Eddie Giacomin, a former goaltender for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, has died at the age of 86. Giacomin retired from the NHL after the 1977-78 season, concluding his career with 290 wins and 54 shutouts in 610 regular-season games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987, and his No. 1 jersey was retired by the Rangers on March 15, 1989.
"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of a true original, Hockey Hall of Famer and beloved New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Eddie Giacomin," said the NHL in a statement. "One of the first stickhandling goaltenders, Giacomin backstopped the Rangers’ surge to the NHL’s upper echelon in the early 1970s, reaching four straight semifinals and the Stanley Cup Final in 1972."
Giacomin's career began with teams such as Clinton, Washington, and New York in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EHL), before moving to Montreal in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. He then spent five seasons with Providence of the American Hockey League from 1960-65. On May 18, 1965, he was traded to the Rangers.
In his second season with New York, Giacomin led the NHL in wins (30) and shutouts (nine), earning an NHL First-Team All-Star selection while helping secure a playoff spot for the Rangers for the first time since 1962. He was named an All-Star five consecutive times between 1967 and ’71 and shared the Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure during that period.
The Rangers placed him on waivers in October 1975; he was subsequently claimed by Detroit. Two days later, he returned to Madison Square Garden as a visiting player for a game against his former team.
"Eddie Giacomin was an integral member of the New York Rangers for a decade," said a statement from the Rangers organization. "You cannot discuss the history of this organization and not immediately think of Eddie."
Giacomin's legacy is remembered fondly by fans who frequently chanted "Ed-die! Ed-die!" during games at Madison Square Garden.
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