On This Day in Hockey History (ongoing)

[Dean Youngblood]

October 20, 1993

Rookie goaltender Martin Brodeur recorded his first career NHL shutout to lead the Devils to a 4-0 win over the Mighty Ducks in New Jersey

[TML]

17 years later, becomes best goalie ever (my opinion. No need to start anything)

[jayz16]

17 years later, becomes best goalie ever (my opinion. No need to start anything)

I agree! Though I think he became the best goalie a while ago, somewhere between kicking and ass!!!

Has a team in front of him to keep him competitive too!

[mister_mcgoo]

I like Marty a lot and he's definitely part of any discussion but for.me the best I've ever seen play the position in Hasek

[Big Ev]

Agreed, Hasek was a beast. He completely changed the dynamic of each team he was on. The Sabres were nothing without Hasek back in '99.

[rainydrinkwater]

I don't want to be the one who takes anything away from Marty, but I think that he is the only one of these goalies who played on a team that could get 100 pts a season, for the duration of his career. Hasek and Roy (in Montreal) played some season's on rather dicey teams. Even though NJ is incredibley still a threat at the Presidents Trophy as consistently as anybody this side of the Motor City, clearly the post lockout teams are nowhere near as strong as the hey day (Stevens, Nieds, Elias in his Prime, Sykora, Arnott, Mogilny etc. all very productive) and it shows. Look at Broduer's post lockout Playoff stats-shockingly putrid. One of the best, no doubt, but not #1, IMO.

Hasek is difficult to argue against as, I have never seen the goaltender position so utterly "dominated" by one man, for a 6-8 year stretch like Hasek did. The buffalo Sabres of that era shouldn't have had a sniff of the playoffs, let alone the Stanley Cup Final. Without a doubt revolutionized the way the position is played.

My vote, however goes to ST. Patrick. Credit here also for revolutionizing the position with the butterfly.Simply put, the definition of the word "winner". Elevated his game to unparalled hieghts when his team needed it the most. And that to me is the kicker. No man in NHL history, not Gretzky, nor Lemuix. Not Bobby Orr or Gordie Howe or Lidstrom, Messier, Yzerman etc. Has won the Conn Smythe Trophy 3x, other than Roy. The trophy for bringing when it counts. Remember Toews last spring. Patrick Roy brought a sense of security to his teamates in post season play like no other. The 1993 Montreal Canadiens were a nice team, but with a very green blueline, aand had no bussiness winning that cup othe tha Roy stealing it. C'mon 11 OT wins! 10 in a row. There was nobody like him ever, IMO.

If I had to play a hockey game for everything I hold dear on this planet, and could choose any goalie in thier prime to gaurd my net, I would easily pick St Patrick and his magical wink.

[jayz16]

I don't want to be the one who takes anything away from Marty, but I think that he is the only one of these goalies who played on a team that could get 100 pts a season, for the duration of his career. Hasek and Roy (in Montreal) played some season's on rather dicey teams. Even though NJ is incredibley still a threat at the Presidents Trophy as consistently as anybody this side of the Motor City, clearly the post lockout teams are nowhere near as strong as the hey day (Stevens, Nieds, Elias in his Prime, Sykora, Arnott, Mogilny etc. all very productive) and it shows. Look at Broduer's post lockout Playoff stats-shockingly putrid. One of the best, no doubt, but not #1, IMO.

Hasek is difficult to argue against as, I have never seen the goaltender position so utterly "dominated" by one man, for a 6-8 year stretch like Hasek did. The buffalo Sabres of that era shouldn't have had a sniff of the playoffs, let alone the Stanley Cup Final. Without a doubt revolutionized the way the position is played.

My vote, however goes to ST. Patrick. Credit here also for revolutionizing the position with the butterfly.Simply put, the definition of the word "winner". Elevated his game to unparalled hieghts when his team needed it the most. And that to me is the kicker. No man in NHL history, not Gretzky, nor Lemuix. Not Bobby Orr or Gordie Howe or Lidstrom, Messier, Yzerman etc. Has won the Conn Smythe Trophy 3x, other than Roy. The trophy for bringing when it counts. Remember Toews last spring. Patrick Roy brought a sense of security to his teamates in post season play like no other. The 1993 Montreal Canadiens were a nice team, but with a very green blueline, aand had no bussiness winning that cup othe tha Roy stealing it. C'mon 11 OT wins! 10 in a row. There was nobody like him ever, IMO.

