The 2010 All-Time Free Agency Thread (The Undrafteds)

[seventieslord]

And for the record, I do have some bias toward the oldtimers, but I think Perreault is the best faceoff-man of All-Time.

I agree. He's definitely the best of our time, and our time is the one with the most numerical evidence to back it up.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Yanic Perreault is a fantastic selection. At this point in the draft, how many players can you say they're in the contention for the ''Best of All-Time'' at a particular skill? I remember him when he was playing with the Montreal Canadiens, he wouldn't only win most of his faceoffs, he would win almost every important faceoffs taken in both the offensive and defensive zone, especially late in the game.

And he was actually a competent player, not very well rounded, but not like Peter Worrell, who could only throw the fist and do nothing else. I wouldn't mind Perreault on a 4th line on a AA team.
,
And for the record, I do have some bias toward the oldtimers, but I think Perreault is the best faceoff-man of All-Time.

You know what? I wouldn't mind Perreault on the 4th line of an AAA team now that I think about it. Having a 4th line faceoff specialist is just so useful, especially in the playoffs.

 

[seventieslord]

With the #74 pick in A2010, The Broder's Annex Marauders are pleased to select:

Tracy Pratt, D

Pratt didn't put up a lot of points in the NHL but he did munch a lot of minutes. 22.26 per game, to be exact (almost), in his 10-year NHL career. This includes 3 monster years in the mid-70s:

1973: 24.15/game, 2nd on Buffalo to Tim Horton, 32nd in NHL
1974: 24.15/game, split time between 2 teams, 29th in NHL
1975: 25.78/game, 2nd on Vancouver to Bob Dailey, 18th in NHL

Pratt got very little PP time and was nothing special offensively at ES, either. So you can't call him a special teams beast. But you can call him a PK beast: killing 51% of his team's penalties, he's 3rd among available defensemen.

son of hall of famer Babe Pratt and, like his dad, is a big defenseman who loves to hit... sabres are satisfied with his defensive ability and that's what counts for a defenseman...

had best offensive season, but primary value is defensively, where he uses his size to clear opposing forwards from the slot.

A Bryan watson-type competitor who risks his health for the team... one of his biggest thrills was his selection by Fred Shero for the all-star game last season...

"He was a big, strong individual and very aggressive. He was good with the puck and had a good sense of humour." - Charlie Burns

"I remember as a kid that I wouldn't let anybody touch my equipment," Pratt recalled. "I used to clean it thoroughly every Sunday. I took pride in my stuff. The game has to be learned and respected."... Pratt earned a reputation with the seals as a tough guy on the ice and a guy who had a good time off it... He used his size to add some much-needed muscle to the first-year club... "I brought brawn to the club. I handled myself pretty well. I was loquacious and brought some respectability to the team. I stuck up for my smaller teammates."

Pratt's favourite memory of his rookie season was a game against the Rangers in which he battled toe-to-toe with tough guy Reg Fleming. "We were going at it for almost 15 minutes," claimed Pratt. "We started in front of the goal and ended up at center ice. After the game, the Hells Angels were all around my car to congratulate me. I even met Sonny Barger, the founder of the Hells Angels."

Pratt is certain that he cost himself some longevity as a hockey player. "I was always anti-management. I was never a diplomat. It cost me several years off my career."

Pratt summed up his career, saying: "I was a journeyman player that brought an awful lot of try every night. I had an all-out effort. Sometimes, going all-out, you don't accomplish anything. You'd come back to the bench exhausted. Experience teaches you. I was also tough in front of my own net."

Mike Laughton called Pratt "a pretty tough customer. He always stood up and was accounted for. He was carefree off the ice but all business on it." Gary Smith added, "Pratt was a good, stay at home defenseman and a very tough guy."

 

[seventieslord]

With the #75 pick in A2010, The Cathedral Bohemians are pleased to select:

Urpo Ylonen, G

Urpo Ylonen was a Finnish goaltender who played from 1961-1982. However, his legacy is really the 1965-1979 seasons, when he was in the top Finnish league, most spent with ToTo Turku. (although, Finland did send this 19-year old Division 2 goalie to the Worlds in 1963, to get bombed with 4 GA in 28 minutes, presumably in a backup role)

From 1967-1971, and 1976-1978, Ylonen was Finland's top option internationally. He played 47 games for the Finns, with a record of 18-24-2, and a GAA of 4.34. He was also a Finnish league champion in 1976 with TPS Turku. The best parts of his legacy are as follows:

- He was named the best goaltender at the 1970 World Championships. He beat out Dzurilla and Konovalenko for this honour.
- He was named the best goalie in the Finnish league six times in 11 years: 1967, 1968, 19699, 1970, 1976, 1977. Considering the competition wasn't great (this was likely Europe's 4th-best league), being the best goalie there isn't too impressive, but doing it six times in eleven years is awesome.
- Three of those times he was not only Finland's top goalie, but their best player, period: 1967, 1968, and 1970.
- The Finnish league's top goalie award now bears his name, and has been won by Tim Thomas, Miika Kiprusoff, and Nicklas Backstrom.

Surely there is room for a guy with these kinds of credentials.

 

[EagleBelfour]

You know what? I wouldn't mind Perreault on the 4th line of an AAA team now that I think about it. Having a 4th line faceoff specialist is just so useful, especially in the playoffs.

Maybe, maybe not. I would believe players well more rounded than Perreault, while having 80%-85% of his ability in the faceoff circle would be available in the AAA draft.

