gold star for USAHOF

17. Tom Barrasso

17. Tom Barrasso

There have been many phenomenal American Goalies in Hockey, but it can be argued that none of them got off to a better start than Tom Barrasso.

From Boston, Barrasso was the Fifth Overall Pick in 1983, and he made the team as a rookie, fresh out of high school and ready to dominate.  In his rookie season, Barrasso won the Calder, the Vezina, and was a First Team All-Star, and the sky looked to be the limit for the young American.

After his rookie campaign, Barrasso came back to earth, but in his sophomore year would win the Goals Against Average Title and his five Shutouts were also league-leading.  The Goalie was not a First Team All-Star but was a Second Team Selection and was second for the Vezina.

Barrasso’s best Sabre years were now already behind him, but he was still decent, leading the NHL in Saves and Minutes Played in 1985-86, and in 1987-88 was again second in Vezina voting.  

The Sabres were struggling, and he was traded to the rising Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1988-89 campaign.  With Buffalo, Barrasso had a 124-102-28 Record.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Goalie
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 5th Overall in the NHL Draft 6/8/83.
  • Departed: Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Buffalo’s 1990 3rd Round Pick (which would be Joe Dzledzic) for Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon 11/12/88.
  • Games Played: 266
  • Notable Statistics:

    124 Wins                        
    102 Losses
    28 Ties
    13 Shutouts
    3.29 Goals Against Average
    .884 Save Percentage
    43.2 Goalie Point Shares

    12 Playoff Games
    3 Wins
    8 Losses
    0 Shutouts
    4.18 Goals Against Average
    .860 Save Percentage

  • Non-NHL Teams:

    Vezina Trophy (1984)
    First Team All-Star (1984)
    Second Team All-Star (1984)
    Calder Trophy (1984)
    William M. Jennings Trophy (1984)
    All-Star (1985)
    First Team All-Rookie (1984)
    Most Saves (1985-86)
    Lowest Goals Against Average (1984-85)
    Most Shutouts (1984-85)
    Most Minutes Played (1985-86)

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