The Greatest Goalies Poll

[TCDaniels]

Sorry if this has been done - I did a search but didn't come up with any results

I'm working on a little project, so I'm looking for your opinions -

Who are the greatest Bruins goalies of all-time?

Now... by that, I mean Bruins goalies... Not great goalies who made a quick pit-stop in Boston... For example - you won't see Bernie Parent on this list. I mean the guys who made the biggest impact in a Bruins Jersey.

I have my picks, but I'd love to see what the masses think! Pick 6 from the group below! (please!)
If you feel that I've missed your guy (if you feel that Rogie Vachon belongs in the top-6, despite only playing here for a couple seasons) feel free to add into the comments! And - yes - I put Ullmark here, in spite of his short tenure. That's just because he's the current flavor of the month - what with his record-breaking season and all.

Thanks all!

Click to read more...

 

[McGarnagle]

It looks like everyone's in agreement on the top 5 in some order (Rask, Thomas, Brimsek, Thompson, Cheevers) but the 6th is up for debate.

It's really hard to compare across eras when not only is the game different but the quality of the team in front of the goalie is different. I was choosing between Moog, Gilbert, and Dafoe (Johnston also but being mostly a backup and having a bad playoff record I discounted). I didn't consider Ullmark/Swayman because they only have 2 years of platoon work on their resume.

After looking at numbers, I settled on Byron Dafoe. Not the sexy pick, was never iconic to the franchise, but numbers-wise even with the difference between the dead-puck era and the 80s and a worse team in front of him, he still had better numbers relative to his peers than Moog did.

 

[TCDaniels]

It looks like everyone's in agreement on the top 5 in some order (Rask, Thomas, Brimsek, Thompson, Cheevers) but the 6th is up for debate.

It's really hard to compare across eras when not only is the game different but the quality of the team in front of the goalie is different. I was choosing between Moog, Gilbert, and Dafoe (Johnston also but being mostly a backup and having a bad playoff record). I didn't consider Ullmark/Swayman because they only have 2 years of platoon work on their resume.

After looking at numbers, I settled on Byron Dafoe. Not the sexy pick, was never iconic to the franchise, but numbers-wise even with the difference between the dead-puck era and the 80s and a worse team in front of him, he still had better numbers relative to his peers than Moog

It looks like everyone's in agreement on the top 5 in some order (Rask, Thomas, Brimsek, Thompson, Cheevers) but the 6th is up for debate.

It's really hard to compare across eras when not only is the game different but the quality of the team in front of the goalie is different. I was choosing between Moog, Gilbert, and Dafoe (Johnston also but being mostly a backup and having a bad playoff record). I didn't consider Ullmark/Swayman because they only have 2 years of platoon work on their resume.

After looking at numbers, I settled on Byron Dafoe. Not the sexy pick, was never iconic to the franchise, but numbers-wise even with the difference between the dead-puck era and the 80s and a worse team in front of him, he still had better numbers relative to his peers than Moog did.

I came up with the exact problem... and the same 3. That's why I asked those smarter than me!

 

[BruinDust]

I went with Moog over Dafoe and Gilbert. If I had a write in pick, it would be Bill Ranford but he's not a Top 6 Bruin goalie all-time but belongs on the ballot.

Moog's work in the playoffs from 1990 to 1992 is what seals it for me.

He wasn't "the man" in net for Boston in 1988 or 1989, but he basically runs the table the next 3 seasons playoff wise.

Won 7 rounds over 3 seasons. Including defeating the hated Habs THREE times. His sweep of the Habs in 1992 may be my earliest ever Bruins memory (I was a wee bit too young to remember much about 1990 or 91 even though I started following the Bruins playoffs 1990. Was sound asleep for Wesley's crossbar).

Another sweep in the conference finals vs. Washington to send Boston to the finals. Two Game 7 victories as well (Montreal 1991 and Buffalo 1992).

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

It looks like everyone's in agreement on the top 5 in some order (Rask, Thomas, Brimsek, Thompson, Cheevers) but the 6th is up for debate.

It's really hard to compare across eras when not only is the game different but the quality of the team in front of the goalie is different. I was choosing between Moog, Gilbert, and Dafoe (Johnston also but being mostly a backup and having a bad playoff record I discounted). I didn't consider Ullmark/Swayman because they only have 2 years of platoon work on their resume.