 

[VanIslander]

Maybe, maybe not. I would believe players well more rounded than Perreault, while having 80%-85% of his ability in the faceoff circle would be available in the AAA draft.

Indeed. And Yanic was not a good skater. He was slower than Jason Allison. I remember he made some sweet passes though.

Yanic might be a quality depth pick at the Double-A level, an extra skater ideally. He could be a valuable asset to the puck possession game, especially late in games and in key situations.

 

[VanIslander]

Matt Cooke

* Vancouver Canucks Unsung Hero Award 2002-03
* World Championship Gold 2004 with 4 points
* Stanley Cup Champion 2009 with 7 points, 22 PIM

His playing style has made him effective as a "pest" and he is therefore known for his ability to aggravate opponents to his team's advantage.

Typically playing in the role of a checking winger, Cooke recorded a career-high 42 points in 2002–03 and earned the Fred J. Hume Award as the team's unsung hero. Continuing to show offensive capabilities, after returning from an injury in 2003–04, he was promoted to the Canucks' top line towards the end of the season. On account of Todd Bertuzzi's infamous suspension, Cooke joined Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison on the Canucks' top line for the final thirteen games of the season and the playoffs.

Perhaps Cooke's most memorable moment with the Canucks occurred during this stint on the first line as the Canucks entered the 2004 playoffs against the Calgary Flames. With the Canucks down by a goal in the final minute of the series-deciding seventh game, Cooke drove the net on a Markus Naslund rush and dramatically tied the score with 5 seconds to go in regulation – it was also Cooke's second goal of the game. However, as the Canucks were short-handed at the time, Calgary began the overtime period on the powerplay and clinched the series.

After a year of inactivity on account of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Cooke would play two more full seasons with the Canucks, scoring at a similar pace. However, with Cooke's contract set to expire at the end of the 2007–08 season, he was sent to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Matt Pettinger at the trade deadline. The trade ended Cooke's tenure with the Canucks in his ninth season with the club. At the time of the trade, he was 12th all-time in games played as a Canuck with 556.

Finishing the 2007–08 season, Cooke would play 17 games with the Capitals, scoring 7 points. In the off-season, on July 5, 2008, Cooke signed a two-year, $2.4-million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He injured his ribs in his first season with the Penguins in October, missing four games, but was able to return by the end of the month. On December 2, 2008, he was named to the rotating position of alternate captain for the Penguins for the month of December. The next month, Cooke was suspended for two games on January 27, 2009, for a headshot that he delivered to Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker seven days earlier. He was assessed a minor penalty for interference on the play. He earned a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.

During his career Cooke has been criticized by the media, league and team executives and other players for his hitting in ways more likely to cause injury such as hits to the head.

Cooke set a new career high during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring four postseason goals, two of those coming in the decisive Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. On June 22, 2010, Cooke signed a three-year contract to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

[VanIslander]

Benoit Brunet

Brunet possessed a strong work ethic and came to play each and every night, thus making him a dressing room leader. He was probably one of the NHL's best kept secrets in the 1990s, even quite anonymous in Montreal. He was one of the top defensive forwards in the league, quiet and efficient in his role, all too often unappreciated, too.

Brunet was strong on his skates with a nice burst of speed. He forechecked tenaciously. At 5'11" and 195lbs and not the strongest athlete on the ice he was overmatched at times. But through a strong understanding of positioning he was able to smother opponents and dart in and out of high traffic areas. He tried to play bigger than he was, but he would end up spending a lot of time in the infirmary nursing his wounds. Only once did he play over 70 games in a NHL season.

Offensively Brunet had some ability. He did not have the greatest set of hands by any stretch, but with his speed he often would cut to the net with a great deal of confidence. He would only score 101 goals in his career, never more than 14 in a single season, yet it seemed as though every time he did score it was an important goal.

Brunet was a great utility player. Ideally he was on the checking line playing his low risk, all hustle game plan. When injuries occurred or when indifferent team play warranted it, the coach was quick to upgrade Brunet to one of the top lines to infuse some life. He was able to play on top lines, at least for short periods of time, and provide hustle, defense and some offense.

Brunet, who ended his career with quick stops in Dallas and Ottawa, played 539 games in the NHL, scoring 101 goals and 262 points. He added 5 goals and 25 points in 54 career playoff games. 10 of those playoff points came in 1993 when he helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.

 

[VanIslander]

Pat Hughes

Pat Hughes, a native of Calgary, is a three time Stanley Cup champion best known as a role player with the high flying Edmonton Oilers in the mid-1980s.

Pat first made a name for himself while attended the University of Michigan. The Montreal Canadiens noticed Pat during his sophomore year, and drafted the speedy winger 52nd overall in 1975. Pat turned pro in 1976-77, but spent the first two years playing in the Montreal farm system.

By 1978-79 Pat made the Canadiens, although his ice time was limited as the rookie right wing on a deep and talent squad, the year ended on a very successful note. Pat got into 8 playoff games and got his name on his first Stanley Cup.

He was traded to Edmonton in exchange for Pat Price. That move turned out to be a great thing for Pat, joining the Oilers just in time for their famous playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal was the heavy favourite, but Edmonton pulled a major upset and swept the best of 5 series 3-0. Although the Oilers didn't win another game in the playoffs, their upset victory over Montreal was a key step in their development. Hughes 5 assists in 5 games aided that cause.

