Best playoff by a player who didnt reach the Cup finals

Big Phil

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Nov 2, 2003
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This is a poll picking the best playoff run by a guy who not only didnt win the Stanley Cup that year but whose team didnt even make the finals.

Peter Forsberg 1999 - 24 points. Had to play Detroit and then lost to Dallas that year. Believe it or not Forsberg still led the playoff in points over any of the Stars. Modano, Hull and Nieuwendyk.

Rick Middleton 1983 - 33 points. Like Forsberg his team lost in the semis to the Isles, who won the Cup that year. Impressive thing about this run is that he had 19 points in the seven game series vs. the Sabres. That's the most points by a player in one series. Take that away and he still has 14 points in the other two series.

Peter Forsberg 2002 - 27 points. This is the year he took the regular season off and played in only the playoffs. He had agreat run this year, had some big goals and looked like the best player in the game. Again led the playoffs in points.

Doug Gilmour 1993 - 35 points. This is my personal favourite. He would have been an instant Conn Smythe Tophy winner if the Leafs had just gotten to the finals. Every series he was huge. Round 1 he scored the tying goal in game 7 vs. the Red Wings and then assisted on the OT winner. Round 2 he scores the OT winner in Game 1 vs. the Blues and then scores on a breakaway in game 7. Round 3 against the Kings he dominates game 1 on his own. Had the Leafs had as much heart as Gilmour did they's have won the Cup.
 

saskganesh

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Despite only two rounds, I'd go with Gretzky in 1981. Under his leadership the Oilers swept the Canadians in 3 and took the defending champs on the Island to 6, beginning the legendary Oilers-Islanders rivalry and serving notice that the Edmonton franchise, despite being the yougest team in the league, were coming of age fast . All serendiptiously documented in Gzowski's great book.

21 points in 9 games
 

Sens Rule

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Sep 22, 2005
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This is a poll picking the best playoff run by a guy who not only didnt win the Stanley Cup that year but whose team didnt even make the finals.

Peter Forsberg 1999 - 24 points. Had to play Detroit and then lost to Dallas that year. Believe it or not Forsberg still led the playoff in points over any of the Stars. Modano, Hull and Nieuwendyk.

Rick Middleton 1983 - 33 points. Like Forsberg his team lost in the semis to the Isles, who won the Cup that year. Impressive thing about this run is that he had 19 points in the seven game series vs. the Sabres. That's the most points by a player in one series. Take that away and he still has 14 points in the other two series.

Peter Forsberg 2002 - 27 points. This is the year he took the regular season off and played in only the playoffs. He had agreat run this year, had some big goals and looked like the best player in the game. Again led the playoffs in points.

Doug Gilmour 1993 - 35 points. This is my personal favourite. He would have been an instant Conn Smythe Tophy winner if the Leafs had just gotten to the finals. Every series he was huge. Round 1 he scored the tying goal in game 7 vs. the Red Wings and then assisted on the OT winner. Round 2 he scores the OT winner in Game 1 vs. the Blues and then scores on a breakaway in game 7. Round 3 against the Kings he dominates game 1 on his own. Had the Leafs had as much heart as Gilmour did they's have won the Cup.

I'll disagree on Gilmour winning the Smythe just if the Leafs made it to the final. The Leafs would have had to win the series for Killer to win the Smythe. Gretzky put on a performance of insane proportions for LA and wasn't the Smythe winner. If the Habs won Patrick Roy and his 10 OT wins was going to win the Smythe no matter what.
 

Transported Upstater

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Gilmour in 1993 is what made me a Leafs fan. He single-handedly changed me from an indifferent Sharks "fan" to an active and dedicated Toronto fan.

He got me to really, truly care about hockey.

I can't vote against him in this case.
 

Realm

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Jun 5, 2005
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Despite only two rounds, I'd go with Gretzky in 1981. Under his leadership the Oilers swept the Canadians in 3 and took the defending champs on the Island to 6, beginning the legendary Oilers-Islanders rivalry and serving notice that the Edmonton franchise, despite being the yougest team in the league, were coming of age fast . All serendiptiously documented in Gzowski's great book.

21 points in 9 games

Great book!
 

looooob

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Gilmour also led the entire NHL in playoff scoring in 86 on a Blues team that didn't make the finals

I don't like Gilmour much, but he had a few very good playoffs
 

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I'm going with Forsberg in 99. His playoff was derailed by Matvichuk horse collaring him and putting him face first into the boards.
 