After looking at numbers, I settled on Byron Dafoe. Not the sexy pick, was never iconic to the franchise, but numbers-wise even with the difference between the dead-puck era and the 80s and a worse team in front of him, he still had better numbers relative to his peers than Moog did.

Eddie Johnston is 4th in games played for the B's despite playing in the era of the 70-game schedule.

Played all 70 games in the1963-64 season. Had the 5th most saves in a season in NHL history with 2243. A save percentage that season of .914 seems pretty remarkable considering how bad the Bruins were at that time.

Didn't get to the NHL until he was 27. Not easy breaking into the 06 league. Played a season for the legendary Johnstown Jets and in his last 2 minor league seasons he also played all 70 games for his teams.

He was the Bruins goalie in the first NHL game I attended. Lost to the Red Wings 1-0 on a goal by Paul Henderson. Johnston was all that kept the Bruins in the game.

 

[yazmybaby]

I went with Moog over Dafoe and Gilbert. If I had a write in pick, it would be Bill Ranford but he's not a Top 6 Bruin goalie all-time but belongs on the ballot.

Moog's work in the playoffs from 1990 to 1992 is what seals it for me.

He wasn't "the man" in net for Boston in 1988 or 1989, but he basically runs the table the next 3 seasons playoff wise.

Won 7 rounds over 3 seasons. Including defeating the hated Habs THREE times. His sweep of the Habs in 1992 may be my earliest ever Bruins memory (I was a wee bit too young to remember much about 1990 or 91 even though I started following the Bruins playoffs 1990. Was sound asleep for Wesley's crossbar).

Another sweep in the conference finals vs. Washington to send Boston to the finals. Two Game 7 victories as well (Montreal 1991 and Buffalo 1992).

I voted for Moog as well.
Without him we do not make to the Cup Finals against the Oil.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

It looks like everyone's in agreement on the top 5 in some order (Rask, Thomas, Brimsek, Thompson, Cheevers) but the 6th is up for debate.

It's really hard to compare across eras when not only is the game different but the quality of the team in front of the goalie is different. I was choosing between Moog, Gilbert, and Dafoe (Johnston also but being mostly a backup and having a bad playoff record I discounted). I didn't consider Ullmark/Swayman because they only have 2 years of platoon work on their resume.

After looking at numbers, I settled on Byron Dafoe. Not the sexy pick, was never iconic to the franchise, but numbers-wise even with the difference between the dead-puck era and the 80s and a worse team in front of him, he still had better numbers relative to his peers than Moog did.

I went with Moog at #6, mostly because as a kid that's who I remember most. Even now thinking back to those teams, I list the stars as Bourque, Neely, Oates, Moog

 

[BruinDust]

I voted for Moog as well.
Without him we do not make to the Cup Finals against the Oil.

I went with Moog at #6, mostly because as a kid that's who I remember most. Even now thinking back to those teams, I list the stars as Bourque, Neely, Oates, Moog

I didn't grow up anywhere close to Boston and yet you could get Andy Moog posters (along with Bourque, Neely, Oates) at every major department store. Like you said, he was considered at the time to be one of the star players for the Bruins.

 

[smithformeragent]

I didn't grow up anywhere close to Boston and yet you could get Andy Moog posters (along with Bourque, Neely, Oates) at every major department store. Like you said, he was considered at the time to be one of the star players for the Bruins.

 

[Kegs]

Tim Thomas was a legit cheat code. 2011 playoffs the bruins had the best goalie I’ve ever seen in modern day hockey. We love to credit team toughness but I think Tim Thomas was the biggest reason they won the cup. Thomas 2011 playoff highlights might put Patrick Roy to shame.

 

[Babajingo]

Wow, Thomas with the most? I'd put Thompson, Cheevers and (maybe) Brimsek over him. Maybe i'm weighing # of seasons too much.

 

[McGarnagle]

Pete Peeters is interesting, because looking at raw numbers he's up there with Moog, Dafoe, etc., but doesn't seem to have cast a long shadow in terms of legacy, he mainly bridged that gap between the Cheevers/Gilbert and Moog/Lemelin eras. He won a Vezina and was actually the Hart runner-up to Gretzky in 1983. But the 1982-83 season stands out as a career year and the numbers in the following 3 years were not bad but nowhere near as great.

