By the Numbers: Three Legendary NHL Goalies Who Made #35

Some jersey numbers just hit differently. Not because the league retired them, but because the players who wore them gave those digits real meaning. For NHL goalies, number “35” is one of those numbers. Over the years, it’s belonged to netminders who didn’t just make saves—they defined teams, carried cities, and delivered moments fans still talk about.

Tony Esposito, Richard Brodeur, and Pekka Rinne all wore number “35”, and each turned it into something fans immediately recognized the moment it stepped onto the ice.

35: Tony Esposito Rewrites the Goalie Rulebook

When Tony Esposito showed up in Chicago for the 1969–70 season, he didn’t fit the usual goalie mold—and that’s what made him special. Wearing number “35”, Esposito wasted no time announcing himself, winning the Calder Trophy and setting a rookie record with 15 shutouts. Across 15 seasons with the Blackhawks, “Tony O” piled up 418 wins and three Vezina Trophies. But fans remember more than the hardware. Esposito proved that smart positioning and discipline could shut teams down just as effectively as flashy athleticism. In Chicago, seeing number “35” meant steadiness, confidence, and the feeling that your goalie could take over a game.

35: Richard Brodeur and a Playoff Run to Remember

In Vancouver, number “35” will always point back to Richard Brodeur. During the ’80s, he was the reliable presence behind a Canucks team still figuring out who it was. That trust paid off in the 1982 Stanley Cup Playoffs. “King Richard” carried Vancouver to its first-ever Stanley Cup Final with timely saves and fearless play. While the Conn Smythe Trophy went to Mike Bossy, no Canucks fan needed an award to know how important Brodeur was. For Vancouver, number “35” still stands for grit, belief, and a playoff run that felt almost unreal.

35: Pekka Rinne and Nashville’s Growth

Fast-forward to Nashville, and Pekka Rinne gave number “35” a whole new chapter. Drafted in 2004, Rinne developed into one of the NHL’s most dependable goalies. He finished as the franchise leader in wins and shutouts, won the Vezina Trophy in 2018, and backstopped Nashville to its first Stanley Cup Final in 2017. Just as important, he became the face of the team. Night after night, fans knew what they were getting. In Nashville, number “35” came to mean reliability, pride, and proof that the Predators belonged.

Final Tally: #35—One Number, Three Defining Careers

Different eras. Different styles. Same number on the back. Tony Esposito, Richard Brodeur, and Pekka Rinne each made number “35” their own, showing how much one great goalie can shape a franchise. In Chicago, Vancouver, and Nashville, number “35” became shorthand for trust, toughness, and excellence in the crease.