Martin Brodeur vs Patrick Roy: Stats, Awards and Playoff Success
By Charles Nason
When it comes to the GOAT debate among NHL goaltenders, there are really only two relevant names you need to know: Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy. Since Brodeur's retirement, the two are commonly pitted against one another in meticulous comparison debates around the hockey world.
Picking one legend over the other is one of the toughest a hockey fan would have to make, as both experienced incredible success in their respective careers. Both in the regular and postseasons, Brodeur and Roy shined and transformed the goaltending position. Even in retirement, the two remain as some of the most talked-about players in NHL history.
Martin Brodeur vs Patrick Roy Stats
Let's start this arguement by prefacing that Brodeur and Roy, while having some overlap, played in two completely different eras of hockey. Marty also has the career length advantage, playing 22 years to Roy's 19.
In terms of personal stats, Brodeur takes the advantage. He sits atop the all-time list for goaltending wins with 691 to Roy's 551. He also holds the record for most regular season shutouts with 125.
Both have ridiculous stats that have gotten them on just about every all-time record list at either No. 1 or 2. However, Brodeur's extra years gave him the boost he needed to exceed Roy in the counting numbers.
Martin Brodeur vs Patrick Roy Awards
Once again, the list of hardware for both Brodeur and Roy is a long one. Roy, though, takes the win here with the trophies that matter. Roy's four Stanley Cups exceed Brodeur's three, to go along with his three Conn Smythe trophies.
Outside of the trophy case, Brodeur beats Roy with four Vezina Trophies to three. He also was awarded the Calder Trophy in his rookie year, with a number of Hart nominations.
Overall, Roy's Stanley Cup success as both a teammate and individual surpass Brodeur's own exploits. The extra Cup certainly is a nice advantage, but it's the fact he racked up three Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP nods that's extremely impressive.
Martin Brodeur vs Patrick Roy Playoff Success
See the above section to understand who has the advantage in the postseason. To go along with his Stanley Cups and Conn Smythe awards, Roy accumulated 151 postseason wins, significantly trumping Brodeur's 113.
Regardless of their personal stats and trophies, both were indespensable to their teams in the regular and postseasons. Brodeur is immortalized in New Jersey Devils history and Roy in both Montreal and Colorado, while both are Canadian hockey legends.
Both were easy first-ballot Hall of Famers, with Roy being inducted in 2006 and Brodeur in 2018. So, who's the GOAT? Marty certainly gets credit for his longevity, but Roy's year-by-year championship resume is simply unparalleled.