The NHL Entry Draft has lengthy been the NHL’s pipeline for expertise. Whereas groups draft gamers within the hope that they may in the future be of their NHL lineup, there are a variety of gamers which might be handed over within the NHL Draft solely to be signed as free brokers down the road. This text considers one of the best undrafted goaltenders.
Associated: The 21 Goalies Chosen Earlier than Henrik Lundqvist
Even though many drafted goalies have considerably of a route paved for them in terms of ascending the ranks to the NHL degree, a lot of undrafted goalies have made a reputation for themselves over time. Although they by no means had the enjoyment of listening to their title known as through the draft, their goals of taking part in within the NHL by no means died.
There have been a lot of undrafted goalies who’ve had profitable NHL careers.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #10: Glenn Healy
Glenn Healy won’t have had one of the best statistics all through his taking part in profession, however the goalie was greater than serviceable as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Healy’s most memorable taking part in moments most likely got here throughout his time within the New York space as he helped the New York Islanders throughout their stunning 1993 Stanley Cup Playoff run and gained a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers within the following 12 months.
Whereas Healy was an instrumental a part of the New York Islanders’ playoff run through the early 90s, the goalie would possibly simply be remembered for the best way that he performed with the New York Rangers whereas the staff’s primary netminder, Mike Richter, was injured. Even though Healy by no means actually established himself as a “go-to” primary goalie within the NHL, he was all the time a goalie that would shoulder any workload offered to him, and one which rose to the event when his staff wanted him essentially the most.
Healy ranks tenth all-time in wins (166 in 437 video games performed) amongst draft-eligible goaltenders since 1969 who weren’t drafted.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #9: Jon Casey
Jon Casey spent twelve seasons within the NHL and was a staple within the Minnesota North Stars’ crease for eight of his 12 years of NHL service. Whereas Casey completed off the latter portion of his profession as a member of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins, his greatest moments undoubtedly got here as a North Star because the goalie took the staff to the 1991 Stanley Cup Last.
Though Casey by no means gained a Stanley Cup in his taking part in profession, he was an integral a part of the North Stars through the mid-to-late 80s and early 90s as he helped the staff attain the Stanley Cup Playoffs 4 years in a row from 1988-1992. All through his time within the NHL, Casey posted 170 whole common season wins and added 32 extra wins within the postseason. Despite the fact that Casey won’t have been an elite netminder throughout his time within the NHL, he positive was fairly a discover for an undrafted goalie of his time.
Casey ranks ninth all-time in wins (170 in 425 video games performed) amongst draft-eligible goaltenders since 1969 who weren’t drafted.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #8: Chico Resch
Glenn “Chico” Resch performed for a complete of three groups throughout his 14-season NHL profession. Whereas Resch is at present the New Jersey Devils’ tv colour commentator, the goalie was an instrumental a part of the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils throughout his taking part in profession. As a member of the Islanders, Resch not solely gained a Stanley Cup with the staff in 1980, he helped construct it right into a contender.
To today, Resch’s title nonetheless carries immense weight with all sorts of Islanders followers, and far the identical may be mentioned in regards to the goalie in relation to his standing with the Devils and their fan base. Even though Resch’s statistics took a success because the Colorado Rockies relocated to New Jersey, the netminder by no means gave up on his staff – whatever the product on the ice or the outcomes that adopted.
Resch ranks fifth all-time in wins (231 in 571 video games performed) amongst draft-eligible goaltenders since 1969 who weren’t drafted.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #7: Jonas Hiller
The Anaheim Geese took discover of Jonas Hiller after he gained the Swiss championships in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Actually, the Geese had been so excessive on Hiller that they put backup Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers to create space for him. Hiller took the job from J.S. Giguere in 2009 and has held it by means of the 2013-14 season.
Hiller was a key member of the Anaheim Geese, taking part in 326 video games throughout seven seasons. As a member of the Geese, Hiller amassed a 162-110-32 report and went 12-12 in 24 playoff video games for Anaheim. He then walked away as an unrestricted free agent and joined the Calgary Flames in 2014, taking part in in 78 video games spanning two seasons.
Hiller is at present essentially the most profitable Swiss goalie within the NHL and has set the bar in each statistical class for Swiss netminders. His 197 wins in 404 video games performed rank him sixth amongst undrafted goalies.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #6: Antti Niemi
There isn’t any doubting the truth that Antti Niemi has come a good distance since being a Zamboni driver in his native nation of Finland. He was undrafted in 2008 however then signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, serving to cause them to a Stanley Cup in 2010–the primary Finnish goaltender to take action.
Niemi’s time in Chicago might need been restricted, however the goalie has proven why he was value signing as he has he had super success with the San Jose Sharks for the following 5 seasons. If Niemi’s efficiency throughout his first two seasons with the Sharks wasn’t sufficient to win over followers, the goalie definitely put in a convincing effort through the 2012-13 season as he gained 24 of the 43 video games that he began and stored his GAA (2.16) and SV% (.924) to a really respectable clip.
Niemi joined the Dallas Stars in 2015 for 2 seasons and has since bounced across the league, seeing restricted motion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens. He ranks third in wins all-time amongst undrafted goalies.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #5: Niklas Backstrom
Niklas Backstrom came visiting from Finland and has performed almost his total profession with the Minnesota Wild. He joined them within the 2006-07 NHL season as a 28-year-old rookie and was a staple in Minnesota’s crease ever since he took over the duties of a beginning netminder.
