Tom Barrasso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Barrasso |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2023 | |||
Barrasso (right) in 2008
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| Born | March 31, 1965 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Right | ||
| Played for | Buffalo Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins Ottawa Senators Carolina Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs St. Louis Blues |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 5th overall, 1983 Buffalo Sabres |
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| Playing career | 1983–2002 | ||
Thomas Patrick Barrasso (born March 31, 1965) is an American ice hockey coach and former professional goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 18 seasons. Barrasso started his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres. They picked him fifth overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft right out of high school.
In 1988, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent most of his career there and is best remembered for his time with the team. Barrasso helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup twice, in 1991 and 1992. After leaving the Penguins, he played for the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues. He took a break from hockey during the 2000–01 season.
Barrasso was honored by being inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. After retiring as a player, Barrasso became a coach. He has coached for teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Russia, and Asiago Hockey AS in Italy. He also coached the Sheffield Steelers in the UK and HC Varese in Italy. In 2024, he became the head coach of the Hannover Scorpions in Germany.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Hockey
Tom Barrasso grew up in Stow, Massachusetts. He learned to play ice hockey on an outdoor rink. He started playing as a goaltender when he was just five years old. By the time he was a teenager, he was playing for Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. He played alongside other future NHL players like Bob Sweeney and Jeff Norton.
Barrasso was seen as one of the most promising young American goalies ever. The Buffalo Sabres drafted him as the 5th overall pick in 1983. He went straight from high school to the NHL, skipping college hockey. When he first played for the Sabres on October 5, 1983, he was very young. He was the youngest goalie to play and win an NHL game in nearly 40 years. In his first season, he won two big awards: the Calder Memorial Trophy (for the best rookie) and the Vezina Trophy (for the best goaltender). He was only the third player to win both awards in the same year.
Time with the Pittsburgh Penguins
On November 12, 1988, the Sabres traded Barrasso to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He quickly became a key player for the team. Barrasso won the Stanley Cup twice with the Penguins. These wins happened in 1991 and 1992. His strong play during these championship runs earned him the nickname "money goalie." This meant he performed best in important games.
In the years that followed, Barrasso missed almost two full seasons due to injuries. These were the 1994–95 NHL season and the 1996–97 NHL season. However, he always came back with strong performances. In 1997, he made history. He became the first American goaltender to record 300 NHL wins. Barrasso was a very determined player. He sometimes had disagreements with the local media. The Penguins have retired only a few jerseys, like Mario Lemieux's. Barrasso's #35 jersey has not been retired.
Final Seasons in the NHL
In March 2000, Barrasso was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He played seven games for them, winning three and losing four. In the playoffs, he lost the first two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But he bounced back and won the next two games to tie the series. The Senators eventually lost the series in six games.
After the playoffs, Barrasso's contract with Ottawa ended. He decided not to play during the entire 2000–01 season. This was to be with his family. His daughter had been diagnosed with cancer, and his father had passed away from cancer. After his daughter's health improved, Barrasso felt ready to return to hockey. He signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in July 2001. During this season, he also won a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics with Team USA.
On March 14, 2002, Barrasso was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played only four games for Toronto. He did not play in any playoff games before the Maple Leafs were eliminated. After this, he became a free agent. He then signed with the St. Louis Blues in November 2002. He played only six games for the Blues. On December 28, he and the team agreed to end his contract. Barrasso announced his retirement from hockey on June 19, 2003. He signed a special one-day contract with Pittsburgh so he could officially retire as a Penguin.
Hockey Hall of Fame Induction
In 2023, Tom Barrasso was chosen for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He became eligible for this honor in 2006. Many people believed he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame earlier. This was because of his great play and impressive statistics. However, some people noted that his personality, especially with the media, might have played a role in the delay. Barrasso was known for being a very competitive person.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States |
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| Men's ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Silver | 2002 Salt Lake City | Ice hockey |
Barrasso won an Olympic silver medal with the U.S. national men's ice hockey team. This happened at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He played in one game during the tournament. It was an 8–1 victory over Belarus on February 18.
Barrasso had planned to play for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. But he decided to start his professional career instead. He left the team in September 1983 to sign with the Sabres. He first played for Team USA at the 1984 Canada Cup when he was 19. He also played in the 1983 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, the 1986 World Ice Hockey Championships, and the 1987 Canada Cup.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Barrasso became a coach. He was the goaltending coach for the Carolina Hurricanes from 2007 to 2009. Then he became an assistant coach for them until 2011. In the 2012–13 season, he moved to Russia. He became an assistant coach for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL.
In 2015, HC Slovan Bratislava hired him as a goaltending coach. But he left that team in October. He then moved to Italy to coach HC Valpellice. His team won the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup). However, the team decided not to join the new Alps Hockey League. Barrasso stayed in Italy and became the head coach for Asiago Hockey AS. In 2018, he led Asiago to win the Alps Hockey League championship.
In October 2018, Barrasso was named the head coach of the Sheffield Steelers. This team plays in the EIHL in the UK. On June 26, 2021, he was named head coach of HC Varese in the IHL. Most recently, on November 26, 2024, Tom Barrasso was announced as the new Head Coach of the Hannover Scorpions. This is an ice hockey team in Germany's third-tier league.
Personal Life
Tom Barrasso is married to Megan, and they have three daughters: Ashley, Kelsey, and Mallory. In the early 1990s, Barrasso started the Ashley Barrasso Cancer Research Fund. He did this after his oldest daughter, Ashley, survived neuroblastoma cancer. Ashley was first diagnosed with cancer at age two. She beat it with a bone marrow transplant at age four. However, the cancer returned in June 2000. At that time, the survival rate for her type of cancer in teenagers was low. But in April 2000, doctors said Ashley would recover.