Over the next three years Hughes played a nice role on the Oilers third line. In addition to his abrasive play and tight checking, Hughes chipped in nicely with some offense. From 1981-82 through 1983-84 Pat scored 24, 25, and 27 goals and 46, 45 and 55 points respectively.

The Oilers were a team known for scoring goals. With the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson they scored lots of goals. On a couple of nights at least, Pat Hughes joined that elite company with famous goal scoring outbursts.

The first game of note was against St. Louis on Jan. 11, 1983. On that night he set a NHL record (since bettered) by scoring two shorthanded goals just 25 seconds apart, bettering teammate Wayne Gretzky's record of 27 seconds, set just one season prior.

Nearly a year later, on February 3rd, 1984, Hughes lit up the Calgary Flames with 5 goals in one game, joining Gretzky (who did it three times) and later joined by Jari Kurri for the Oilers team record.

1983-84 saw the Oilers win their first Stanley Cup. Pat picked up 13 points in the 19 game playoff run and played a quiet but important role on the team's success.

In 573 NHL games Pat Hughes scored 130 goals, 128 assists for 258 points. He added 8 goals and 33 points in 71 playoff contests.

 

[seventieslord]

- I was very close to taking Cooke. Ran out of room.
- Brunet and Hughes were good, but you can do better. Hopefully you'll agree in a few days when I'm done.

 

[VanIslander]

Gerald Diduck

* 212 points over 932 NHL games
* 24 playoff points in impressive 114 NHL playoff games
* led all N.Y. Islanders' dmen with 32 points in 1988-89
* Vancouver Ram Tough Award (Most Aggressive) 1991-92
* won Vancouver's hardest-shot contest 1992-93
* scored 8 points in Canucks 1994 Stanley Cup Finals run

The big, bruising rearguard was considered a solid defensive defenseman who always managed to clear way of opposing forwards for his goaltender in the junior ranks, and the Islanders expected the same of him in the NHL.

As a junior with the Lethbridge Broncos, Diduck scored just 19 goals in three years, but ten came in his final year to go along with 24 assists and 133 minutes in penalties.

As a 19-year-old rookie, Diduck dressed for 65 Islanders games in 1984-85. He had two goals and eight assists with 80 penalty minutes. After spending most of the next two seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL, Diduck was called up for full-time duty with the Isles in 1987-88 when he played in 68 games. The following year was his best in the league when he scored eleven and assisted on 21 others while spending 155 minutes in the penalty box.

After a short 32-game stint with the Montreal Canadiens at the start of the 1990-91 campaign, Diduck was shipped off to the Vancouver Canucks, where he patrolled the defense for the next four years. The 1991-92 season was a particularly ornery one, even by Diduck's standards, when he spent 229 minutes cooling his heels in the penalty box.

The closest he ever came to sipping champagne out of the Stanley Cup came while a member of the Canucks in 1993-94. The Cinderella Canucks advanced all the way to the Cup finals before losing a tough seven-game battle with the New York Rangers. Diduck played in all 24 Vancouver post-season games, scoring a goal and seven assists.

During the following season he was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks where he lasted just 13 games. He has the distinction of actually having played more playoff games than regular season games with the club: 16 to 13.

The next NHL stop was a one-and-a-half year stay with the Hartford whalers. In 135 games he scored just two goals. The Phoenix Coyotes than grabbed him and he played there for a year. By now it was evident Diduck was useful as a fill-in player, but he was no longer able to handle the responsibilities of playing a regular shift. He had a 26-game experiment with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1999-2000 and finished his NHL career with a 14-game performance with the Dallas Stars in 2000-01 before deciding to hang up the skates.

 

[VanIslander]

Joey Kocur

* 22 playoff points, 118 playoff games
* 3 Stanley Cups in mid-90s, with mere 69 PIMs in the 57 playoff games played
* 6 straight 200+ PIM seasons in the late 80s

Possessing perhaps the most potent right hand in NHL history, he has broken orbital bones, noses and at least 10 hockey helmets. He was reputed to have given concussions to players fighting with their helmets on.

 

[VanIslander]

There are three more guys I will profile afterwards. But here is the team from my list:

Wisconsin Badgers

Coach: Dave King
Assistant Coach: Claude Julien

Alex Frolov - Derek Roy - Dennis Ververgaert
Jochen Hecht - Dainius Zubrus - Sylvain Turgeon
Murray Wilson - Yanic Perreault - Willy Lindstrom
Benoit Brunet - Matt Cooke - Pat Hughes
Joey Kocur

Ryan Suter - Marc Bergevin
Zbynek Michalek - Randy Ladouceur
Aaron Miller - Terry Carkner
Gerald Diduck

Mario Lessard
Billy Hague​

It was fun.

 

[seventieslord]

Kocur? blah. Give me Hunter!

 

[seventieslord]

With the #76 pick in A2010, The Wascana View Millionaires are pleased to select:

Curt Bennett, LW

Curt Bennett had a 10-year NHL career, and was a full-time NHL player for seven seasons. A self-described "defensive forward", he was a massive body in his time (6'3", 195 lbs) and a good checker and fighter, yet a clean player.

Bennett had just 347 PIM in 580 NHL games, but with his 27 fights taken out, had just 0.36 PIM/game, or a minor penalty about every 5-6 games. Bennett rarely got PP time (23% in his career), but in the two years that he did, he scored 30+ goals and 60+ points. Aside from that, he had four seasons of 34-47 points with minimal PP time. As such, he has a very strong adjusted ESPPG of 0.46. He is a rarity this late in the draft: a skater who played in two all-star games. Bennett makes an excellent 4th liner; he would be to the AAA draft what Harry P. Watson is to the ATD.

