Olaf "Godzilla" Kolzig

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Johannesburg, South Africa, April 6, 1970.
HOME:
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 225-226 lbs.
UNIFORM #: 37 (Washington, Germany).
CATCHES: Left
JUNIOR TEAM: Tri-City Americans (WHL)

STYLE:
STRENGTHS:
WEAKNESSES:

HIS MASK: "I'm a big guy who plays with a lot of emotion. I wanted the mask to show that. I sent three to the artist, and we came up with the concept together. After 9/11, I had him put the Pentagon on the left side to pay tribute to those people. Once the season is over, I'm going to auction off the mask and donate all the money to victims of 9/11." (ESPN The Magazine, 1/21/02, p. 104)
name pronounced OH-lahf KOHL-zihg.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"A one-year wonder? The Caps are hoping that's not the case, but the stats beg to differ. It took "Godzilla" a long time to get a steady job in the NHL. He took a big step back last season after starring in 1997-98. A big goaltender who learned how to control his temper and maintain his composure in the process. Quick reflexes. Very quick feet. Extremely agile. There's no reason why Kolzig can't bounce back and experience his success of 1997-98. Still the Caps' No. 1 netminder." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 146)

"You can't say that Kolzig didn't bounce back after a rather difficult 1998-99 campaign. NHL Player of the Month in January; NHL Player of the Week in March; a nomination to the NHL's first all-star team; and to cap it off, the Vezina Trophy as the circuit's best goaltender. Not too shabby. A big goalie, Kolzig is extremely agile and quick on his feet. He exhibits lightning reflexes and plays a mature game. "Godzilla" loves a heavy workload - he has taken part in 201 games in the last three seasons alone. The Vezina merely confirmed his status as part of the league's elite." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 135)

""Godzilla" followed up his Vezina-winning season with another strong campaign. Kolzig is big, quick and agile. He covers the entire net very well and has terrific reflexes. It's safe to say that "Olie the Goalie" has become one of the game's top netminders. However, another first round playoff exit has raised doubts about his ability to lead his team when the games really count - not that his play had anything to do with the loss. Kolzig has established himself as a bona fide regular season goalie but now must prove he can backstop a team to hockey's ultimate prize. Prehaps a lightened workload would pay off." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 137)

"No NHL netminder faced more shots than "Olie the Goalie" last season. The Capitals played poorly in front of the former Vezina Trophy winner, mainly due to several blueline injuries. Kolzig appeared in more than 70 games and logged over 4,000 minutes for the third straight season. His hefty workload, plus a nagging knee injury, have hurt his stats in recent years. His size still intimidates shooters but his reflexes aren't quite up to his own lofty standards. Kolzig must receive more time off this season if the Caps are to return to postseason play. If he gets 60-65 starts, he could return to the league's goaltending elite." (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 135)

"The veteran netminder's numbers have started to dip, which coincides with the Capitals recent struggles. Kolzig is no longer capable of stealing games on a nightly basis, so he should continue to see even more of a statistical plunge on the rebuilding Caps. However, his leadership and presence are invaluable to this franchise." (The Sports Forecaster 2005-06, p. 102)


TRANSACTIONS:

ACCOLADES:

VEZINA TROPHY BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1997-98500560.04
1999-001101413110.79
2002-031001100.01

ALL-STAR TEAM BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1997-98300350.01
1999-0019729141010.69
2000-01200280.01

INJURIES:

RECORDS:

PENALTY SHOTS:

NHL SHOOTOUTS:

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SEASON RECORDS:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   T  OL     GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
85-86 Dartmouth Oland Expo. NSAHA
86-87 Abbottsford Pilots BCAHA    17    857   5   9   0         81   3.65                    0
87-88 Abbottsford Pilots BCJHL
      New Westminster Bruins WHL  15    650   6   5   0         48   4.43                    1   0   1    13
88-89 Tri-City Americans WHL      30   1671  16  10   2         97   3.48                    1   0   2    24
89-90 Washington Capitals NHL      2    120   0   2   0         12   6.00      63   .810     0   0   0     0    31.50  862.02
      Tri-City Americans WHL      48   2504  27  27   3        187   4.48                    1   1   5    36
90-91 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL     26   1367  10  12   1         72   3.16     650   .889     0   0   1     2    25.37  917.71
      Hampton Roads Admirals ECHL 21   1248  11   9   1         71   3.41     643   .890     2   0   0    29    30.91  941.10
91-92 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL     28   1503   5  17   2        105   4.19     859   .878     1   0   2     6    34.29  934.92
      Hampton Roads Admirals ECHL 14    847  11   3   0         41   2.90     478   .914     0   0   0    31    33.86  970.66
92-93 Rochester Americans AHL     49   2737  25  16   4        168   3.68    1420   .882     0   0   3     6    31.13  933.57
      Washington Capitals NHL      1     20   0   0   0          2   6.00       7   .714     0   0   0     0    21.00  749.29
93-94 Portland Pirates AHL        29   1726  16   8   5         88   3.06     940   .906     3   0   1    21    32.68  960.84
      Washington Capitals NHL      7    224   0   3   0         20   5.36     128   .844     0   0   0     0    34.29  900.89
94-95 Washington Capitals NHL     14    724   2   8   2         30   2.49     305   .902     0   0   0     4    25.28  943.77
      Portland Pirates AHL         2    125   1   0   1          3   1.44      63   .952     0   0   0     0    30.24 1002.78
95-96 Washington Capitals NHL     18    897   4   8   2         46   3.08     406   .887     0   0   0     2    27.16  931.96
      Portland Pirates AHL         5    300   5   0   0          7   1.40     163   .957     1   0   0     4    32.60 1011.39
96-97 Washington Capitals NHL     29   1645   8  15   4         71   2.59     758   .906     2   0   0     4    27.65  952.41
97-98 Washington Capitals NHL     64   3788  33  18  10        139   2.20    1729   .920     5   0   1    12    27.39  965.25 
      Germany OLYMPIC              2    120   2   0   0          2   1.00      58   .966     1   0   0     0    29.00 1013.85
98-99 Washington Capitals NHL     64   3586  26  31   3        154   2.58    1538   .900     4   0   2    19    25.73  942.76
99-00 Washington Capitals NHL     73   4371  41  20  11        163   2.24    1957   .917     5   0   2     6    26.86  961.48
00-01 Washington Capitals NHL     72   4279  37  26   8        177   2.48    1941   .909     5   0   2    14    27.22  954.17
01-02 Washington Capitals NHL     71   4131  31  29   8        192   2.79    1977   .903     6   0   1     8    28.71  950.74
02-03 Washington Capitals NHL     66   3894  33  25   6        156   2.40    1925   .919     4   0   0     0
03-04 Washington Capitals NHL     63   3738  19  35   9        180   2.89    1958   .908     2   0   1     6
      Germany WORLD CUP            3    180   0   3   0         10   3.34     105   .905     0   0   0     0
04-05 Berlin Polar Bears GERMANY   8    452                     19   2.52     199   .905     2   0   0     2
05-06 Washington Capitals NHL     59   3506  20  28      11    206   3.52    1987   .896     0   0   3    14
06-07 Washington Capitals NHL     54   3184  22  24       6    159   3.00    1771   .910     1   0   3    10
FIFTEEN (15) NHL SEASONS         657  38107 276 272  63  17   1707   2.69   18450  0.907    34   0  15    99

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS
87-88 New Westminster Bruins WHL   3    149   0   0   11   4.43                    0   0   0     0
89-90 Tri-City Americans WHL       6    318   4   0   27   5.09                    0   0   0     2
90-91 Hampton Roads Admirals ECHL  3    180   1   2   14   4.67                    0   0   0     3
92-93 Rochester Americans AHL     17   1040   9   8   61   3.52                    0   0   1     8
93-94 Portland Pirates AHL        17   1035  12   5   44   2.55                    0   0   0     2
94-95 Washington Capitals NHL      2     44   1   0    1   1.36      21   .952     0   0   0     0    28.64 1000.11
95-96 Washington Capitals NHL      5    342   2   3   11   1.93     167   .934     0   0   0     4    29.30  982.96
97-98 Washington Capitals NHL     21   1351  12   9   44   1.95     740   .941     4   0   0     4    32.86  995.31
99-00 Washington Capitals NHL      5    284   1   4   16   3.38     103   .845     0   0   0     0    21.76  880.93
00-01 Washington Capitals NHL      6    375   2   4   14   2.24     152   .908     1   0   0     0    24.32  948.43
02-03 Washington Capitals NHL      6    404   2   4   14   2.08     192   .927     1   0   0     4
04-05 Berlin Polar Bears GERMANY   3    178            7   2.35      58   .879     1   0   0     2
SIX (6) NHL POSTSEASONS           45   2799  20  24  100   2.14    1375  0.927     6   0   0    12

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