Ogopogo*

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Had forsberg gone to the final in either 99 or 2002 there is no doubt in my mind he would have won the conn smythe.

In 2003, Doug Weight had an amazing first round with the St. Louis Blues. He was by far the best player on the ice in a 7 game series against the Vancouver Canucks. He put up 13 points in the 7 games but, unfortunately, the Blues were beaten.

It was a brilliant performance.


Wayne Gretzky's performance in the 1981 playoffs is also worth noting. He scored 9 points in a 3-0 sweep of the Montreal Canadiens before the Oilers bowed out of the playoffs in round 2.
 

God Bless Canada

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I was actually more impressed with Gilmour's performance in 1994 than 1993. He dominated series versus Chicago and San Jose in 1994. In fact, I believe he had one of the most productive series in NHL history against the Sharks. And he did it despite playing with a serious injury that would have likely kept him out of the lineup for six weeks under regular season circumstances.

I again go back to Neely's performance in 1991. 16 goals in 19 games. Not only did he dominate with his goal scoring prowess, he dominated physically. Those with the Bruins organization will tell you that their Stanley Cup hopes in 1991 died the moment Neely was injured.
 

Ofuzz

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Jul 11, 2006
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Best pre-final Player

This is a tough one to research but I have to agree with Gilmour as a skater, but there was also some great goaltending performances in the past. Both Lalime and Johnson had 3 staight shutouts in the pre-lims I believe (even though it was the trap era). Pre Trap era had Chico Resch in 1975 bringing the Isles from 3-0 down to defeat the Pens in the quarter-finals (including a 1-0 win in the deciding game) and then almost duplicating the feat after being down 3-0 to the Flyers and losing in game 7 in the Semis.

Myself, I'd have to go with Chico Resch in '75. But if we want to go even further and cut it off at one or two rounds........then it's easy. John "the Druce is loose" and also Chris Kontos from the '89 Kings. They were just plain weird to do what they did.
 

Sens Rule

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Sep 22, 2005
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This is a tough one to research but I have to agree with Gilmour as a skater, but there was also some great goaltending performances in the past. Both Lalime and Johnson had 3 staight shutouts in the pre-lims I believe (even though it was the trap era). Pre Trap era had Chico Resch in 1975 bringing the Isles from 3-0 down to defeat the Pens in the quarter-finals (including a 1-0 win in the deciding game) and then almost duplicating the feat after being down 3-0 to the Flyers and losing in game 7 in the Semis.

Myself, I'd have to go with Chico Resch in '75. But if we want to go even further and cut it off at one or two rounds........then it's easy. John "the Druce is loose" and also Chris Kontos from the '89 Kings. They were just plain weird to do what they did.

Well Chris Kontos got 9 goals and 0 assists in 11 games in 1989. Wayne Gretzky got 22 points in 11 games for the Kings that year in 2 rounds. I wonder who had a better playoff? Wayne or Kontos.

Kontos deserves to be in the one hit wonders type of list not on the greatest playoff performances list.

Lalime had some good series for the Sens in the playoffs and if you look at his Goals against average over his entire Senators career it is outstanding but he never "won" a playoff series for the Sens who were a very good team. I wouldn't put him on any list of the best playoff performances. I can think of many goalies who stood on their heads in the first 3 rounds and brought a poorer team farther than they should have got. Lalime was on a great team with an amazing defensive system and talent and really was not the biggest part of the reason the Sens won the series they did win with Lalime in net.

Joesph for Edmonton came up big several seasons and also for Toronto. Belfour was awesome for Toronto in the playoffs. Both had better playoffs in the seasons Toronto faced Ottawa in the playoffs than Lalime ever did.
 

pnep

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Most PTS by a player who didnt reach the Cup finals

Player -- SEASON -- Result -- TEAM -- POS -- PO GMS -- PO GLS -- PO AST -- PO PTS
=============================================================
Gilmour Doug -- 1992-93 -- Semifinal -- TOR -- C -- 21 -- 10 -- 25 -- 35
Middleton Rick -- 1982-83 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- RW -- 17 -- 11 -- 22 -- 33
Pederson Barry -- 1982-83 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- C -- 17 -- 14 -- 18 -- 32

