d defense like peanut butter goes with jelly? A confident, and willing goaltender.For example, take a look at the 2009 Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made it possible for the Pens to bring the Cup back to the fans at the Igloo. Fleury made timely saves when his team needed him the most. As the Pens edged the Red Wings and disappointed all of “Hockey Town” by winning the Stanley Cup Finals series 4-3, you could say Fleury, along with the high powered offense and defense, stole the Penguins their franchise’s third Cup.
When you think of NHL goaltenders in the iconic sense, who comes to mind? Not necessarily your favorite netminder, but the one who leaves
you speechless night after night? The guy who has been in the league forever and is still fascinating to watch in every minute he plays. On the topic of iconic goaltenders, there’s two names that come to mind: Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.Patrick Jacques Roy born October 5, 1965, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada is known to most hockey fans as the goalie who popularized the butterfly style of goaltending. Roy began his career in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 and played there until 1995. During that span he won two Cups with the Canadiens along with winning three Vezina trophies. Roy was also the only player to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP in the Stanley Cup Playoffs) three times, two while he was in Montreal and one in Colorado. While Roy played for the Canadiens he was more often than not their most valuable player. After Roy was traded to the Avalanche, amidst tension between himself and then Coach Mario Tremblay, the Canadiens are said to be under “The curse of St. Patrick”. Roy played his last game in net wearing a Canadians uniform on December 2, 1995. The Canadiens lost that game 11-1, the worst home game in franchise history. Three days later Roy was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
In his very first season with the Avalanche Roy helped Colorado to the organization’s first Stanley Cup victory, Roy then went on to win the Cup one final time in 2001. While in Colorado it was evident Roy’s style of play didn’t change much at all. Roy was known to be emotionally attached to games and would let it be known if he was unhappy with the results. Just what exactly makes Patrick Roy an iconic goalie? The fact that he is the only player to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times? Or maybe it’s the fact that his #33 is retired in Montreal as well as Colorado. Plus, you can’t forget his four Stanley Cup victories. There is no doubt about it, Patrick Roy’s career in the NHL was iconic.
Martin Pierre Brodeur born May 6, 1972 from Montreal Canada has spent all of his NHL career as a New Jersey Devil. Brodeur was known for his puck handling behind the net and is remembered as the goalie who caused the newly-implemented trapezoid. During his 14 seasons with the Devils, Brodeur has led the team to three Stanley Cup Championship wins and has racked up over 30 franchise records including most regular season wins, most overtime wins, most consecutive 30-win seasons, most consecutive 35-win seasons, most 40 win seasons, most total minutes played by an NHL goaltender (achieved during the 2009-10 season), only goalie to score a game winning goal, most wins in a single season, and most shutouts in a playoff. Not mentioning his four Vezina trophy wins in 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008. There’s no other way to put it than Martin Brodeur is simply a great goaltender. No matter how close the puck is to the back of the net Brodeur always finds a way to make the stop. During his career Brodeur has won many games and set many records in just 14 seasons and can still put on quite a show while in the crease. No debate here, Martin Brodeur is an iconic goalie at the least.
So who would you choose for most valuable goalie of all time? Would it be the high tempered, confident Patrick Roy? Or will it be the calm and cool, record holder Martin Brodeur? My pick goes to Patrick Roy simply because he cared about the game like no other. Some people might even goes as far to say that he was greedy in the sense of winning. He demanded every start and would settle for nothing less than the best. Don’t get me wrong Martin Brodeur is an extremely valuable goalie indeed, but he cannot top the will that Patrick Roy played with. Maybe someday Brodeur will overcome Roy, but as for now Patrick Roy is the most valuable goalie of all time in my mind.
Weigh the sides and take your pick, most valuable goalie of all time: Roy or Brodeur?
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