I cringe saying this because I HATED the S.O.B as kid/teenager, but Chelios. I think a lot of people around here just remember him as he career was winding down and gloss over the prime of his career. Pulling off three Norris trophies against the competition he did should speak to just how good he was in his day.
Bobby Clarke and Bryan Trottier. Incredibly physical, amazing offensively and defensively, amazing in the playoffs. There were no weaknesses to their games.
Steve Yzerman, he's always remembered as a great leader but people seem to forget just how d**n clutch he was! He's 6th all time in career points, and only Lemieux and Gretzky have scored more points in a single season, plus that leadership stuff helps too.
Peter Stastny strikes as me as particularly underrated. I knew he was a great player but was blown away when I was looking at his milestones on Wikipedia, particularly the last section listing that he was the fastest to milestones after Gretzky, Lemieux, and Bossy:
Quote:
1st player in NHL history to collect over 100 points in rookie year (109). Note: Wayne Gretzky had 137 points in his first year in the NHL (1979–80), but was not considered a "rookie", due to his time spent with the World Hockey Association's Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers, where he won the rookie of the year award in that league during the 1978–79 season with 104 points.
One of four players to record 1000 or more points in the decade of the 1980s (1059). Previously, only Phil Esposito had topped 1000 points in one decade.
One of 7 players in NHL history to record at least 6 consecutive 100+ point seasons.
Shares NHL record for assists by a rookie (70) with Joé Juneau.
Holds NHL record for points in a game by a rookie with 8 (four goals and four assists on February 22, 1981 against Washington Capitals).
Holds NHL record for points in a road game with 8 (four goals and four assists on February 22, 1981 against Washington Capitals).
Holds NHL record for points in 2 consecutive games with 14 (3 goals and 3 assists on February 20, 1981 against Vancouver Canucks and 4 goals and 4 assists on February 22, 1981 against Washington Capitals).[1]
Recorded 100th NHL point with an assist on March 29, 1981 against the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first official NHL rookie to accomplish the feat.
Recorded 1000th NHL point on October 19, 1989 with a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks, and was the second European-born player, and first trained in Europe, in NHL history to do so. Stan Mikita, the first European-born player to score 1000 points, was born in Slovakia, but raised in Canada.
4th fastest player in NHL history to score 200 points (131 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (117), Mario Lemieux (128) & Cy Denneny (130)
2nd fastest player in NHL history to score 300 points (186 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (159) tied with Mario Lemieux (186)
3rd fastest player in NHL history to score 400 points (247 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (197) & Mario Lemieux (240)
3rd fastest player in NHL history to score 500 points (322 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (234) & Mario Lemieux (287)
3rd fastest player in NHL history to score 600 points (394 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (273) & Mario Lemieux (323)
3rd fastest player in NHL history to score 700 points (457 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (317) & Mario Lemieux (363)
4th fastest player in NHL history to score 800 points (531 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (352) & Mario Lemieux (410) & Mike Bossy (524)
4th fastest player in NHL history to score 900 points (599 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (385) Mario Lemieux (463) & Mike Bossy (582)
4th fastest player in NHL history to score 1000 points (682 GP) behind Wayne Gretzky (424) Mario Lemieux (513) & Mike Bossy (656)
