Worst Players to Score 500 Points and Best not to?

[Howie Hodge]

Craig Simpson was a good hockey player; albeit one with a bad back.

It looked like a steal for Buffalo, sending Jozef Cierny (yes; THE Jozef Cierny) and a pick to Edmonton.

My Realtor (and associate) Mike P. served as Craig's Realtor when Craig arrived. Mike told me confidentially, that he would be surprised if Simpson would help Buffalo, as Craig could hardly get in and out of his car.

Two seasons of about 20 games each in Buffalo, and Craig was done at the age of 28. Too bad, he was a decent player who had one great season between Pittsburgh and Edmonton in 1987-1988.

And how many players can say they were traded for Paul Coffey? Actually a few....

 

[The Panther]

Too bad, he was a decent player who had one great season between Pittsburgh and Edmonton in 1987-1988.

I disagree that he had "one great season". As I said above, in 1988-89, he played at a 92-point pace (higher than the 56-goal year), but he missed 14 games. He was arguably the best Oiler in the 1990 Cup win, and then had a 30-goal season the next year (on a suddenly offensively-challenged team). He did really great things in each of those 4 consecutive seasons.

He sure paid the price for going to the net, though...

This is typically what happened to Simpson after 90% of his goals:

 

[Terry Yake]

if vermette hadn't become one of the league's top faceoff guys i'd say him. aside from faceoffs, he really doesn't do anything well

i'd have to say boyes

 

[Howie Hodge]

I disagree that he had "one great season". As I said above, in 1988-89, he played at a 92-point pace (higher than the 56-goal year), but he missed 14 games. He was arguably the best Oiler in the 1990 Cup win, and then had a 30-goal season the next year (on a suddenly offensively-challenged team). He did really great things in each of those 4 consecutive seasons.

He sure paid the price for going to the net, though...

This is typically what happened to Simpson after 90% of his goals:

1988 - 89 Season a prorated 92 points would have put him 16'th in scoring. Is that great or good? It's a matter of opinion.

56 goals in 1987 - 88 put him second in the league to Lemieux who had 70. I'll call that one great.

Point is he was talented, and was deprived of some good to great seasons from a bad back which ended his career well before the age of thirty....

 

[sr edler]

Mike Richards scored 487 points. Was a PPG Selke calibre player at his peak, and later on a key cog on the 2012 Cup win.

I watched Dave Bolland's stats yesterday and the guy has 208 points, and is most likely done.

 

[Nick Hansen]

Sergei Makarov reached 384 pts in 424 games.

 

[iamjs]

if vermette hadn't become one of the league's top faceoff guys i'd say him. aside from faceoffs, he really doesn't do anything well

I was gonna say you could say the same thing about Yanic Perrault, except that I didn't realize Perrault put up slightly better numbers.

 

[Hobnobs]

Nominate Benoit Hogue for worst 500+ point guys

Benoit Hogue is also a glue line guy with intangibles.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Once you get into 600 point scorers, I think guys like Mike Bullard and MacLean may be among the weaker ones.

Bullard had one big season with the Flames.

MacLean played with Hawerchuk.

I have the impression that they were typical one-way 80s scorers who weren't elite at doing what they did best: scoring.

Then you have the likes of Vrbata and Brian Gionta (588 points in 1006 games).

I'd definitely rank all of them ahead of Boyes obviously...

 

[Nick Hansen]

Was Mike Sillinger really all that great? Twelve teams, 548 pts in 1049 games. -191 for his career. Career high of 59 pts which come to fruition during the infamous 06/07 season.

 

[Hobnobs]

Was Mike Sillinger really all that great? Twelve teams, 548 pts in 1049 games. -191 for his career. Career high of 59 pts which come to fruition during the infamous 06/07 season.

No he wasnt great but he was also a utility player who could up and down the line up and fill different roles on teams. Usually traded at the deadline for versatility in the playoffs. Still rate him higher than Boyes.

 

[frisco]

Martin Erat?

Best. Probably a defenseman or an old-timer. Amongst modern forwards maybe Mike Peca or Derek Sanderson. Top notch defenders.

My Best-Carey

 

[Hobnobs]

Martin Erat?

Best. Probably a defenseman or an old-timer. Amongst modern forwards maybe Mike Peca or Derek Sanderson. Top notch defenders.

My Best-Carey

Thats actually a good candidate. One dimensional with little to offer but a wrist shot and good vision to set up linemates. One decent playoffs. Pretty average international record. Boyes vs Erat might be a good comparison.

 

[VanIslander]

Radek Dvorak only once even reached the 20 goal mark, never hit the 40 assist mark and only scored 590 points because he played 1260 games as a marginal offensive player on nonplayoff teams. In his 18 year career, 14 of those times his team never made the playoffs! And the only two years when his team won a playoff series, he was a bit passenger (Florida in epic 1996 he scored 1 goal, 3 assists in 16 playoff games; Edmonton in 2006 he scored zero goals, 2 assists in 16 playoff games with 13 minutes of ice time).

Martin Erat?

No way. As any of us Preds fans will tell you: He did much more than just score. He had intangibles like backchecking, forechecking, hustle, consistent work ethic, leadership. I was impressed with him in the Memorial Cup and in Nashville. Why do you think he was traded for star prospect Forsberg? Because of everything he brought to the table. Only, after 10 seasons in Nashville, the 31-year-old Erat didn't have much left in the tank with and without the puck.

