Great netminders and the Detroit Red Wings have often gone hand in hand. Terry Sawchuk, a four-time Stanley Cup winner in Detroit, is considered by many to be the greatest NHL netminder of all time.

Others would cast their ballot for the NHL goalie GOAT with Dominik Hasek. He was a two-time Cup winner for Detroit.

Harry Lumley, Tiny Thompson, Rogatien Vachon, Glenn Hall, and Alex Connell are other Hall of Fame puckstoppers who plied their trade for the franchise for at least a portion of their NHL playing days.

Over the years, several goaltenders performed solidly for the Red Wings. Some did so briefly, while others offered a sturdy backstopping effort for many years. But their performances are lost in the annals of time.

In the opinion of Detroit Hockey Now, these are the Red Wings netminders who are the most overlooked and underappreciated.

Howard High On Red Wings Career Lists

Club history shows that only Sawchuk and Chris Osgood made more appearances and won more games between the posts for Detroit than Jimmy Howard. His entire NHL career was spent with the Red Wings.

Howard saw action in 546 games, posting 246 victories. His career save percentage was .912 – better than both Osgood and Roger Crozier.

He made the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2009-10 and was runner-up in Calder Trophy voting. Howard was selected to play in a pair of NHL All-Star Games and is the most recent Red Wings goaltender to win a playoff series.

Edwards Stepped Up To Fill Void

A rookie with the Red Wings in 1967-68, Roy Edwards was called up when Crozier stepped away from the team due to poor health. Over the next four seasons, Edwards led the Red Wings in games and wins each season.

A closer look at the 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 82 NHL hockey card featuring Roy Edwards of the Detroit Red Wings https://t.co/aa1bNnBQi2#royedwards #detroitredwings #redwings #hockeycards #hockeyhistory #nhlhistory

— Tom (@VHCReport) August 2, 2025

He won 24 games in 1969-70, helping Detroit make the playoffs. In 1972-73, Edwards won a career-high 27 games and shared the NHL lead with six shutouts.

Mowers Put Together One Unforgettable Season

No other Red Wings goalie can claim the feat that Johnny Mowers performed. In each of his first three seasons, he backstopped Detroit to the Stanley Cup final.

#TendyTuesday Happy birthday to the late Johnny “Mum” Mowers who was born 108 years ago today @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/UrIdvF4wgG

— Vintage Hockey Showcase (@hockey_vintage) October 29, 2024

The Wings finally won it all in 1942-43. Mowers posted back-to-back shutouts in Games 3 and 4 as Detroit swept Boston in the Cup final series. He won the Vezina Trophy that season, leading the NHL in wins (25), GAA (2.47), and shutouts (six). The rest of the goalies in the NHL that season combined to post five shutouts.

Joining the Royal Canadian Air Force before the 1943-44 season to aid in the war effort, Mowers would never win another game for the Red Wings.

Cude Backstopped Red Wings To First Cup Final Series

Something – actually someone – borrowed would help the Red Wings get to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in franchise history. The Wings were 9-8-2 on January 1, 1934, when Detroit GM Jack Adams made arrangements for the season loan of goalie Wilf Cude from the Montreal Canadiens.

Cude went 10-2-8 in his first 20 starts for Detroit. He finished the season with an NHL-leading 1.52 GAA. Cude carried Detroit to the Cup final series, but the Wings lost to Chicago. He was returned to Montreal at season’s end.

Stefan Policed His Goal Crease

When Greg Stefan was between the pipes for Detroit, you ventured into his goal area at your own peril. He once sat out an eight-game NHL suspension for an assault on Chicago forward Al Secord. He sat out another six games for trying to give Pittsburgh forward Dan Frawley a haircut with his goal stick.

In the midst of his ruggedness, it’s easy to forget how solidly Stefan played for the Wings, even in the tough times. Detroit was an NHL-worst 17-57-6 in 1985-86. Stefan posted 10 of those 17 wins. In fact, when he missed the outset of that season with a back injury, the Red Wings opened 0-8-1.

Stefan helped backstop the Wings to the conference final in 1986-87 and 1987-88. He led the team in wins six times, in GAA four times, and in shutouts on three occasions.