Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award
The Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, officially billed as the MBNA/MasterCard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, was an award in ice hockey given annually to the goaltender who finished the regular season with the best save percentage in the National Hockey League. Only goaltenders who played 25 games or more in the season were eligible for the award. A goaltender's save percentage represents the percentage of shots on goal that he stops, and is calculated by dividing the number of saves by the total number of shots on goal.
The award was first presented at the conclusion of the season, and was named in honor of former Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals goaltender Roger Crozier, a Calder and Conn Smythe Trophy winner who played in the NHL from 1964 to 1977. It was presented by the MBNA corporation in memory of Crozier, who worked for the MBNA America Bank after retiring as a player, and died on January 11, 1996. The winner of the trophy received a commemorative crystal trophy and was given US$25,000 to donate to a youth hockey or other educational program of their choice.
By 2007, when it ceased being presented, the award had been handed to six different players on seven occasions. Marty Turco is the only goaltender to have won the award twice. Three Dallas Stars goalies have won the award, while two each have represented the Montreal Canadiens and the Minnesota Wild. Only seven awards were ever made. The award was not presented in 2005, as the entire season was canceled due to the lockout.
Winners
Denotes players who are still active in the NHL | |
† | Denotes player who was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame |
Save-percentage leaders (1982–1999)
Before 2000, there was no award for leading the league in save percentage. The NHL started counting the statistic in 1982, and this lists all the leaders from the inception of the statistic to the inception of the award.Season | Player | Team | Save % | Win # |
New York Islanders | .910 | 1 | ||
New York Islanders | .903 | 2 | ||
Chicago Black Hawks | .903 | 1 | ||
Philadelphia Flyers | .909 | 1 | ||
Philadelphia Flyers | .902 | 1 | ||
Montreal Canadiens | .900 | 1 | ||
Montreal Canadiens | .908 | 2 | ||
Montreal Canadiens | .912 | 3 | ||
Chicago Blackhawks | .910 | 1 | ||
Montreal Canadiens | .914 | 4 | ||
St. Louis Blues | .911 | 1 | ||
Buffalo Sabres | .930 | 1 | ||
* | Buffalo Sabres | .930 | 2 | |
Buffalo Sabres | .920 | 3 | ||
Buffalo Sabres | .930 | 4 | ||
Buffalo Sabres | .932 | 5 | ||
Buffalo Sabres | .937 | 6 |
Save-percentage leaders (2007–present)
Bold denotes highest season save percentage on record
Season | Player | Team | Save % | Win # |
Nashville Predators | .924 | 1 | ||
Boston Bruins | .933 | 1 | ||
Boston Bruins | .931 | 1 | ||
Boston Bruins | .938 | 2 | ||
St. Louis Blues | .940 | 1 | ||
* | Ottawa Senators | .941 | 1 | |
Minnesota Wild | .933 | 1 | ||
Montreal Canadiens | .933 | 1 | ||
St. Louis Blues | .930 | 2 | ||
Columbus Blue Jackets | .932 | 1 | ||
St. Louis Blues | .931 | 1 | ||
Dallas Stars | .934 | 1 | ||
Dallas Stars | .930 | 1 |