Now with the goaltender business, there is absolutely no doubt that Vladislav Tretiak is the greatest ever ! You mention Roy and Brodeur who were both undeniably excellent during their respective times. The problem with them however, is that they both played during the “Michelin Man” era of goal-tending, which has now become the “Zeppelin Man” era … and therefore both of them must be precluded from any conversation about the “greatest” ever. Goaltenders today are essentially nothing more than 4 x 8 plywood sheets, with their massive and ridiculously “over-sized” equipment. On the other hand, you go back 30-40 years and there you’ll find the real deal ! Goalies like Tretiak had to rely “entirely” upon their skill, intuition, reflexes, bravery and honor … not “Made in China” gloves that are bigger than a bread basket or pads the size of a log boom ! Therefore the only other goalies to be included in any conversation regarding the greatest ever would be the likes of Ken Dryden, Rogie Vachon, Bernie Parent and Tony Esposito … anything else is pure silliness.

At any rate, you’re likely of a younger bouquet and so the over-sized equipment business may not be a factor in your reasoning ? Allow me therefore to offer you some additional evidence as to why Vladislav Tretiak is by far the greatest goaltender of all time !

“There is no position in sport as noble as goaltending” – Vladislav Tretiak, former great Russian goaltender