Throughout the 2018-19 common season, Jacob Markstrom’s robust play shocked many followers and hockey consultants, and he helps present the Vancouver Canucks goalie depth for the following few years. Now, with goalies Thatcher Demko and prospect Michael DiPietro ready within the wings, it appears to be like as if the Canucks’ goalie depth may turn into a power because the group strikes ahead.
Canucks’ Goalie Prospect Michael DiPietro taking part in for Staff Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The group additionally has veteran Richard Bachman and younger Jake Kielly, who appeared robust taking part in for the Clarkson College Golden Knights (a Division 1 NCAA group situated in Potsdam, New York). Though each DiPietro and Kielly may play with the Utica Comets subsequent season, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the Canucks deal with the trio of Bachman, Kielly, and DiPietro. The group may use them in rotation or one may go to the ECHL to start out the 12 months and moved up in case of an harm.
Contemplating the Canucks’ goaltending, because the group is on a hiatus and awaiting the June NHL Entry Draft, right here’s a take a look at who I consider are the perfect goalies in Canucks franchise historical past.
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High Three Canucks Franchise Goalies
A variety of goalies of observe
didn’t make my record. Particularly, Cory Schneider, Dan Cloutier, and Ryan
Miller stand out.
Miller performed with the group most lately and final season turned the American-born goalie with probably the most wins in NHL historical past. He performed three seasons with the group (2015-17), stepping into 150 video games (with a 64-68-16 report). Nevertheless, his greatest work was with the Buffalo Sabres earlier than he joined the Canucks.
Schneider performed with the Canucks between 2009-13 (in the course of the Roberto Luongo period). He performed in 98 video games (a 55-26-Eight report) and had a .927 save proportion (the perfect in group historical past). Throughout the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth general choice, which the Canucks used to decide on Bo Horvat. We recognize that Schneider helped make that attainable.
Cory Schneider when he was a member of the Vancouver Canucks. (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Dan Cloutier performed for the group between 2001-06, throughout a time of relative success. He ranks fourth in video games performed (208) and in wins (109). Humorous, after I checked out his report, his numbers warrant consideration for one of many high 5 goalies in Canucks historical past. But, I didn’t consider he was on par with the three goalies who made the record.
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My record of the three greatest Canucks goaltenders contains Kirk McLean, Richard Brodeur, and Roberto Luongo. As at all times, any record of “greatest” goalies considers the statistics, a way of the impression every goalie had on the group, and (I admit) as favourite gamers. I might have ranked Schneider the second-best goalie in Canucks historical past, however he merely didn’t play lengthy sufficient with the group.
Quantity Three: Kirk McLean
When Kirk McLean performed, he in all probability was the perfect Canucks goalie the group had ever had. He’s the all-time chief in Canucks video games performed (516 video games in 11 seasons). Moreover, he performed at a time when save proportion was a lot decrease than it’s at the moment, so his .901 SV% is best than it appears to be like to fashionable hockey followers.
McLean’s greatest season was in 1991-92 when he performed 65 video games, with a report of 38-17-9. His 38 victories have been probably the most within the NHL that season, and he performed on par with Corridor of Fame goalie Patrick Roy. He got here in fourth place within the Hart Trophy voting.
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Maybe his greatest efficiency was in the course of the 1993-94 playoffs. In 24 playoff video games, McLean had 4 shutouts and led the group to Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining. Apparently, McLean received 23 video games in the course of the common season, and 15 in the course of the postseason. He was an incredible playoff goalie.
Quantity
Two: Richard Brodeur
Richard Brodeur was the primary actually robust Canucks goalie. After Vancouver joined the NHL in 1970, the group tried quite a lot of goalies who in all probability suffered as a result of the group was an growth group: Glen Hanlon (who started with the Canucks however went on to play with the New York Rangers and Detroit Purple Wings), Gary Smith (who bounced across the NHL for years however had three fairly good seasons with the group between 1973-76), and Cesare Maniago (who spent a lot of his early profession with the Minnesota North Stars previous to becoming a member of the Canucks) have been the goalies of observe. Brodeur simply surpassed them.
Brodeur performed in the course of the WHA and NHL years. He was drafted by the New York Islanders however as an alternative signed with the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA and led them to an Avco Cup Championship in 1976-77. Nevertheless, when the WHA folded, his rights went again to the Islanders who traded him to the Canucks for a fifth spherical draft decide.
Richard Brodeur, goalie for the Vancouver Canucks, in the course of the 1980s. (Picture by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Photographs)
It didn’t take lengthy for Brodeur to turn into “King Richard.” In 1981-82, he led the Canucks on an unbelievable Stanley Cup Remaining run in opposition to the identical Islanders that had traded him. The sequence wasn’t alleged to be a contest as a result of the Islanders had 41 extra regular-season factors. Though the Islanders did win the sequence (in a sweep) to earn their third Stanley Cup, Brodeur’s goaltending helped maintain the Canucks aggressive in the course of the sequence.
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Brodeur performed 377 video games and had 126 wins for the Canucks (rating him third all-time in each classes). He had three All-Star picks between 1980-1986. He was traded to the Hartford Whalers in the course of the 1987-88 season after McLean joined the group. After Miller, Brodeur was my favourite Canucks goalie.
Quantity
One: Roberto Luongo
To no one’s shock, I’ve chosen Roberto Luongo as the perfect Canucks goalie of all time. He was attention-grabbing, he was a pacesetter, and he might again up his swagger with stellar play. He performed 448 video games for the Canucks, second solely to McLean. Luongo, nevertheless, had 41 extra wins and no different Canucks goalie has had as many shutouts (38).
Luongo wore jersey #1 as a result of, as he famous, “Effectively…it sort of says all of it, doesn’t it?”
Roberto Luongo, previously of the Vancouver Canucks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Luongo might carry the group. His 72 saves in 4 overtimes in opposition to the Dallas Stars in the course of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs was an incredible efficiency and continues to be a report. Throughout the 2010-11 playoffs, Luongo led the group to the Stanley Cup Remaining however they misplaced by a single aim to the Boston Bruins is Sport 7.
Maybe most notably, Luongo was named the captain of the Canucks and held that tough place (for a goalie) for 2 seasons from 2008-10. It was a transfer that confirmed the group’s respect for his management.
Throughout the 2006-2007 season, Luongo received a exceptional 47 video games, with a 2.28 goals-against common, and a .921 SV%. He earned nominations for the Vezina Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, and the Lester B. Pearson Award. He nonetheless holds Canucks data for many wins in a season (47), most shutouts (9), and lowest objectives in opposition to (2.11).
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Over his profession, Luongo ranks third in all-time profession NHL wins, trailing solely Corridor-of-Famers Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy. He will likely be elected to the Hockey Corridor of Fame when his taking part in days are full.
His time with the Canucks was thrilling and he was, by far, the perfect goalie the group has ever had.
