27 greatest American NHL players of all-time

Tim Thomas. 19. player. 70. <p>Tim Thomas was the classic late bloomer and didn’t make his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins until he was 28 years old when he appeared in four games in the 2002-2003 season. The former ninth round pick of the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 draft had to be patient for his opportunity, but when it came he definitely made the most of it.</p> <p>Thomas had to wait three more years after making his debut before he received regular playing time when he appeared in 31 games in 2005-2006. Three years later Thomas won his first Vezina Trophy after going 36-11-7 with a league-leading 2.10 GAA and .933 save percentage and had five shutouts.</p> <p>Two years later, Thomas won his second Vezina at the age of 36 when he went 35-11-9 while leading the league and setting new career-highs with a 2.00 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Thomas also set a career-high with nine shutouts that year and won the Conn Smythe after he went 16-9 with a 1.98 GAA, .940 save percentage and four shutouts to win the Cup in 2011.</p> <p>Thomas became the second American to win the Conn Smythe at the time, joining Brian Leetch of the Rangers and has since been joined by Jonathan Quick and Patrick Kane. Due to his late start, Thomas only had a five-year window where he was a dominant player but still ranks sixth with 31 shutouts and 214 wins among American goalies and second with a .920 save percentage.</p>. Goalie. Boston Bruins