Colorado Avalanche: Ranking the Best Goalie Masks in Avalanche History

The Colorado Avalanche have had quite a few goaltenders during their relatively short NHL career as a team. Time to go back and rank the best goalie masks during that tenure.

The Colorado Avalanche have had way too many goalies for me to rank ALL the goalie masks, but I can at least go through the notables.

However, what does the term “notable” entail? It’s such an ambiguous term.

Luckily, I have established some criteria noteworthy enough to help give the term “notable” some boundaries.

Once again, this is biased, but I think most people will agree with the inclusions on this list, and why they were included.

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So, first the criteria for notability:

• Each goalie on the list has to have played at least 65 games in an Avalanche uniform.
• I am not dealing with the goalies who played for the Quebec Nordiques, so this list begins in 1996.
• All the goalies on the list played at least two years with the Colorado Avalanche.
• Each goalie on the list played in at least 20 games — barring injury during a year, the year they were traded, or the year they were called up from the AHL — in each of the seasons they were with the Avalanche.
• The goalies masks featured are the ones that these goalies were best known for.

Pretty easy criteria eh? Said criteria for notability leaves me with a list of nine goalies:

• Patrick Roy
• Craig Billington
• David Aebischer
• Peter Budaj
• Jose Theodore
• Craig Anderson
• Semyon Varlamov
• Jean-Sebastien Giguere
• Calvin Pickard

I’ll be doing this in slide show format, and the ranking goes from worst to best (by player, not by mask). With that being said, the last slide will detail the top three masks total from the nine players listed above.

So, without further adieu, meet the first goalie on this list.

Just so…Generic

The mask is symmetrical in case you’re wondering, so you’re not missing anything by not seeing the left side of his mask.

An Avs logo is the centerpiece of the mask, and a mountain — with claw hands? — is featured on either side of the mask.

Granted, this mask is from 1996, during a time when goalie masks weren’t as extravagant as they are today. So, maybe he only gets the worst mask ranking because of the time period in which his mask was constructed.

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Anyway, Patrick Roy did better with his mask around the same time, so I don’t know if Craig Billington can slide with that excuse.

It’s plain and old, but it got the job done — it protected his face from the onslaught of vulcanized rubber.

Let’s move on to the second worst owner of goalie masks on this list.

The Color Scheme Isn’t Avalanche Related

There are really no colors on this mask that are representative of the Colorado Avalanche.

Sure, he has the yeti foot, and variations of red and blue, but none of those variations are burgundy, or the blue that has long been an Avs color.

For a view of the side — again symmetrical — there is this photo:

Those are basically gargoyle/dragon things if I’m not mistaken. And, they’re bright red.

I couldn’t find a description of the mask on the Internet, but “LX” has got to be roman numerals, right? That’s the number 60, and queue the questions why? Perhaps someone has an answer for me?

Anyway, The black and white mixed with bright red gargoyles just makes this mask unrelated to the Colorado Avalanche. The yeti foot is always welcome, but other than that the mask could certainly be done better.

Let’s move on to the next player on this list.

From here on out the masks get more intricate, goalies incorporate more masks throughout their careers with the Avalanche, and it gets harder to rank the goalies, so bare with me — soooo many images.

Craig Anderson’s Mask During 2009-2010 Season

The mask pictured above is the mask that Anderson wore during the 2009-2010 season with the Colorado Avalanche.

Like a lot of the goaltenders who played for the Avs, he features a yeti on his mask. Everyone knows that yetis are the beasts who cause Avalanches, so it’s pretty fitting.

On both sides, the yeti’s fists are protruding through some blank burgundy background, around a car of some sort, witness:

And, the other side:

The yeti featured also has some archaic mask on himself, the last image:

It’s the gold thing above the yeti’s head. My apologies for the shoddy picture, it’s difficult to find the perfect pictures for this slide show.

Overall, this mask is extremely creative, and features some nice nods to various aspects of the Colorado Avalanche.

However, it’s the next mask on this list that solidifies Anderson’s ranking as the third worst goaltender — mask-wise — on this list.

Craig Anderson’s Mask During 2010-2011 Season

This side of the mask is the problem. Some may like the stream-lined representation of colors and team name, and the gigantic Avs logo, but he could do better. Especially considering he did better on the other side of this mask.

Witness:

Again with the cars, and if you look carefully you can see that the yeti at the top is somehow controlling the manual stick-shift of the car with eyes bugging out.

This side of the mask is drastically different than the other side, and neither side jives well with the other. Perhaps that’s the problem with this one, just an extreme case of asymmetric-maskular-disfunction, which is a real thing by the way.

Like I said, at this point it’s difficult to rank the masks appropriately because they all have their redeeming qualities, I’m just doing the best I can with the cards I was dealt.

Let’s move on to the next goalie on this list.

