blues)
5. .910 SV%: Bob Essensa (1991-92, Winnipeg Jets)
Most NHL Photographs Confronted within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 18,880 Photographs Confronted: Mike Liut (St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals)
2. 18,002 Photographs Confronted: Greg Millen (Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Québec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Crimson Wings)
3. 16,186 Photographs Confronted: Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres)
Regardless of being a part of platoon programs for a lot of his profession, Fuhr is a legendary workhorse within the annals of NHL historical past. Fuhr holds the NHL document for video games performed by a goaltender in a single season, with 79 in 1995-96 (he’s tied for the document for begins, with 78 from that very same 12 months).
Nonetheless, maybe much more spectacular, Fuhr began 73 video games in 1987-88 and performed in 75 video games whole, main the Nineteen Eighties in each classes. It’s value noting Fuhr didn’t decelerate for the playoffs, both; he performed each sport for the Oilers, going 16-2 as Edmonton dispatched the remainder of the league in simply 18 video games en path to their fourth Stanley Cup.
This spectacular 12 months received him the Vezina Trophy, however he was a standout netminder all through the Nineteen Eighties, backstopping the Oilers dynasty to 4 of their 5 Cups (although batterymate Moog needed to end off the Islanders in 1984 because of an harm to Fuhr).
In fact, enjoying a lot, and behind the run-and-gun Edmontonians at that (the dynastic Oilers had a relatively…completely different method to protection than most), Fuhr noticed greater than his justifiable share of rubber, sufficient to internet him third spot on this class.
4. 15,263 Photographs Confronted: Don Beaupre (Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals)
5. 14,643 Photographs Confronted: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins)
Most NHL Photographs Confronted in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 2,239 Photographs Confronted: Tony Esposito (1980-81, Chicago Black Hawks)
Although nearing the tip of his profession on the time, Esposito confronted three of his 4 largest shot totals in the course of the scope of this evaluation (1980-81, 1979-80 and 1978-79, respectively).
Continually dragging the often-mediocre Black Hawks (the moniker was two phrases till 1986) to respectability (they made the playoffs each season he performed), Esposito was a sturdy workhorse who by no means received a Stanley Cup as a starter (although he didn’t play within the playoffs, he was technically a part of the Canadiens’ 1968-69 championship workforce), although he did assist Chicago make two appearances within the Remaining (1971 and 1973).
Esposito’s ultimate season was 1983-84, when he began simply 18 video games, so maybe it’s not totally truthful to label him a real ‘80s goaltender, given he did most of his work the last decade earlier.
Nonetheless, the barrage of two,239 photographs he confronted in 1980-81 – at 37 years of age, no much less – was a staggering 344 greater than his next-closest competitor, and his .890 SV% ranked twelfth amongst goaltenders with 12 or extra begins. Esposito deserves recognition for merely with the ability to get up after the season, not to mention lugging his lacklustre workforce to second place within the Smythe Division and a berth within the playoffs.
The Henrik Lundqvist of his period, then.
2. 2,202 Photographs Confronted: Curtis Joseph (1992-93, St. Louis Blues)
3. 2,119 Photographs Confronted: Bob Essensa (1992-93, Winnipeg Jets)
4. 2,109 Photographs Confronted: Tony Esposito (1979-80, Chicago Black Hawks)
5. 2,099 Photographs Confronted: Tony Esposito (1978-79, Chicago Black Hawks)
Most NHL Photographs Saved within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 16,662 Photographs Saved: Mike Liut (St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals)
2. 15,721 Photographs Saved: Greg Millen (Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Québec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Crimson Wings)
3. 14,301 Photographs Saved: Grant Fuhr (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres)
4. 13,514 Photographs Saved: Don Beaupre (Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals)
Although largely unheralded, these rankings present Beaupre was one of many true workhorses of the period, going through – and parrying – the fourth-most photographs of any goaltender in the course of the Nineteen Eighties.
Like Moog, Beaupre was fairly darn good for a fairly very long time. Additionally like Moog, Beaupre typically performed in platoon conditions, beginning 50-plus video games solely twice.
Nonetheless, not like Moog, Beaupre was saddled largely with middling groups, which little question depressed his statistics considerably. Issues obtained even worse when he performed for the completely atrocious Ottawa Senators in 1994-95 and 1995-96.
Nonetheless, sticking across the NHL for practically twenty years is hard for any participant, not to mention a goaltender dwarfed by the numerous greater fish of his period.
Credit score the place credit score’s due: Beaupre simply saved on swimming.
5. 12,988 Saves: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins)
Most NHL Photographs Saved in a Single Season within the Nineteen Eighties
1. 2,006 Photographs Saved: Curtis Joseph (1992-93, St. Louis Blues)
Maybe no season higher mirrored CuJo’s penchant for vaulting the unexceptional into rivalry than 1992-93. His sorry excuse for a Blues workforce had the seventh-fewest targets within the NHL, and had been within the playoffs by the grace of Joseph main the league in save proportion (.911) whereas stopping 114 extra photographs than the next-closest goaltender, thereby permitting the Blues to complete tied for the fourth-fewest targets allowed.
His 2,202 whole photographs confronted additionally led the league by a rustic mile, and would have put him first on the single-season listing for that class, as nicely, had been it not for the barrage Esposito confronted in Chicago in the course of the 1980-81 marketing campaign.
2. 1,993 Photographs Saved: Tony Esposito (1980-81, Chicago Black Hawks)
3. 1,904 Photographs Saved: Tony Esposito (1979-80, Chicago Black Hawks)
4. 1,893 Photographs Saved: Tony Esposito (1978-79, Chicago Black Hawks)
5. 1,892 Photographs Saved: Bob Essensa (1992-93, Winnipeg Jets)
Hockey Does Disservice to NHL Goaltenders of the Nineteen Eighties
Clearly then, mainstream hockey historical past does followers a disservice. Championships, nostalgia and good-old-fashioned advertising, to not point out enjoying in Canada, has propelled solely a choose few netminders from the Nineteen Eighties into the collective consciousness of the hockey world.
Sure, the goaltending within the Nineteen Eighties wasn’t the top of puckstopping; watching some video games from again then, a lot of the netminding is completely laughable. Nonetheless, the identical could be mentioned for the protection, methods and even the uniforms of the period.
In fact, issues received’t measure as much as what we now have right now, however there’s no query there have been some fabulous goaltending abilities plying their commerce in the course of the Nineteen Eighties, restricted solely by the strategies and know-how of the day.
The Nineteen Eighties was a troublesome time to play for NHL goaltenders. Let’s give them the credit score they deserve.
* initially revealed in July 2018
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