| Grant Fuhr | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2003 | |||
 Fuhr at his induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame, February 2025 | |||
| Born | (1962-09-28)September 28, 1962 (age 63) Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 184 lb (83 kg; 13 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Right | ||
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Toronto Maple Leafs Buffalo Sabres Los Angeles Kings St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 8th overall,1981 Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Playing career | 1981–2000 | ||
Medal record | |||
Grant Scott Fuhr (born September 28, 1962) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeygoaltender in theNational Hockey League (NHL) and former goaltending coach for theArizona Coyotes, who played for theEdmonton Oilers in the 1980s during which he won theStanley Cup five times.
He was a six-time NHL All-Star and, in 2003, was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame.
In 2017, Fuhr was named one of the100 Greatest NHL Players in history.[1][2] He set a number of firsts for Black ice hockey players in the NHL, including being the first to win the Stanley Cup and the first inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[3]
One of Grant Fuhr's parents wasBlack Canadian and the other was aFirst Nation-Canadian from theEnoch Cree Nation. He was adopted by Betty Wheeler and Robert Fuhr and he grew up inSpruce Grove, Alberta west ofEdmonton.[4][5]
In the mid-1970s, Fuhr played for theEnoch Tomahawks hockey team.[6][7][8] Fuhr's mother came from Enoch Cree Nation.[9][10][11]
In 1979, at the age of 16, Fuhr joined theVictoria Cougars of theWestern Hockey League (WHL). After two outstanding seasons inVictoria, which included the league championship and a trip to theMemorial Cup in1981, Fuhr was drafted eighth overall by theEdmonton Oilers in the1981 NHL entry draft, on June 10, 1981.
Fuhr played ten seasons for the Oilers, where he teamed up first withAndy Moog from 1981 through 1987, thenBill Ranford from 1988 through 1991 to form one of the most formidable goaltending tandems in history, winning theStanley Cup four times in five seasons (1983–84 through 1987–88). Moog was given the starting job in the 1983 playoffs and helped lead the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup Finals, though they were swept by the New York Islanders, who captured their fourth straight Stanley Cup. The next year general manager and head coachGlen Sather chose to go with Fuhr in the 1984 playoffs. However, Fuhr was injured in the third game of the Stanley Cup Finals in a rematch against the Islanders when he collided withPat LaFontaine, so Moog stepped in and led the Oilers to a series win. After that, Fuhr remained the number one goaltender. Fuhr was also involved with the infamous goal whereSteve Smith scored on his net to cost the Oilers the'86 playoffs against theCalgary Flames. Fuhr was the team's starting goaltender on the first four teams but was injured and did not play in the1990 playoffs when the Oilers won for the fifth time.
In February of1987, Fuhr played in goal for the NHL All-Stars in both games of theRendez-Vous '87 series against theSoviet National Team. In1987-88, Fuhr backstopped Canada to a victory at theCanada Cup, playing in all nine games, then played in 75 regular season and 19 playoff games. He won his onlyVezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender that year. He finished second in voting for theHart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, behindMario Lemieux and ahead of teammateWayne Gretzky. As an Oiler he had played in six All-Star games, by playing in theNational Hockey League All-Star Game in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1989. He also played for the N.H.L. All-Star team in the 2 game series against theSoviet Union national ice hockey team inRendez-vous '87 as the starting goaltender. Fuhr's playoff success fed into his reputation as the supreme clutch goaltender of his era, and there was a period from 1987 through at least 1989 where Fuhr was often called "the best goaltender in the world". On January 28, 1989, Fuhr attained his 200th career win with a 7 - 6 road win over the Los Angeles Kings at theGreat Western Forum. Grant briefly retired from the Oilers on June 8, 1989, only to return to the club on August 24, 1989.
On September 27, 1990, Fuhr was suspended by NHL PresidentJohn Ziegler for one year which was later reduced to the first 59 games of the1990–91 season.[12][13][14] Fuhr had come forward about his drug use after spending two weeks in a counseling centre in Florida. He admitted that he used "a substance" (not specifying whether or not it was cocaine) for some seven years, or most of the period that the Oilers rested at the top of the NHL. Details of Fuhr's drug use were supplied by his ex-wife, Corrine, who told the press in Edmonton that she often found cocaine hidden in his clothing and that she fielded numerous threatening telephone calls from drug dealers who had not been paid. These embarrassing details no doubt contributed to the one-year suspension handed down in September 1990 by NHL presidentJohn Ziegler, who called Fuhr's conduct "dishonorable and against the welfare of the league."[15] After missing 59 games and entering a two-week rehab program, the suspension was lifted by the league on February 18, 1991.[16] Once Fuhr was re-instated, fans of opposing teams taunted him at games with bags of sugar and chants of "Just say no!".[citation needed]
On September 19, 1991, Fuhr was traded to theToronto Maple Leafs in a seven-player deal. After a season and a half in Toronto, with the emergence ofFelix Potvin, Grant was traded again, this time to theBuffalo Sabres, on February 2, 1993.