Erat was recently named the 8th greatest Predator ever in the top-50 players for each NHL franchise!! (just ahead of Hamhuis and just behind Josi). For much of a decade he played a 120-ft game night in and night out and the alternate captain did everything he could for us and is still much appreciated by us fans of Nashville. His name does not deserve consideration here. Comparing him to Boyes is a travesty.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Had never heard of Libbett before, to be quite honest, but found an account suggesting he was a good, hard-nosed, two-way player, albeit on some bad teams:

Everybody pummelled Magnusson.

 

[YEM]

for best:
Mikael Renberg, 464 points

 

[GlitchMarner]

for best:
Mikael Renberg, 464 points

Yeeeaaahhhh.... about that...

He was good very early on and then injuries made him slower and his scoring touch eroded over time.

On TOR, he was just a glorified plugger saddling Sundin.

 

[The Panther]

Bullard had one big season with the Flames.

Bullard had a 50-goal season with the Penguins just before Mario was drafted, and was actually a pretty reliable 80s' scorer. But, as you mention, he was kinda one-note -- a power-play specialist with Calgary. The prototypical 80s' player, down to the porn-stache.

(But over 600 points, so he's out...)

 

[Hobnobs]

Radek Dvorak only once even reached the 20 goal mark, never hit the 40 assist mark and only scored 590 points because he played 1260 games as a marginal offensive player on nonplayoff teams. In his 18 year career, 14 of those times his team never made the playoffs! And the only two years when his team won a playoff series, he was a bit passenger (Florida in epic 1996 he scored 1 goal, 3 assists in 16 playoff games; Edmonton in 2006 he scored zero goals, 2 assists in 16 playoff games with 13 minutes of ice time).


No way. As any of us Preds fans will tell you: He did much more than just score. He had intangibles like backchecking, forechecking, hustle, consistent work ethic, leadership. I was impressed with him in the Memorial Cup and in Nashville. Why do you think he was traded for star prospect Forsberg? Because of everything he brought to the table. Only, after 10 seasons in Nashville, the 31-year-old Erat didn't have much left in the tank with and without the puck.

Erat was recently named the 8th greatest Predator ever in the top-50 players for each NHL franchise!! (just ahead of Hamhuis and just behind Josi). For much of a decade he played a 120-ft game night in and night out and the alternate captain did everything he could for us and is still much appreciated by us fans of Nashville. His name does not deserve consideration here. Comparing him to Boyes is a travesty.

If Dvorak is terrible then Erat is even worse. That hes the 8th greatest predator has a lot to do with that the franchise isnt old enough to have had better player and is more of a reflection of the franchise historically inept forward corps than Erat himself. No offense Preds fans but you cant say Preds has had any strong offensive player in its history atleast not for an extended period of time.

 

[GlitchMarner]

If Dvorak is terrible then Erat is even worse. That hes the 8th greatest predator has a lot to do with that the franchise isnt old enough to have had better player and is more of a reflection of the franchise historically inept forward corps than Erat himself. No offense Preds fans but you cant say Preds has had any strong offensive player in its history atleast not for an extended period of time.

I didn't follow either player closely, but I think Erat probably was better than Dvorak.

Erat's PPG average was much higher and he did place 40th and 43rd in Selke voting (not that those are massive accomplishments by any means). Dvorak's best finish in voting for any award was finishing 18th in Byng voting one year.

I don't really know what to make of Dvorak's career. He was a guy who had some talent, but he consistently put up only 27 to 50 points for much of his career. I didn't realize he hung around that long. I also didn't know he only had 2 goals and 7 points in 39 playoff games.

 

[Hobnobs]

I didn't follow either player closely, but I think Erat probably was better than Dvorak.

Erat's PPG average was much higher and he did place 40th and 43rd in Selke voting (not that those are massive accomplishments by any means). Dvorak's best finish in voting for any award was finishing 18th in Byng voting one year.

I don't really know what to make of Dvorak's career. He was a guy who had some talent, but he consistently put up only 27 to 50 points for much of his career. I didn't realize he hung around that long. I also didn't know he only had 2 goals and 7 points in 39 playoff games.

Its not really that complicated. Dvorak and Erat have basically the same production but Erats raw numbers looks better because of he peaked ~06. Dvoraks productions is hammered by playing for ultra defensive teams in the DPE. Not saying Erat didnt play under similar team conditions but there is a great difference. Dvorak was iirc more relied on PK situations.

Dvoraks lack of playoffs results looks bad but one should also consider that he played 4 playoffs and one of them he was basically a checker (06) and in 03 he was recovering from a broken hand.

When VanI says his point totals looks more impressive because he played so many games Id say its the other way around. If he hadnt played all those extra games as a role player his numbers wouldve looked much better.

 

[sharkhawk]

Best. Dirk graham? 489 points. 30 goal 78 point scorer. 4 times 20 goals. 91 sleek. Captain of 92 hawks cup team. Member of 91 Canada cup team

Edit. Sleek is supposed to be Selke. Damn auto correct

 

[Hobnobs]

For best player not to get 500 points I nominate Sid Abel and Pierre Pilote.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

In a few years the answer to "worst" will be Sam Gagner.

 

[VanIslander]

As far as below 500... pretty easily Howie Morenz.

Without a doubt.

For those who missed it. This guy: