Dominik Hasek

Biography

Dominik Hasek played goaltender like a man who had never been told how it was supposed to be done. The Dominator flopped, sprawled, dove headfirst at pucks, kicked his legs in directions that shouldn't be anatomically possible. Coaches tried to teach him proper technique; he ignored them and stopped everything anyway. Six Vezina Trophies as the league's best goalie, and two Hart Trophies as overall MVP — a goaltender winning the Hart is nearly impossible, and he did it twice. His 1998 performance carrying the Czech Republic to Olympic gold, beating Canada and Russia back-to-back, remains one of hockey's great individual performances. Behind below-average Buffalo teams, he produced save percentages that defied logic. He didn't play the position; he reinvented it, proving that unorthodox is just another word for unstoppable.

Career Highlights

• 2 Stanley Cup Championships
• 2 Hart Memorial Trophies (MVP — rare for goalies)
• 6 Vezina Trophies (best goaltender)
• Led Czech Republic to 1998 Olympic gold
• .922 career save percentage

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