While many sports records are debated for their durability, Martin Brodeur`s 691 career wins stands out as a truly remarkable achievement for an NHL goalie.
Even with comparable longevity and resilience, modern NHL strategies of resting goalies make it challenging for current players to accumulate enough wins to rival Brodeur`s record.
Just how significant is Brodeur`s lead over today`s top goalies? And who else ranks among the top 10 in career wins? Let`s examine the goaltenders with the most victories in NHL history.
Top 10 NHL Goalies by Wins:
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10. Tony Esposito – 423 Wins
Playing from 1967 to 1984 with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks, Esposito won the Vezina Trophy three times. Notably, in 1970, he achieved a modern NHL record of 15 shutouts in a single season. He won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1969 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
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9. Jacques Plante – 437 Wins
Plante`s career spanned from 1947 to 1975, featuring time with several teams including the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. He secured six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens and won a Hart Trophy in 1962. Plante revolutionized goaltending by popularizing the goalie mask. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
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8. Terry Sawchuk – 445 Wins
An 11-time All-Star, Sawchuk played from 1949 to 1970, winning four Stanley Cups. He was a four-time Vezina winner and the first goalie to reach 100 shutouts. Sawchuk`s 103 career shutouts are second only to Brodeur. The Detroit Red Wings retired his No. 1 jersey in 1994, and he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.
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7. Curtis Joseph – 454 Wins
Despite being undrafted, `Cujo` Joseph starred for teams like the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. He made history as the first goalie with 30-win seasons for five different teams and was a three-time All-Star. Although he never reached the Stanley Cup Final, Joseph had a remarkable career.
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6. Henrik Lundqvist – 459 Wins
Lundqvist spent his entire 20-year NHL career with the New York Rangers. He uniquely began his career with seven consecutive 30-win seasons and consistently won 20+ games in his first 11 seasons. Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last year.
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5. Ed Belfour – 484 Wins
Undrafted, Belfour played for 19 seasons with teams including the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. He won a Stanley Cup in 1999, two Vezina Trophies, and the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award in 2000. Belfour was a six-time All-Star and a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in 2011.
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4. Roberto Luongo – 489 Wins
Luongo played for 19 NHL seasons with teams like the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks. Drafted 4th overall in 1997, he became a six-time All-Star and a Hart Trophy finalist in 2007. He ranks second all-time in games played (1,044) and saves (28,409), both behind Brodeur. Luongo was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.
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3. Patrick Roy – 551 Wins
Roy, drafted 51st in 1984, played for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. Upon retirement in 2003, he was the NHL`s winningest goalie. 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.
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2. Marc-Andre Fleury – 575 Wins
Fleury is currently active with the Minnesota Wild, planning to retire after the 2024-25 season. He is the only active goalie in the top 15 for wins. Fleury, the 2003 No. 1 pick, has played for teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights. A five-time All-Star, he has three Stanley Cups and a Vezina Trophy (2021).
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1. Martin Brodeur – 691 Wins
Brodeur holds NHL records for wins (691), shutouts (125), and games played (1,266). Over his 22-year career, the nine-time All-Star won three Stanley Cups and four Vezina Trophies. He consistently achieved 30+ wins for 12 seasons and was named one of the NHL`s 100 Greatest Players. Brodeur was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
