Four Legends, Four Eras: How Goaltending Transformed Across Generations
At a Glance
- Vintage Hockey Series Recap
- Sourcing the Goalies
- What Do the Stats Say?
- The Transformation of Goaltending
Vintage Hockey Series Recap
This is the fifth week in our newsletter series on Vintage Hockey: 108 Years of NHL & Hockey Analytics, where we explore how the game of hockey (and the way in which we measure it) has changed.
The first four weeks in the series can be found below:
- Week 1: From Chalkboards to AI: 108 Years of NHL Hockey
- Week 2: 108 Years of Goals, Goons & Goalies
- Week 3: A Tale of Two Eras: Gretzky vs McDavid
- Week 4: The NHL's Secret Weapon: Enforcers Who Score
If you missed last week's newsletter and are shy on time, you can catch up with our quick-hit video below.
Sourcing the Goalies
For this newsletter, we approached sourcing the goalie data a little different. First, we researched NHL's 100 Greatest Players from their first 100 years. From that list, we selected four goalies from this amazing group of NHL players that represented different eras, which we've listed below:
1. Terry Sawchuk
2. Johnny Bower
3. Ken Dryden
4. Dominik Hasek
Thus, the goal of this week's newsletter is to explore the evolution of goaltending through the statistics and careers of the above four goalies.
What Do the Stats Say?
Goaltending is a unique and specialized role. The NHL goalie has undergone a dramatic evolution, reflecting shifts in style, technique, and even equipment. For example, check out Terry Sawchuk and his contemporary Jeremy Swayman – the difference is stark!
From the brutal, maskless days of Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk to the athletic mastery of Ken Dryden and Dominik Hasek, this week's four goalies have redefined what it means to protect the net.
Let's take a look at these goalies through different goaltending statistics.
Win/Loss Ratio
Win/Loss ratio is a simple measurement that represents a goalie's wins compared to their losses in one number. The higher the number, the better. In this category, Ken Dryden significantly outperformed his peers. In fact, Dryden redefined the role of goaltender in the 1970s, ushering in an era of technical mastery and efficiency. Standing at 6'4", Dryden was one of the first goalies to use his size as an advantage, playing a calm, controlled game that relied on positioning rather than reactionary saves.
Dryden's Win/Loss ratio of 4.53 shows just how dominant he was in his comparatively short seven-year NHL career, during which he won six Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens.
Save Percentage
Save Percentage is a staple among goaltending statistics, and higher percentages are indicative of a goalie who can stop the puck. Here, most of the goalies came up even, except for Terry Sawchuk.
However, even though the Save Percentage was close, we have to call out Dominik Hasek, aka “The Dominator” because of the nature of how he saved the puck. Hasek’s 81 career shutouts and 2.2 GAA are impressive, but his .922 Save Percentage is what really stands out – especially given the era in which he played. That era featured faster, more skilled shooters (Hasek faced down Gretzky in seven of his seasons) and Hasek maintained one of the highest Save Percentages in NHL history.
Hasek’s career spanned the 1990s and early 2000s, and he was famous for his unorthodox, acrobatic style that redefined goaltending. Hasek was incredibly flexible and creative in his approach, often throwing himself across the crease in ways that defied traditional goaltending techniques.
Another honorable mention here is Johnny Bower. Bower was famous for his poke check, an aggressive, forward-reaching move designed to disrupt opponents at close range. His Win/Loss ratio of 1.30 and .922 Save Percentage in an era of heavy offensive play speak to his ability to keep his team competitive, often under brutal physical conditions.
Goalies had it tough way back in the day. In Sawchuck and Bower's era, the sticks were straight, but they were also heavier and the aggressive impulses of hockey players is similar to today. Also, the weight and structure of the hockey puck has remained somewhat consistent throughout the NHL history, so even deflections resulted in lacerations and broken facial bones.
GAA
On Goals Against Average (GAA), Hasek led with the lowest GAA with Dryden right behind him with Sawchuk and Bower following suit. However, here we want to call out Terry Sawchuk. Sawchuk’s 1.32 Win/Loss ratio and 2.5 GAA speak to his exceptional talent, but they only tell part of the story.
Sawchuk often played through serious injuries, and he was famous for his endurance and perseverance in the face of immense physical challenges. His legacy lies in his acrobatic saves and tenacity, but his life also reflects the sacrifices that goalies made in this era, shaping the psychological toughness associated with the position.
Sawchuk endured years of grueling play with minimal protection. Playing from the 1950s into the 1970s, he was known for his acrobatic style and unparalleled reflexes. His 103 career shutouts stood as an NHL record for many years (Martin Brodeur broke it with his 125 shutouts), showcasing his ability to shut down opponents in an era when goalies received less defensive support as compared to today.
The Transformation of Goaltending
Statistical summaries are good in one sense, but, it's also helpful to explore the transformation of goaltending through statistical trends. For example, below is a snapshot of the career Save Percentages for each of the goalies. In each visualization, the X axis represents the years in the NHL, and the Y axis represents their Save Percentage during that season. Using this view, you can see the duration of a goalie's career and the peaks and valleys within that career.