He also represented the USA three times from 1976-1979 in the Worlds and the Canada Cup, scoring 7 points in 23 games.

In addition to all this, he was a hell of a character and interesting guy. Check out the quotes!

Wascana View won't have to look very hard to find Bennett - he's a Regina product.

"My best years were with Atlanta. I led the team in goal scoring 1975-76, and 1974-75. When I scored 31 goals in 1975, I was the first American bred player to score 30 goals or more in the NHL. I scored 34 the next year. I had to work hard to stay in the league and was always in good shape."

Curt Bennett was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on March 27, 1948, but grew up in Rhode Island. The move to the United States came when Curt was just 3 months old as his father, Harvey Sr., was a goaltender for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League. Curt remained in Cranston until he was 21, being a high school hockey star at Cranston East and later a collegiate star at Brown University. He excelled at both defense and forward while at Brown and was an All-American choice at defense in 1970.

During his sophomore year at Brown, 1968, Curt was drafted 16th overall by the St. Louis Blues. However it wasn't until Curt graduated from Brown University in 1970 before the Blues saw him turn professional. Bennett spent his first pro season playing left wing with the Kansas City Blues, the Blues farm team. He played well in the CHL, scoring 19 goals and 42 points in 63 games. He even got a late season call up and scored his first two NHL goals in 4 games before appearing in 2 1970-71 playoff games.

Curt was unable to use his rookie glimpses of success as a springboard to full time NHL employment in 1971-72. He split the season between the Blues and their farm team, this time with the WHL's Denver Spurs. He scored just 3 goals and 8 points in 31 quiet regular season games with the Blues, and no points in 10 playoff games. During the summer, the Blues sent Curt packing to the New York Rangers to complete an earlier trade for troubled tough guy Steve Durbano.

Bennett played briefly with the New York Rangers, appearing in limited ice time in 16 games, and picking up just one assist. He was then traded to the Atlanta Flames in exchange for Ron Harris.

It was in Atlanta that Curt blossomed into a full time NHLer. In his first of two stints with the Flames he topped the 30-goal mark twice and twice represented the Flames at the NHL all star game. Curt was a consistent 20 goal man while rarely missing a game due to injury. A big man, playing at 6'3" and 195 lbs, Curt wasn't noted as the toughest guy in hockey, but he did use his size when needed.

"I came into the league when Americans had to use their fists instead of scoring goals. This was good because I had a tough time scoring goals," said Curt.

Late in his career Curt rejoined St. Louis for parts of two seasons before returning to Atlanta for one more season to close out his NHL career. Ironically Curt's last NHL season was in 1980 with the Atlanta Flames, the organization's last year in the state of Georgia (They made the move Calgary after that season).

"The media talk in Atlanta was, 'Hell, if Curt can't play for the Flames anymore we're going to get rid of them," joked Curt.

Bennett retired from the NHL with 152 goals, 182 assists and 334 points in 580 regular-season games.

Many Ranger fans still mystified by the trading of this potential star... has powerful skating style and polished moves... Skates on powerplay, kills penalties and can play LW or defense... "You don't see many big centers like him who can bring the puck over the blue line the way he does," says former Montreal star Jean Beliveau... can play it tough when he has to.

a thoroughly unique player.. how many NHL teams can say they have an Ivy League graduate who majored in Russian studies? His unusual background doesn't end there: his father, Harvey, was a goaltender for Boston. Wife susan is a rock singer. Of course, a knowledge of Tolstoy and a pretty wife don't help on the ice... it's there that he is establishing a solid reputation with his skating, playmaking and fists... Held his own with Philadelphia's Dave Schultz in a playoff fight, then decisioned Bill Flett...

His 31 goals last season made him the highest-scoring US-developed player in history... nicknamed "Igor" for gangling build... karate expert...

reputation for varied interests, perhaps the most of any NHL player, overshadows the fact that Curt can play hockey well... 34 goals topped his previous record for most goals by a US-developed player... carries a dictionary on road trips... although he rarely fights, he's one of hockey's toughest: KO'd Rangers' rookie Dave Maloney with one punch.

the thinking man's hockey player... chess, karate, yoga, boxing and transcendental yoga devotee... solid two-way forward who plays LW or center and can play defense... works as sportscaster in offseason...Rangers had him, traded him, and now wish they had him back.

"the professor"...

tough, aggressive LW...

 

[seventieslord]

With the #77 pick in A2010, The Wascana View Millionaires are pleased to select:

Chris Clark, LW/RW

Clark is a mediocre offensive player and is a good defensive player at best. But he never quits, can play the glue guy role on any line, and he has excellent leadership qualities - in fact, outstanding leadership qualities for this level. Clark spent three and a half seasons as captain of the Capitals, as they matured from a 70 point team, to 94, to 108, to 121.

In terms of his itetime and PP/PK usage, he's pretty similar to the last pick, Curt Bennett, except Bennett is a little better as a player and Clark is a leader with serious captain potential. He's actually the last player to be selected that captained an NHL team for 3 full seasons. (just four two-season captains remain, and one is a good/versatile enough player to get selected in the remaining 23 picks)

Clark was a grinder with the 2004 Stanley Cup Finalist Calgary Flames. He also captained the 2002 Team USA at the World Championships.