Semyon Varlamov’s Mask from the 2011-12 to 2014-15 Seasons

I always used to think this mask was a bunch of dog-slobber.

Turns out, it’s just a bunch of snow. More specifically, it’s a bunch of snowmen doing and be subjected to various things.

Here’s a picture of the other side of the mask, but be warned, it’s not a very detailed picture:

There are a lot of things going on with this mask, but for a more detailed description of everything going on, then check this out from the Denver Post. There is the Colorado Avalanche logo at the top of the mask, an American flag right where “Varly” is inscribed, and lots of slobbery looking snow.

It’s difficult to disseminate everything that’s going on with this mask, but Varly wore it during his Vezina-finalist season, and it became the mask associated with the brick wall he was during that year.

But, he soon changed his mask, and the change was actually pretty good.

Semyon Varlamov’s Mask During the 2015-16 Season

There is a reason Varly only wore this mask for one season, and that’s indicated by the “20 year anniversary” logo on the left side of his mask.

There is also a lot going on with this mask, but for most of the details, I’ll direct you to the Hockey News, and this post.

Make no mistake, this is one of my favorite Colorado Avalanche masks, but it was only worn for a year, and it is inevitably ranked lower because of it’s minimal shelf-life.

Also, the 20th anniversary season was a season to forget, so let’s forget the mask that was associated with it as well.

Semyon Varlamov’s Mask for the 2016-17 Season

This mask is almost just as bland as Craig Billington’s earlier. Here’s some side images so you get the idea:

The right side:

And the left side:

It’s essentially just two gigantic Avalanche logos with his nickname “Varly” in the middle. In other words, there is not much going on there.

It’s just not a very inspiring mask, especially considering the fact that this one followed that amazing 20th year anniversary mask. If Varly had stayed consistent with great masks, he’d be ranked higher on this list. But last season’s mask knocks him down a bit.

Hopefully he’ll return next season with a new hip/groin, and a new mask. We’re all allowed to dream right?

Let’s move on to the next player on this list.

Most People Remember David Aebischer’s Mask

David Aebischer played with the Avs from the 2000-01 season until the 2005-06 season, and was most noted for his attempt to take over for Patrick Roy after he retired in 2003.

He played two years as the Avs’ starting goalie after Roy retired, and the mask above was the one he wore during that time. Granted, he wore different variations of it throughout his career.

Like this one in 2005, a kind of alternate mask for different jerseys or something like that:

And, there’s even this one when he was playing for Switzerland internationally:

You see, Aebischer gets credit for maintaining the same design no matter the year he was playing, or the team he was playing for.

That’s loyalty to the mask, and to the team that allowed you to wear that mask, and that needs to be recognized.

He must have really liked yetis, or just the Avalanche. Either way, his mask nears the top of this list because he maintained the style, and even incorporated said style on other teams, and for different jerseys and seasons.

Moving on.

Giggy Knows How to Get Jiggy with It

Jean-Sebastien Giguere started nice and simple with his mask when he joined the Colorado Avalanche during the 2011-12 season. It’s not even personalized where most goalie’s personalize their masks — on the chin.

Witness:

Instead of having his name on his chin there, he just has the yeti foot, and that always gets props from me. Most goalies personalize their mask right there with their name or nickname, but I appreciate Giggy’s simplicity there. That being said, he did personalize it on the back of the mask:

Unfortunately, the mask is the same on both sides, so he doesn’t get many style points for that. The mountains are nice, but he should have at least put “Avalanche” on one side or something. I don’t mind the symmetry but creativity gets more style points.

Anyway, luckily Giggy has another mask to redeem himself with.

Giggy’s Mask from 2012-13 to 2013-14

This mask once again gets some props for the simplicity, but this time he shows a bit more creativity with the style. The yeti is always a smart way to go with design, and Giggy sports it on both sides once again:

Giggy deserves some style points for simplicity, and the yeti. But, he doesn’t move higher up the list because he didn’t utilize enough creativity with his masks.

Let’s move on to the next player on the list.

The Man of Many Masks

The above mask is the mask that Peter Budaj started with in 2005 with the Colorado Avalanche. It’s pretty generic, but the color scheme is nice, and he sports the yeti and mountains.

Here’s the left side of the mask:

I like it because the yeti is hidden in the snow — you can barely see the eyes. And it’s almost like he uses the hole in the mask where his ears are as the mouth of the yeti.

The right side of the mask is the same as the left. He started off generic, but quickly moved into more creativity.

Peter Budaj’s Mask During 2006-07 Season

Most Colorado goalies have consistently used some form of yeti design on their masks. Peter Budaj is no different.

Here’s a closer look at the yeti:

It looks pretty savage. However, the reason this mask is so awesome is because of the back of the mask:

Yep, that’s Ned Flanders — who usually looks like this — jacked and holding Budaj’s home flag from Slovakia. In fact, Ned Flanders became a staple of the masks Budaj wore.