Savard Denis -- 1984-85 -- Semifinal -- CHI -- C -- 15 -- 9 -- 20 -- 29
Gilmour Doug -- 1993-94 -- Semifinal -- TOR -- C -- 18 -- 6 -- 22 -- 28
Forsberg Peter -- 2001-02 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 20 -- 9 -- 18 -- 27
Lemieux Mario -- 1995-96 -- Semifinal -- PIT -- C -- 18 -- 11 -- 16 -- 27
Sakic Joe -- 1996-97 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 17 -- 8 -- 17 -- 25
Bourque Ray -- 1990-91 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- D -- 19 -- 7 -- 18 -- 25
Kerr Tim -- 1988-89 -- Semifinal -- PHI -- RW -- 19 -- 14 -- 11 -- 25

Forsberg Peter -- 1998-99 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 19 -- 8 -- 16 -- 24
Murphy Joe -- 1991-92 -- Semifinal -- EDM -- RW -- 16 -- 8 -- 16 -- 24
Lemieux Claude -- 1996-97 -- Semifinal -- COL -- RW -- 17 -- 13 -- 10 -- 23
Jagr Jaromir -- 1995-96 -- Semifinal -- PIT -- RW -- 18 -- 11 -- 12 -- 23
Bourque Ray -- 1982-83 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- D -- 17 -- 8 -- 15 -- 23
Stastny Peter -- 1984-85 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 18 -- 4 -- 19 -- 23
Propp Brian -- 1988-89 -- Semifinal -- PHI -- LW -- 18 -- 14 -- 9 -- 23

Adjusted numbers...

Player -- SEASON -- Result -- TEAM -- POS -- Adj. PO GMS -- Adj. PO GLS -- Adj. PO AST -- Adj. PO PTS
================================================================
Forsberg Peter -- 2001-02 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 20 -- 11 -- 21 -- 32

Gilmour Doug -- 1992-93 -- Semifinal -- TOR -- C -- 21 -- 8 -- 21 -- 29
Middleton Rick -- 1982-83 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- RW -- 18 -- 9 -- 19 -- 28
Forsberg Peter -- 1998-99 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 19 -- 9 -- 19 -- 28
Pederson Barry -- 1982-83 -- Semifinal -- BOS -- C -- 18 -- 12 -- 15 -- 27
Gilmour Doug -- 1993-94 -- Semifinal -- TOR -- C -- 18 -- 6 -- 21 -- 27
Lemieux Mario -- 1995-96 -- Semifinal -- PIT -- C -- 18 -- 11 -- 16 -- 27
Sakic Joe -- 1996-97 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 17 -- 8 -- 18 -- 26
Sittler Darryl -- 1976-77 -- Quarterfinal -- TOR -- C -- 12 -- 6 -- 19 -- 25
Savard Denis -- 1984-85 -- Semifinal -- CHI -- C -- 16 -- 8 -- 17 -- 25
Lemieux Claude -- 1996-97 -- Semifinal -- COL -- RW -- 17 -- 14 -- 11 -- 25

Weiland Cooney -- 1930-31 -- Quarterfinal -- BOS -- C -- 11 -- 12 -- 11 -- 23
Kamensky Valeri -- 1996-97 -- Semifinal -- COL -- LW -- 17 -- 8 -- 15 -- 23
Jagr Jaromir -- 1995-96 -- Semifinal -- PIT -- RW -- 18 -- 11 -- 12 -- 23
Sakic Joe -- 2001-02 -- Semifinal -- COL -- C -- 21 -- 11 -- 12 -- 23
 

pnep

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Career Totals
("No Final" seasons only) (1917-1918/2003-04)

Player -- Seasons -- PO GMS -- PO GLS -- PO AST -- PO PTS
=======================================================
Savard Denis -- 15 -- 155 -- 66 -- 104 -- 170

Gilmour Doug -- 17 -- 160 -- 49 -- 117 -- 166

Gretzky Wayne -- 10 -- 91 -- 48 -- 97 -- 145

Bourque Ray -- 18 -- 153 -- 29 -- 103 -- 132
Hull Brett -- 16 -- 132 -- 72 -- 58 -- 130

