Robert Earle (Bob) Essensa

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Toronto, Ontario, January 14, 1965
HOME:
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 160-188 lbs.
UNIFORM #: 35 (Winnipeg, Vancouver), 31 (Phoenix, Buffalo)
CATCHES: Left
HIGH SCHOOL: Henry Carr (Rexdale, Ontario)
COLLEGE: Michigan State
SALARY (1996-97): $1,300,000

STYLE: V-style.
STRENGTHS: Above-average glove. Uses size well to cover the net.
WEAKNESSES: Sometimes slow to get back on feet for rebounds. Poor stickhandling. Vulnerable to shots around the perimeter.
Name pronounced EH-sehn-suh

OTHER BOB ESSENSA SITES:

Derek's Bob Essensa Page

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Ron Low obviously doesn't have confidence in his netminder or Essensa would have played more. His save percentage was under .900 last year. Experience. Good skating and lateral movement. He can still play the game, as evidenced by his one shutout last year. He's no longer of starting caliber, at least for a contending team. He does provide the Oilers with luxury: an experienced backup goalie." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 212)

"When given a chance to take over the No. 1 role with the Oilers, Essensa bombed again. Known for his streaky play, the 34-year-old now must prove he's still capable of playing solidly on a consistent basis. Even after nine seasons, Essensa seems to have a lot to prove. He has the ability to play spectacular hockey, but can also lose his game altogether just as quickly. Essensa will be in tough for a backup job in a league with a plethora of young goaltenders knocking on the NHL door." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 220)

"His days as an NHLer were thought to be over, but Essensa managed to tend goal in 30 games last year. The veteran backstop took advantage of free-agent holdout Nikolai Khabibulin's absence from the Phoenix Coyotes and enjoyed a strong first half. Essensa is the type of acrobatic goaltender who can carry a team for short stretches." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 217)

"Essensa is perhaps the ultimate fill-in goalie of the modern era. Last season, the Vancouver Canucks were certainly thankful he was around when both Felix Potvin and Dan Cloutier faltered, especially as the veteran backstop helped preserve a playoff berth. A true team player, he'd love a shot at being No. 1 again but should be resigned to being one of the league's top backups. He usually fits right in wherever he goes." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 224)

"After an excellent year in Vancouver in 2000-01, Essensa spent last season serving mainly as a cheerleader with the Sabres. Now, he'll be hard-pressed to gain another shot at a backup job. Essensa's career may be over." (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 216)

TRANSACTIONS:

ACCOLADES:

VEZINA TROPHY BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1991-921303430.12

ALL-STAR TEAM BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1989-90100190.00
1991-9228041640.09

INJURIES:

PENALTY SHOTS:

RECORDS:

DID YOU KNOW?

SEASON RECORDS:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   T    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
81-82 Henry Carr HS MTHL          17    948                79   5.00
82-83 Henry Carr HS MTHL          31   1840                98   3.20                    2
83-84 Michigan State Univ. CCHA   17    947  11   4   0    44   2.79                    2   0   2     0
84-85 Michigan State Univ. CCHA   18   1059  15   2   0    29   1.64                    2   0   1     0
85-86 Michigan State Univ. CCHA   23   1333  17   4   1    74   3.33                    1   0   0     0
86-87 Michigan State Univ. CCHA   25   1383  19   3   1    64   2.78                    2   0   1     0
87-88 Moncton Hawks AHL           27   1287   7  11   1   100   4.66     728   .863     1   0   1     4
88-89 Winnipeg Jets NHL           20   1102   6   8   3    68   3.70     574   .882     1   0   0     0    31.25  933.62
      Fort Wayne Komets IHL       22   1287  14   7   0    70   3.26                    0   0   0     0
89-90 Moncton Hawks AHL            6    358   3   3   0    15   2.51     181   .917     0   0   0     0    42.09  987.28
      Winnipeg Jets NHL           36   2035  18   9   5   107   3.15     988   .892     1   0   2     0    29.13  940.25
      Canada WORLD                 4    101                 5   2.97                    0
90-91 Moncton Hawks AHL            2    125   1   0   1     6   2.88      54   .889     0   0   0     0    25.92  932.09
      Winnipeg Jets NHL           55   2916  19  24   6   153   3.15    1496   .898     4   0   3     6    30.78  949.03
91-92 Winnipeg Jets NHL           47   2627  21  17   6   126   2.88    1407   .910     5   0   2     2    32.14  964.01
92-93 Winnipeg Jets NHL           67   3855  33  26   6   227   3.53    2119   .893     2   0   5     2    32.98  947.84
93-94 Winnipeg Jets NHL           56   3136  19  30   6   201   3.85    1714   .883     1   0   0     6    32.79  938.39
      Detroit Red Wings NHL       13    777   4   7   2    34   2.63     337   .899     1   0   2     0    26.02  942.48
94-95 San Diego Gulls IHL         16    919   6   8   1    52   3.39     519   .900     0   0   0     0    33.88  956.28
95-96 Fort Wayne Komets IHL       45   2529  24  14   5   122   2.89    1380   .912     1   0   0     2    32.74  966.16
      Adirondack Red Wings AHL     3    178   1   2   0    11   3.71      91   .879     0   0   1     0    30.67  930.24
96-97 Edmonton Oilers NHL         19    879   4   8   0    41   2.80     406   .899     1   0   0     4    27.71  945.20
97-98 Edmonton Oilers NHL         16    825   6   6   1    35   2.55     404   .913     0   0   0     0    29.38  962.34
98-99 Edmonton Oilers NHL         39   2091  12  14   6    96   2.75     974   .901     0   0   1     0    27.95  948.02
99-00 Phoenix Coyotes NHL         30   1573  13  10   3    73   2.78     719   .898     1   0   0     0    27.43  944.18
00-01 Vancouver Canucks NHL       39   2059  18  12   3    92   2.68     854   .892     1   0   0     4    24.89  933.75
01-02 Buffalo Sabres NHL           9    350   0   5   0    17   2.91     113   .850     0   0   0     0    19.37  881.84
TWELVE (12) NHL SEASONS          446  24215 173 176  47  1270   3.15   12105  0.895    18   0  15    24    29.99  945.07

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
89-90 Winnipeg Jets NHL            4    206   2   1   12   3.50     100   .880     0   0   0     0    29.13  928.54
91-92 Winnipeg Jets NHL            1     33   0   0    3   5.45      17   .824     0   0   0     0    30.91  875.04
92-93 Winnipeg Jets NHL            6    367   2   4   20   3.27     183   .891     0   0   0     2    29.92  940.57
93-94 Detroit Red Wings NHL        2    109   0   2    9   4.95      43   .791     0   0   0     0    23.67  830.15
94-95 San Diego Gulls IHL          1     59   0   1    3   3.05                    0   0   0     0
95-96 Fort Wayne Komets IHL        5    298   2   3   12   2.42                    0   0   0     0
97-98 Edmonton Oilers NHL          1     27   0   0    1   2.31      11   .909     0   0   0     0    25.38  951.40
00-01 Vancouver Canucks NHL        2    122   0   2    6   2.95      58   .897     0   0   0     0
SIX (6) NHL POSTSEASONS           16    864   4   9   51   3.54     412  0.876     0   0   0     2

NHL GAME DIRECTORY:

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