A controversial list regarding Bruins goalies surfaces
In honor of the Bruins' recent one-year deal with goaltender Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark's celebration on Instagram, let's take a moment to remember some of Boston's finest netminders, a crucial position in hockey.
These goaltenders have been instrumental in the team's success, with many earning prestigious awards in the NHL.
Notably, Frank Brimsek and Andrew Raycroft both secured the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year, while Tim Thomas claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoffs' most valuable player.
Several others, including Ullmark, Brimsek, Thomas, Tuukka Rask, Pete Peeters, and Tiny Thompson, achieved the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL.
Over the years, four goalie tandems, such as Ullmark and Swayman, Reggie Lemelin and Andy Moog, Manny Fernandez and Thomas, and Rask and Jaroslav Halak, have earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the regular season.
Although the goaltender plays a critical role, interestingly, none of the 12 retired Bruin jersey numbers belong to goalies. Now, let's delve into the top five greatest goaltenders to ever don the pads for Boston:
Frank Brimsek (1939-1949): Winning the Stanley Cup in 1939 and 1941, Brimsek recorded an impressive 230 wins in 444 games, with 35 shutouts. He's one of three Bruins goaltenders to win the Vezina Trophy at least twice and the only one to secure both the Calder and Vezina trophies in the same season.
Tim Thomas (2002-2012): Thomas's stellar performance during the 2011 Stanley Cup run remains legendary, earning him the Cup, Vezina, and Conn Smythe trophies. His first Vezina came in 2009, leading the league with a 2.10 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. Thomas won 196 of his 378 games for Boston, ranking high in the team's all-time leaderboard.
Gerry Cheevers (1965-72, 1975-80) : Cheevers led the Bruins to Stanley Cup victories in 1970 and 1972, making 10,579 saves in 11,747 shots over his 12 seasons with the team. He not only played 416 games but also served as head coach for four seasons in the '80s.
Tuukka Rask (2007-2022): While Rask didn't win a Stanley Cup as the starting goaltender, he was part of the 2011 Cup-winning team. With 308 wins, 52 shutouts, and 57 playoff wins, Rask's contributions to the team have been exceptional.
Tiny Thompson (1928-1939): Thompson ranks second in Bruins history for wins (252) but holds the record for shutouts (74). He led the Bruins to their first-ever Stanley Cup win in 1928-29 and secured four Vezina Trophies while playing for Boston.
These five goaltenders have left an indelible mark on Boston Bruins' history, each playing a significant role in the team's success.
Source: Nesn
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Boston Bruins have had some outstanding goaltenders throughout their history? | ||
| Yes | 62 | 96.9 % |
| No | 2 | 3.1 % |
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