“Leadership is not a sometime thing or a come and go thing,” said McPhee. “It is an all-the-time thing. Chris Clark has all-the-time leadership qualities. He is a leader in the mold of one of our all-time favorites, Dale Hunter; a quiet man off the ice, a cantankerous, ultra-competitive player on the ice.”

Clark has been called a calming presence in the locker room.... But the plucky right-winger, whom McPhee once described as quiet off the ice and cantankerous on it, has grown tentative. His mighty stride has slowed, and he no longer dominates the corners and crease as he used to...

Clark has never taken his NHL career for granted. The Calgary Flames’ third-round choice in the 1994 entry draft, he played four years at Clarkson and a full year for Calgary’s farm team in Saint John, New Brunswick, before seeing his first NHL start. He then spent another two seasons shuttling across Canada, finally securing a spot in Calgary at the hockey-ripe age of 25.

In Calgary Clark was a reliable third-liner, scoring 10 goals in each of his three full seasons there. He scored three goals in his first playoffs in 2004, the year the Flames lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final.

When Clark returned to the third line last year-before his groin injury cut his season short-he reacted with typical deference, saying, “I think it’s great because it means our team is going in the right direction.”

At times, Clark seems equally incredulous about his captaincy-even though he wore the “C” during his senior year at Clarkson and for Team USA at the 2007 World Championship. When the Capitals named him captain, at the beginning of the 2006 season, Clark told the Calgary Herald that being an NHL captain “was never one of my goals because I never thought it was attainable.”

When an XM radio host asked Clark if people assumed he was warming the captain’s seat until Ovechkin matured, Clark responded, “It’s definitely going to be his eventually.”

Still, Clark takes his role to heart. He puts pressure on himself to lead by example on the ice and to maintain team spirit behind the scenes. When a junior is called up, or a European player joins the team, Clark makes a point of reaching out to them, making sure “they’re comfortable, they’re settled, so they can do the best they can,” as he put it.

“If we have any questions, that’s the first guy we go and ask,” said Milan Jurcina, the Capitals’ 25-year-old Slovakian defenseman. “He welcomed us [European players] pretty good…making us a little more comfortable.”

Goalie José Theodore, a Quebec native, said that when he joined the team, Clark assured him that “if I needed anything, he was there for me.”

In other words, Clark brings his family values to the team. Just ask Brooks Laich, the Capitals’ 25-year-old, Saskatchewan-born center who by his looks could be Clark’s younger brother.

“Being a single guy, not having a wife down here,” Laich said, “the last three Christmases I’ve been at Chris Clark’s house. He invites me over for Christmas Eve…. He has Christmas morning with his family and he invites me back over…. And in the last couple years there’s been a couple guys who’ve gone over there…. So he’s always looking out for guys and making them feel at home.”

Whether Clark can return to rugged form remains to be seen. What’s clear is that he has a locker room full of fans rooting for him.

If there is any one moment in Chris Clark's hockey career that defines what type of a player he is, it has to be his grisly injury in 2006. A puck was deflected into his mouth, knocking out two teeth and crushing his palate bone.

Nobody would have blamed Clark for lying on the ice, writhing in pain and waiting for the trainers to assist him. But that's not what Clark did. Instead, he covered his face with his gloves and continued to skate his shift.

"That's one of the most courageous things you'll see on the rink. So the next time someone has a runny nose, or feels under the weather and doesn't think they should play, that should make them think twice," General Manager George McPhee told the Washington Post.

Clark's injury has earned him the nickname "Captain Cadaver" amongst fans, for the cadaver bone that was surgically implanted to replace his palate bone. To some fans, Chris Clark defines the Washington Capitals and what they strive to be: a competitive, tough, never-give-up type of team that you can count of to give 100% every game.

Truth be told, whether he's on the ice or not, Clark is still considered the consummate team leader. He has 4 points and 28 penalty minutes in 28 games this season.

"The reason Clarkie was named captain is because of the way he plays," said Capitals center Brooks Laich. "He's had an unfortunate spell of injuries lately, but he plays a hard-nosed, blue collar style. He's straight forward and he'll stick up for any one of his teammates. He's a great locker room guy and a leader off the ice. Really, he identifies how we play. I watched Clarkie a lot when he got here and learned how to play that same hard-nosed game."

In his first season as captain in 2006-07, Clark posted career highs in goals (30), assists (24), power-play goals (9), shorthanded goals (4) and points (54) in 74 games. He scored the second most goals by a Caps captain in franchise history -- Kevin Hatcher connected for 34 in 1992-93. Clark's 66 penalty minutes were also his lowest total in five seasons.

"As captain, I think a lot more about my actions and what I must do to help our team succeed; like not taking that stupid penalty at the wrong time in a game," Clark said. "Maybe I wouldn't have thought that earlier in my career, but now I'm the one telling guys not to take that stupid penalty, especially when you're winning. I still play that same style that has gotten me to this point in my career, but I'm also thinking a lot more. I'm walking that line a little bit between penalty and non-penalty."

The "C" on Clark's jersey hasn't only influenced his decision-making on the ice but off it. He's a strong believer that you're never as good as your best game, and you're rarely as bad as your worst.

"It depends a lot on the type of team you're working with," Clark said. "When you have a quiet team, you need a more vocal leader. When things are going well, you talk to the team, because you don't want to get too up. When things are going bad, you try to get everyone to stay even, not get too down."

