While many focus on the most unbreakable records in sports, Martin Brodeur`s remarkable 691 career wins stands out as a truly significant achievement for an NHL goalie.
Despite increased player longevity and resilience, modern NHL strategies that prioritize goalie rest and limit game starts make it challenging for any contemporary goalie to accumulate the wins needed to surpass Brodeur`s record.
Just how large is the gap between Brodeur and the leading active goalie? And who else makes the top 10 list for career wins? Let`s delve into the goalies who have secured the most victories in NHL history.
10. Tony Esposito, 423 Wins
Tony Esposito`s career spanned from 1967 to 1984, playing for both the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. A three-time Vezina Trophy recipient, Esposito once achieved 15 shutouts in a single season (1970), a modern NHL record since 1942. He contributed to Montreal`s Stanley Cup victory in 1969 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
9. Jacques Plante, 437 Wins
Jacques Plante played intermittently from 1947 to 1975, representing teams like the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Edmonton Oilers, among others. He was instrumental in six Stanley Cup wins for the Canadiens, including an impressive five consecutive championships. Plante received the Hart Trophy in 1962 and holds a record seven Vezina Trophies. He is also celebrated for inventing the goalie mask. Plante was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
8. Terry Sawchuk, 445 Wins
Terry Sawchuk, an 11-time All-Star, played from 1949 to 1970 and secured four Stanley Cups. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, he was the first goalie to reach 100 career regular-season shutouts. Sawchuk`s 103 career shutouts remain the second-highest in NHL history, only surpassed by Martin Brodeur (125). The Detroit Red Wings retired his No. 1 jersey in 1994, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.
7. Curtis Joseph, 454 Wins
Despite being undrafted, Curtis `Cujo` Joseph became a prominent goalie, playing for teams such as the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Joseph distinguished himself by being the first NHL goalie to achieve a 30-win season with five different teams. A three-time All-Star, Joseph had a remarkable career despite never reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
6. Henrik Lundqvist, 459 Wins
Henrik Lundqvist dedicated his entire 20-year NHL career to the New York Rangers. He is unique in NHL history for starting his career with seven consecutive 30-win seasons, maintaining remarkable consistency with at least 20 wins in his first 11 seasons. Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last year.
5. Ed Belfour, 484 Wins
Ed Belfour, also undrafted, played for 19 seasons with teams including the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup in 1999, earned Vezina Trophies in 1991 and 1993, and received the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award in 2000. A six-time All-Star, Belfour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
4. Roberto Luongo, 489 Wins
Throughout his 19 NHL seasons, Roberto Luongo played for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Vancouver Canucks. Drafted fourth overall in 1997, he became a six-time All-Star and a Hart Trophy finalist in 2007. Luongo ranks second in NHL history for games played by a goalie (1,044) and saves (28,409), both behind Martin Brodeur.
3. Patrick Roy, 551 Wins
Patrick Roy, drafted 51st in 1984, played for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. Upon retirement in 2003, he was the NHL`s all-time wins leader. Roy still holds the record for playoff wins (151). He won four Stanley Cups, three Vezina Trophies, and three Conn Smythe Trophies. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006, Roy currently coaches the New York Islanders.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury, 575 Wins
Marc-Andre Fleury, unlike others on this list, is still active with the Minnesota Wild, planning to retire after the 2024-25 season. He is the only active goalie in the top 15 for career wins, having also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights. Drafted first overall in 2003, Fleury has lived up to expectations, becoming a five-time All-Star, winning three Stanley Cups and a Vezina Trophy in 2021.
1. Martin Brodeur, 691 Wins
Martin Brodeur`s NHL legacy includes the most wins, shutouts (125), and games played (1,266). Over his 22-year career, the nine-time All-Star secured three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003) and four Vezina Trophies (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008). Brodeur was a Hart Trophy nominee three times and achieved 12 consecutive 30-win seasons (including eight 40-win seasons). He was named one of the NHL`s 100 Greatest Players and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