TBH, he was before my time and the only highlights I've really seen are from the 1983 conference finals where he got absolutely murdered by Mike Bossy (but I mean, what goalie on earth wouldn't have got sandblasted by the 1983 Islanders?) Maybe those who watched that 82-85 era can give a better estimation of whether he was a flash in the pan who got solved by the Islanders or if he's a forgotten contributor.

 

[UncleRico]

Tim Thomas was a legit cheat code. 2011 playoffs the bruins had the best goalie I’ve ever seen in modern day hockey. We love to credit team toughness but I think Tim Thomas was the biggest reason they won the cup. Thomas 2011 playoff highlights might put Patrick Roy to shame.

He was the X factor. Offense was non existent that playoff run outside of that flyers series. Insane they had to go to three game 7s with a goalie who was allowing 1.98 GAA per game. Highway robbery all playoffs.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

He was the X factor. Offense was non existent that playoff run outside of that flyers series. Insane they had to go to three game 7s with a goalie who was allowing 1.98 GAA per game. Highway robbery all playoffs.

In the Tampa series, Lightning scored 5 goals in 4 different games.

First two games of the series (in Boston) Tampa scored 10 goals. Luckily Bruins won game 2, 6-5. That was Seguin's 4-point game.

 

[UncleRico]

In the Tampa series, Lightning scored 5 goals in 4 different games.

First two games of the series (in Boston) Tampa scored 10 goals. Luckily Bruins won game 2, 6-5. That was Seguin's 4-point game.

Bruins scored 3 goals or less in 13/25 games that postseason and still won. Did Thomas have a handful of bad games, sure. However he put them on his back the vast majority of that playoff run when the offense was struggling

 

[missingchicklet]

The number of breakaways, shots from high danger areas, and cross crease passes leading to point-blank shots that Timmy stopped in the 2011 playoffs was staggering:

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Bruins scored 3 goals or less in 13/25 games that postseason and still won. Did Thomas have a handful of bad games, sure. However he put them on his back the vast majority of that playoff run when the offense was struggling

Is that supposed to bad?

That's 12 of 25 games at 4 or more goals. That's really good!

81 goals in the playoffs, one less than Vancouver. 3.25 goals per game. Higher than their regular season average.

Hardly the non-existent offense you claimed.

 

[UncleRico]

Is that supposed to bad?

That's 12 of 25 games at 4 or more goals. That's really good!

81 goals in the playoffs, one less than Vancouver. 3.25 goals per game. Higher than their regular season average.

Hardly the non-existent offense you claimed.

Outside of the flyers series*

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

He was the X factor. Offense was non existent that playoff run outside of that flyers series. Insane they had to go to three game 7s with a goalie who was allowing 1.98 GAA per game. Highway robbery all playoffs.

Thats not entirely true. Tampa had 5 goals 4x in the series. The Bruins scored 21 goals in the series, including a crucial 6-5 win

Plus the offense carried them in the Finals, outscoring Vancouver 23-8.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Thats not entirely true. Tampa had 5 goals 4x in the series. The Bruins scored 21 goals in the series, including a crucial 6-5 win

Plus the offense carried them in the Finals, outscoring Vancouver 23-8.

It was the powerplay that was non-existent, not the offensive in general.

 

[finchster]

1) Brimsek
2) Thompson
3) Thomas
4) Rask
5) Cheevers
6) Moag/Henry

I think the top two are settled, no one has done anything to unseat Brimsek or Thompson.

Rask and Thomas can go either way, but I take Thomas over Rask.

I think Cheevers is overrated and doesn't belong in the HHOF.

Moag had three top 5 seasons in a Bruins uniform and Henry was great with a Hart finalist season. I can't decide between them

 

[JAD]

In case anyone is interested:
BOSTON BRUINS GOALTENDING HISTORY: YEAR-BY-YEAR

BOSTON BRUINS GOALTENDING HISTORY: YEAR-BY-YEAR

 

[nORRis8]

I went with Cheesie #1.
I always felt more comfortable with him in net over Eddie Johnson.

But I must admit, when we went down 0-2 in 1979 vs the Habs, Cherry was correct in getting Gilbert in there. He was so solid.

 

[Sheppy]

I'm basing my picks off goaltenders who played while I have been alive.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I'm basing my picks off goaltenders who played while I have been alive.

Some names would have to be added to the list if I just picked goalies from when I started watching.

Thomas
Rask
Ullmark
Halak
Swayman
Khudobin

Honorable mention: Fernandez

I left Turco out because he only played 5 games here.