While St. Louis Blues fans will look back with wonder on their 2018-19 season, their 2011-12 campaign was another memorable one. Yeah, the season ended in a second-round sweep against the Los Angeles Kings, but Brian Elliott's record-setting year made it arguably the runner-up of the decade.
Elliott led the league in save percentage that season with 0.940, while he snagged a 1.56 GAA, posted nine shutouts (also a record), and 23 wins. What's more interesting is that Elliott wasn't even the Blues top netminder that season, with the honor going to Jaroslav Halak.
Halak started 46 contests as opposed to Elliott's 36, and netted a 0.926 save percentage, a 1.97 GAA, and six shutouts. Thanks to their efforts, Halak and Elliott brought home the Jennings Trophy while finishing sixth and fifth for the Vezina, respectively.
Still, this was Elliott's season to shine brighter, despite making fewer appearances. He tied the franchise record Jacques Plante set in 1968-69, and shattered the 1.95 GAA mark that Roman Turek set in 1999-00.
Brian Elliott's record-breaking 2011-12 season will be almost impossible to replicate
With such an offensive-oriented league these days, Elliott's act is tough to follow. Not that one certain player didn't try.
Flashback to that magical 2018-19 season, and Jordan Binnington also passed Turek when he recorded a 1.89 GAA that year, but it was still 0.33 behind Elliott. That goes to show how consistent Elliott's game was that season, even if it didn't end with a Cup.
Go to save percentage, and Carter Hutton at least found his way into the neighborhood, postng 0.931 in 2017-18. Elliott himself got somewhat close in 2015-16 when he hit 0.930, but couldn't quite get there. Even if he again led the league in save percentage.
Elliott also enjoyed a memorable 2013-14 season in a Blues uniform, finishing with a 0.922 save percentage and a 1.96 GAA. The latter ranks fourth all-time in team history.
Elliott's career with the Blues lasted until 2015-16, and he ended his campaign in Arch City with 104 wins, a 0.925 save percentage, a 2.01 GAA, and 25 shutouts. He later spent time with the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning, before ending his NHL career following the 2022-23 season.
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