Dominik Hasek
Hasek’s career Save Percentage is consistently impressive, often above .920, and he even surpassed .930 multiple times, which is amazing for his era. His highest Save Percentage was .937 in the 1998-99 season, reflecting his dominance in the late 1990s. Hasek maintained Save Percentages above .900 throughout his career, with many seasons at or above .920.
Hasek’s style and dominance marked a shift toward the modern, athletic goalie. He’s a great comparison to older goalies like Sawchuk and Dryden, who had more traditional or positionally focused styles. Hasek’s career provides insight into the evolution of goaltending and the emergence of a more acrobatic, flexible approach.
Johnny Bower
Bower consistently posted high Save Percentages, with several seasons around or above .920, particularly impressive considering the era’s scoring styles and lack of advanced equipment. Bower’s highest recorded Save Percentage was .934 in the 1967-68 season, late in his career, proving his resilience and skill as he aged. While he had a dip in his final season (1969-70) with a .868 Save Percentage, his late-career success remains a testament to his skill and durability.
Bower played largely without a mask or significant padding, which demanded mental toughness and a high pain tolerance. This lack of protection influenced his playing style, as he was often more conservative in challenging shooters.
Ken Dryden
Dryden consistently posted Save Percentages in the .920s, with an extraordinary career average that stands out, especially considering his shorter career. Dryden maintained a Save Percentage of at least .920 in nearly every season except for his final year in 1978-79, where he posted .909. This consistent performance over his short career is one of the reasons he is considered one of the most dominant goalies in NHL history.
Dryden’s career is an interesting case of quality over quantity, as he left the NHL at his peak. He’s also known for his reflective insights on hockey, having authored the influential book The Game. His career provides a stark contrast to goalies with long careers and allows for a deeper exploration of what it means to be a dominant goalie in a short period.
Terry Sawchuk
Sawchuk’s Save Percentage fluctuated more than others on this list, reflective of the high-scoring, less-structured defensive play in his era. His average hovered closer to the .900 mark, which was considered excellent for his time. His peak Save Percentage was .920 during the 1956-57 season, a standout year in which he demonstrated his acrobatic, reflex-based goaltending style.
Sawchuk’s career represents the raw, gritty, and often painful era of goaltending. His legacy is marked not just by statistics but by the sheer physical toll that hockey took on him. He’s the perfect contrast to modern goalies in terms of equipment, play style, and the sacrifices he made.
Key Takeaways
Each goalie showcases unique strengths and narratives that reflect both their personal skills and the evolution of the goaltending position.
Bower and Sawchuk played during an era with minimal equipment (including no masks), resulting in lower average Save Percentages compared to Dryden and Hasek, who benefited from more advanced pads and masks. This difference highlights how the evolution of equipment has influenced goalie stats and performance and reduced the number of injuries for goalies.
It would be unimaginable for a goalie to play in today's game without a mask. For some historical context, the below image was taken after an artist replicated all of Terry Sawchuk's facial injuries for a special Life Magazine issue.
This face belongs to Terry Sawchuk, a 36-year-old goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Re-created here, by a professional make-up artist and a doctor, are some of the more than 400 stitches he has earned during 16 years in the National Hockey League. Sawchuk has sustained other injuries not shown here: a slashed eyeball requiring three stitches, a 70% loss of function in his right arm because 60 bone chips were removed from his elbow, and a permanent “sway-back” caused by continual bent-over posture. (Time Magazine discussing the feature article and photo from Life Magazine)
If we compare Dryden and Hasek, they represent two ends of the consistency spectrum—Dryden with a short, consistently elite career and Hasek with a longer, highly consistent tenure. Bower and Sawchuk exemplify longevity, with standout years in their 40s despite the physical toll of goaltending in their respective eras.
Hasek’s unique, acrobatic style is evident in his high peak Save Percentages, whereas Bower and Sawchuk had to adapt to a less protective environment, relying more on positioning and reflexes than on athletic, sprawling saves.
Each goalie left an impact beyond the stats. Bower’s resilience, Sawchuk’s toughness, Dryden’s cerebral approach, and Hasek’s innovation collectively demonstrate the evolving demands and possibilities within the goaltending discipline.
Want a quick visual tour of this newsletter? Then check out the below.
Summary
This week's newsletter was the fifth in our Vintage Hockey series, where we're exploring 108 years of NHL hockey history – the game and the way it's measured.
We featured four goalies in this newsletter, and they exemplify the evolution of goaltending across the NHL’s history, each bringing something unique to the table and pushing the discipline of goaltending forward. For example:
- Johnny Bower brought toughness and innovation with his aggressive poke check, proving that skill and grit could coexist in the crease.
- Terry Sawchuk showcased the extreme physical and mental endurance required to excel in goal, setting records that would inspire future generations.
- Ken Dryden introduced a more calculated, efficient approach, using size and positioning to outwit opponents and redefine the “stand-up” style of goaltending.
- Dominik Hasek proved that goalies didn’t need to conform to a single style. His creativity and athleticism revolutionized the position, making room for unconventional goalies in the modern game.
If you want to learn more about these goaltenders (and the other players included in the NHL's top 100 players), then be sure to check out the NHL 100 Greatest Players.
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