Clark, who is in his ninth NHL season, succeeded former Caps captain Jeff Halpern, who left as a free agent to sign with Dallas before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning last February. Clark considered Halpern the quintessential Capitals captain having grown up in nearby Potomac, Md.

"It's leadership," Clark said. "I try to think of past captains that I've had and what they did. You try to lead the young guys and give direction. You try to pull the team together. A lot of being a captain revolves around details; like not turning the puck over at the wrong time. I'm not that type to get up in front of everyone and say 'Hey, that was a bad play.' But I'll take a second and say, 'Hey, you have to do this or that because it'll not only help the team, but help you.' "

So did the 32-year-old Clark ever need to sit down with Alex Ovechkin?

"In the beginning, Ovie was all offense and he wanted to go, go, go," Clark said. "There were some games where he'd already be at the far blue line waiting for the puck. But his transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. He's obviously a tremendous offensive talent, but it's the defensive side that most people don't see or hockey enthusiasts don't pick up on."

Ovechkin is grateful for Clark's leadership.

"He brings it when he plays; he brings energy," Ovechkin said. "He can fight and do all those little things that every team needs to be successful."

On top of that, he's also a great humanitarian. He participates in the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation to help provide financial assistance to children's charities. Clark and his wife, Kim, also work to raise money for a new playground in their summer home of Henderson, N.Y.

 

[seventieslord]

With the #78 pick in A2010, The Cathedral Bohemians are pleased to select:

Mel Hill, RW

Mel Hill was, in MLD8, an undeserving selection. Two drafts later he resurfaced in AA10, cumulative pick #1274. That was much more fair for Hill. The smallish right winger isn't known for much more than modest offense in the regular season, however, he can be valuable to a AAA/AA team as a 4th liner who can provide clutch scoring, particularly in the playoffs.

Hill is of course known for scoring 3 OT goals in one series in 1939 for Boston, still an NHL record and highly unlikely to be equalled. That year he won the Stanley Cup and placed 3rd in team scoring. He repeated this feat in 1945 for the Leafs. In between that, he won the 1941 cup with Boston. Three time cup winners aren't easy to find at this point, and he was a key scorer in two of them.

His regular season scoring record isn't extremely impressive; however, it should be noted that with three 30+ point seasons prior to expansion, he is in rare company: just one of five players left who did this. (yes, it was 1942, 1943 and 1945)

 

[seventieslord]

With the #79 pick in A2010, The Broder's Annex Marauders are pleased to select:

Raimo Helminen, C

From Triffy in AAA11:

Raimo Helminen is the world record holder for most international games played (331). He is also the only hockey player to have played at 6 Olympic games. Helminen was an exceptionally smart player. He was never the fastest player in the rink, but that didn't prevent him from having the career he had. He had the ability to control the pace of the game whenever he was on the ice. His career could be divided into two stages. At younger age, he was an offensive centre. As he gained more experience, he become a reliable two-way forward. Thanks to his passing skills, he always played on power play in Finland. But he was actually a very good defensive centre as well. He was the fourth line centre for Finland in Nagano and in Salt Lake City. At the 2002 Olympics, the opponents didn't manage to score a single goal when Helminen was on the ice. The 6-feet, 194 lbs center is a typical coach's favorite player: a great leader and a consistent performer.

International merits
1 x WCH Gold (1995)
5 x WCH Silver (1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001)
1 x WCH Bronze (2000)
1 x Olympic Silver (1988)
2 x Olympic Bronze (1994, 1998)

In overall, 52 goals and 155 assists for a total of 207 points in 331 games.

In 148 major international games, Helminen scored 18 goals and 75 assists for 93 points and just 24 PIM. I count 166 other games for the National team and in the world juniors, but obviously I am missing some. Either way, Helminen's international experience is VAST, and includes a lot of best-on-best competition and a lot of "best of the rest" games from the worlds. He enjoyed a great deal of team success and had experience as a captain in international play.

Also of note: Helminen was 3rd in the Finnish league in scoring in 1985, 3rd in the Swedish league in 1993, 1st in 1994, then 6th in the Finnish league in 1997, 2nd in 1998, and 7th in 1999. He led the 1998 worlds in scoring and was 7th in the 1998 Olympics and the 1995 worlds. He finally retired in 2008 at the age of 44, with 1,312 points in 1,635 games that the SIHR database knows about.

The best sample size we have of Helminen's actual NHL play was the 1986 season where he was just 21 and had a reasonable 40 points in 66 games. This shows that he did have what it took to compete at that level, but he just chose a different path.

During his time with Malmo, he led the club to two national titles and to first place in the European Championship. On his return, he led Ilves to a silver medal and re-established himself, particularly in the 1998-99 season, as the top forward in the land... Helminen's most outstanding trait has been his ambition, not only for himself but for his hockey clubs. One of his first coaches, Seppl Hiitela, said, "It is easy for a coach to lead a team that has a player with such dedication and leadership as Helminen."

First foreign player to lead Swedish Elitserien in scoring, 1993-94.

Won Lasse Oksanen Trophy, Finnish League MVP, 1997-98.

Won Golden Helmet as players' choice for top player in Finnish League, 1997-98.

Won President's Trophy for contributions to Finnish Hockey, 2000-01.

Won Golden Stick Award as Finnish League's top player, 2001-02.

