Dominik Hašek

Lore & Background

Hašek was considered an unorthodox goaltender with a distinct style that led to his being labeled as a 'flopper'. He was best known for his concentration, foot speed, flexibility, and unconventional saves, such as covering the puck with his blocker rather than his trapper. His strong play has been credited with establishing European goaltenders in a league previously dominated by North Americans. He holds the record for highest NHL career save percentage (0.9223) and is seventh (first in the modern era) in goals against average (2.202). He also has the third-highest NHL single-season save percentage (0.9366 in 1998–99). Hašek is the only goalie to face the most shots per 60 minutes and have the highest save percentage in the same season, which he achieved twice (1996 and 1998) playing for the Sabres. While with the Red Wings in 2002, Hašek became the first European-trained starting goaltender to win the Stanley Cup, setting a record for shutouts in a postseason year.

Reader's Guide

Dominik Hašek's significance lies in his unprecedented success as a European-trained goaltender in the NHL, a league previously dominated by North Americans. He won six Vezina Trophies from 1993 to 2001, the most under the award's current system, and is the only goaltender to win the Hart Memorial Trophy more than once (1997 and 1998). He led the Czech national team to its first and only Olympic gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, prompting Wayne Gretzky to call him 'the best player in the game'. Hašek was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, winning his first as the starting goaltender in 2002 and his second as the backup in 2008. His career save percentage of 0.9223 remains the highest in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on 17 November 2014, and his number was retired by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Did You Know?

• Hašek was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 10th round (199th overall) in 1983, seven years before his NHL debut.
• He won the Golden Hockey Stick as the most valuable player in the Czechoslovak Extraliga in 1987, 1989, and 1990.
• At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active goaltender in the NHL at 43.