Peter Budaj’s Mask During 2008-09 Season

Here’s what the mask looks like from the front:

And the side:

It’s a little hard to see, but it’s tough to find the right pictures. Anyway, here’s the other mask he was known for during that season:

It looks like he has The Hulk (in red) busting through some stone walls. I’m not sure the significance of that, but here’s the other side of the mask with The Hulk again:

Peter Budaj was definitely creative with his masks. And, he also liked to switch them up a lot. That was two masks during the same season. And, he had some more masks during the 2009-10 campaigns and 2010-11 campaigns with Colorado.

Peter Budaj’s Mask During 2009-10 Season

On one side of the mask (the left side) Budaj sported the yeti foot in many different locations, and that’s about it. However, on the right side, he got a little creative:

Let me be clear, I have no idea who that is on the mask, but he looks like Siegfried from Siegfried and Roy. Or maybe he looks like Roy. Either way, he does not look like he belongs on a goalie mask. Regardless, you have to commend Budaj for his creativity. The checkered flag is a nice add, and so is the motorcycle.

Anyway, it’s the last mask that he wore for the Avalanche that puts him this high on the list.

Peter Budaj’s Mask From 2010-11 Season

How could you not like that happy yeti at the top of the mask? Each side of the mask also sports the yeti foot in all of it’s glory too.

Left side:

And, the right side:

Once again, it’s tough to tell what’s going on in the picture. However, it’s essentially the same thing on the other side, just with a red background.

And once again, Ned Flanders ladies and gentlemen:

Peter Budaj gets recognized this high on the list for the shear number of masks he wore, and the creativity he utilized in each. However, now it’s time for the final two goalies on this list, who are far and away the leaders.

Patrick Roy Had Two Masks His Entire Time with the Avalanche

He did have two masks, but there is really only one iconic Patrick Roy mask, and it is the one above. It is quite possibly the most simple mask on this list, but it is also easily the most badass mask.

Here’s a couple different angles:

And the right side:

That’s also a great picture because, knowing Patrick Roy, he was probably saying a few choice words to the referee.

It’s really just a gorgeous mask if you look at it carefully. The mountains are on the top and bottom of the mask, and their surrounded by wispy clouds, with an avalanche raging down the mountains at the bottom.

It’s easily my favorite mask out of the goalies on this list. However, he loses a little style points for the second mask he wore.

Patrick Roy’s Mask From 2000-01 to 2002-03

It’s just not the same. It’s still the mountains, wispy clouds and an Avalanche taking place, but it’s just not the Patrick Roy mask that we all know.

Here’s a few different angles:

The mask is the same on the right side. But it’s the top that I really don’t like:

It’s just too bland, and stands out too much from the rest of the mask. I like his first mask because the top of it is blue, and pops a little bit.

Anyway, Patrick Roy deserves to be the top goalie on this list, but now it’s time to take a look at the top three masks for the final slide.

Third Overall

Anderson is third on the list with the mask above. I love how the yeti has a mask of his own, and I also love that there is just so much going on with the mask itself. You’re welcome to go back a few slides for more pictures of the mask.

Second Overall

Calvin Pickard comes in second on the list with his awesome tribute mask. He also adds in some nice flare with the poetic script for his nameplate, and the yeti. The gigantic logo is a nice addition as well. But there is a reason he pays tribute to No. 33 on his helmet.

First Overall

This mask is the GMOAT (Greatest Mask of All Time) for a reason. Patrick Roy brought the first major championship to Denver in 1996 — while wearing that mask — and other Denver teams followed suit afterward.

And, as mentioned it’s just a gorgeous mask. Nice and simple, yet elegant.

Finally, I have a couple honorable mentions (remember: solely based off design for these).

Semyon Varlamov’s 20th Anniversary Season Mask

I love this mask, and it almost made it into the top three. If it weren’t for Craig Anderson’s yeti sporting a goalie mask if its own, then it would have made it into the top three. The snowmen all around the mask are awesome, and the cursive script for his name is also amazing.

And, now for one goalie some might not have expected to make the honorable mention list (although he doesn’t match the criteria listed in the first slide).

The Back of Jeremy Smith’s Mask

It’s technically not the full mask, but I like the design of the back so much that it had to receive an honorable mention.

That is one scary looking yeti, and I also love the design around it. It looks kind of cosmic, and like the wispy snow.

Anyway, thanks for joining me on this long journey. I can guarantee you that it look me much longer to construct this post than it took you to read it.

Next: Top Five Center Prospects for Avs to Consider in Second Round

The Avs have had quite a few goalie masks in their franchise history, and now there’s a place where the best of the best are detailed — forever.

There are likely to be new ones next season, but that’s part of the fun of being a goalie in the NHL.