Ed Belfour

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Lore & Background

Belfour's tenure as the Chicago Blackhawks' starting goaltender began in earnest during the 1990–91 season, where he posted a historic rookie campaign. He recorded 43 victories in 74 games—setting both NHL rookie and Blackhawk team records—along with a 2.47 GAA and four shutouts while leading the league in save percentage (.910). This performance made him the first goalie to lead the league in wins, save percentage, and GAA until Carey Price matched the feat in 2014–2015. Belfour became the first recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy under the new Makarov Rule due to his age eligibility, while also taking home the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy. His success continued as he won the Vezina and Jennings awards again in 1993 and added another Jennings Trophy in 1995.

In Their Own Story

The 1992 Stanley Cup Final was a dramatic clash between Belfour's Chicago Blackhawks and the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. In Game One, Chicago held a 4–1 lead with 8:24 remaining in the second period before the Penguins scored twice in one minute to narrow the gap. Jaromír Jágr tied the game with five minutes left, and Mario Lemieux scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with just thirteen seconds remaining in regulation, handing Pittsburgh a victory after Belfour allowed five goals on 39 shots. Game Two saw Chicago lose 3–1. The series shifted to Chicago for Game Three, where Kevin Stevens scored early against Belfour, and Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso shut out the Blackhawks with no goals allowed on 27 shots as Pittsburgh moved within one win of the Cup. In Game Four, a rollercoaster contest saw four goals scored in the first seven minutes. After Stevens added another goal over Belfour, Chicago coach Mike Keenan replaced him with Dominik Hašek. Hašek made 21 saves out of 25 shots as Pittsburgh rallied late to win the game and the series. Following the season, tensions arose between Belfour and backup Jeff Hackett, culminating in an incident near a locker room where Belfour reportedly called Hackett 'nothing more than a backup'. On January 25, 1997, after turning down a $3.3 million extension offer that would have raised his salary from $2.75 million, Belfour was traded to the San Jose Sharks.

Reader's Guide

Belfour's impact on the Chicago Blackhawks is defined by his dominance during the early 1990s and his statistical longevity with the franchise. He finished his tenure ranking third in games played (415) and wins (201), behind only Tony Esposito and Glenn Hall, while also placing fourth in shutouts (30) and second in assists (17). His physical presence was notable; he accumulated 242 penalty minutes, far exceeding the 31 recorded by Esposito despite playing less than half as many games. Belfour's consistency earned him three William M. Jennings Trophies (1991, 1993, 1995) and two Vezina Trophies (1991, 1993). His 484 career wins rank fifth all-time among NHL goaltenders. Although his time in Chicago ended with a trade to San Jose in late January 1997 following contract disputes, he remains one of the most decorated goalies in franchise history. He was later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of his first year of eligibility.

Did You Know?

• Belfour is one of only two players in history, alongside Neal Broten, to win an NCAA championship, an Olympic gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.
• He was undrafted in the 1987 NHL draft before signing as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks.
• In his rookie season (1990–91), Belfour became the first goalie to lead the league in wins, save percentage, and GAA until Carey Price replicated the feat in 2014–2015.
• Belfour was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as MVP in 1991, becoming the first rookie goaltender ever to receive such a nomination.
• His 242 penalty minutes with the Blackhawks remain the franchise record for any goaltender.