If I had to play a hockey game for everything I hold dear on this planet, and could choose any goalie in thier prime to gaurd my net, I would easily pick St Patrick and his magical wink.

As a Leaf fan, it pains me to give Roy the credit he's due but he was ridiculously good and fiery and no doubt one of the best.

But your logic in looking at Brodeur would apply to Lidstrom as well and I think he's one of the best defensemen of all time... I'm not arguing your opinion though, as Roy was money and can absolutely be seen as an alltime great.

[rainydrinkwater]

But your logic in looking at Brodeur would apply to Lidstrom as well and I think he's one of the best defensemen of all time...

Good point j. I actually have made that argument when saying, (IMO) that Bourque was a tad better than Lidstrom. I wouldn't expect anyone under 35 or 30 years old to agree with me on that one.

[lanky522]

bourque >>> lidstrom

and i'm 26.

as far as marty goes... it's a shame... because whether it should be this way or not, so much of his career is directly tied to the team and system he played for. It's kind of a shame that we never saw how he could do on a "lack-luster" team.

It's one of those things that nay-sayers will always come back to... how much of his career success was a direct result of the team and system he played for? What came first...? the chicken or the egg...? Was he the cause of the team's success? Or just the primary beneficiary? We'll never likely really know...

I personally think the truth lies somewhere in between. But nay-sayers will always take the one position, and fans will take the other.

I will say this though. The longevity of Brodeur has been absolutely incredible to watch. I can't think of any other goalie who's been as proficient and at the same time durable for so many years.

He's definitely a great one. I'm just waiting for the next one to come along so that the argument can consist of more than just roy, brodeur, and hasek.

[jayz16]

Good point j. I actually have made that argument when saying, (IMO) that Bourque was a tad better than Lidstrom. I wouldn't expect anyone under 35 or 30 years old to agree with me on that one.

I can see it and I'm under 30! Bourque was a beast up until the twilight of his career, which I was fortunate enough to watch about half of! That's a tough one though, Bourque or Lidstrom?!

[rainydrinkwater]

I can see it and I'm under 30! Bourque was a beast up until the twilight of his career, which I was fortunate enough to watch about half of! That's a tough one though, Bourque or Lidstrom?!

Either one was pure gold.

[lanky522]

I can see it and I'm under 30! Bourque was a beast up until the twilight of his career, which I was fortunate enough to watch about half of! That's a tough one though, Bourque or Lidstrom?!

Not tough. Nothing against Lidstrom, but it'd be Bourque in a heartbeat for me... but then, I personally think that Bourque's the best to play the position since Orr... so I maybe i'm biased.

[rainydrinkwater]

bourque >>> lidstrom

and i'm 26.

as far as marty goes... it's a shame... because whether it should be this way or not, so much of his career is directly tied to the team and system he played for. It's kind of a shame that we never saw how he could do on a "lack-luster" team.

It's one of those things that nay-sayers will always come back to... how much of his career success was a direct result of the team and system he played for? What came first...? the chicken or the egg...? Was he the cause of the team's success? Or just the primary beneficiary? We'll never likely really know...

I personally think the truth lies somewhere in between. But nay-sayers will always take the one position, and fans will take the other.

I will say this though. The longevity of Brodeur has been absolutely incredible to watch. I can't think of any other goalie who's been as proficient and at the same time durable for so many years.

He's definitely a great one. I'm just waiting for the next one to come along so that the argument can consist of more than just roy, brodeur, and hasek.

Good valid point here as well.

[jayz16]

Not tough. Nothing against Lidstrom, but it'd be Bourque in a heartbeat for me... but then, I personally think that Bourque's the best to play the position since Orr... so I maybe i'm biased.

Maybe bias but stats back it up and anyone who has seen him play can't really argue... I was a kid just starting to play and watch hockey when Lidstrom was a rookie and have watched his entire career... The absolute model of consistency in my eyes, so I may have be a little bias as well lol.

[Briarpatch00]

Bourque was likely the best at the postion as a D. Orr is the guy the revolutionized the position and gets elite status for me but Bourque is likely the model. He invented what Lidstrom has done on a much much worse franchise at a time when the owner and GM only cared about spending just enough to keep the building filled.

And as a Bruin fan, pains me to side with the Roy agruments (ugh)

More importantly, The Ducks are that old? I remember the joke of their inaugural season after that cheesy disney movie...