Dominik Hasek

Dominik Hasek played 16 seasons in the NHL and 21 seasons professionally from 1980 to 2011.  During his time in the NHL he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators.  He is best known for his time with the Buffalo Sabres in which he earned the nickname “The Dominator”, due to his dominating performances in the goal.  In the 90’s and early 2000’s he posted some of the finest goaltender performances in NHL history and earned six Vezina Trophies, presented to the leagues top goalie.  In 1997 and 98 he won consecutive Hart Memorial Trophies, given to the leagues MVP, and became the first goaltender to win multiple times.  In 2002 he became the first European trained player to win a Stanley Cup at the goalie position while also setting an NHL record for postseason shutouts.  His most notable accomplishment however was then he led the Czech national team to the only Olympic gold medal in their country’s history in 1998.  Hasek was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014, and is widely considered to be one of the best players to ever protect the goal.