In Buffalo, he played a role in the Sabres' dramatic first-round playoff victory over theBoston Bruins, helped instill a winning attitude in the organization, and mentored a still relatively inexperiencedDominik Hašek. Fuhr then had a successful1993–94 season with the Sabres, initially sharing goaltending duties with Hašek. Hašek became the Sabres' full-time starting goaltender after Fuhr suffered multiple injuries. Fuhr and Hašek were awarded theWilliam M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed.
In May 1993, while a member of the Sabres, Fuhr was denied membership in the neighbouring Transit Valley Country Club. At the time, rumours floated that the denial was based on race, as several of Fuhr's white teammates had been granted membership.[17] Club officials denied they rejected Fuhr based on his race; rather, his application contained "incorrect and incomplete" information. Various acts of vandalism at the club occurred after news of Fuhr's rejection surfaced, including an incident where vandals burned aswastika onto one of the greens.[18] In light of the negative publicity, the club reversed its position and offered Fuhr not only membership but an apology as well. Fuhr rejected the membership and joined the nearby Lancaster Country Club. The club also temporarily suspended its membership committee and had an anti-bias policy written into its by-laws.
With Hašek now ensconced in the Sabres' net, Fuhr was dealt to theLos Angeles Kings, on February 14, 1995, reuniting him with Gretzky.[19]
During the summer Grant signed as an unrestrictedfree agent with theSt. Louis Blues on July 14, 1995, just a few months before the1995–96 season. Although he began the season out of shape and was considered to be past his prime, his career saw a resurgence as he played 79 games that season, including 76 consecutively, both NHL records. On November 30, 1995, Fuhr earned his 300th career win versus the Winnipeg Jets with a 4 - 1 road win at theWinnipeg Arena inWinnipeg. Fuhr and Gretzky became teammates for the third time when the Blues acquired Gretzky in a trade with the Kings on February 27, 1996. The 1996 playoff run for Fuhr ended prematurely as Maple Leafs forwardNick Kypreos ran into him in the crease in the first round, causing him to tear several knee ligaments.Jon Casey had to play the rest of the playoffs. The Blues beat Toronto in the first round but lost to Detroit in the next. Even though over the next three years (with 108 wins) he became one of the three winningest goaltenders in Blues history (along withMike Liut with 151 wins andCurtis Joseph with 137 wins), Fuhr never fully recovered from his injury. After the Blues signedRoman Turek as their new number-one goaltender on June 19, 1999, Fuhr was traded to theCalgary Flames on September 5, 1999. He spent one season there being a mentor for Calgary's young goaltenders, includingFred Brathwaite, and on October 22, 1999, he earned his 400th career win against theFlorida Panthers with a 3 - 2 road win in overtime. On April 5, 2000, following a 6–5 loss to St. Louis, which statistically eliminated the Flames from playoff contention that postseason, Fuhr announced that he would retire after the1999–2000 season.[20] Grant would officially retire as a player from the National Hockey League on September 6, 2000.
Fuhr was named to the1984 Canada Cup team but saw limited action during the tournament due to an injury. Fuhr was again selected to represent Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. It was here that he cemented his reputation as one of the best goaltenders in the game. Playing against a tough Soviet Union squad, Fuhr turned away shot after shot during the three-game final.[21] After the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1st round of the1989 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Grant also played for Team Canada at the1989 World Championships where he won a silver medal.
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Fuhr was hired to be thePhoenix Coyotes goaltending coach on July 22, 2004. Fuhr held the position until the end of the 2008–09 season when he was replaced bySean Burke. He held a similar post with the Calgary Flames in the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons.[citation needed]
In 2015, Fuhr collaborated on his biography withBruce Dowbiggin,Grant Fuhr: The Story of a Hockey Legend.[22]
In 2022, Fuhr began doing radio and television broadcasting for theCoachella Valley Firebirds, theAmerican Hockey League affiliate of theSeattle Kraken,[23] and joined the3ICE 3-on-3 professional ice hockey summer league as a coach.
