Don Beaupre
2x All-Star
268 Career Wins
Alright, here's the first guy who may not be considered a star in the One Sheet, One Star project, but he was a solid performer for a decade and was the goalie of my dad's favourite team when I first started watching hockey as a child.
Beaupre was a 2nd round pick by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1980 entry draft. He was the first goalie picked in the 1980 draft, one spot ahead of Kelly Hrudey. Beaupre would impress during training camp and made the team. He ended the season skating off the ice in disappointment, while the New York Islanders celebrated a Stanley Cup win against the surprising North Stars. Beaupre started the last two games in the series and was in net for the North Stars lone win in the series. Check this out for some vintage footage of games four and five of the 1981 final.
Beaupre's rookie card, his 1981-82 OPC, was part of the 1981-82 OPC goalie reboot project. Check out Beaupre's reboot.
During his first five seasons, Beaupre would split time with Gilles Meloche. Beaupre wouldn't crack 50 games or 25 wins in a season until 1985-86, the season after Meloche was traded. By then, the promising North Stars of the early 1980s were on the decline. In Beaupre's final full season with the team, the North Stars finished as the worst team in the NHL, with 51 points. Since they played in the Norris division, they finished 1 point out of a play-off spot.
The following season, 1988-89, Beaupre found himself the odd man out, as the North Stars started the season with Kari Takko and Jon Casey. Frustrated with his demotion to the IHL, Beaupre requested a trade. Beaupre got the trade he demanded, but still found himself still playing in the minors. He was now stuck behind Pete Peeters and Clint Malarchuk for the Washington Capitals.
Beaupre eventually play himself into the Capitals starting line-up and had his best seasons playing behind Washington's stingy defense. In 1990-91, Beaupre would led the NHL in shutouts, 5, and finish second in GAA, with 2.64. Beaupre's mask with the White House prominently on the helm, is one of the iconic goalie masks of the early 1990s. Although I don't buy it when he croons that the Capitals and you were more than a team.
The Capitals of the mid 1990s were stock piling young goalies and with the likes of Jim Carey, Olaf Kolzig and Bryon Dafoe, all ready to contribute, Beaupre found himself expendable. Beaupre moved from one nation's capital to another's, as he joined the Ottawa Senators on the eve of the lock-out shortened 1994-95 season. Beaupre would finish the season 3-25-3, with a 3.36 GAA. His GAA set a franchise record, since broken, for lowest GAA by a Senators goalie. He beat the previous mark by a full goal.
Beaupre started the 1995-96 season with Ottawa before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beaupre finished his career the following season. He lost his final 22 decisions. No win, no ties, 22 losses. Is that a record?
Since retiring Beaupre has been a successful business man. He current runs Beaupre Aerial Equipment. He is also a gracious TTM signer. He was one of my earliest TTM returns.
Beaupre was a 2nd round pick by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1980 entry draft. He was the first goalie picked in the 1980 draft, one spot ahead of Kelly Hrudey. Beaupre would impress during training camp and made the team. He ended the season skating off the ice in disappointment, while the New York Islanders celebrated a Stanley Cup win against the surprising North Stars. Beaupre started the last two games in the series and was in net for the North Stars lone win in the series. Check this out for some vintage footage of games four and five of the 1981 final.
Beaupre's rookie card, his 1981-82 OPC, was part of the 1981-82 OPC goalie reboot project. Check out Beaupre's reboot.
During his first five seasons, Beaupre would split time with Gilles Meloche. Beaupre wouldn't crack 50 games or 25 wins in a season until 1985-86, the season after Meloche was traded. By then, the promising North Stars of the early 1980s were on the decline. In Beaupre's final full season with the team, the North Stars finished as the worst team in the NHL, with 51 points. Since they played in the Norris division, they finished 1 point out of a play-off spot.
The following season, 1988-89, Beaupre found himself the odd man out, as the North Stars started the season with Kari Takko and Jon Casey. Frustrated with his demotion to the IHL, Beaupre requested a trade. Beaupre got the trade he demanded, but still found himself still playing in the minors. He was now stuck behind Pete Peeters and Clint Malarchuk for the Washington Capitals.
Beaupre eventually play himself into the Capitals starting line-up and had his best seasons playing behind Washington's stingy defense. In 1990-91, Beaupre would led the NHL in shutouts, 5, and finish second in GAA, with 2.64. Beaupre's mask with the White House prominently on the helm, is one of the iconic goalie masks of the early 1990s. Although I don't buy it when he croons that the Capitals and you were more than a team.
The Capitals of the mid 1990s were stock piling young goalies and with the likes of Jim Carey, Olaf Kolzig and Bryon Dafoe, all ready to contribute, Beaupre found himself expendable. Beaupre moved from one nation's capital to another's, as he joined the Ottawa Senators on the eve of the lock-out shortened 1994-95 season. Beaupre would finish the season 3-25-3, with a 3.36 GAA. His GAA set a franchise record, since broken, for lowest GAA by a Senators goalie. He beat the previous mark by a full goal.
Beaupre started the 1995-96 season with Ottawa before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beaupre finished his career the following season. He lost his final 22 decisions. No win, no ties, 22 losses. Is that a record?
Since retiring Beaupre has been a successful business man. He current runs Beaupre Aerial Equipment. He is also a gracious TTM signer. He was one of my earliest TTM returns.
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