NHL Top 15 Goalies

[06TJSport 0]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/244026-...ideshows#page/1

A certain 3 time cup champion is missing from the list....

[cjm502 165]

Vokun at 13? I you ask me he was the most impressive NHL goalie last season. He is a monster!

[Jedi 1,865]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/244026-...ideshows#page/1

A certain 3 time cup champion is missing from the list....

You can't be surprised at that?

Does he deserve to be there? You bet. He has more cup rings than 14 of the guys on that list, and is tied with the 15th (though, since Vernie backstopped us to the cup win in '97, I would consider that category to be currently owned by Brodeur). But at this point in his career, it should be no surprise to anyone to see Osgood left out of lists like this.

Maybe, maybe had Ozzie had a better regular season in 08-09 then he might have made that list. But even then, I doubt it. It never surprises me to see Ozzie left off of the "greatest" lists. And in the end, I think even Osgood knows that he probably won't get the respect that he probably deserves. How many times this year (especially the playoffs) was he asked "why don't you get the respect... yada yada yada..."? It seemed like he got that question in almost every post-game interview that I listened to this year.

[numberthirtynine 0]

I wondered before I clicked if it'd be an all time list, or a current list.

I then saw Rinne on the list and knew right away lol

This list is alright. It is missing a certain goalie named CHRIS f***IN OSGOOD. Hello? Anybody home? Think McFly, think...he's proven over the past couple years he should be high on this list, nevermind just on it.

#1 just confirms the credibility of this list. What a joke. Yaaay! Let's put #1 as the most predictable choice zomg everinthehistoryoflists. C'mon. The guy has done nothing but piss away his teams playoffs the last 5 years. And before that, his team saw to it he faced a very low quality of shots, and almost no rebounds. As soon as the team got worse, so did he. Brodeur is an overrated system goalie. Start the rage attacks.

Edited August 30, 2009 by numberthirtynine

[Guest mindfly]

Nabokov and Khabibulin are a bit too high but the top5 is correct imo

[Swayze 81]

Steve Mason was ranked way too low, that kid carried the BJs to the playoffs on his back...not to mention 10 shutouts and a Calder Trophy his first time seeing NHL action.

[Spinner 6]

I'm thinking of starting my own list of writers that haven't a clue

[digitaljohn88 4]

29-12-0, .928%, 1.80GAA

Osgood has posted absolute top-5 numbers in the last two postseasons. However, he had a terrible regular season last year. Most hockey fans put more stock in the regular season than Wings fans because it isn't a 20-year lock for them that their team will make the playoffs.

I can see people leaving him off a top-15 overall list. I'd call him a top-5 playoff goalie though.

[miksteri 55]

Lundqvist ahead of Kipper? wtf!!!

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Did they even put Price?

Edited August 30, 2009 by KrazyGangsta

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

I'm thinking of starting my own list of writers that haven't a clue

Wouldn't it just be easier to make a list of writers that do have a clue?

[Lidstrom for life 20]

Wouldn't it just be easier to make a list of writers that do have a clue?

Where are you going to find 15 of those?

[truebladearmy 33]

Where are you going to find 15 of those?

Lol. It should be noted that I started the relatively controversial thread on Ozzie on this forum

He gets overlooked a lot. I mean, ignore the fact that he has 3 stanley cup rings, and was the starting goalie three times in the finals. Ignore that the only two people even close to him in Stanley cup rings are Roy, and Brodeur. (Active players, I know how you guys like to nitpick details...Well roy's not active, but he was during Osgoods career.)

Think about it really. All the big name goalies in the world....and yet Osgood, so far as pure playoff performance goes, has been to the finals more times than.....um....everybody, except Brodeur and Roy.......during his era. Wait, more than Roy.

Roy backstopped 2 championships with Colorado. (Keep in mind, I'm just looking at the time "since" Osgood has been an NHL player, I keep saying this because I know someone is going to argue it with something completely out of context.)

Brodeur backstopped 3, since Osgood came along.

Osgood, Backstopped....2, was a backup for 1. Took Detroit to game freaking 7 of the finals, and missed backstopping 3 due to a 2-1 loss......meanwhile still posted best GAA and sv percentage of the playoffs.

It's honestly, really dumb to not put him up with the best. His resume is possibly the best of active goalies. Brodeur has a bit of an edge on him.......but how do you not give respect to a goalie whom nobody but Brodeur (active players) has a better resume than? Roy was better, sure. But obviously not active anymore.

But hey, two goalies have made it to the finals in the last two years (aka since salary cap).

Osgood. Fleury. That's it. I haven't seen anyone else backstopping the finals in the past few years.....

Edited August 30, 2009 by truebladearmy

[truebladearmy 33]

If Osgood was a gymnast, this would be his movie

Cheesy, yet excellent movie

Lot of solid eastern philosophy in it. Some of you will enjoy it, I promise.

[numberthirtynine 0]

The only thing anyone ever offers as a reason why Ozzie is ignored, is the team he is on. I mean, we know what he's done when we break down on D but to them, a great team like ours cancels out everything he's ever done. Stupid, fact, but that's how they think.

So why do we go gaga over Roy and Brodeur? Granted I think both are different levels of overrated, with Roy being much better than Brodeur. But really, neither have ever won a Cup with a bad team. Montreal during Roy's time were veeeeery good teams, some of the best of the day. The whole myth that Roy carried those teams has been proven a load of crap by anyone who actually feels like digging deeper. And Brodeur has played on the most defensive team in hockey history. Yet we wet our pants over him. Esp when if you dig deeper into his career, you'll see he's not nearly as impressive as every other great throughout history. I know why all this happens the way it does sadly, but it's still a shining example of a media that some people still think are credible, "just because".