Barrasso's father, Tom Barrasso Sr., was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor in April 1999. He passed away in January 2000. These difficult family events made Barrasso lose interest in hockey for a while. This is why he chose not to play during the 2000–01 season. Since then, Barrasso has taken part in charity events. These events help raise money for cancer research.
Career Records
- Most NHL assists by a goaltender (career) – 48
- Most NHL points by a goaltender (career) – 48
- Shares record for most consecutive wins in one NHL regular season – 14 (March 9, 1993, to April 9, 1993)
- Most consecutive NHL playoff wins – 14 (May 9, 1992, to April 22, 1993)
- Shares record for most consecutive wins in one NHL playoff season – 11 in 1992
- Shares record for most wins in one NHL playoff season – 16 (1992)
- Most playoff wins by an American goaltender – 61
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1981–82 | Acton-Boxborough Colonials | High-MA | 23 | — | — | — | 1035 | 32 | 7 | 1.86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1982–83 | Acton-Boxborough Colonials | High-MA | 23 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1035 | 17 | 10 | 0.99 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1983–84 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 42 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 2475 | 117 | 2 | 2.84 | .893 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 139 | 8 | 0 | 3.45 | .864 | ||
| 1984–85 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 54 | 25 | 18 | 10 | 3248 | 144 | 5 | 2.66 | .887 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 300 | 22 | 0 | 4.40 | .854 | ||
| 1984–85 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 267 | 6 | 1 | 1.35 | .936 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 60 | 29 | 24 | 5 | 3561 | 214 | 2 | 3.61 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 46 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 2501 | 152 | 2 | 3.65 | .874 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 54 | 25 | 18 | 8 | 3133 | 173 | 2 | 3.31 | .896 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 224 | 16 | 0 | 4.29 | .867 | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 545 | 45 | 0 | 4.95 | .842 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 44 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 2406 | 162 | 0 | 4.04 | .888 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 641 | 40 | 0 | 3.80 | .897 | ||
| 1989–90 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 24 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1294 | 101 | 0 | 4.68 | .865 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 48 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 2754 | 165 | 1 | 3.59 | .896 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1175 | 51 | 1 | 2.60 | .919 | ||
| 1991–92 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 57 | 25 | 22 | 9 | 3329 | 196 | 1 | 3.53 | .885 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 1233 | 58 | 1 | 2.82 | .907 | ||
| 1992–93 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 67 | 43 | 14 | 5 | 3702 | 186 | 4 | 3.01 | .901 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 722 | 35 | 2 | 2.91 | .905 | ||
| 1993–94 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 44 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2482 | 139 | 2 | 3.36 | .893 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 356 | 17 | 0 | 2.87 | .895 | ||
| 1994–95 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 125 | 8 | 0 | 3.84 | .893 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 8 | 0 | 6.00 | .805 | ||
| 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 49 | 29 | 16 | 2 | 2799 | 160 | 2 | 3.43 | .902 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 558 | 26 | 1 | 2.80 | .923 | ||
| 1996–97 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 270 | 26 | 0 | 5.78 | .860 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 63 | 31 | 14 | 13 | 3542 | 122 | 7 | 2.07 | .922 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 376 | 17 | 0 | 2.71 | .901 | ||
| 1998–99 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 43 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 2306 | 98 | 4 | 2.55 | .901 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 787 | 35 | 1 | 2.67 | .900 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 18 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 870 | 46 | 1 | 3.17 | .881 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 418 | 22 | 0 | 3.16 | .879 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 372 | 16 | 0 | 2.58 | .905 | ||
| 2001–02 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 34 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 1908 | 83 | 2 | 2.61 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 219 | 10 | 0 | 2.50 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 293 | 16 | 1 | 3.28 | .879 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 777 | 369 | 277 | 86 | 44,180 | 2,385 | 38 | 3.24 | .892 | 119 | 61 | 54 | 6,953 | 349 | 6 | 3.01 | .902 | ||||
International Play Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | United States | WJC | 3 | — | — | — | 140 | 12 | 0 | 5.14 | |
| 1984 | United States | CC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 252 | 13 | 0 | 3.10 | |
| 1986 | United States | WC | 5 | — | — | — | 260 | 18 | 0 | 4.15 | |
| 1987 | United States | CC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | |
| 2002 | United States | OG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | |
| Junior totals | 3 | — | — | — | 140 | 12 | 0 | 5.14 | |||
| Senior totals | 12 | — | — | — | 632 | 37 | 0 | 3.51 | |||
Awards and Achievements
Awards Received
- 1984 – Calder Memorial Trophy (Best rookie in NHL)
- 1984 – Vezina Trophy (Best goaltender in NHL)
- 1984 – NHL First All-Star Team
- 1985 – NHL Second All-Star Team
- 1985 – William M. Jennings Trophy (Team with fewest goals allowed – shared with Bob Sauve)
- 1985 – Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1991 – Stanley Cup champion (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- 1992 – Stanley Cup champion (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- 1993 – NHL Second All-Star Team
- 1994 Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans
- 2002 – Olympic ice hockey silver medalist (Team USA)
- 2003 – Member of the Pittsburgh Penguins Ring of Honor (formerly at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena)
- 2007 – Inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
- 2009 – Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
- 2015 – Coppa Italia champion, (Hockey Club Valpellice)
- 2018 – Alps Hockey League champion, (Asiago Hockey AS)
- 2023 - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Career Achievements
- #3 in career NHL wins by a left-handed goaltender
- #4 in career NHL wins by a US-born Goaltender (369)
- #15 in career playoff wins (61, tied with Henrik Lundqvist).
- #20 all time in career regular season saves (19695).
- #21 career regular season wins (369).
- #1 points scored by an NHL goaltender (48).
