Patrick Lalime is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons. He was born on July 7, 1974, in St. Bonaventure, Quebec, Canada. Lalime began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Hull Olympiques in 1991. He played for the Olympiques for three seasons, during which he was named the QMJHL's top goaltender in 1993-94.
Lalime was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 1996-97 season, playing in 16 games and posting a 7-5-2 record. Lalime spent the next two seasons splitting time between the Penguins and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
In 1999, Lalime was traded to the Ottawa Senators, where he would spend the next five seasons. He quickly established himself as the team's starting goaltender, leading the Senators to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons with the team. In the 2002-03 season, Lalime set a Senators franchise record with 39 wins and was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top goaltender.
After the 2003-04 season, Lalime was traded to the St. Louis Blues, where he played for two seasons. He then signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2006, where he played for two more seasons before retiring in 2010.
Throughout his career, Lalime was known for his calm demeanor and consistent play. He finished his NHL career with a record of 200-174-48, a goals against average of 2.58, and a save percentage of .905. He also recorded 35 shutouts.
In addition to his NHL career, Lalime represented Canada internationally on several occasions. He won a gold medal with Canada at the 1993 World Junior Championships and played for Canada at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
After retiring from playing, Lalime joined the NHL Network as a studio analyst. He also served as a goaltending consultant for the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators. In 2016, Lalime was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Overall, Patrick Lalime had a successful career as an NHL goaltender, earning the respect of his teammates and opponents alike for his consistent play and calm demeanor.
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