"[The Buffalo Sabres] were lifted, perhaps a step or two beyond their true talent level, by the remarkable efforts of goaltender Tom Barrasso. Slowed by early injuries and a battle for the backup job that never was resolved to anyone's satisfaction, Barrasso shook off a poor start to post a 25-18-8 record and finish second to Edmonton goaltender Grant Fuhr in Vezina Trophy voting. (The Hockey News 1989 Yearbook, p. 30)

"Barrasso is a great example of a pro you'd put on your team simply because he knows how to win (Ian Young, Lords of the Rink, 1994)

"The Penguins have one of the league's strongest tandems in Barrasso and Ken Wregget, although Barrasso was hampered by injuries for much of last season. Barrasso back-stopped the Penguins to both of their Stanley Cup titles and was a second-team NHL All-Star in 1993, but he missed 29 games with groin, hip and back injuries last year and posted a 3.36 goals-against average in only 44 games, his fewest in four years." (The Sporting News 1994-95 Hockey Yearbook, p. 59)

"Barrasso was one of the NHL's premier goaltenders in the early 1990s, when he backstopped the Penguins to the two Cups. And he was a second-team NHL All Star in 1992-93. But he has been hampered by injuries since, and that has given Wregget a shot at more playing time." (The Sporting News Hockey Yearbook 1996-97, p. 56)

"Penguins' co-chairman Howard Baldwin said disgruntled goalie Tom Barrasso will be back, ending, at least for now, speculation he'd be bought out or traded. (The Hockey News 1997-98 Yearbook, p. 155)

"Injuries have taken their toll. The Pens have desperately tried to trade him away, but there were no takers, even though GM [Craig] Patrick was willing to eat up to one million dollars of his $2.7 million contract. Intensity and concentration have dropped. Will try to compete for a starting job somewhere. (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 104)

"Shoulder injury limited him to five games last season but has returned better than ever (2.07 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and six shutouts. (Pierre Maguire, Sports Illustrated, February 23, 1998)

"Why has Penguins' goalie Tom Barrasso been so consistent this year? He's finally healthy. Since 1988-89 Barrasso has battled painful shoulder ailments that would not allow him to lift weights. Now, after surgery last January [1997], he's stronger than ever and has the best goals-against average (2.14) of his career. (Pierre Maguire, Sports Illustrated, March 9, 1998)

"If you look at the way Tommy's played, he's played as well as he's ever played this season. Maybe he's more intense than some guys, but you have to admire him for putting it on the line. (Teammate Ken Wregget, ESPN Sportszone, April 1998)

"He had an average season after getting Vezina consideration the year before. Missed games last season with right hand, left hand, hip, groin and neck injuries. May have been held together by duct tape and staples. Still a bit of a hothead, although he has calmed down. A big goaltender that still has good agility. Good glove hand. He's an above-average puck handler. He's still Pittsburgh's starting goaltender, but it's an area that will need addressing in the near future. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 119)

"Maybe the best ever at handling the puck in his own zone. (Darren Eliot, CNN-SI 2000 Playoff Preview)

"The two-time Stanley Cup champion is no longer capable of leading a team to the Promised Land, as many observers still felt when the Sens acquired him at the trade deadline last season. Barrasso still displays flashes of brilliance but many factors haven't changed in his case. Most notably, he's still far from being the greatest team player, and is injury-prone. Despite all his excess baggage, Barrasso should get another chance at a No. 1 job in the NHL. (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 216)

"Barrasso feels he's still capable of playing a solid game between the pipes. However, his attitude and knack for rubbing people the wrong way may hurt his future NHL plans. (The Sports Forecaster Online, 2000-01)

"Barrasso was acquired by Toronto from Carolina last season after Curtis Joseph went down with a hand injury. Trouble is, Barrasso has been notoriously brittle himself over the years. After a solid start with the Hurricanes, he faded in the second half. At this stage of his career, he can no longer be counted upon to play 55-60 games for anyone. Not an ideal backup because of a surly personality, Barrasso may not receive many more opportunities. He could be a decent fill-in player whenever a starting netminder goes down but that's about it." (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 215)

• Demotion Causes Bitter Rift Between Sabre Goalkeeper Tom Barrasso and boss Bowman (Frank Orr, Toronto Star, November 1, 1984)

• Selected by Buffalo Sabres in first round (first Sabres pick, fifth overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 8, 1983.
• Traded by Sabres to Pittsburgh Penguins (with Buffalo's third round choice (Joe Dziedzic) in 1990 Entry Draft) for D Doug Bodger and LW Darrin Shannon, November 12, 1988.
• Traded by Penguins to Ottawa Senators for G Ron Tugnutt and D Janne Laukkanen, March 14, 2000.
• Sat out entire 2000-01 season as free agent.
• Signed as unrestricted free agent to one-year contract with Carolina Hurricanes, July 17, 2001.
• Traded by Hurricanes to Toronto Maple Leafs for fourth-round pick in 2003 National Hockey League entry draft, March 15, 2002.
• Signed as unrestricted free agent with St. Louis Blues, October 24, 2002.
• Released by Blues, December 28, 2002.
• Signed as free agent with Pittsburgh Penguins; announced retirement from professional hockey, June 18, 2003.

