Jordan Wohl, Guest Writer
Photo//Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports
In the 95-year history of the Detroit Red Wings, 93 goaltenders have suited up in game action. Those 93 consist of some of the greatest netminders in hockey history, including 9 Hall of Famers (Alec Connell, Eddie Giacomin, Glenn Hall, Dominik Hasek, Hap Holmes, Harry Lumley, Terry Sawchuk, Tiny Thompson, and the great Rogie Vachon).
Colorful goalie equipment and custom designs for goaltenders did not popularize until the mid-80’s, but the advent of self-expression through equipment has made the position the most unique in sports.
The Red Wings have a very interesting equipment history. I took a look into every design from the mid-80’s to the present to find the best and worst designs:
At the top of my list is Magnus Hellberg, a Swedish goaltender who only played one game for the Wings late in the 2021-22 season before moving on to the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators this year. Hellberg is not a NHL regular, but has earned a reputation for thinking outside of the box with his gear design. His Ottawa and Seattle setups have lived up to the hype.
Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood have a special place in Red Wings style lore for their iconic masks. Their pads in 2002 and 2008, respectively, earned them a spot in the “A” tier.
The worst three setups I found in Red Wings history came from Greg Stefan, Kaden Fulcher, and Kevin Hodson. Brown and red together is unsettling, and I just do not understand the half-cooked design on Fulcher’s pads.
I want to continue ranking designs and setups from hockey history. Do you have an idea for a new ranking? Let me know!