Ed Belfour

Edward John Belfour (born April 21, 1965 in Carman, Manitoba, Canada) is an NHL goalie who currently is a Free Agent.

"The Eagle" was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the 1986-87 season. The following year, Belfour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks, alternating time between them and the Saginaw Hawks of the International Hockey League.

Playing career

In the 1989-90 season, Belfour began with the Canadian national men's hockey team, but was recalled by the Blackhawks for their postseason and set a 4-2 postseason mark with a 2.49 GAA. The next season, Belfour became the starting goalie, and turned in what many consider to be one of the best rookie seasons in NHL history. He notched 43 victories in 74 games (both NHL rookie and Blackhawk team records), finished the season with a 2.47 GAA and 4 shutouts. For his success, he received the Calder Memorial Trophy for outstanding play by a rookie, the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender and the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest team goals-against. He was also nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player, unprecedented at that time for a goaltender and rookie (Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues won the award). He would win the Vezina Trophy again in 1993 and the Jennings Trophy in 1993, 1995, and 1999.

Belfour helped lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1991-92 season, where they eventually lost in 4 games to the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Mario Lemieux.

However, by the 1995-96 season, tension was forming between Belfour and backup goalie, Jeff Hackett, very similar to the tension between Belfour and his former backup, Dominik Hasek which led to Hasek's trade to Buffalo. Belfour was traded to the San Jose Sharks midway through the 1996-97 season after turning down a contract extension from the Hawks.

Belfour finished his tenure with the Blackhawks ranking among the team leaders in many goaltending categories. Belfour finished third among all Blackhawk goalies in games played with 415 and wins with 201, in both categories ranking behind Hall of Famers Tony Esposito and Glenn Hall. Belfour also ranks fourth in shutouts (30), and second in assists (17). Interestingly, Belfour easily ranks as the Blackhawks goalie leader in penalty minutes, with 242. Esposito, who played in more than twice as many games and minutes as Belfour, had only 31.

Following a dismal half-season with the Sharks, Belfour signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 1997. During the season, Belfour played 61 games and had an astonishing 1.88 GAA as his team won the Presidents' Trophy and made it to the Western Conference Finals.

The next season, the Stars repeated their regular season championship and Belfour won his fourth Jennings Trophy. In the playoffs, Belfour won duels against past Veniza and Stanley Cup winning goaltenders Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy, respectively. The Stars won the Stanley Cup, beating the Buffalo Sabres in six games, capped by an incredible goalie duel against former backup Dominik Hasek that ended in a 2-1 win in the third overtime. Belfour made 53 saves to Hasek's 50.

Belfour backstopped his team to another consecutive finals appearance, winning his second seven game Western Conference final duel against the Colorado Avalanche's Patrick Roy. The Stars lost the Cup in double-overtime to the New Jersey Devils. Belfour had 4 shutouts in that playoffs, including a triple-overtime blanking of the Devils in game five of the finals series.

During the 2001-2002 season, the Stars began to play poorly and there was a falling out between then-Stars coach, Ken Hitchcock and GM Bob Gainey. Belfour, notorious for not getting along with backup goaltenders was also being pressured by Marty Turco. After a poor season, the Stars decided not to re-sign Belfour and made Marty Turco the starting goalie for the next season.

On July 2, 2002, Ed signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs after then Leafs goaltender, Curtis Joseph, chose to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Belfour rebounded after a dismal season with the Stars, winning a franchise-record 37 games and helping his new team finish second in the Northeast Division. His 2.26 GAA ranked 11th in the league. During the season, he was invited to play in the mid-season All-Star Game in Florida, but a back injury forced him to miss the event. On April 1, he earned his 400th career win in a match against the Devils. In the playoffs, Ed posted a 2.71 GAA and a .915 Save% in seven games in an opening-round loss to the Flyers. On April 16 in game four at the Air Canada Centre, Ed made 72 saves before losing 3-2 on an overtime goal by Mark Recchi. Belfour finished as runner-up for the Vezina Trophy.

In 2003-04, he posted a 34-19-6 record in 59 games as the Maple Leafs finished fifth overall in the league standings. He record a 2.13 GAA and a 91.8 save percentage. On Apr. 3 in the final game of the season, Ed posted a 6-0 shutout over the Senators to secure home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. That shutout gave him 10 on the season, setting a new personal best for his career. In the playoffs, Ed posted three shutouts in the opening round against the Senators, setting a record for shutout streaks. The team then lost in the second round to the Flyers.

On November 28, 2005, Belfour won his 447th career NHL game, moving him into a tie with Terry Sawchuk for 2nd place in career wins. Ed made 34 saves in the 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers. On December 19, 2005, Eddie Belfour moved past Sawchuk with a 9-6 win over the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre. He was honoured in a special pre-game ceremony on December 23, 2005, before a game against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre; the Leafs went on to win the game. At the end of the 2005/06 season, Belfour had a record of 457-303-111 (34 no decisions) in the regular season, and 88-68 (5 no decisions) in the playoffs. On July 1st 2006 Maple Leafs General Manager John Ferguson Jr released Belfour to free agency after a dismal 22-22-4 record and a 3.45 GAA.

Belfour, an intense player known for forceably punishing opposing players in front of his crease, is an accomplished tri-athlete in his spare time, owns an auto-racing team, and holds a pilot's licence.

External links

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Playing career

External links