Red Wings: The Top 10 Winningest Goalies in Team History
By Chris Giles
The Detroit Red Wings franchise officially began in 1926 and were first known as the Detroit Cougars. In 1932, James E. Norris changed the name to the Red Wings. The team has won 11 Stanley Cups during their illustrious career in Detroit and along the way, many legends have played in Hockeytown. As the team closes in on 100 seasons in the NHL, here is a look at the top ten winningest goalies in Red Wings history.
Terry Sawchuk
GP: 734
W: 350
L: 245
SO: 85
GAA: 2.44
Terry Sawchuk is the goalie that won the most games in Red Wings history. He is one of only two goalies in Red Wings history with over 300 wins. Sawchuck played with Detroit three times during his illustrious career. He began his career in Detroit in 1929 at the tender age of 20. After winning three Stanley Cups with Detroit, his first tenure with the team ended after the 1954-55 season. After two seasons in Boston, Sawchuk returned to Detroit and played seven more seasons before playing three seasons in Toronto starting in 1964.
Sawchuk returned for 13 games in Detroit during the 1968-69 season. During his 21 year career, Sawchuk played 14 seasons in Detroit. In total, Sawchuk won 445 games and earned 103 shutouts. Terry Sawchuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971-72. In 1994, the Red Wings raised Sawchuk’s #1 to the rafters of Joe Louis Arena.
To this day, he is the only goaltender in Red Wings history who has had his number retired. He was truly one of the NHL’s all-time greatest goaltenders.