Why they rank here
Patrick Roy transformed goaltending both technically and psychologically. As a rookie he won the 1986 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe with Montreal, and he would win it all four times, two with the Canadiens and two with the Colorado Avalanche, collecting a record three Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, the only player so honoured. Saint Patrick popularized the butterfly style out of the Quebec goalie tradition, dropping to seal the low net, and his intense, superstitious, supremely confident presence set the template for the modern money goaltender. He retired in 2003 as the winningest goalie in NHL history with 551 victories, since surpassed only by Martin Brodeur, and added 151 playoff wins, a mark that still stands. His 1993 run to the Cup, when he reportedly winked at an opponent during an unbeaten streak in overtime, is Montreal legend. Fiercely competitive to a fault, Roy elevated the position from last line of defence to franchise cornerstone, and generations of goalies have built their games on his blueprint.
Career profile
Each bar shows how this athlete compares with the strongest in our all-time list for that metric.