Better Late Than Never: Barrasso is In!

On Wednesday, June 21st, at 3:05 pm EST, it was announced that goaltender Tom Barrasso was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, circa 2023. Barrasso, who played 19 seasons, has been eligible since 2006.

Barrasso was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 5th overall in 1983, and is the only goaltender to enter the NHL straight from high school. He would go on to win both the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy during the 1983-84 season. Barrasso played five full seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a 3rd round pick on November 12, 1988, for Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon.

Barrasso played with Pittsburgh for 12 seasons, posting a record of 226-153-53, a GAA of 3.27, and a .895 SV%. He was a very successful playoff goaltender in Pittsburgh, with a record of 56-42, a GAA of 2.91, and a .907 SV%. Barrasso helped lead the Penguins to back-to-back cups in 1990-91 and 1991-92. Barrasso was traded to the Ottawa Senators on March 14, 2000, for Janne Laukkanen and Ron Tugnutt.

During his last three years in the NHL, Barrasso spent time with Ottawa, Carolina, Toronto, and St. Louis. On June 18, 2003, he signed a one-day contract with Pittsburgh so he could retire as a member of the Penguins. Barrasso was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.