His 2008-09 season stood out essentially the most. He appeared in 71 video games and had a report of 37-24-7 with a formidable eight shutouts. He additionally had a .923 SV% and a pair of.33 GAA and was the second runner-up for the Vezina Trophy.
Although some would possibly level to Minnesota’s trapping and defensive model of hockey as a purpose for a number of the Finnish goalie’s earlier success with the Wild, hockey followers should keep in mind that Backstrom wasn’t blessed with one of the best aim assist by means of the years – one thing that makes his contributions a lot extra beneficial to his staff.
Over his ten-year profession, Backstrom has performed to the tune of a 196-144-50 report and with a 2.49 GAA and .914 SV%. His 196 wins rank him seventh all-time amongst undrafted goalies.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #4: Dwayne Roloson
Throughout his 16 seasons within the NHL, Dwayne Roloson managed to play for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning. All the time referred to as a fierce competitor, “Roli” endeared himself to followers by means of decided and hard play.
Whereas Roloson didn’t win a Stanley Cup throughout his taking part in profession, he definitely helped many groups get to the playoffs. Not solely did Roloson backstop the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers all the best way to the Stanley Cup Last, he was an enormous purpose for the Minnesota Wild’s 2002-03 playoff success in addition to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development through the 2010-11 postseason.
Whereas with the Islanders within the 2008-09 season, Roloson grew to become the oldest goalie to start out no less than 60 video games. That season, he set one other report by making 58 saves in a matchup towards the Leafs (breaking Rick DiPietro’s report of 56 in 2007.
The Ontario-born goaltender compiled a report of 227-257-82. He managed to efficiently transcend his craft to the post-lockout (2004-06) period whereas his perspective, work ethic, and dedication made him one of the respectable netminders that the NHL and its followers have seen over the previous couple of many years.
Satirically, Roloson has a considerably higher stat line within the playoffs than the common season. He ranks fifth all-time in wins (227) amongst draft-eligible goaltenders since 1969 who weren’t drafted.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #3: Sergei Bobrovsky
Sergei Bobrovsky was handed over within the 2006 Draft. It was a time when NHL groups had been reluctant to take the prospect on a Russian-born participant. He ultimately signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and performed there for 2 seasons. His first season with the Flyers was good, selecting up 28 wins and posting a 2.59 GAA.
Bobrovsky had an unbelievable 2012-13 NHL season with the Columbus Blue Jackets as he compiled a 21-11-6 report with a 2.00 goals-against common (GAA) and a .932 save proportion (SV%).
Bobrovsky simply completed his 14th season within the NHL and has definitely demonstrated the flexibility wanted to be a number-one beginning goalie throughout his time with the Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers. He took dwelling the Vezina Trophy in 2013 and 2017 and ranks sixth all-time in wins (396 in 700 video games performed) amongst draft-eligible goaltenders since 1969 who weren’t drafted. He backstopped the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in 2024, probably cementing his place within the Hockey Corridor of Fame.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #2: Curtis Joseph
With 454 profession wins and 51 shutouts, Curtis Joseph is without doubt one of the greatest undrafted goalies to by no means win a Stanley Cup. Throughout his NHL profession, “CuJo” performed for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, and Detroit Crimson Wings. As a member of 5 of the six aforementioned groups, Joseph recorded 30 or extra wins with every of the franchises that he performed for, apart from the Calgary Flames.
Whereas Joseph was part of some powerhouse groups all through his NHL profession, he was additionally a workhorse as he appeared in 60 or extra video games in ten of his nineteen NHL seasons of play.
Not solely did Joseph excel through the common season, he additionally shined within the postseason as he managed to amass 63 wins, a 2.42 GAA, and .917 SV% in 133 postseason contests. His title typically comes up for consideration for the Hockey Corridor of Fame.
Undrafted NHL Goalie #1: Ed Belfour
Ed Belfour has been essentially the most profitable undrafted goalie to play within the NHL to this point.
Eddie “The Eagle” Belfour was fairly a competitor throughout his 17 seasons of NHL service. As a member of the 1998-99 Dallas Stars, Belfour gained the Stanley Cup after he went 16-7 with a spectacular 1.67 GAA and .930 SV%. Despite the fact that Belfour wound up two wins shy of repeating as a Stanley Cup champion throughout the next season (1999-2000), he put in simply as many sterling performances through the Stars’ 2000 postseason run as he did in 1999.
Over the course of his profession, Belfour racked up 484 wins and 76 shutouts – numbers that undoubtedly contributed to his nomination to the Hockey Corridor of Fame. Very similar to Curtis Joseph, Belfour additionally had a formidable playoff resume because the netminder compiled an 88-68 win-loss report over 161 appearances made within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Goalies corresponding to Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur would possibly maintain many statistical information that Belfour couldn’t have surpassed throughout his taking part in profession, however the goalie will definitely be remembered as one of many sport’s elite netminders.
He gained a pair of Vezina Trophies (1991 and 1993) and a Stanley Cup in 1999 (with the Dallas Stars) and sits third on the all-time goalie wins listing with 484. He entered the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2011.
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