Voting Station

Tony Esposito

Please vote to return to collections.

Hockey Player

The Resume

    (April 23, 1943-August 10, 2021)
    Nickname is Tony O
    Played for the Vancouver Canucks (WHL; 1967-68), the Montreal Canadiens (1968-69) and the Chicago Blackhawks (1969-84)
    Career NHL record: 886 games, 423 wins, 307 losses, 151 ties, 76 shutouts, 2.92 goals-against-average
    Won Calder Trophy (1970)
    Won Vezina Trophy (1970, 1972 [shared with teammate Gary Smith] and 1974 [shared with Bernie Parent])
    Elected to the NHL Hall of Fame (September 7, 1988)
    Holds modern day record (as of 2005) with 15 shut-outs in one season (1969-70)
    Holds NHL goaltending record (as of 2005) for most 30+ win seasons with 8
    Brother of NHL Hall of Fame center Phil Esposito

Why he might be annoying:

    He was drafted by the Canadiens in 1966, but loaned to the WHL Canucks for the 1967-68 season in exchange for cash.
    On position choices, his brother Phil once stated, 'He was younger, so he had to be the goalie.'
    His brother stole a lot of his spotlight.
    His first game as a starter ended with a 2-2 tie versus the Boston Bruins. His brother scored both goals against him (December 5, 1969).
    Every year (except his last), he was with the Blackhawks. They made the playoffs, yet never won the Stanley Cup.
    After he retired as a player, he became GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but lasted only one season (1988-89).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He studied players from the bench to learn all he could about them and the best ways to defend against them.
    In a practice game, he was hit by a puck square in the Adam's apple and 'thought he was dead.' The shot severely bruised his vocal chords and since then he speaks with a raspy voice (1971).
    He helped Team Canada win against the heavily favored Soviets in the 1972 Summit Series (4-3-1). He was the first North American goalie to earn a win against the Soviets.
    He made many innovative improvements to his equipment, including a proto-type goalie mask.
    He helped revolutionize goaltending with his 'butterfly' (open legs) style.
    His quick reflexes led to many a 'flop-on-the-ice' save.
    The Blackhawks retired his #35 jersey (November 1988).

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 139 Votes: 46.04% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 11 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 77 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 59 Votes: 44.07% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 96 Votes: 44.79% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 93 Votes: 49.46% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 323 Votes: 47.99% Annoying