"John Vanbiesbrouck played better than ever the last month of the regular season and in the playoffs. Everyone on the club knew he was the main reason the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. After earning his second All-Star berth, Vanbiesbrouck struggled in January and February, getting pulled in six of 17 starts. Speculation swirled that the franchise's most popular player might be replaced by Mark Fitzpatrick. But Vanbiesbrouck rebounded to finish the year with a 26-20-7 record. He was outstanding throughout the playoffs, making the impossible save look routine." (The Sporting News Hockey Yearbook 1996-97, p. 58)

"The Panthers are blessed to have not one, but two excellent netminders. Vanbiesbrouck is one of the league's best and backup Fitzpatrick had an equally strong season. It's the best one-two punch in the NHL." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 109)

"The Panthers' main strength has come from their goaltending since acquiring Vanbiesbrouck and [G Mark] Fitzpatrick in the 1993 expansion draft. Vanbiesbrouck posted a 27-19-10 record last season with a career-best 2.29 goals-against average. His 91.9 save percentage was sixth best in the league." (The Hockey News 1997-98 Yearbook, p. 117)

"Bobby Clarke was widely criticized for signing Vanbiesbrouck and not Curtis Joseph or Mike Richter on the free-agent market. The critics were proven right when he stumbled during the first round of the playoffs against Toronto. A good goals-against average, an average save percentage. A smart goalie with good reflexes. Gets victimized by giving up too many soft goals. He will be the No. 1 goaltender and will play a lot until one of the kids on the Phantoms is ready." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 115)

"A butterfly goalie, Vanbiesbrouck covers his angles well and is still quite quick. Nonetheless, the former Vezina Trophy winner isn't the netminder he once was. Entering his 19th season, Beezer", who reached the 800-game plateau last year, lost his No. 1 status to the brilliant Brian Boucher as the season wore on in Philly. Now with the Isles, "Beezer" will most likely see as many shots per game as he once did while with the expansion Panthers a few years back. A mature vet, he'll prove to be a steadying influence." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 94)

• Selected by New York Rangers in fourth round (fifth Rangers pick, 72nd overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 10, 1981.
• Traded by Rangers to Vancouver Canucks for future considerations (D Doug Lidster), June 20, 1993.
• Selected by Florida Panthers in National Hockey League expansion draft, June 24, 1993.
• Signed as free agent to two year, $8.5 million (plus option for a third year) contract with Philadelphia Flyers, July 7, 1998.
• Traded by Flyers to New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round selection in 2001 entry draft, June 25, 2000.
• Traded by Islanders to New Jersey Devils in exchange for G Chris Terreri and ninth-round selection in 2001 draft, March 12, 2001.
• Retired from professional hockey, June 9, 2001.
• Signed as free agent with New Jersey Devils, February 4, 2002.
• Announced retirement from professional hockey, accepting a position as general manager and coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, May 25, 2002.

• Winner, F.W. (Dinty) Moore Trophy, 1980-81.
• Shared (with Marc D'Amour) Dave Pinkney Trophy, 1981-82.
• Named to Ontario Hockey League All-Star second team, 1982-83.
• Shared (with Ron Scott) Terry Sawchuk Trophy, 1983-84.
• Named to Central Hockey League All-Star first team, 1983-84.
• Shared (with D Bruce Affleck) Tommy Ivan Trophy, 1983-84.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star first team, 1985-86.
• Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1985-86.
• Named to The Sporting News All-Star first team, 1985-86.
• Rated #8 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1993.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1994.
• Named third-best reflexes among goaltenders, The Sporting News 1994-95 Hockey Yearbook.
• Named fifth-best goaltender, The Sporting News 1994-95 Hockey Yearbook.
• Rated #7 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1994.
• Played for Team United States in NHLPA 4-on-4 challenge, November 10-12, 1994.
• Finished sixth in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1994-95.
• Rated #7 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1995.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1996.
• Finished eighth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1995-96.
• Finished seventh in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1995-96.
• Top Goaltender, National Hockey League All-Star Game Skill Competition, 1997.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1997.
• Finished fourth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1996-97.
• Finished seventh in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1996-97.
• Became the fifteenth goaltender in National Hockey League history to record 300 career wins when he defeated the Islanders 6-2, December 27, 1997.
• Goaltender for United States Olympic Team, February 1998.
• Named National Hockey League Player of the Week after recording three consecutive shutouts, October 18-24, 1999.

• First National Hockey League Game: at Colorado, December 5, 1981.
• First National Hockey League Win: at Colorado, December 5, 1981.
• First National Hockey League Shutout: vs. Vancouver, January 2, 1985.

• Suffered pulled left hamstring, December 11, 1984. The injury occurred in practice, and caused Vanbiesbrouck to miss the Rangers' game against Boston on December 12 (Ron Scott backed up Glen Hanlon.
• Fractured jaw, October 1987.
• Severely lacerated wrist, slicing three tendons and suffering nerve damage, June 1988. Vanbiesbrouck was sitting on a glass coffee table playing with his new video camera when the glass gave way. His injury occured when he reached back to break the fall.
• Underwent knee surgery, May 11, 1990.
• Suffered lower back spasms; missed eleven games, February 25, 1992.
• Pulled groin; missed four games, November 2, 1992.
• Lacerated hand; missed seven games, February 1, 1994.
• Strained back; missed one game, November 27, 2000.

• On January 11, 1992, John was ejected from the Rangers' 7-2 victory in Quebec for butt-ending an opponent.

• John claims to be a big fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
• John is the only player in the history of the National Hockey League with all five vowels (a,e,i,o,u) in his surname.
• John was a member of the 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers team that was evicted from their home rink in February of 1984. The Oilers played the final two months of the season on the road. When the team returned to Tulsa, they skated in a small suburban rink, but the arena's management forbade them to use pucks, so after a practice of skating drills, coach Tom Webster would take John and Ron Scott out into the parking lot and shoot tennis balls at them to keep their reflexes sharp. Despite all of their troubles, the Oilers managed to win the 1984 Central Hockey League championship.
• On February 17, 1985, John was ejected from the Rangers/Islanders game for fighting with counterpart Kelly Hrudey. While Clark Gillies and Steve Richmond were fighting, Vanbiesbrouck hit Islander forward Duane Sutter with a blind punch, prompting Hrudey to skate down and confront Vanbiesbrouck.