gold star for USAHOF

Terry Sawchuk

Terry Sawchuk
Some Hockey experts have referred to Terry Sawchuk as the greatest Goalie of all time. Those who don’t agree with that previous statement will at least agree that he deserves to be a part of the conversation.
Sawchuk was a four time Vezina Trophy winner and a four time Stanley Cup Winner. His first three was for the Detroit Red Wings dynasty in the early 50’s. This was a loaded team, but knowing that they had to brick wall of Terry Sawchuk behind them allowed their offensive stars to rush the end without worrying about repercussions.

While in Detroit, he would be a First Team All Star Selection three times but it became very clear that he was not just injury prone, but had other issues. Terry Sawchuk suffered from what is now believed to be undiagnosed depression, which would be a cross he bore his whole life. As the Red Wings declined, he found a new life playing in Toronto where he one half an aging Goalie tandem with Johnny Bower where they won the last Stanley Cup for the Leafs in 1967.

A couple of years later while playing with the New York Rangers he had a fight (or was just horsing around, it is unclear) with his teammate, Ron Stewart. The end result was Sawchuk landing awkwardly on Stewart’s knee, which resulted in the goaltender having to have his gall bladder removed. Terry Sawchuck would die a month later due to internal injuries and likely from an accumulation of all the injuries that he had throughout his playing career. Sawchuck died in 1970 and the three year wait was waived for him as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame posthumously in 1971. When he died he was the all-time leader in Wins and Shutouts in the NHL.



The Bullet Points:

Elected In:
1971

Position:
Goalie

Played for:
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Los Angeles Kings
New York Rangers

Major Accolades and Awards:
Vezina Trophy (4) (1952, 1953, 1955 & 1965)
Calder Trophy (1950)
First Team All Star (3) (1951, 1952 & 1953)
Second Team All Star (4) (1954, 1955, 1959 & 1963)
All Star Games (11) (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1964 & 1968)
Most Wins (5) (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 & 1955)
Lowest Goals Against Average (2) (1952 & 1953)
Most Shutouts (3) (1951, 1952 & 1955)
Stanley Cup Rings (4) (Detroit Red Wings 1952, 1954 & 1955) & (Toronto Maple Leafs 1967)

Should Terry Sawchuk be in the Hall of Fame?

I totally agree with this induction. - 100%
I am fine with this induction. - 0%
I do not agree with this induction, but it does not bother me. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
Kick him out! - 0%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Should Terry Sawchuk be in the Hall of Fame?

I totally agree with this induction. - 100%
I am fine with this induction. - 0%
I do not agree with this induction, but it does not bother me. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
Kick him out! - 0%
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