Height: 5-11
Weight: 182 lbs.
Born: April 21, 1965 in Carman, Manitoba
Drafted: Not drafted by an NHL team.
Acquired: Signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent on Sept. 18, 1987.
Personal: Nicknamed "The Eagle."
Belfour's style relies more on athleticism than technique. He is always on his belly, his side, his back. He's a runner-up only to Dominik Hasek as the best goalie with the worst style in the NHL. Belfour has great instincts and reads the play well in front of him. He plays with an inverted-V, giving the five-hole but usually taking it away from the shooter with his quick reflexes. He is very aggressive and frequently comes so far out of his crease that he gets tangled with his own defenders--as well as running interference on the opponents. He knows he is well-padded and is not afraid to use his body, though injuries have made him less aggressive than in the past. In fact, Belfour uses his body more than his stick or glove, and that is part of his problem. He tries to make the majority of saves with his torso, making the routine saves more difficult. Belfour tends to keep his glove low and the book on him is to shoot high, but that's the case with most NHL goalies and a lot of NHL hooters have trouble picking that spot. He sometimes gives up bad rebounds, but his defense is so good and so quick they will swoop in on the puck before the opposition gets a second or third whack. Belfour has a lot of confidence and an impressive ability to handle the puck, though he sometimes overdoes it. He will usually go for short passes, but can go for the home-run play as well. He uses his body to screen when handling the puck for a 15-foot pass, and often sets picks for his forwards.
Crazy Eddie looked like a graduate from the Lorena Bobbitt school of goaltending when he axed Detroit's Martin Lapointe between the legs with his stick during the playoffs. In a previous game, Belfour feigned injury after an unpenalized hit by Lapointe, a play that led to a Red Wings goal. Belfour continues to put up stellar numbers during the regular season, but his performance under pressure makes him a question mark as a goalie of championship calibre.
Belfour upgraded Dallas' goaltending once he joined the Stars, but he has yet to prove he can win the big one.
Belfour will probably get about 60 starts and will win at least 35 (maybe 40) of them playing behind the best team Dallas has ever had.
