Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur is a Hall of Fame goaltender who set NHL career records for wins and shutouts over a 21-season career, mostly with the New Jersey Devils, winning three Stanley Cups.

Martin Brodeur handled the puck so effectively as a goaltender -- essentially playing as a third defenseman behind the net -- that the NHL introduced a rule specifically to limit it: the trapezoid, a restricted zone behind the goal line outside of which goaltenders can't legally play the puck. Few players in league history have been individually influential enough to get a rule named after their own skillset. His career win and shutout totals are still the highest of any goaltender in NHL history, compiled almost entirely across 21 seasons with a single franchise, the New Jersey Devils -- a level of organizational loyalty that's increasingly rare in an era when even star goaltenders regularly change teams multiple times. Brodeur's three Stanley Cups came across three different Devils eras built around different rosters, evidence his value wasn't tied to one specific supporting cast -- a puck-handling, positionally sound goaltender who made a defensively disciplined team style look almost effortless for the better part of two decades.

Brodeur was renowned for his exceptional puck-handling skills, often acting as a third defenseman who could make crisp passes and clear the puck effectively. His hybrid style combined excellent positioning with lightning-quick reflexes, and he was particularly dominant in his crease with superior rebound control. He excelled in the Devils' defensive trap system, using his stick work to break up plays and start counterattacks.

Brodeur revolutionized the goaltender position by demonstrating how active puck-handling could become a crucial part of a team's defensive strategy, leading to rule changes that restricted goalie movement. His longevity and consistency set new standards for the position and influenced a generation of goaltenders to develop better puck skills.

• Hockey Hall of Fame (2018)
• 3x Stanley Cup champion (1995, 2000, 2003)
• 4x Vezina Trophy
• Olympic gold (2002, 2010)
• 10x NHL All-Star