NHL Records: The 25,000-Save Club—Goaltending’s Ultimate Workhorses
In a recent Professors' Press Box article, I discussed the "1,000-Game Wall"—the exclusive quartet of goalies who played 1,000+ NHL games. While hitting that milestone is a feat of pure longevity, a second statistic defines their actual workload: career saves.
In NHL history, only those same four goaltenders have recorded 25,000 or more career saves. It is a monument to durability and excellence under fire. Here are the NHL legends who stood their ground:
1. Martin Brodeur (28,928 Saves): The NHL’s all-time leader in games played naturally sits atop the mountain for saves. The backbone of the New Jersey Devils for over two decades, Martin Brodeur’s save total is nearly 30,000—a figure almost unfathomable in today's era of load management. Martin Brodeur didn't just play; he anchored the New Jersey franchise for 1,259 games.
2. Roberto Luongo (28,409 Saves): Though third in games played, Roberto Luongo jumps to second all-time in saves. This highlights the immense pressure he faced in Florida and Vancouver. Roberto Luongo was often facing a barrage of shots, and maintaining elite performance while stopping nearly 30,000 pucks proves his immense physical and mental toughness.
3. Marc-André Fleury (27,188 Saves): Marc-André Fleury has cemented his legacy as one of the most industrious goalies to ever play. With three Stanley Cups and a Vezina Trophy, Marc-André Fleury’s acrobatic style has been on display for over 27,000 stops. As the most recent member to join the 25,000-save club, he may be the final bridge to the era of the true workhorse goaltender.
4. Patrick Roy (25,800 Saves): Patrick Roy helped revolutionize the goalie position with the effective use of the butterfly style and was the first to prove a 1,000-game career was possible. While facing high stakes in both Montreal and Colorado, Patrick Roy racked up 25,800 saves and three Vezina Trophies.
25,000-Save Club: The Closed Gates of History
Similar to what was discussed in a recent Professors' Press Box article, the “25,000-Save Club”—like the “1,000-Game Club”—may be a closed shop. Modern "tandem" goaltending means today’s starters rarely see the number of games per season required to reach these totals. Currently, the closest active leaders are:
Sergei Bobrovsky: 20,746 Saves
Jonathan Quick: 20,201 Saves
To stop 25,000 pucks, a goalie needs health, consistency, and two decades of trust from their coaches. For now, these four NHL All-Star goalies—Brodeur, Luongo, Fleury, Roy—stand alone in this exclusive “25,000-Save Club”.