Fuhr married Lisa Cavanaugh in theCayman Islands on September 14, 2014. He has four children from previous marriages and a step-daughter.[citation needed]
Fuhr was a regular competitor at theAmerican Century Championship, an annual competition to determine the best golfers among American sports and entertainment celebrities.[24] The tournament is played at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course along the edge ofLake Tahoe.[25]
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1979–80 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 43 | 30 | 12 | 0 | 2488 | 130 | 3 | 3.14 | .911 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 465 | 22 | 0 | 2.84 | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 59 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 3448 | 160 | 4 | 2.78 | .908 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 899 | 45 | 1 | 3.00 | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Victoria Cougars | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 239 | 18 | 0 | 4.52 | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 48 | 28 | 5 | 14 | 2847 | 157 | 0 | 3.31 | .899 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 309 | 26 | 0 | 5.05 | .852 | ||
| 1982–83 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 32 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 1803 | 129 | 0 | 4.29 | .868 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| 1982–83 | Moncton Alpines | AHL | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 604 | 40 | 0 | 3.97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 45 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 2625 | 171 | 1 | 3.91 | .883 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 882 | 44 | 1 | 3.00 | .910 | ||
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 46 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 2559 | 165 | 1 | 3.87 | .884 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 1057 | 55 | 0 | 3.12 | .895 | ||
| 1985–86 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 40 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 2184 | 143 | 0 | 3.93 | .890 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 540 | 28 | 0 | 3.12 | .897 | ||
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 44 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 2388 | 137 | 0 | 3.44 | .881 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 1143 | 47 | 0 | 2.47 | .908 | ||
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 40 | 24 | 9 | 4304 | 246 | 4 | 3.43 | .881 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1136 | 55 | 0 | 2.91 | .883 | ||
| 1988–89 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 59 | 23 | 26 | 6 | 3341 | 213 | 1 | 3.83 | .875 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 417 | 24 | 1 | 3.45 | .894 | ||
| 1989–90 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 21 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 1081 | 70 | 1 | 3.89 | .868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Cape Breton Oilers | AHL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 778 | 39 | 1 | 3.01 | .897 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 1019 | 51 | 0 | 3.00 | .895 | ||
| 1990–91 | Cape Breton Oilers | AHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 240 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | .870 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 25 | 33 | 5 | 3774 | 230 | 2 | 3.66 | .881 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 29 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1665 | 87 | 1 | 3.14 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 29 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 1694 | 98 | 0 | 3.47 | .891 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 474 | 27 | 1 | 3.42 | .875 | ||
| 1993–94 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 32 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 1726 | 106 | 2 | 3.68 | .883 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 310 | 10 | 0 | 1.94 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | .859 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 14 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 698 | 47 | 0 | 4.04 | .876 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 30 | 28 | 16 | 4365 | 209 | 3 | 2.87 | .903 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 0.87 | .978 | ||
| 1996–97 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 73 | 33 | 27 | 11 | 4261 | 193 | 3 | 2.72 | .901 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 357 | 13 | 2 | 2.18 | .929 | ||
| 1997–98 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 58 | 29 | 21 | 6 | 3274 | 138 | 3 | 2.53 | .883 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 615 | 28 | 0 | 2.73 | .906 | ||
| 1998–99 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 39 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 2193 | 89 | 2 | 2.44 | .892 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 780 | 31 | 1 | 2.35 | .898 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 23 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 1205 | 77 | 0 | 3.83 | .856 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 10 | 0 | 6.05 | .839 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 868 | 403 | 295 | 114 | 48,945 | 2,756 | 25 | 3.38 | .887 | 150 | 92 | 50 | 8,808 | 430 | 6 | 2.93 | .898 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada | CC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 | |
| 1987 | Canada | CC | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 575 | 32 | 0 | 3.34 | |
| 1989 | Canada | WC | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 298 | 18 | 1 | 3.62 | |
| Senior totals | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 993 | 56 | 1 | 3.38 | |||
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Junior | |
| President's Cup champion | 1981 |
| WHL First All-Star Team | 1980, 1981 |
| NHL | |
| All-Star Game | 1982,1984,1985,1986,1988,1989 |
| First All-Star Team | 1988 |
| Second All-Star Team | 1982 |
| Stanley Cup champion | 1984,1985,1987,1988,1990 |
| Vezina Trophy | 1988 |
| William M. Jennings Trophy Shared withDominik Hašek | 1994 |
| International | |
| CC All-Star Team | 1987 |
Fuhr was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame on November 2, 2003.[13]
Wayne Gretzky has said on many occasions that he believes Fuhr is the greatest goaltender in NHL history. This is mentioned in an interview with Gretzky conducted by John Davidson as part of the 2003 DVD "Ultimate Gretzky".[26]
| Preceded by | Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick 1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theVezina Trophy 1988 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theWilliam M. Jennings Trophy 1994 With:Dominik Hašek | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
