After winning the Stanley Cup on Monday night, June 24, with the Florida Panthers, it is safe to say that goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is going to end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.
Let’s start by looking at his overall numbers:
– 396 career wins (14th all-time)
– 2.59 career goals-against average
– A .915 career save percentage
– 44 career shutouts
Considering that Bobrovsky is only 35, stays in great shape, and is one of the hardest working goaltenders in the game today, those numbers could end up getting better. He will definitely end up with more than 400 wins, and while that does not guarantee a spot in the Hall, it certainly does not hurt his chances.
Let’s now take a look at the hardware/accolades that he has garnered in his career up to this point:
– One Stanley Cup (2024)
– Two Vezina Trophies as the league’s best goaltender (2013 and 2017)
– Played in NHL All-Star Game (2017 and 2024)
– NHL First All-Star Team (2013 and 2017)
– Best goaltender at the 2014 World Championships
While Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid certainly earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs (42 points), there is no doubt that Bobrovsky played well enough to win it himself. He finished the playoffs with a record of 16-8 to go along with a 2.32 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Bobrovsky was especially good in Games 1,2,3, and 7 in the Stanley Cup Final as he came up with a number of big saves, had a shutout, and was lights out in the third period in Game 7. Heck, through the first three games and with a 3-0 series lead in the Final, he looked like he would run away with the Conn Smythe.
Speaking of his play in the playoffs, Bobrovsky was also outstanding in last year’s run to the Cup Final. Prior to the start of that postseason, he was not even starting because of the strong play of goaltender Alex Lyon.
That all changed a few games into the first round. He finished the postseason with a record of 12-6 to go along with a 2.78 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage, and one shutout.
When you add up all of the above, you have a goaltender that should end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has got the hardware, the numbers, and the accolades that add up to him reaching hockey’s other top summit.
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