Curtis Joseph Set to Retire After 19 Seasons in the NHL

After 19 seasons in the NHL, Curtis Joseph will announce his retirement today according to ESPN.

Joseph is fourth all-time in the win department behind Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour, and the unbelievable Martin Brodeur—pretty good company.

Better known as "Cujo," Joseph started his career in St. Louis during the 1989-1990 season after being called up from the Peoria Riverman to replace Greg Millen who had just been trade to the Quebec Nordiques.

In his first full season as a starter in the 1991-1992 season, Curtis won 27 games, but the following year won 29 and backstopped the Blues into the playoffs only to lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Norris Division Final.

Although he and the Blues lost to Toronto in 1992-1993, the legend of Curtis "Cujo" Joseph was born, as he stopped an unbelievable 119 of 122 shots in two consecutive double overtime games.

After being traded to the Oilers prior to the 1995-1996 seson, Joseph went on to help a young and rebuilding Edmonton team to back-to-back playoff appearances and in '96 backstopped Canada to a silver medal in the World Championships .

Also in 1996, Joseph, along with Bill Ranford, backstopped Team Canada to Silver in the first World Cup of Hockey which had recently replaced the Canada Cup.

In 1998, Joseph left the Oilers to join the Toronto Maple Leafs and almost helped the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first full season, but fell to Dominik Hasek and the Sabres. Ironically, this wasn't the last time Hasek would cost Joseph a chance to win the cup.

After winning Gold in Salt Lake City with Team Canada in 2002, Joseph left the Maple Leafs and signed with the cup-champion Detroit Red Wings to replace recently retired Dominik Hasek. Joseph helped the Red Wings to a 110-point season, but bowed out of the playoffs after being swept aside by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

In the following season, Hasek came out of retirement and created a log jam in net with Joseph and Legace.

After the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Ferguson Jr. declared themselves the 2005 Stanley Cup Champions (the lock out season), Joseph would play stints in both Pheonix and Calgary before returning to the Maple Leafs after the 2008 season.

Joseph recorded his 454th career win with the Toronto Maple Leafs that year, but also recorded his 352nd loss to tie Gump Worsely for the most losses by an NHL goalie.

Curtis Joseph was a good regular season goalie, who at times was great. However, during his second season he was arguably the best I've ever seen. Often unbeatable, he was easily the MVP of many playoff teams and will retire with a .917 save percentage in the postseason which ties him for 11th all time with Olaf Kolzig.

Easily the greatest goalie to never have won a cup, Curtis Joseph is a sure fire hall of famer and my hat is off to him!