Nikolai Khabibulin and His Bulin Wall
Nikolai Khabibulin got extra creative and gave himself a nickname "The Bulin Wall." Love the creativity.
Ilya Bryzgalov (2012 Winter Classic)
Ilya Bryzgalov (Anaheim Ducks)
As many hockey fans got to see in HBO's 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic, Bryz has a unique personality. However, this awesome mask was from his glorious days in the Anaheim sun—where he posted unreal numbers taking over for then starter JS Giguere during their Stanley Cup run in 2007.
Big shoutout to Daffy Duck, the best Disney character of all time.
Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)
I love it when it's "Miller Time"—as do the diehards in Buffalo.
Dan Bouchard (Atlanta Flames)
Bouchard had an impressive 17-year career, but that Atlanta Flames mask was just ridiculous.
Dan Cloutier (Los Angeles Kings)
I have no idea where Cloutier was going with this one seeing as how there is no logical correlation between "City of Angels" and that naked demon, almost alien-like figure near his forehead.
Check out Cloutier in some historic goalie fights.
Dany Sabourin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Sabourin pays homage to his child in this extremely unique mask, while also paying homage to his childlike franchise mascot, the Penguins.
Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders)
Ricky Di gets extra patriotic on this mask. Always love to see the stars and stripes represented in the NHL.
Felix Potvin (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Felix Potvin is well remembered for his pugnacious nature, having fought both Ron Hextall and Jani Hurme during his 13-year career.
Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins)
You can't help but love the confidence when your goalie thinks he's an actual brick wall. After that recent 11-game win streak, Fleury has every right to paint it on his mask.
Gary Simmons (California Golden Seals)
The Golden Seals were one of the original expansion teams in 1967, along with the Kings, Blues, Flyers, Penguins and North Stars. Though the Seals only lasted until 1976, there was just enough time for my main man Gary Simmons to make this ridiculous dragon mask.
It literally couldn't have less to do with hockey or Oakland, Calif., but it sure is awesome.
Jaroslav Halak (Montreal Canadiens)
For some reason, Halak decided to honor the great Patrick Roy next to this evil demon. I for one think people from Montreal are fantastic, and the furthest thing from demons.
But what do I know? I'm from California.
Gerry Cheevers (Boston Bruins)
Cheesy Cheevers played for 20 seasons in his Hall of Fame career and boasted this iconic mask throughout. Legend has it that he got the idea after taking a puck to the face during a practice.
Gilles Gratton (New York Rangers)
Gilles Meloche (Cleveland Barons)
Meloche rocked the "Black Knight" during his tenure in Cleveland—pretty clever all the way from 1976.
Jaroslav Halak (Slovakia Olympic Hockey)
Halak has proven to be one of best the league has to offer this year, but his mask for the Slovakian Olympic Squad was just awesome.
Pictured on the left side of the mask is Vladimir Dzurilla, widely recognized as the greatest Slovakian goalie of all time.
Jaroslav Halak (Lokomotiv / Pavol Demitra Tribute)
This is the most honorable piece on the list.
On September 7, 2011 the KHL Club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl's team plane crashed, killing all 45 team members and flight crew on board.
One of the most notable members that passed from the plane crash was former NHL winger Pavol Demitra, who Jaroslav Halak has honored with this back plate of his goalie mask.
Rest in peace.
Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)
This year's likely Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist pays extra homage to the former Rangers' alternate uniform design highlighted by the Statue of Liberty. I dig the lightning bolts, too.
Dominik Hasek (Detroit Red Wings)
This helmet is one of a kind because of the style, but the Hockeytown tribute is pretty sweet.
Plus, "The Dominator" was a beast for the Wings despite being drafted 199th overall.
Cristobal Huet (Montreal Canadiens)
Huet was the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup and probably the first goalie to have a red-headed goalie on his mask as well.
Nice work, Cristobal...
Johan Hedberg (Atlanta Thrashers)
Hedberg pays respect to his AHL team mascot and my absolute favorite animal, the Moose. He journeyed from Sweden to Manitoba and eventually landed in the NHL with the Devils, Pens, Canucks, Stars and, of course, the Atlanta Thrashers.
Never forget where you came from.
John Grahame (Carolina Hurricanes)
Grahame etched on the usual jersey number and team mascot on his mask, but the checkered flag and bikini babe sure make this one of the more unique masks in league history.
Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks)
Hiller decided to go with the blank gunmetal and gold mask—definitely one of a kind. He has only played in the NHL for four seasons, but posts an impressive 2.55 goals against average during the four-year stretch.
Jason Bacashihua (St. Louis Blues)
Jason Ba-Cash Money unveiled his dark side with this mask. Nothing screams family fun ice hockey like a Freddy vs. Jason image.
Jose Theodore (Colorado Avalanche)
If the NHL decides to follow the NBA and market the league in China, I suggest they use this image with the red dragons as bait.