 

[MadArcand]

Finally someone mentioned Diduck. He, along with Woolley and Morris were on my shortlist, along with a few goalies and wingers. Too bad I can't seem to find my AA shortlist file. It's infuriating.

 

[seventieslord]

With the #80 pick in A2010, The Rosemont Mintos are pleased to select:

Yanic Perreault, C

As has been discussed already in this thread, Yanic Perreault has the potential to be a massively useful faceoff specialist to a AAA/AA team. Perreault's 62.0% career faceoff percentage is easily the best of all-time, and he attained that figure in the real-life NHL against some of the best faceoff men of all-time, like Mark Messier, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros, Mats Sundin, Rod Brind'Amour, Kris Draper, and Mike Sillinger. With the exception of Sillinger, all of the best faceoff specialists of the era are long gone, leaving Perreault to feast on lesser competition on draws. It's not a stretch to suggest he could operate at a 65% clip against a pool of average faceoff men.

He's not just some scrub otherwise, though. 516 points in 859 games in a career that was 77% in the dead puck era, looks pretty damn good at this point. He is a 7-time 20-goal scorer and had 40 points 8 times.

With 14.9 minutes per game in his career, he is pretty close to specialist territory, but at the same time, this makes his offensive production even more impressive. 0.51 adjusted ESPPG with 14.9 minutes is among the best figures you'll see here. 30 points in 54 playoff games ain't half bad, either. He played 2nd lines most often, but a career adjusted +2 is pretty good as well. Nothing jumped out at you about Perreault other than his faceoff ability but he was a rather useful and productive player.

Best faceoff takers since 1998, minimum 5000 faceoffs
Yanic Perreault 62.0
Rod Brind'Amour 59.2
Joe Nieuwendyk 59.0
Tim Taylor 58.0
Kris Draper 57.9
Mike Sillinger 57.2
Steve Yzerman 56.9
Adam Oates 56.9
Eric Lindros 56.7
Bobby Holik 56.1

Perreault's speed is marginal for the NHL level. He tries to compensate with his intelligence, and that alone will keep him earning NHL jobs... he is nifty and shifty in tight quarters, but he doesn't have breakaway speed... has very good hands and always has his head up, looking for openings... he works hard to put on a quick burst in the offensive zone, to gain a half-step on a defender... tricky and solid on his feet, Perreault works the half boards on the powerplay. He has an accurate shot with a quick release, and he slithers around to get in the best position for the shot... lacks the size for one-on-one battles in the attacking zone. Defensively, he can't do much more than harrass a puck carrier with his stick. He is an in-betweener, and if forced to carry the play in any zone his flaws become apparent... it's easy to write off Perreault. It has been done many times over the past few seasons but he keeps coming back into training camp and earning a job... Perreault works hard and can score 15 to 20 goals a season as a role player.

The NHL's faceoff king, leading his fellow centremen for the third consecutive season... will keep earning jobs as a checking center until he decides to pack it in... had to carry the load offensively during Saku Koivu's cancer battle, and the job he did was nothing short of amazing.

 

[seventieslord]

With the #81 pick in A2010, The Rosemont Mintos are pleased to select:

Scott Walker, RW

Walker looked like he was going to be just your average 4th liner who could fight and put in 15 points... and then he got traded to Nashville and showed he was more than that. Since then, he has played the same tough game he always has, but has put up six 30-point seasons, three of them with more than 50. He ended up averaging almost half a point a game in his 800+ game career.

Sounds a lot like Randy McKay, actually. McKay was getting 8-9 points in half-seasons with Detroit, then was given a chance in New Jersey, and put up 30 points five times. McKey was tougher but was also not quite as good offensively and not as relied upon for defensive duties. The biggest difference between the two (and the reason McKay rightfully gets selected first) is that McKay contributed to winning teams and got into 123 playoff games. Walker, on the other hand, played 30, scoring just one goal, and it was a game 7, double OT series winner. If you ignore the team success then their career paths are remarkably similar.

Walker's 0.43 ESPPG in his career is a respectable total for a guy who played as many games as he did, and is still available now. dropyourgloves.com says he has 87 career NHL fights, with a recorded record of 29-18-13 amassed against both middleweights (Petit, McCabe, Laperriere, Jason Smith, Maltby) and heavyweights (McCarty, Baumgartner, Cummins, Erskine, Gaustad, Ewen, Laus)

Walker was a defenseman in junior but was switched to RW because of his size. He can still be dropped back in an emergency. He is actually versatile enough to play all three forward positions, too... Has very good speed. He is an excellent penalty killer. He grinds and gets his nose in and doesn't quit on the puck. He played on the checking line but was contributing more than his share of points... Doesn't have great hands, but he works hard for his scoring chances and creates off the forecheck. He gets involved in traffic... Walker plays a feisty game. Instead of just stirring things up, he has concentrated on being more of a hockey player, wo his PIM totals have dropped. He still competes every night and has an edge to his game. He can be a pain to play against... a role player who can add energy and flexibility to a lineup.

few players have reinvented themselves so thoroughly, or successfully, as Walker has done... continues to develop along power forward lines... he is courageous and gritty, and he fights. When he does drop his gloves, it's against the big guys, and he holds his own... would be an excellent third line player elsewhere. For Nashville, he is a key top-six forward.

 

[tony d]

Yeah, Diduck was on the shortlist for me and Dave as well. Still we found out about Kravchuk so we drafted him before hand.

