Ed Belfour

Edward John Belfour (born 21 April 1965 Carman, Manitoba ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During his career he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League

Career

Ed Belfour was not drafted in contrast to most NHL pros, signed in the summer of 1987 as a " free agent " (free player) a contract in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks. In his first season in Chicago, he was not yet used. He should gain experience in the farm team the Blackhawks once. In the following season, he played a total of 23 times, it still remained at the goalkeeper.

In the 1990/91 season Ed Belfour was the number 1 for the Chicago Black Hawks and he brought outstanding achievements, what was rewarded accordingly. So he got the Calder Memorial Trophy as best rookie, the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals and the Vezina Trophy as the best goalkeeper of the year. Belfour played in 1992 for the first time in the NHL All-Star Game and was appointed in the following years, several more times. In the 1992/93 season he made again the double with the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy.

However, it still lacked a title with the team. Although he made it in 1992 with Chicago to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Blackhawks were subject there but cited by Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins.

In January 1997, Belfour was transferred to an exchange transaction to the San Jose Sharks, in which he played this season to end. In the summer he signed a contract with the Dallas Stars. The second season in Dallas and earned him the title he won in 1999 with the stars of the Stanley Cup. He also won along with goalkeeper Roman Turek William M. Jennings Trophy, Belfours fourth overall.

In 2002 he was allowed with the team Canada at the Winter Olympics. Canada prevailed in the final against the USA, which won the gold medal, but Belfour was not a single minute used.

In summer 2002, he signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs for which he played with good performance, but without much success in the championship. After Belfour had struggled in the season 2005/ 06 with severe back problems and was able to complete only 49 games, the Maple Leafs broke his contract in summer. His position was taken over by Andrew Raycroft 2006/ 07.

Ed Belfours negotiations for a contract with the Detroit Red Wings failed, whereupon Belfour signed with the Florida Panthers. There he was, together with Alexander Auld the equal goalkeeping duo. After Auld was injured, Belfour became for the season for the sole number one. He played a solid season, reached 27 wins in 58 games against 17 defeats and was voted most valuable player of the Panthers. However, the playoffs they could not reach and Belfour was not given a new contract.

After he had committed no NHL team in the summer of 2007, Belfour moved to Sweden in the HockeyAllsvenskan to Leksand IF.

In 2011 he was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Milestones and special

• Ed Belfour is also called " The Eagle ", which comes from the eagle motif on his goalie mask, which he wears in Chicago since his time.

• In San Jose, Dallas, Toronto and Florida, he wore the number 20 in honor of the Russian goalie Vladislav Tretiak Legend.

• During the season 2005/ 06 Ed Belfour made ​​the 457th victory of his career, which he took second place in the history of the NHL. Meanwhile, he but was overtaken by Martin Brodeur and has to be recorded 484 victories. He is also with 963 games of the goalkeeper with the third highest number of inserts in NHL history. (End of season 2006/ 07, see Goalkeeper Records (NHL) )

Negative headlines

When Ed Belfour in 2000 played for the Dallas Stars, it came in an upscale hotel bar to a confrontation with a security guard, and Belfour refused to be led away by the police. He received a sentence of two years probation and a fine in the amount of $ 3,000. On 8 April 2007 a ​​few hours after the last season game, it was in a bar in Florida again a scuffle between Belfour and a police officer. On the instructions of the security staff Belfour should be referred by the police the bar. The goalie of the Florida Panthers, however, was intoxicated and fought against. Belfour was eventually arrested along with teammate Ville Peltonen and only after payment of a deposit go back left.

Awards and achievements

Internationally

Career Stats

( Key to the goalkeeper stats: GP or Sp = Total Games; W or W = Wins, L = Losses, or N, T or D = Draw or shootout defeat, min = minutes; SOG or ZAT = Shots on goal, GA or GT = Goals against; SO = shutouts, GAA or GTS = Gegentorschnitt; Sv % or SVS % = quota, EN = Empty Net Goal; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )