why isn't ken dryden considered the best goaltender of all time?

Question

People always mention Patrick Roy or Martin Brodeur or Dominick Hasek,etc but never any mention of Dryden.His #'s speak for themselves...6 stanley cups in a 7 full season career.Won the vezina trophy 5 times.Winning goaltender of the '72 summit series.His regular season totals include a .790 winning percentage, a 2.24 goals against average, and, most incredibly, losing only 57 games while recording 46 shutouts in 397 total games.Oh yeah...he also had the coolest facemask.

Answer 1

These are all excellent statistics and Dryden is a deserving Hall of Famer but something has to be remembered here.

Dryden played behind what was possibly the best defense of all time, Sure he was a big part of that too, BUT on a lot of nights he just didn't see a lot of quality chances thanks to Larry Robinson, Savard, Lapointe, Gainey, Jarvis, etc.

In fact I remember a game the Kings played in Montreal where they lost 3-0. Rogie Vachon was chosen as the first star that night, Dryden was not even one of the 3 stars.

Answer 2

I lived in Montreal when they won 4 straight.... and when Montreal played the "best" hockey game ever against Russia that ended in a 2-2 tie new years eve. I'm with you - Dryden might be the best. I've played goalie and have idolized many from Cheevers, Esposito, Parent through today. Day in and day out Dryden was the most consistent. Others have stats influenced by equipment, number of games, watered down league...different times. Give ya the fact that Montreal team was the best... but ask Hasek whats its like trying to stay sharp with 20 shots a game that Detroit gives up. Dryden was - Hasek isn't. I also agree that Dryden's playing time was too short (what about Bobby Orr?)- but perhaps his time with the Leafs management - and perhaps as replacement for Bettman (he is a lawyer!) will find him in a position to be remembered as more than a goalie. I will always remember him as one of the best.

Answer 3

Ken Dryden was a good goalie but hardly the best ever. You can talk all you want about his winning percentage and 6 cups but the reason he has those numbers are because of the team in front of him. Do you think if he was playing for Chicago or New York anybody would be talking about how great he was? He played on what I consider to be the best team ever during the dynasty years of the 70's. And this is coming from a Bruins fan. Twelve of his teamates from that dynasty are currently in the hall of fame. You could have taken any decent goalie and put him on that team and they still would have won.

Answer 4

I would guess he didnt play as long as Patrick Roy and now Martin Broduer. It was a bit before my time so I never saw him play. Martin Broduer will one day be considered the best goaltended of all time after he breaks all Roy's records. Hasek doesnt even factor actually.

Answer 5

I've heard several people say he is the best goaltender of all time.

I think he is in the top five but I don't think he is the best.

I would put him behind Terry Sawchuk and Glenn Hall.

I think it is so cool that he won a Stanley Cup before he won Rookie of the Year.

Answer 6

Dryden was the best NHL goaltender of the seventies, but he was not as good as Russian Vladislav Tretiak.

Answer 7

Because I'm a Boston Bruins fan!

Answer 8

Simple, because he isn't the best goaltender of all time!!!

Answer 9

.Probably because of the fact that he had a short career and people believe that if his career was longer he wouldn't have put up such high numbers

Answer 10

He's one of them