Blackhawks Hall of Fame Goaltender Tony Esposito Dies at 78

Chicago Blackhawks great Tony Esposito is introduced to the fans during the Blackhawks' convention in Chicago on July 15, 2016. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File

CHICAGO—Tony Esposito made an immediate mark on the Chicago Blackhawks and a lasting impression on the NHL.

Esposito, the pioneering Hall of Famer who spent almost his entire 16-year career with the Blackhawks, died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced Tuesday. He was 78.