10 Best NHL Goaltenders Ever

The 10 Best NHL Goaltenders Ever—argue and debate all you will on who the greatest of all time is, but on Monday December 21, 2009, the arguments ended. Martin Brodeur collected his 104th career shut out as the New Jersey Devils beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. Already breaking, as well as creating records of his own, Brodeur solidified his place in time as the NHL's best goaltender.

1. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils: 3 Stanley Cups, 4 Vezina awards. The best NHL goalie to ever play the game. In 1994, Brodeur won the Calder trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He's been named an NHL All-Star 10 times throughout his career, helped team Canada to Olympic Gold, as well as having won four Williams J. Jennings awards. Playing close to 70 games, if not more, each season had even the great Patrick Roy saying how special a player is Brodeur. Surpassing the all-time shutout record and still playing, ponder how many more he will earn before retiring. A current champion and future first ballot hall of fame candidate, Brodeur is simply the best.
2. Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche: 4 Stanley Cups, 3 Conn Smythe awards, 3 Vezina awards. Known throughout history as Montreals prized piece, that ended when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after a feud with management and coaching. Roy is the name debated against Brodeur as the NHL goaltender to be the best to ever play the game. Unfortunately for Roy, he retired before he could add to his accolades. Already an impressive resume, add five William J. Jennings trophies and eleven All-Star appearances and in lies the debate. His #33 retired by both the Avalanche and the Canadiens.
3. Dominik Hasek: Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings: 1 cup, 2 Hart trophies, 6 Vezina awards. It was not until he was traded to an already hall of fame caliber team where his final dream became a reality. "The Dominator" raised a cup, and throughout his career his impressive .922 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average warrant a Hall of Fame induction.
4. Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks: 4 cups, 4 Vezina awards, 1 Calder Memorial Trophy. Although he was before our time, Sawchuk's accolades, numbers and highlights show why he was a multi-cup winner and part of this list. An NHL Goaltender who warrants his place among the best.
5. Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens: 5 Vezina awards, 1 Conn Smythe and 1 Calder award. Part time lawyer, full time winner, Dryden was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. His jersey number, 29, was retired by the Canadiens on January 29, 2007.
6. Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens: 6 Cups, 7 Vezina awards, 1 Hart torphy. Another Habs goaltender to make the list due to playing a key role in the Habs success throughout the '50s and early '60s. Plante also played on four other NHL teams. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978 and the  Canada  Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
7. Mike Vernon, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings: 2 Cups, 1 Conn Smythe award. Vernon was crucial to the Flames cup victory in '88-'89. This small, athletic net-minders skills earned him a place amongst the all-time greats. 385 NHL victories is quite the stat.
8. Billy Smith, NY Islanders: 4 Cups, 1 Vezina, 1 Conn Smythe. This list was not generated with simplicity, Smith earned his place for his Cups, his Vezina and Conn Smythe awards.
9.   Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 cups, 2 Vezina awards. Bower did it all, literally, even changing his name to make it easier for reporters. He was recognized for his time with the Maple Leafs. He is also the AHLs career shut out leader.
10. Grant Fuhr, Edmonton: 5 Cups (he didn't play during the playoffs in 1990, but still got his name on the bowl as a backup that year), 1 Vezina award. Argue  all you will about Fuhr. Yes, he played on one of the most dynamic and prolific teams of all time. However, for the era in which he played his numbers were very impressive.

Honorable mentions:

Bernie Parent, Mike Richter, Chris Osgood, Ed Belfour