I am very curious to find out if Theodore truly has demons like this mask displays...
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim Ducks)
By far the coolest mask ever worn in California hockey history.
Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens)
The old hockey saying, "A team is only as good as its goalie," is one the Boston Bruins franchise would like to have back, seeing as how they traded the 14th overall pick to Montreal for three prospects who never made it to the NHL.
Manny Legace (St. Louis Blues)
Legace dedicated this mask to all of American Armed Forces while incorporating his jersey number and the iconic St. Louis Blues music note logo.
Marc Denis (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Denis' mask looks like Family Guy's depiction of God found in numerous episodes. The bolt and Greek mythological figure are fitting for Tampa Bay's mascot.
Marty Biron (Philadelphia Flyers I)
Marty B created a nice tribute to Philly, complete with the Ben Franklin Bridge and the completion of Rocky's exercise route to the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum
Marty Biron (Philadelphia Flyers II)
In his second mask, Biron paid tribute to the hard-working, blue-collar people of Philadelphia with this lumberjack piece.
It's just too bad Philly is a very miserable market for goalies.
Mikael Tellqvist (Phoenix Coyotes)
Not much to pay tribute to in Phoenix just yet, so here Tellqvist pays homage to Winnipeg Jets legend Bobby Hull.
Mike Smith (Dallas Stars)
Perhaps Mike is related to Will Smith, or maybe his favorite movie is Wild Wild West. Either way, this mask is awesome.
Murray Bannerman (Chicago Blackhawks)
Bannerman made his mask in true Blackhawk form, complete with feathers on the side.
If you'd like to rock this in your beer league hockey, it's only $500.
Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks)
Evgeni Nabokov certainly had some demons similar to the ones on his mask here because he first was a bit hesitant to show up to camp with the New York Islanders this season.
Antero Niittymaki (Philadelphia Flyers)
Niittymaki came up with a very clever mobster mask during his short stay in Philadelphia.
Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals)
This mask is unreal. Olaf Kolzilla had a nice stay with Washington and that shiny bronze facemask was worn so well.
Pascal Leclaire (Columbus Blue Jackets)
This pure awesomeness of a goalie mask certainly makes up for the lack of success Leclaire had in Columbus.
Carey Price, Heritage Classic (Montreal Canadiens)
Price ordered this custom mask solely for the Heritage Classic so he could pay homage to the Habs legend Jacques Plante.
Ray Emery (Ottawa Senators)
Ray Emery was a longtime boxer. Watch him test out the skill set knocking out Martin Biron
Andrew Raycroft (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Andrew Raycroft tried his best to warm up to Leafs Nation with an exceptional art piece in his goalie mask. On it, he has tribute to numerous Maple Leaf Legends, along with the Air Canada Centre smack in the middle.
Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
This is Thomas' mask from the earlier days, aka pre-Game 7 brick wall Tim Thomas. Back in these days he was just another goalie in Bear Country.
Wade Dubielewicz (New York Islanders)
Dubie is yet another netminder to use his mask to pay homage to franchise legends, but the best part is the Gordon Fish Sticks mascot getting his swell on—not to mention the Yoda on the back plate.
Wayne Stephenson (Philadelphia Flyers)
The late Wayne Stephenson simply took the Flyers logo and wore it on his eyes. He had tremendous pride in Philadelphia. When they needed him to fill Bernie Parent's skates during the 1975 season, he posted a 40-win season with a 2.58 GAA.
Ryan Miller (USA Olympic Hockey)
If Uncle Sam and Jose Canseco had a baby, this is what it would look like. America was built on power and strength, so a fierce bald eagle and yoked Uncle Sam fit well for the young and powerful American Olympic hockey club.
Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings)
This is J-Quick's current mask for the L.A. Kings—a tribute to longtime Kings goalie Rogatien Vachon, holder of eight franchise records.
Gary Bromley (Vancouver Canucks)
Yet another creepy mask from Canucks goaltender Gary "Bones" Bromley. Legend has it that the nickname "Bones" is what drove Bromley to create this skull masterpiece.
Stephen Valiquette (New York Rangers)
Valiquette must really love the Spiderman comics and living in New York, because this piece is just ridiculous. Valiquette didn't have success similar to current Ranger goalie Henrik Lunqvist, and in fact now runs a goalie school for hockey's youth, but his Spiderman mask will live long in Ranger history.
Peter Budaj (Colorado Avalanche)
A's netminder Budaj took The Simpsons character Ned Flanders, who is normally slim, and beefed him up a bit—perhaps from swinging that Slovakian flag so proudly.
Sarah Palin (Alaska, USA)
Former Alaskan governor and controversial politician Sarah Palin campaigned on being America's "Hockey Mom." This mask pays tribute to that.
If she were the current vice president, it would be interesting to see how much she would have incorporated the growth of hockey into the nation's youth.
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