Oates Adam -- 13 -- 121 -- 32 -- 94 -- 126

Forsberg Peter -- 9 -- 100 -- 43 -- 76 -- 119
Jagr Jaromir -- 11 -- 101 -- 53 -- 64 -- 117
Nicholls Bernie -- 14 -- 118 -- 42 -- 72 -- 114
Hunter Dale -- 17 -- 165 -- 42 -- 72 -- 114
Stastny Peter -- 13 -- 93 -- 35 -- 77 -- 112
Macinnis Al -- 20 -- 134 -- 28 -- 82 -- 110

Sakic Joe -- 10 -- 110 -- 47 -- 62 -- 109
Yzerman Steve -- 16 -- 112 -- 47 -- 62 -- 109
Federko Bernie -- 11 -- 91 -- 35 -- 66 -- 101
Messier Mark -- 10 -- 99 -- 30 -- 70 -- 100
Larmer Steve -- 13 -- 99 -- 39 -- 61 -- 100

Adjusted numbers...

Player -- Seasons -- Adj. PO GMS -- Adj. PO GLS -- Adj. PO AST -- Adj. PO PTS
===========================================================
Gilmour Doug -- 17 -- 162 -- 45 -- 107 -- 152

Savard Denis -- 15 -- 158 -- 57 -- 89 -- 146

Forsberg Peter -- 9 -- 100 -- 49 -- 87 -- 136

Gretzky Wayne -- 10 -- 93 -- 44 -- 85 -- 129
Bourque Ray -- 18 -- 156 -- 27 -- 98 -- 125
Hull Brett -- 16 -- 132 -- 67 -- 56 -- 123
Jagr Jaromir -- 11 -- 101 -- 55 -- 68 -- 123
Sakic Joe -- 10 -- 110 -- 52 -- 70 -- 122

Oates Adam -- 13 -- 121 -- 28 -- 84 -- 112
Macinnis Al -- 20 -- 135 -- 28 -- 81 -- 109
Nicholls Bernie -- 14 -- 119 -- 38 -- 67 -- 105
Yzerman Steve -- 16 -- 112 -- 45 -- 57 -- 102
Mikita Stan -- 16 -- 132 -- 44 -- 56 -- 100
 
Last edited:

#66

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Great lists pnep. He'll never get a mention but Bernie Federko led all playoff scoring in '86 with 21 points. Maybe that number isn't as impressive as some others but he was just that awesome that year. Goulet was outstanding in '85 too.
 

pnep

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Goalies
("No Final" seasons only) (1917-1918/2003-04)

GOALIE -- SEASONS -- PO WINS
=========================
Roy Patrick -- 13 -- 75

Joseph Curtis -- 14 -- 62

Belfour Ed -- 11 -- 46

Moog Andy -- 11 -- 37
Fuhr Grant -- 10 -- 36
Potvin Felix -- 7 -- 35
Barrasso Tom -- 14 -- 33

Liut Mike -- 12 -- 29
Beaupre Don -- 12 -- 29
Osgood Chris -- 8 -- 29
Wregget Ken -- 11 -- 28
Hextall Ron -- 8 -- 28
Peeters Pete -- 10 -- 27
Millen Greg -- 11 -- 27
Hrudey Kelly -- 9 -- 26
Richter Mike -- 7 -- 25
 
Last edited:

octopi

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Dec 29, 2004
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Had forsberg gone to the final in either 99 or 2002 there is no doubt in my mind he would have won the conn smythe.

Forsberg, 2002, I'd say. He lead all players with tplayoff points. I was
floored the Wings shut him and the Avs out in two straight games....but then I heard he was injured.
 

Foy

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Jun 6, 2006
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John Druce's stats from 89-90:

Reg Season: 45 games 8 goals 3 assists 11 points
Playoffs: 15 games 14 goals 3 assists 17 points.


started off hot the next season before coming back down to earth and never really doing anything again.
 

NyQuil

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Jan 5, 2005
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I'm going to have to go with Weiland Cooney.

Is that the coolest name ever, or what?

Weiland Cooney -- 1930-31 -- Quarterfinal -- BOS -- C -- 11 -- 12 -- 11 -- 23
 

looooob

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Great lists pnep. He'll never get a mention but Bernie Federko led all playoff scoring in '86 with 21 points. Maybe that number isn't as impressive as some others but he was just that awesome that year. Goulet was outstanding in '85 too.

hmm you had said Federko for 86 and I said Gilmour...guess we were both right

both guys had 21 points, but Gilmour I think was given the 'official' lead given he had more goals
 

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