Braden Holtby
Vezina-winning goaltender who led Capitals to first Stanley Cup.
Braden Holtby is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is notable for winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in 2016, tying the single-season wins record, and backstopping the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1989-09-16
- Birth Place
- Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 215
- Position
- Goaltender
- Catches
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Free agent
- Former Teams
- Washington Capitals / Vancouver Canucks / Dallas Stars
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 93rd overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Holtby spent his junior career with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After being drafted by the Capitals in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL entry draft, he nearly equaled his wins total from his first two seasons in his last WHL season, posting 40 wins in 61 games. He made his NHL debut on November 5, 2010, against the Boston Bruins, and recorded his first NHL shutout on March 9, 2011, against the Edmonton Oilers. During the 2012 playoffs, he started for the Capitals against the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, helping upset them in seven games, and continued strong play against the New York Rangers, though the Capitals lost in game seven.
Reader's Guide
Holtby's significance stems from his consistent high-level performance and key achievements. Beginning in the 2014–15 season, he won at least 40 games in three consecutive seasons, becoming the third goaltender in league history to do so, joining Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov. In 2016, he tied Brodeur's single-season wins record with 48 wins and was awarded the Vezina Trophy. The following year, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy for helping the Capitals allow the fewest goals in the league. His legacy is cemented by leading the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, where he posted a 16–7 record, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.16 goals against average. He is also remembered for a sprawling stick save on an open-net shot by Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch in game two of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, often called 'The Save.' Holtby finished third in Conn Smythe Trophy voting as playoff MVP.
Did You Know?
- Holtby tied Martin Brodeur's single-season wins record with 48 wins in 2016.
- He became the second fastest NHL goaltender to record 200 career wins, behind Ken Dryden.
- Holtby was the first goaltender to perform a season-sweep of three or more games against the Boston Bruins without allowing a single goal.
- He was named the NHL's First Star of the Week for the week ending March 13, 2011.
More in NHL Trophy Winners 1-24
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