Edited August 30, 2009 by numberthirtynine

[Konnan511 1,736]

NHL Top 15 goalies shouldn't have Ozzie on it. If it was NHL Top 15 playoff goalies, Ozzie would be top 3.

[3chrisosgood0 7]

worst list ive ever seen in my entire life

ESPN coulda made a better list

and what does ESPn know about hockey? nothing

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

Always cracks me up to see Kiprusoff high on these lists "last season was a down year for him"... He hasn't played well in any capacity since 2006-07, and he's been steadily declining in productivity every year in the NHL since 03-04. Last season he was one of the worst starters in the League (he made Turco look like an all-star), and the difference between him and Osgood last season is that Kipper never once turned it on. At least Osgood had a decent playoffs.

And I wouldn't take a Rinne or Hiller until I saw a repeat performance. I've seen to many one-season wonders in the NHL (These guys probably had Ellis on their list last year and Raycroft on it 2 years ago)...

[eva unit zero 271]

You know who Kipper should be ranked one spot ahead of on the list?

Me.

Not that he has played a few seasons in a row like ass or anything.

[numberthirtynine 0]

Kipper's image for some bats*** insane reason just won't go away. He's been riding that "last year was only a down year" rap for like 4 years now. I was the first one in Calgary to tell everyone he was declining and was the product of a great trapping defense. As the D has gotten worse, so has he. He's like many other goalies who can make miracle saves now and again but will let in weak ones at horrible times, way too often. Only with Kipper, he came out of nowhere to go to the finals, so his image and rep in peoples minds stays fresh for alot longer. It's just how people think.

Kipper shouldn't even be on here. And Steve Mason should be alot lower. On the surface it appears he did amazing. But he was a beacon of inconsistency and his latter part of the season was a little bleh.

[eva unit zero 271]

The top 15 goalies in the NHL are:

1) Martin Brodeur

2) Niklas Backstrom

3) Henrik Lundqvist

4) Roberto Luongo

5) Tomas Vokoun

6) Ryan Miller

7) Chris Osgood

8) Tim Thomas

9) Pekka Rinne

10) Steve Mason

11) Jonas Hiller

12) Evgeni Nabokov

13) Ilya Bryzgalov

14) Marc-Andre Fleury

15) Cam Ward

[hokeychik22 17]

despite ozzie's shaky start he played better as games went on. i think he should of made this list.

[theman19 47]

The top 15 goalies in the NHL are:

1) Martin Brodeur

2) Niklas Backstrom

3) Henrik Lundqvist

4) Roberto Luongo

5) Tomas Vokoun

6) Ryan Miller

7) Chris Osgood

8) Tim Thomas

9) Pekka Rinne

10) Steve Mason

11) Jonas Hiller

12) Evgeni Nabokov

13) Ilya Bryzgalov

14) Marc-Andre Fleury

15) Cam Ward

only issue i have is how low ward is, but he's incosistant on a season by season basis. So i understand that.

[mmamolo 287]

I think the only way to make up a list like this is to encompass regular season and playoff performance, consistency, skill, game changing ability and for the younger goalies potential. My list of the top 15 would be in order who I would put on my team if I had the freedom to choose reagardless of other circumstances.

1. Niklas Backstrom

2. Henrick Lundqvist

3. Roberto Luongo

4. Chris Osgood

5. Martin Brodeur

6. Marc-ANdre Fleury

7. Cam Ward

8. Tomas Vokoun

9. Jonas Hiller

10. Ryan Miller

11. Steve Mason

12. Ilya Bryzgalov

13. Evgeni Nabokov

14. Nikolai Khabibulin

15. Pekka Rinne

Notables left of the list: Kiprusoff, Thomas, (Chris) Mason

Personally I think Backstrom is unreal and I think he'd thrive anywhere even if it wasn't in the defensively minded Minnesota. Lundqvist and Luongo are work horses who are capable of winning Conn Smythe trophies if their franchises ever put together some ppl to play in front of them. Osgood's a big game goaltender and has shown it with his playoff numbers and I believe that if it weren't for the Wings' offense drying up in games 6 and 7 he would have won this year's Conn Smythe trophy. Brodeur was unreal and is still really strong but he hasn't put together a good enough playoff campaign in a while.

Vokoun and Bryzgalov seem to be underrated in the league today but are both extremely good. Nabakov is on this list from past performance but could easily be dropped off next spring. Khabibulin showed his resurgence this year.

I know some ppl aren't going to liek Kiprusoff and Thomas being left off the list but Kiprusoff hasn't gotten out of the first round since the pre-cap world and although posting solid regualr season stats I think his best days are behind him. Tim Thomas had his 15 minutes of fame and personally I was not shocked to see the Bruins fall in the Conference Semi's. I think he's some what of a flash in the pan and the way he has played the last two seasons won't continue much longer. He'll still post solid regular season numbers this year as the Bruins are strong but I personally wouldn't want him on my team (based on his play, skill etc. He seems like a good guy and there should be a lot said about his perseverance)

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

I know some ppl aren't going to liek Kiprusoff and Thomas being left off the list but Kiprusoff hasn't gotten out of the first round since the pre-cap world and although posting solid regualr season stats I think his best days are behind him. Tim Thomas had his 15 minutes of fame and personally I was not shocked to see the Bruins fall in the Conference Semi's. I think he's some what of a flash in the pan and the way he has played the last two seasons won't continue much longer. He'll still post solid regular season numbers this year as the Bruins are strong but I personally wouldn't want him on my team (based on his play, skill etc. He seems like a good guy and there should be a lot said about his perseverance)

I've got no love for Kipper's game anymore, he's looked weak for a while.. but Thomas has played real well, and it wasn't his fault that the Bruins got knocked off, he was playing very well in the playoffs too.