Joe Mullen and Pat Verbeek were never considered superstars but put up 500+ NHL goals while bringing intangibles like forechecking and intensity, game in and game out.
This is a tough question because it's hard to determine a cut-off line. Does Kovalev count? He had all the skills in the world, occasionally put up monster numbers, but I think he was one of those that was considered a future superstar and but never became a superstar.
I'd also like to state that one of the most exciting non-superstars in my memory was Sergei Berezin. He didn't put up large numbers, but for a season or two with Toronto, he was able to literally carry the puck from his end to the opponent's end...only to shoot the puck right at the goalie. I was happy to finally see one of his coast to coast rushes a success, against Brodeur of all people.
Yeah I was influenced by someone saying Henri Richard that made the bar very high for superstart.
Does Lemaire is in the HOF with no Lafleur playing for an other team ?
Lemaire put up good numbers before playing with Lafleur. Admittedly, he also played on an outstanding line w/ Frank Mahovlich and Yvon Cournoyer, but Lemaire was a great player in his own right, a great glue guy, who was moved around by both Blake and Bowman, but also Ruel and McNeil, to bring out the best in others or add speed and scoring punch to lines. So you'd often see Lemaire skate on the wing w/ Henri Richard or Ralph Backstrom, or centering w/ someone like Yvon Lambert or Houle on the wing. Lemaire's career throughout his tenure includes some outstanding postseasons that included big goals. He was a fine PKer as well.
Playing for another team? A number of HOFers would probably not be in there if they'd played for other teams, and not on Stanley Cup powerhouses--Glenn Anderson, Clark Gillies, Dick Duff, among others. I've never really heard Lemaire's HOF credentials questioned, and regardless of any speculation, he belongs.
Gary Unger-Some guys you just have to feel sorry for. 42 goals for the wings as a 22 yr. old. Then he's traded to the Blues after their playoff glory years. 8 straight 30 goal seasons and retired as the NHL's Iron Man, 914 straight games. Played on bad teams, only got out of the 1st round once in St. Louis.
Mickey Redmond-Known today more as a broadcaster and the bait that brought Frank Mahovlich to Montreal, but Redmond was a dynamite scorer on some pretty average Detroit teams in the early 70s. Injuries to his back cut him down in his prime.
Rick MacLeish- He was the Flyers 2nd line scoring in the 70s. Led the Bullies in playoff scoring both years they won the Cup. People talk about the Flyers "what if" in '76 regarding Parent being injured, but not having MacLeish for the playoffs was huge, particularly in the Finals against Montreal.
Danny Gare- The French Connection line got all the press, but for my money the line of Don Luce centering Craig Ramsey and Gare was a more complete group of players. Gare was the offensive sparkplug w/ seasons of 50, 56, and 46 goals in the late 70s, early 80s. And for a little guy Gare could really throw 'em too.
Tom Lysiak- Was a point a game player in Atlanta, the centerpiece of the franchise. Unfortunately the Flames were in an NHL backwater at that time, never got over the hump and never did well in the playoffs. Lysiak fared better with regards to team success in Chicago, but was 2nd fiddle to Denis Savard. Was still a point a game player, and was a good contributor in semi-final runs in '82, '83 and '85.
Bobby Smith-For a guy who was a number one overall pick in the draft, won the Calder, was top center on two different teams that made the Finals (four times in all) and retired in the top 25 in career playoff scoring, Smith flew totally under the radar. Damn good career, but never a superstar.
Barry Pederson-Best remembered as the guy who was traded for Cam Neely, but was an outstanding playmaker for the Bs in the early 80s, and made magic w/ Middleton--both were so, so dominant in the '83 playoffs. The tumor that led to a big chunk of his shoulder being removed in 84-85 derailed his career; had some decent seasons after that but was never the same.
Brian Propp-Over 1000 pts., and appearances in the '80, '85, '87, '90 and '91 Finals. The engine of Philly's offense in the eighties. If those 90 point seasons had just been 100s, or he wins just one Cup, would he be more highly regarded?
Mats Naslund-Smith's wingman in Montreal, and the last Canadien to score 100pts. in a season (seems a 100 yrs. ago). Le Petite Viking had all the tools to be a superstar, but played in a defense first system that stifled his numbers. Had a pretty short career as well, only 8 full seasons.
Brian Propp-Over 1000 pts., and appearances in the '80, '85, '87, '90 and '91 Finals. The engine of Philly's offense in the eighties. If those 90 point seasons had just been 100s, or he wins just one Cup, would he be more highly regarded?
He might. However Brian Bellows, a guy who he is often compared to, won a Cup with Montreal in 1993 and it didn't put him in the HHOF either.
Gary Unger-Some guys you just have to feel sorry for. 42 goals for the wings as a 22 yr. old. Then he's traded to the Blues after their playoff glory years. 8 straight 30 goal seasons and retired as the NHL's Iron Man, 914 straight games. Played on bad teams, only got out of the 1st round once in St. Louis.
Mickey Redmond-Known today more as a broadcaster and the bait that brought Frank Mahovlich to Montreal, but Redmond was a dynamite scorer on some pretty average Detroit teams in the early 70s. Injuries to his back cut him down in his prime.