• Named National Hockey League Rookie of the Month, October 1983. The award was instituted by the NHL for the 1983-84 season, making Barrasso the first winner.
• Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1983-84.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1983-84.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Rookie Team, 1983-84.
• Winner, Calder Memorial Trophy, 1983-84.
• Named National Hockey League Player of the Week, December 30, 1984.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1985.
• Shared (with Bob Sauve) William M. Jennings Trophy, 1984-85.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1984-85.
• Named National Hockey League Player of the Month (seven consecutive victories, 2.29 GAA), December 1990.
• Member of Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, 1991.
• Member of Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, 1992.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1992-93.
• Named third-best goaltender, The Sporting News 1994-95 Hockey Yearbook.
• Member of silver medal-winning United States Olympic Team, 2002.

• Tom made his National Hockey League debut for the Buffalo Sabres on Opening Day, October 5, 1983. Making a rare leap from United States high school hockey directly to the NHL, the 18-year-old Barrasso helped the Sabres to a 5-3 win over Hartford. "It's a good start for him," said Buffalo general manager and coach Scotty Bowman, who surprised some by keeping Barrasso on the Buffalo roster and sending Jacques Cloutier to the minor leagues. "The players have a good feeling about him and he handled the pick well. I have no complaints at all." Asked to compare high school hockey with the NHL, Barrasso said "there is no single difference. The speed ot the game, the size of players, the harder shots - there's no comparison."

• Played in 500th National Hockey League game in a 4-3 overtime victory over Montreal, April 7, 1993.

• Suffered chip fracture of ankle, November 1987.
• Pulled groin muscle, April 9, 1988.
• Pulled groin muscle, January 17, 1989.
• Injured shoulder, March 1989.
• Underwent surgery to right wrist; missed twenty-one games, October 30, 1989.
• Pulled groin muscle, February 1990.
• Bruised right hand; missed two games, October 29, 1991.
• Bruised right ankle; missed three games, December 26, 1991.
• Suffered back spasms; missed three games, March 1992.
• Suffered from chicken pox; missed nine games, January 14, 1993.
• Strained groin; missed four games, October 7, 1993.
• Injured hip; missed twelve games, November 18, 1993.
• Underwent surgery on right hand; missed forty-three games, January 20, 1995.
• Suffered sore wrist; missed one game, May 3, 1995.
• Twisted back; missed no additional games, December 3, 1995.
• Left game with pulled groin, December 7, 1995. Ken Wregget replaced Barrasso at 10:49 of the first period; the sub allowed goals on two of the first three shots faced but the Penguins beat the Canadiens, 7-5.
• Pulled groin and injured shoulder; missed four games, February 6, 1996.
• Suffered recurring shoulder problem; missed remainder of season, October 25, 1996.
• Strained leg muscle; missed one game, November 5, 1997.
• Strained quadriceps; missed five games, December 29, 1997.
• Hyperextended elbow; missed three games, March 5, 1998.
• Suffered from the flu; missed three games, March 26, 1998.
• Bruised knee; missed one game, April 7, 1998.
• Bruised finger; missed one game, April 16, 1998.
• Fractured left hand (from Shayne Corson shot); missed eighteen games, March 3, 1999.
• Sprained knee; missed sixteen games, October 7, 1999.
• Injured back; missed twelve games, December 18, 1999.
• Bruised finger; missed final three games of regular season, April 4, 2000.
• Suffered sore back; missed one game, November 29, 2002.
• Suffered back injury; missed ten games, December 5, 2002.

• Granted leave of absence to be with daughter as she underwent cancer treatment in Los Angeles, February 9, 1990. Rejoined Penguins, March 19, 1990.
• Suspended for four games by National Hockey League as a result of a slash on Toronto forward Yanic Perreault (December 4), December 6, 1999.
• Granted a leave of absence to be with father, February 14, 2000.

• On June 8, 1983, Tom was the first goaltender selected in the 1983 National Hockey League entry draft, chosen fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres.
• On January 10, 1985, Tom and the Buffalo Sabres shut out the Boston Bruins, 3-0, at the Gardens in Boston. It was the first time the Bruins had been shut out at home since Ken Dryden did so on October 6, 1977 - more than seven years.
• On January 13, 1985, Tom was the goaltender who allowed Wayne Gretzky's 400th career regular season National Hockey League goal.
• On March 10, 1985, Tom was ejected from the Buffalo/Los Angeles game for fighting with counterpart Bob Janecyk.