Tom Barrasso – Goaltender (1983-2003)
Tom Barrasso was drafted in the first round (5th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Through 19 NHL seasons, Barrasso played for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricane, Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues.
Tom Barrasso has won his share of NHL hardware: the Vezina trophy, the Calder Memorial trophy, the William M. Jennings trophy and back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Including his single win, he has been nominated for the Vezina five times.
Barrasso has also represented the USA in five major international tournaments: the 1983 World Junior Championship, the 1985 Canada Cup, the 1986 Ice Hockey World Championships, the 1988 Canada Cup and the 2002 Olympics Games.
Tom Barrasso was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
With all these accolades, how is Tom Barrasso not in the Hockey Hall of Fame? It really feels like goaltenders are under represented in the Hall of Fame. Out of 289 players in the HHoF, only 36 of them are goaltenders.
Since the Vezina trophy began being awarded by vote in 1982, there are now 10 eligible goaltenders to win the award who are not in the Hall of Fame: Pete Peters, Pelle Lindbergh, John Vanbiesbrouck, Ron Hextall, Jim Carey, Olaf Kolzig, Jose Theodore, Miikka Kiprusoff, Tim Thomas and Tom Barrasso.
Since the Art Ross trophy was introduced in 1946, every eligible Art Ross trophy winner has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. All by one eligible Norris trophy winner has also been inducted into the HHoF since the award was introduced in 1954.
Why is the Hockey Hall of Fame so stingy on inducting goaltenders?
Awards and Honours
Vezina Trophy Winner 1984
Calder Memorial Trophy Winner 1984
William M. Jennings Trophy Winner 1985
1st NHL All-Star Team 1984
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1985
2nd NHL All-Star Team 1993
NHL All-Rookie Team 1984
Vezina Trophy Runner-Up 1985
Vezina Trophy Runner-Up 1988
Vezina Trophy Runner-Up 1993
Vezina Trophy Nominee (3rd in voting) 1998
6th in Hart trophy voting 1988
8th in Hart trophy voting 1985
9th in Hart trophy voting 1984
18th in Hart trophy voting 1998
7th in Vezina trophy voting 1989
9th in Vezina trophy voting 1986
Played in 1985 NHL All-Star Game
Two Stanley Cup Championships 1991, 1992
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2007
Career Statistic Achievements
19th Most NHL Career Wins (369)
47th Most NHL Career Shutouts (38)
Seasonal Statistic Achievements
NHL Goals Against Average Leader 1984-85 (2.67)
Top 10 in NHL Save Percentage for six seasons
Top 10 in NHL Goals Against Average for four seasons
International Play
Team USA 1983 World Junior Championship
Team USA 1985 Canada Cup
Team USA 1986 Ice Hockey World Championships
Team USA 1988 Canada Cup
Team USA 2002 Olympics