# Jean-Sébastien Giguère
**Jean-Sébastien Giguère** (born 1977 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 16 seasons in the NHL, won the [Conn Smythe Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/conn-smythe-trophy) in 2003 as playoff most valuable player while playing for the losing finalist, and won the [Stanley Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/stanley-cup) with the [Anaheim Ducks](https://www.edgepedia.org/anaheim-ducks) in 2007.[1](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html) • [2](https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/top-100-goalies-no-55-jean-sebastien-giguere) • [3](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977, Montreal, Quebec; 6'1", 202 lb, catches left[1](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html) |
| Draft | Hartford Whalers, 1st round, 13th overall, 1995 NHL Entry Draft[1](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html) |
| Career totals | 597 regular-season games, 262 wins, 216 losses, 2.53 GAA, .913 save percentage, 38 shutouts[4](https://ingoalmag.com/goaltenders/jean-sebastien-giguere/) |
| 2003 playoffs | 15-6 record, 1.62 GAA; Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs[5](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2003.html) |
| Conn Smythe distinction | One of six players to win the trophy as a member of the losing team in the Cup Final[3](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808) |
| Stanley Cup | 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks[2](https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/top-100-goalies-no-55-jean-sebastien-giguere) |
| Team Canada | Career international GAA of 0.96 (2001-2004), second-lowest among Team Canada goaltenders[6](https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Team-Canada/Men/National/2022-23/downloads/2023-mwc-can-media-guide.pdf) |
## Early life and draft
Giguère was born in Montreal and played junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads and Verdun College-Francais before the [Hartford Whalers](https://www.edgepedia.org/hartford-whalers) selected him 13th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.[1](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html) He began his professional career with high expectations, described at the time as one of the most sought-after goaltenders in the world as a teenager, but a trade to Calgary did not restore the form that had made his reputation.[7](https://a.espncdn.com/nhl/s/prospectprofile5.html)
## NHL career
Giguère debuted in the NHL with Hartford in 1996-97, appearing in eight games at age 19 with a 3.65 goals-against average.[1](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html) He later joined the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, where he became the franchise's established goaltender. In a later Anaheim season he won his 200th game as a Duck by stopping 30 of 33 shots in a 3-2 win, and was voted by fans into his first NHL All-Star Game, held in his hometown of Montreal on January 25.[8](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/fl_attachment/prd/tfiixkzgjkshjavulj1n.pdf)
**The 2003 playoff run.** In his first postseason, Giguère backstopped the seventh-seeded Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Final. His playoff line was a 15-6 record with a 1.62 GAA and a .945 save percentage.[5](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2003.html) Anaheim swept the [Detroit Red Wings](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-red-wings) in the first round, with Giguère facing a franchise-record 61 shots in Game 1, then outlasted Dallas in a series that included a five-overtime game in which he received intravenous fluids between periods because of cramping and dehydration.[9](https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/j-s-giguere-looks-back-on-an-incredible-2003-playoff-run) In the conference finals against Minnesota he recorded three consecutive shutouts, a record for a conference final.[9](https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/j-s-giguere-looks-back-on-an-incredible-2003-playoff-run) After Anaheim's seven-game Final defeat by the [New Jersey Devils](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-jersey-devils), Giguère joined a select group: only four NHL players before him had captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as a member of the side that fell.[9](https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/j-s-giguere-looks-back-on-an-incredible-2003-playoff-run) • [3](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808)
**Later seasons.** In 2004-05 Giguère posted a career-worst 17-31-6 record, partly because of a weak Anaheim offense, and his 2.62 goals-against average was his highest since joining the Ducks.[10](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-04-sp-giguere4-story.html) He rebounded to share in the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship, and finished his playing career with seasons with the [Colorado Avalanche](https://www.edgepedia.org/colorado-avalanche), including 22 games with a 2.62 GAA and .913 save percentage in 2013-14.[2](https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/top-100-goalies-no-55-jean-sebastien-giguere) • [4](https://ingoalmag.com/goaltenders/jean-sebastien-giguere/) Across his 16-season career he won more regular-season games than [Ken Dryden](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-dryden) and recorded more shutouts than Johnny Bower.[2](https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/top-100-goalies-no-55-jean-sebastien-giguere)
## Style and equipment
Giguère worked extensively with goaltending coach Francois Allaire during his Anaheim years, preparing a style built for the playoffs.[9](https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/j-s-giguere-looks-back-on-an-incredible-2003-playoff-run) His large equipment drew attention during the 2003 playoffs, when Dallas forward [Claude Lemieux](https://www.edgepedia.org/claude-lemieux) publicly claimed his leg pads were illegal. NHL officials measured his equipment at the Ducks' training camp the following September and found it under the league limit: Giguère said his leg pads measured 36 1/2 inches and his shoulder pads were also under the limit, with leg pads permitted a maximum width of 12 inches.[11](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-28-sp-ducks28-story.html) Rule changes later in the decade also affected his puck-handling, as goaltenders were restricted to a trapezoid-shaped zone behind the net.[10](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-04-sp-giguere4-story.html)
## International play
For Team Canada, Giguère compiled a career goals-against average of 0.96 between 2001 and 2004, the second-lowest mark among the program's goaltenders behind [Carter Hart](https://www.edgepedia.org/carter-hart)'s 0.70.[6](https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Team-Canada/Men/National/2022-23/downloads/2023-mwc-can-media-guide.pdf)
## References
1. [Jean-Sébastien Giguère Stats, Hockey-Reference](https://hockeyreference.org/players/g/gigueje01.html)
2. [Top 100 Goalies: No. 55 — Jean-Sebastien Giguere, The Hockey News](https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/top-100-goalies-no-55-jean-sebastien-giguere)
3. [NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Winners, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808)
4. [Jean-Sebastien Giguere, NHL Goaltender Career & Stats, InGoal Magazine](https://ingoalmag.com/goaltenders/jean-sebastien-giguere/)
5. [2003 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Summary, Hockey-Reference](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2003.html)
6. [2023 Team Canada Men's World Championship Media Guide, Hockey Canada](https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Team-Canada/Men/National/2022-23/downloads/2023-mwc-can-media-guide.pdf)
7. [Prospect Profile: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, ESPN](https://a.espncdn.com/nhl/s/prospectprofile5.html)
8. [Jean-Sebastien Giguere, NHL media guide](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/fl_attachment/prd/tfiixkzgjkshjavulj1n.pdf)
9. [Giguere Looks Back on an Incredible 2003 Mighty Ducks Playoff Run, Anaheim Ducks](https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/j-s-giguere-looks-back-on-an-incredible-2003-playoff-run)
10. [Saving His Rep, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-04-sp-giguere4-story.html)
11. [Giguere Measures Up, League Says, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-28-sp-ducks28-story.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Ice hockey players and personnel › Goaltenders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license