Is Martin Brodeur the Greatest Goalie of All Time?

Martin Brodeur has more wins and more Shut-Outs than any other NHL goalie ever. And his puck-handling transformed hockey to the point the NHL had to change the rules.

Does this make him the GOAT?

Listen to us discuss his case:

Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Curtis Joseph

Martin Brodeur’s Career

  • NHL: 1991-2015; 22 seasons, 17 as the starter
  • Totals:
    • 691W (1st All Time)
    • 397L (1st)
    • 154T (3rd)
    • 125SO (1st)
    • 74,439 Minutes (1st) in 
    • 1266 GP (1st);
    • 207 PS (7th, 2nd Goalie)
    • 207 Goals Saved Above Average (10th)
  • Averages:
    • .912 SV%
    • 2.24 GAA
  • Draft: 20th Overall in 1990, Brodeur is
    • 1st in Wins (by over 400)
    • 1st in Losses (by over 100)
    • 1st in Ties/Others
    • 1st in Save Percentage
    • 1st* in GAA [True leader played one game]
    • 2nd in PS (1st Goalie)
    • 1st in Goalie Games Played
  • Era: Of 37 goalies to play in 410 games between 1991 and 2015, Brodeur is
    • 1st in Wins (by over 250)
    • 1st in Losses
    • 1st in Others
    • 1st in Goals Against
    • 1st in Shots Against
    • 1st in Saves
    • 11th in Save Percentage
    • 2nd in GAA
    • 4th in Goals Saved Above Average
    • 1st in Shutouts (by 44)
    • 1st in Minutes
    • 1st in Games
  • 82-game average: 31-18-7, 6 SO
  • 3-year-peak (2005-08): 45-24-7, 7 SO; .918 SV%, 2.31 GAA; 26.12 GSAA
  • Playoffs:
    • 113W (2nd)
    • 91L (2nd)
    • 24 SO (1st)
    • .919 SV% (22nd)
    • 2.019 GAA
    • 12,719 Minutes in
    • 205 Games (1st Goalie)
  • Adjusted:
    • 2.50 GAA (9th All Time),
    • .910%
  • Trades: never traded

Martin Brodeur’s Accomplishments:

  • Vezina (‘03, ‘04, ‘07, ‘08) – tied 5th most All Time (only one goalie with more played received the modern Vezina – Hasek)
  • Top 5 in Vezina voting a further 9 times
  • Calder (‘94)
  • Jennings (‘97, ‘98, ‘03, ‘04, ‘10) – tied most All Time
  • Top Player by Point Shares:
    • Best Player (by PS) once (‘07)
    • Best Goalie (by GP) once (‘07), 
    • Top 5 Goalie five times (‘96, ‘00, ‘06, ‘08), 
    • Top 10 Goalie eleven times (‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘03, ‘04, ‘10)
  • Wins:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Led the league nine times (most All Time)
      • Top 5 fourteen times (2nd, behind Sawchuk)
      • Top 10 fifteen times (6th)
    • Totals:
      • 45 wins twice (only player ever)
      • 40 wins eight times (only player ever, more than double 2nd)
      • 35 wins twelve times (only player ever)
  • Shutouts:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Led the league five times (3rd All Time)
      • Top 5 ten times (only 10 players ever)
      • Top 10 fifteen times (only 6 players ever)
    • Totals:
      • 10 shutouts four times (tied most ever)
      • 5 shutouts twelve times (most ever)
  • Shots Against:
    • Top 5 three times
    • Top 10 ten times (9 players ever)
  • Saves:
    • Total Saves:
      • Led league once
      • Top 5 three times
      • Top 10 eleven times (7 players ever)
    • Percentage:
      • Leader-boards:
        • Top 5 four times
        • Top 10 six times
      • Over .920 three times
  • Goals Against:
    • GAA:
      • Leaderboards:
        • Led league in GAA once
        • Top 5 nine times (1 of only 10 players)
        • Top 10 fourteen times (1 of only 8 players)
      • Averages:
        • Under 1.9 twice (1 of only 13 players)
        • Under 2.1 four times (1 of only 14 players)
        • Under 2.25 ten times (tied most ever)
        • Under 2.5 eighteen times (most ever by 7 seasons)
    • GSAA:
      • Leaderboards:
        • Led league twice
        • Top 5 five times
        • Top 10 eight times
      • Single-season totals:
        • +35 twice (1 of only 12 players)
        • +25 three times (1 of only 16 players)
        • +20 six times (1 of only 8 players)
        • +15 seven times (1 of only 14 players)
  • Minutes:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Led the league seven times (tied for most ever)
      • Top 5 twelves times (tied for most ever)
      • Top 10 fourteen times (1 of only 6 players)
    • Single-season totals:
      • +4,500 three times (most ever, 1 of only 3 players to do it)
      • +4,000 twelve times (most ever, nearly double second)
  • All Star:
    • 1st Team All Star three times
    • 2nd Team All Star four times
    • 9 All Star Game appearances
    • Monthly:
      • Rookie of the Month twice
      • Monthly Third Star once
    • Weekly:
      • Weekly 1st Star three times
      • Weekly 2nd Star four times
      • Weekly 3rd Star four times
  • Adjusted Peak:
    • Save Percentage: .919% (13th All Time)
    • Goals Vs. Average: 15th All Time

Martin Brodeur’s Great Teams:

  • NHL:
    • Best Player? (led playoffs in SV% and Shutouts) on one Champion (‘95 Devils)
    • Best Player? (led playoffs in Shutouts, .934 SV%, 1.65 GAA) on one Champion (‘03 Devils)
    • Best Player? (led playoffs in GAA, played every game) on one Champion (‘00 Devils)
    • Starter (led playoffs in Shutouts, played every game) on one Runner Up (‘01 Devils)
    • Starter (led playoffs in shots and saves) on one Runner Up (‘12 Devils)
    • Starter on one Final Four (‘94 Devils)
  • Olympics: 
    • Starter on one Champion (‘02 Canada)
    • Backup on one Champion (‘10 Canada)
  • World Cup:
    • Tournament All Star on one Champion (‘04 Canada)
    • Backup on one Runner Up (‘96 Canada)
  • World Championships:
    • Starter on one Runner Up (‘05 Canada)
    • 1A on one Runner Up (‘96 Canada)

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