Michael Farber's Notable Shot Blockers

SI Staff | Feb 14, 2007

Michael Farber's Notable Shot Blockers /

Michael Farber's Notable Shot Blockers

Al Arbour

Among old timers, defenseman Arbour had sublime technique and impeccable timing. Most incredible: he played while wearing glasses. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman ranks Bob Goldham, a Detroit star of the early 1950s, with Arbour. Ed Van Impe of the Cup-winning Broad Street Bullies made goalie Bernie Parent's job easier. Sabres defenseman Bill Hajt (1973-87) is the spiritual forefather of the current generation because he favored blocking shots while down on a knee.

Craig Ludwig

Ludwig (3), the shot blocker's shot blocker, displays his extra wide, Paleozoic era shin pads in a glass case in his Dallas home; they should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Anton Volchenkov

A 6-foot, 237-pound tank who is always in the way, the physical Senators defenseman is the current NHL leader in blocked shots.

Karlis Skarastins

He recently broke Tim Horton's iron-man streak of 486 consecutive games played by a defenseman, a feat made more remarkable by the fact that he is often among the league's leading shotblockers.

Michael Peca

The veteran center knows his angles better than Euclid; he always has his stick, or his body, in the shooting lanes.

Craig MacTavish

Another center who was always willing to sacrifice his body, with an attitude he has preached since taking over as the Oilers' coach.

Jay McKee

McKee might not be especially quick, but he is dependable, blocking 241 shots in 2005-06 to lead the NHL by an impressive 34 over Karlis Skrastins.

Guy Carbonneau

Carbonneau, a center, used to lay out more than Greg Louganis, as part of the great Montreal/Dallas shotblocking axis that included Craig Ludwig and Mike Keane, who still plays in the AHL.

Kelly Buchberger

The ex-Oilers right winger would make nobody's top 10 list based on technique, but there never has been a forward this courageous (or foolhardy).

Craig Ramsay

A key member of Buffalo's precursor to recent Cup-winning teams such as Carolina and Tampa Bay that have been willing to lay their bodies down in front of hard, frozen rubber shot at fearsome speeds in order to secure a championship.

Published Feb 14, 2007

SI STAFF