Al Bundy*
Guest
I say it's Jacques Richard, mainly because of the disparity between that season and other seasons.
Comparing some other unexpected 50-goal scorers:
Milan Hejduk had 36 goals in 1999-00 and 41 in 2000-01.
Bernie Nicholls was a consistent 30+ goal scorer, plus he already had seasons of 41 and 46 goals long before Gretzky came to LA.
Jonathan Cheechoo had a 37 goal season the year after he had 56.
Gary Leeman scored 30 and 32 goals in the seasons before he went off for 51, so it's not like he couldn't find the net prior to that season.
Brian Bellows had 2 40-goal seasons prior to his 55-goal season, and he added a third a few years later.
Contrast that to Jacques Richard, whose next best season was 27 goals. At least most of the other members could hit at least 30 goals.
Comparing some other unexpected 50-goal scorers:
Milan Hejduk had 36 goals in 1999-00 and 41 in 2000-01.
Bernie Nicholls was a consistent 30+ goal scorer, plus he already had seasons of 41 and 46 goals long before Gretzky came to LA.
Jonathan Cheechoo had a 37 goal season the year after he had 56.
Gary Leeman scored 30 and 32 goals in the seasons before he went off for 51, so it's not like he couldn't find the net prior to that season.
Brian Bellows had 2 40-goal seasons prior to his 55-goal season, and he added a third a few years later.
Contrast that to Jacques Richard, whose next best season was 27 goals. At least most of the other members could hit at least 30 goals.