Rick MacLeish- He was the Flyers 2nd line scoring in the 70s. Led the Bullies in playoff scoring both years they won the Cup. People talk about the Flyers "what if" in '76 regarding Parent being injured, but not having MacLeish for the playoffs was huge, particularly in the Finals against Montreal.
Danny Gare- The French Connection line got all the press, but for my money the line of Don Luce centering Craig Ramsey and Gare was a more complete group of players. Gare was the offensive sparkplug w/ seasons of 50, 56, and 46 goals in the late 70s, early 80s. And for a little guy Gare could really throw 'em too.
Tom Lysiak- Was a point a game player in Atlanta, the centerpiece of the franchise. Unfortunately the Flames were in an NHL backwater at that time, never got over the hump and never did well in the playoffs. Lysiak fared better with regards to team success in Chicago, but was 2nd fiddle to Denis Savard. Was still a point a game player, and was a good contributor in semi-final runs in '82, '83 and '85.
Bobby Smith-For a guy who was a number one overall pick in the draft, won the Calder, was top center on two different teams that made the Finals (four times in all) and retired in the top 25 in career playoff scoring, Smith flew totally under the radar. Damn good career, but never a superstar.
Barry Pederson-Best remembered as the guy who was traded for Cam Neely, but was an outstanding playmaker for the Bs in the early 80s, and made magic w/ Middleton--both were so, so dominant in the '83 playoffs. The tumor that led to a big chunk of his shoulder being removed in 84-85 derailed his career; had some decent seasons after that but was never the same.
Brian Propp-Over 1000 pts., and appearances in the '80, '85, '87, '90 and '91 Finals. The engine of Philly's offense in the eighties. If those 90 point seasons had just been 100s, or he wins just one Cup, would he be more highly regarded?
Mats Naslund-Smith's wingman in Montreal, and the last Canadien to score 100pts. in a season (seems a 100 yrs. ago). Le Petite Viking had all the tools to be a superstar, but played in a defense first system that stifled his numbers. Had a pretty short career as well, only 8 full seasons.
If you're going to add these underappreciated players, (good call on Danny Gare btw), I'd like to also add along with Rick Middleton the names of:
Eddie Westfall - Along with Freddie Stanfield, he was one of the unsung heroes of the Big Bad Bruins. A PK specialist with 26 career SH goals, he was also on the 2nd PP unit. They really weren't the same when he was lost to the Islanders in their expansion draft....it hurt as bad as the WHA defections they had. He became the first Islanders captain.
Dave Christian - One of the Miracle On Ice Americans, he also in the American Hockey HoF. Runnerup in the NCAA National Championship. 1009 NHL games / 340 career goals. 102 playoff games / 32 goals, many on the PP, occasionally on the PK. Very durable.
Mike Foligno - 1018 games / 355 goals and a crazy, leaping celebration for each one. Played with a nasty edge, and his son Nick seems to be a chip off the old block.
Pete Mahovlich - Frank's younger gangly brother. Faster than he appeared to be in his awkward style. 884 games / 288 goals / 773 points / +234 / good on special teams / wasn't afraid to throw down. Won 4 Cups on those monster 70's Canadiens teams.
Rick Tocchet - 1144 games / 440 goals / 952 points / 2972 PIMs / +82....a mean and feared SOB who could also score....a slightly smaller version of Cam Neely. 10th alltime in career PIMs.
Dale Hunter - amazingly durable for the amount of mayhem he created. Only player with over
1000 pts and 3000 PIMS....1020 points (323 goals, nearly 1/3 on the PP) and 3565 PIMs (2nd all-time)...even nastier in the playoffs. 186 games / 118 points / 729 PIMs, (1st alltime)....just a mean piece of work. Love him or hate him, he was a catalyst for making a game breaking play, clean or otherwise.
Pat Verbeek - At 5'9", the original "little ball of hate".....for style, see the two guys above....1424 games / 522 goals / 1063 points / 2905 PIMs. Scored 40+ 4 times / 30+ another 4 times.
Claude Lemieux - The best player never to play in an all-star game? 1215 games / 379 goals / 1777 PIMs. An absolute pest and a-hole but a proven playoff performer. 234 games / 80 goals / 158 points / 529 PIMs (3rd highest all-time but he probably drew nearly as many also, usually taking the best player off the ice with him) / +42 and 4 Cups.
You have to put Alexei Kovalev in this list,this guy was like a god on the ice.Lemieux and Gretzky had nothing on him talent wise but for some reason he wasn't able to become the huge superstar he could have been.He had a amazing career but I always felt his name should have been next to the all-time greats.
I'd also like to state that one of the most exciting non-superstars in my memory was Sergei Berezin. He didn't put up large numbers, but for a season or two with Toronto, he was able to literally carry the puck from his end to the opponent's end...only to shoot the puck right at the goalie. I was happy to finally see one of his coast to coast rushes a success, against Brodeur of all people.
He did have a 37 goal season (and I swear all of them were scored using that same move )
Steve Larmer. He was never considered a superstar, except perhaps for a brief moment in 1991 when he was coming off a 100 point season and ripped up the Canada Cup. Tough, defensively responsible, incredibly durable, always hovering around a PPG in the high-scoring 80s.
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