Mike Liut is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons. He was born on January 7, 1956, in Weston, Ontario, Canada. Liut began his hockey career playing for Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Player of the Year in 1977.
Liut was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round of the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1979-80 season and quickly established himself as one of the league's top goaltenders. In his first full season, Liut led the NHL in saves and was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's top goaltender.
Liut played for the Blues for six seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1985. He continued to excel in Hartford, leading the Whalers to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the team. In the 1986-87 season, Liut set an NHL record for most saves in a single season with 2,526.
After leaving Hartford, Liut played for the Washington Capitals and finished his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings. He retired in 1992 with a career record of 294 wins, 271 losses, and 84 ties. Liut was a two-time NHL All-Star and won the Lester B. Pearson Award, given to the NHL's most outstanding player as voted by the players, in 1981.
Liut was known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to make acrobatic saves. He was also a pioneer in the use of the butterfly style of goaltending, which has since become the dominant style in the NHL.
After retiring from playing, Liut became a player agent and has represented several high-profile NHL players, including Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews. He was also a member of the NHL Players' Association's executive committee and served as the organization's president from 1993 to 1998.
In recognition of his contributions to the game, Liut was inducted into the Bowling Green State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 and the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame in 2017. He is also a member of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
Overall, Mike Liut had a successful career as an NHL goaltender and has continued to make an impact on the game in his post-playing career.
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