|
Ed Belfour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 18, 1987. On October 18, 1988, he made his NHL debut in a game against the Red Wings. On December 23, he earned his first win in a 7-2 match against the Red Wings. He played 23 games that season and won four games. In 1989-90, he joined the Blackhawks in the playoffs and went 4-2 with a 2.49 goals-against average in nine games. In 1990-91, Ed joined the NHL ranks full-time and played a league-high 74 games and 4,127 minutes. He paced the league with 43 wins (new team record) and a 2.47 GAA and helped the Blackhawks improve 18 points to win the Presidents' Trophy. The Blackhawks 49 wins that season tied a club record. Ed won the Calder Trophy as top rookie, the Vézina Trophy as top goaltender and the Jennings Trophy for lowest team GAA.
In 1991-92, Ed went 21-18-10 and paced the league with five shutouts. He played in his first All-Star Game and his 2.70 GAA ranked second in the league. In the playoffs, Ed led the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup finals after defeating the Oilers for the Clarence Campbell Bowl. In the final, Ed and the Blackhawks lost to the Penguins. Ed went 12-4 that playoff year and posted a league-best 2.47 GAA. In 1992-93, Ed won his second Vézina Trophy and second Jennings Trophy. He also played in the mid-season All-Star Game and was a First Team All-Star for the second time in three years. Ed went 41-18-11 with a league best seven shutouts and led the Blackhawks to the Norris Division season title. He also paced the league with 71 games and 4,106 minutes played.
In 1993-94, Ed played 70 games for the third time in four years and paced the league with seven shutouts. He went 37-24-6 with a 2.67 GAA. In the shortened 1994-95 season, he led the league in shutouts (five) for the fourth straight year and went 22-15-3 with a new career low 2.28 GAA. He also won his third Jennings Trophy. In the playoffs, he led the Blackhawks to the Western Conference finals before losing to the Red Wings. Ed was 9-7 with a 2.17 GAA. In 1995-96, Ed went 22-17-10 with a 2.74 GAA and played in his third mid-season All-Star Game. In the playoffs, he led the Blackhawks to the second round. In 1996-97, Ed was traded on January 25 to the San Jose Sharks for Ulf Dahlén, Chris Terreri and Michal Sýkora. In 46 games split between the two teams, he went 14-24-6.
On July 2, 1997, Ed signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars. In his first year with his new team, Ed he led the Stars to a team record 49 wins and a Presidents' Trophy championship. Ed played in the All-Star Game, went 37-12-10 and posted a league-best 1.88 GAA. His 37 wins and nine shutouts were both team records. In the playoffs, he led the Stars to the Western Conference finals and paced the league with a 1.79 GAA. In 1998-99, he went 35-15-9 with five shutouts and a 1.99 GAA as the Stars won their second straight Presidents' Trophy.The Stars 51 wins and 114 points were both team records. Ed played in his fifth mid-season All-Star Game and won his fourth Jennings Trophy (with goaltending partner Roman Turek). In the playoffs, Ed lifted the Stars past the Avalanche in the Western Conference finals to win the Clarence Campbell Bowl. In the Stanley Cup finals, he helped the Stars defeat the Sabres in six games. Ed's 23 games, 16 wins, 1,544 minutes played, three shutouts and 1.67 GAA were all league bests.
In 1999-2000, Ed went 32-21-7 as the Stars won the Pacific Division title. He posted a 2.10 GAA and won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award for his league best 91.916 save percentage. He also won his first Stars' Bill Masterton Award (team MVP). In 2000-01, Ed went 35-20-7 and led the Stars to another Pacific Division title. On October 14, he made 12 saves for his 50th career shutout.
PHOTOS
(click for larger views)
|
