Patrick Roy had still not decompressed from his 18th season, the first-round playoff exit still stinging, when someone asked him about coming back next year. At the time, Roy said he was about 90 percent certain he would return with the Avalanche for another run toward the Stanley Cup.
Less than two weeks later, Roy is leaning toward retirement with one year and $8.5 million remaining on his contract. He'll receive a $1 million bonus if he retires. Roy has achieved nearly everything possible in hockey and needs the money like Bruce Smith needs another arrest for DUI.
So this could, in fact, signal the end of an era.
Roy has more victories - regular season (551) and playoffs (151) - than any goalie in history. His name is listed on the Cup four times. His three Conn Smythe Trophies confirm he was the best playoff goalie of his day. He won the Vezina Trophy three times. He appeared in 10 NHL All-Star Games. He's the first goalie to appear in 1,000 regular-season games (1,029).
The Hall of Fame is waiting, but with his retirement looming it raises another question: Who is the best netminder in NHL history?
"In terms of longevity, awards and championships, I think Patrick Roy has become the greatest ever," ESPN analyst Darren Pang said by telephone last week. "I've always been one that's afraid to compare guys to different eras just so I didn't disrespect different eras. Patrick kept climbing the ladder. I don't hesitate anymore to put him at the very top of the list."
Dominik Hasek is the only goaltender awarded the Hart Trophy in back-to-back seasons. He won six Vezina Trophies. He was a six-time NHL All-Star. He twice led the league in goals-against average and four times led the league in shutouts. He led the Czech Republic to an Olympic gold medal. He won a Cup.
Terry Sawchuk had 447 victories, 103 shutouts and won four Cups. Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito each posted more than 400 wins and 75 shutouts. Plante won six Cups, Hall two and Esposito one. They were from a different era, but they also played with smaller equipment. Hasek had 288 wins and 61 shutouts, but he was 26 when he played his first NHL game.
Martin Brodeur has four 40-win seasons. He's won two Cups and could be headed for a third, but he's still looking for his first Vezina. He has 365 career victories, 64 shutouts and led Canada to the gold medal in the 2002 Olympics. His victory total puts him in the Top 15 among all-time goalies. His career 2.19 GAA is the lowest among goalies after 1967. He turns 31 this week and could play for at least another five years.
Hasek was the best player on some average teams, and the Sabres would have been nowhere near the Finals without him. His ability was unquestioned but he had problems in the playoffs. You could argue he wasn't even the best European goalie in history. Vladislav Tretiak never played in the NHL but is among the all-time greats. Hasek won the Cup only after playing for one of the best teams ever assembled.
"In the short amount of time when Dominik played," Pang said, "I would think people should have him in the Top Five, easily."
We'll never know how Sawchuk, Plante, Hall and Esposito would have fared against the bigger, faster, harder-shooting players in the game now. My guess is they would have been just as effective with the bigger equipment. Brodeur could break most of Roy's records if he remains in the league long enough.
There's no ignoring Plante's Cup-filled career, and Hasek was incredible. But Roy was the best big-game goalie in history, and he played a bunch of them. He has won Cups in three different decades. He has won more games than anybody in history and is the only goalie to appear in more than 1,000 games.
That's what the argument is all about, winning and consistency. Even this season at age 37, Roy was 35-15-13 with a 2.18 GAA. In my book, he's the best ever.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030504/1048173.asp
Less than two weeks later, Roy is leaning toward retirement with one year and $8.5 million remaining on his contract. He'll receive a $1 million bonus if he retires. Roy has achieved nearly everything possible in hockey and needs the money like Bruce Smith needs another arrest for DUI.
So this could, in fact, signal the end of an era.
Roy has more victories - regular season (551) and playoffs (151) - than any goalie in history. His name is listed on the Cup four times. His three Conn Smythe Trophies confirm he was the best playoff goalie of his day. He won the Vezina Trophy three times. He appeared in 10 NHL All-Star Games. He's the first goalie to appear in 1,000 regular-season games (1,029).
The Hall of Fame is waiting, but with his retirement looming it raises another question: Who is the best netminder in NHL history?
"In terms of longevity, awards and championships, I think Patrick Roy has become the greatest ever," ESPN analyst Darren Pang said by telephone last week. "I've always been one that's afraid to compare guys to different eras just so I didn't disrespect different eras. Patrick kept climbing the ladder. I don't hesitate anymore to put him at the very top of the list."
Dominik Hasek is the only goaltender awarded the Hart Trophy in back-to-back seasons. He won six Vezina Trophies. He was a six-time NHL All-Star. He twice led the league in goals-against average and four times led the league in shutouts. He led the Czech Republic to an Olympic gold medal. He won a Cup.
Terry Sawchuk had 447 victories, 103 shutouts and won four Cups. Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito each posted more than 400 wins and 75 shutouts. Plante won six Cups, Hall two and Esposito one. They were from a different era, but they also played with smaller equipment. Hasek had 288 wins and 61 shutouts, but he was 26 when he played his first NHL game.
Martin Brodeur has four 40-win seasons. He's won two Cups and could be headed for a third, but he's still looking for his first Vezina. He has 365 career victories, 64 shutouts and led Canada to the gold medal in the 2002 Olympics. His victory total puts him in the Top 15 among all-time goalies. His career 2.19 GAA is the lowest among goalies after 1967. He turns 31 this week and could play for at least another five years.
Hasek was the best player on some average teams, and the Sabres would have been nowhere near the Finals without him. His ability was unquestioned but he had problems in the playoffs. You could argue he wasn't even the best European goalie in history. Vladislav Tretiak never played in the NHL but is among the all-time greats. Hasek won the Cup only after playing for one of the best teams ever assembled.
"In the short amount of time when Dominik played," Pang said, "I would think people should have him in the Top Five, easily."
We'll never know how Sawchuk, Plante, Hall and Esposito would have fared against the bigger, faster, harder-shooting players in the game now. My guess is they would have been just as effective with the bigger equipment. Brodeur could break most of Roy's records if he remains in the league long enough.
There's no ignoring Plante's Cup-filled career, and Hasek was incredible. But Roy was the best big-game goalie in history, and he played a bunch of them. He has won Cups in three different decades. He has won more games than anybody in history and is the only goalie to appear in more than 1,000 games.
That's what the argument is all about, winning and consistency. Even this season at age 37, Roy was 35-15-13 with a 2.18 GAA. In my book, he's the best ever.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030504/1048173.asp
