With only six teams and limited opportunities for goaltenders in the Original 6 Era, it took Ed Giacomin until he was 26 before he played his first game in the National Hockey League. After several years with the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League, Giacomin became a regular with the New York Rangers in 1965-66. At the time, the Detroit Red Wings laid claim to his rights. Detroit traded him to the Rangers in return for Marcel Paille. Paille didn’t achieve the NHL success the Giacomin did but became a legend in the AHL.
That same year, the Ed Giacomin rookie card appeared in the 1965-66 Topps set as hockey card number 21. The card is valued today at $150. The 1965-66 set was highlighted by the Phil Esposito rookie card and a special commemorative card honouring Gordie Howe’s 600th NHL goal. Each of those cards is valued at $400. The complete set of 128 cards is worth $2700.
Ed played in the NHL from 1965-66 to 1977-78 with the Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He was a member of the Rangers until a trade sent him to Detroit early in the 1975-76 season.
Along the way, Giacomin earned 54 shutouts over 609 regular season games. The total is still good for 19th all-time today. In an odd twist, Eddie only earned one shutout in 65 playoff games. However, he led the league on three occasions: 1966-67 (9), 1967-68 (8) and 1970-71 (8).
Giacomin was selected to the First All-Star Team twice and Second All-Star Team three times. He played in six All-Star games, including five straight from 1966-67 to 1970-71.
Eddie shared the Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure in 1970-71. It was a bittersweet season for Giacomin and the Rangers. The team finished second overall behind the mighty Boston Bruins with the Bruins at 121 points and the Rangers at 109. However, the Bruins were put down in the opening round by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games. The Rangers made it to the semi-finals with a first round victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. They were denied a visit to the Stanley Cup finals after the Chicago Black Hawks ousted them in seven games. The Canadiens went on to beat the Black Hawks in the finals.
To date, Giacomin is the third most winningest goaltender in Rangers history behind only Henrik Lundqvist and Mike Richter. His 49 shutouts in a New York jersey are now the second most in team history. Henrik Lundqvist, who is still active with the club, has surpassed Eddie for the franchise lead in that department.
Ed Giacomin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987, along with Bobby Clarke and Jacques Laperriere. Two years later, in 1989, the New York Rangers retired number 1 in honour of Eddie.