 

[seventieslord]

With the #82 pick in A2010, The Broder's Annex Marauders are pleased to select:

Bill Hicke, RW

You know that list of players with three 30+ point seasons prior to expansion that I keep referring to? Hicke's on it, leaving just three others. (he actually scored 39+ in all three of those seasons) The thing about Hicke is, after expansion he posted four more seasons with 35-61 points, amassing 402 points in a 729-game NHL career that included two Stanley Cups. He finished off his career with a decent WHA season in 1973.

Hicke didn't bring much to the table other than offense and decent two-way play, but if you want a spunky, confident player to bring some zazzle to your 4th line, he's the guy at this point. Actually, Hicke is the highest-scoring player of all-time (circa 1975) to remain unselected.

Hicke was a character in both positive and sometimes negative ways. He brought speed and goals to a lineup and if not for two health problems unrelated to hockey, he could have been even better.

Named 1958-59’s Rookie of the Year, Hicke captured the league scoring title and split AHL MVP honors with teammate, Rudy Migay. He also had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, the result of playing his first NHL game with the Canadiens that postseason.

Maurice Richard’s retirement cleared the way for Hicke to take a regular shift. Playing in every game on the Canadiens schedule for the next three seasons, he recorded 135 points on 55 goals and 80 assists, peaking with a 20-goal, 51-point effort in 1961-62.

A solid two-way player who put up more than respectable numbers and played a clean, skilled game, Hicke emerged as a competent, reliable performer but, like most players cursed with a “next big thing” label, was unable to fill the superstar-sized skates the fans had chosen for him.

A compact, fleet skater who could put the puck in the net - in junior, at least...

"A dynamic player, he could really score. He shot left-handed and played the right wing, one of the first off-wingers. He was very smart and knew when to break and how to finish. He had lots of charisma" - Ted Hampson

While Hicke never developed into the goalscorer Richard was, he became a respectable NHL wing, reaching the 20-goal mark in his third NHL season... In his first season in Oakland, Hicke led the team in goalscoring with 21 tallies. He was the club's only 20-goal scorer that year... Hicke had the respect of his teammates. Ron Harris called Hicke "one of our leaders on the ice. He was our goalscorer. It's too bad he got sick."



Gary Jarrett remembers his former linemate fondly. "He was a good player - one of the best offensive RWs I played with. He was robust and full of self-confidence and he was an aggressive skater. He had that fire in his eyes when he got in on the goalie from the blueline. He was a bit like Rocket Richard in that regard..."

He was known as a carefree person off the ice. It was a bit upsetting to him that the Seals "had practically no notoreity off the ice... his flamboyant style and carefree attitude did rub some of his teammates the wrong way, especially when his skills started to fade a bit. Doug Roberts remembered that "Hicke was highly skilled, but he didn't take care of himself. I thought he was playing out the string. He was not consistent, especially on the road. He had a lot of skill and we all looked up to him from his days with Montreal."

...Hicke became one of the first NHL players to develop a skin problem known informally as "gunk", that became an epidemic in the league by the mid-70s. Bert Marshall rememberd that Hicke "had a really bad case. It got so bad that he couldn't even practice."

Rookie Tracy Pratt said that Hicke was "an individualist who thought he was a prolific goalscorer." But even Pratt admitted that Hicke "scored clutch goals and provided leadership."

Earl Ingarfield had this to say about Bill Hicke: "He is one of my best friends in hockey and a real character. He was a skilled player and a good person off the ice." For the expansion Seals, Hicke was their first real goalscoring threat and their most colorful offensive player. He left his mark on the memories of hockey fans in the Bay Area.

 

[VanIslander]

Greg de Vries

* 6'2, 205 lbs.
* 194 points over 878 NHL games
* 22 points in 111 playoff games
* Stanley Cup (2001)

Keeps things simple and tidy in the defensive zone. Uses his size effectively against skilled forwards. Knows when to pinch in from the point.

Upon his arrival in Colorado, De Vries had a regular spot in the lineup and was instrumental on the blueline, helping the Avalanche win the Northwest Division title. In 2000-01, De Vries scored 17 points from the blueline as the Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy with 52 wins and 118 points, which were both club records.

In the playoffs, De Vries strong play in his own zone was instrumental in Colorado's Stanley Cup win in 2001 and continued to play sound defensive hockey, while contributing offensively when counted on.

 

[VanIslander]

Steve Konroyd

* 239 points over 895 NHL games
* 25 points over 97 playoff games

Steve Konroyd was a sound positional defenceman who could also make crisp outlet passes to his forwards. He played nearly 900 regular season games with six different clubs.

Beginning in 1981–82, Konroyd played nearly five years as a regular on the Flames' blueline. His steady play made him an asset for Canada when they won the silver medal at the 1985 World Championships. The Flames were competitive during this period but were overshadowed by the success of the high-flying Edmonton Oilers. Prior to the trading deadline in 1986, Konroyd and Richard Kromm were sent to the New York Islanders for Stanley Cup veteran John Tonelli.

Konroyd solidified the Islanders' defence for nearly two and a half years until he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in November 1988. Now that he was no longer as mobile as in his younger days, the close checking style of the Hawks suited his game. Konroyd was a solid defender on Chicago when they led the NHL in regular season points in 1990–91. Following the Hawks first round upset at the hands of the Minnesota North Stars, Konroyd joined team Canada at the 1991 World Championships and won another silver medal. Halfway through the next season he was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Rob Brown. Konroyd later served as a role player for Detroit, Ottawa, and Calgary before retiring in 1995.