Ed Giacomin

Edward Giacomin (June 6, 1939 – September 14, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League between 1965 and 1978 for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He began his professional career in 1959, appearing in four games for the Washington Presidents of the Eastern Hockey League; the Eagles had originally sought his brother Rollie, but work commitments kept Rollie from playing, and he suggested Eddie instead. Giacomin also had brief stints with the Clinton Comets in 1958–59 and 1959–60. Despite suffering serious burns in a kitchen accident, he made the roster of the Providence Reds for the 1960–61 season. In the Original Six era of the 1960s, when only six NHL starting goaltending jobs existed, such positions were difficult to obtain, and Giacomin starred for the Reds across five full seasons. NHL clubs, particularly the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers, began to express interest, and in 1965 New York traded three players and starting goaltender Marcel Paille to the Reds to acquire him. He was impressive during his first month with the Rangers before faltering thereafter.