'Olie the Goalie' Calls It a Career

Olaf Kolzig, winner of 303 NHL games, a Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender and a two-time All-Star (only two? Shocking), announced his retirement on Wednesday, ending a 14-year career that saw him become the foundation of the Washington Capitals organization, helping lead the team to the 1997-98 Stanley Cup Final.

In a statement from the NHL, Kolzig had this to say on his retirement: "I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to play the game of hockey at the NHL level for many seasons and I am grateful for everything the game has given me ... I would like to thank my family, all my teammates and the fans for making my time in the NHL so special."

One of the best goalies of his era (and, at the same time, one of the most underrated because he was overshadowed by the likes Martin Brodeur, Dominik Hasek and Patrick Roy during his peak years) Kolzig is currently 21st on the NHL's wins list for goalies, 22nd in save percentage and 45th in goals against average.

Reed Albers at Capitals Kremlin has a fond look at Kolzig's career, and laments the fact that Kolzig never hoisted the Stanley Cup in D.C.

Watching a player you love fail to reach the pinnacle of his sport is depressing. I watched as Dan Marino failed to capture a Super Bowl and, like Kolzig, fall apart in a soul-crushing fashion that clearly signals to the sporting world "I'm done." It's sad because for years you cheer for this one player and then when the gloves are hung up, you're constantly left wondering "what if?" What if Dan Marino had a competent running game during his prime? What if Olie Kolzig had his Vezina year with the current roster? If the Capitals ever raise the Stanley Cup with the current squad of young stars who played in front of Olie during their hockey infancy, perhaps a special raise should be sent to the No. 37.

As long as we're looking back at favorite memories, I'll always remember his fight with long-time off-ice friend Byron Dafoe during a 1998 game against the Boston Bruins. And by "fight," I mean a lot of jersey pulling and smiling.



Can a Hall of Fame case be made for Kolzig? If we simply look at the win totals (and, admittedly this is not the best way to evaluate goaltenders) nine of the 20 players ahead of him on the all-time list are already enshrined in Toronto, while at least three others (Brodeur, Belfour and Hasek) have to be considered slam dunks. The fact he never won a cup will probably be held against him, even though he was a dominating force during the 1997-98 postseason -- before Washington ran into a loaded Detroit team -- and his overall postseason numbers are quite impressive.

The Capitals fell to the Red Wings in four games during '97-98 final, ending what was an incredible postseason run from Kolzig that saw him post a 1.95 goals against average in 21 playoff games, to go with his .941 save percentage. The most impressive stat from that postseason, however, is the four shutouts, including consecutive shutouts against the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Only 16 other goalies in league history have posted four shutouts in a single postseason.

Capitals owner Ted Leonsis offered a statement on his blog that included the following: "Olie Kolzig was the most competitive person I know. He cared deeply about the team; his community; and his family. He was and is a class act and he is one of my favorite athletes of all time."