Trophy winners who had mediocre careers.

[Steve Kournianos]

I cant consider Selke winners (especially the classic shut-down guys of the 1980's and 1990's) because defensive-minded fprwards will always have stats that look mediocre. Gretzky in his prime is quoted saying Guy was the best defensive forward he ever played against. I have a hard time saying he had a mediocre career.

I also wont consider Calder winners because eevery sport is awash with flash-in-the-pan rookies who take the league by storm (ahem, Blaine Lacher) and then become nobodies.

IMO, the biggest disappointment is Carey, who would probably cut off his arm to even have a career, let alone a mediocre one. It's amazing how he fell from grace in one of the greatest defensive periods in hockey history

 

[Big Phil]

Nothing against Bronco Horvath's career since he was very briefly part of the "Uke" line with Bucyk, but he was a late bloomer and then couldn't make the NHL in his early 30s. Yet in the same career he was one point away from the Art Ross Trophy in 1960 losing out to Bobby Hull. Kind of like an older version of Mikael Renberg in that sense, where he was weak on his own without good linemates

 

[Axxellien]

Bronco Horvath:

Excuse me, Bronco Horvath, after an injury laden 1960-61 season, was traded to Chicago, where he enjoyed a solid year..He was later relegated to Rochester by a Talent rich Toronto team....He continued to dominate AHL scoring until 1967...Boston should never have broken up the UKE line in the first place!! An unmitigated disaster!

 

[Bougieman]

IMO, the biggest disappointment is Carey, who would probably cut off his arm to even have a career, let alone a mediocre one. It's amazing how he fell from grace in one of the greatest defensive periods in hockey history

I remember the comic store I used to shop at had a bargain bin FILLED with these, and they looked like they had been sitting there for years. None of the kids wanted them. lol

 

[Cake or Death]

It's the wrong sport, but the first name that popped into my head was Buster Douglas.

 

[kmart]

Jim Carey, Jim Carey, Jim Carey !!! who is this guy ??? did he start an entertainment career after he busted ?

 

[FissionFire]

This thread wouldn't be complete without an Al Rollins mention

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Well, for a span of 10 years, Poulin was the 2nd best defensive center in the game, next only to Guy Carbonneau. And he did so while scoring at a 0.90 PPG pace per year (roughly) - and had two PPG years. He ranks 6th of all-time in SHG : the guys before him are Gretz, Messier, Yzerman, Lemieux and Goring : he's also ahead of Sakic and Fedorov in that department.

Basically, Poulin was good enough to be the first center of the 3rd best team of the 80ies. If I would have to compare him to a current player, it would be like having a guy like Kris Draper, but skilled enough to pull, year in, year out, seasons in the 55+pts range during a 10-year span.

As a long time Flyers fan I'll have to disagree with a few things.

He wasn't even the Flyers best defensive centerman ... Ron Sutter was that person, and the one that would play against Gretzky etc.

Poulin and Propp were an absolute lethal PK duo however.

Poulin was a good player ... ideally he would have been a #2 center. or even a super elite #3 center. His points came mostly from playing in between Brian Propp and Tim Kerr.

The current player he most compares to IMO is an in his prime Michael Peca. Poulin was a slightly better playmaker ... less physical Peca.

A great leader and captain .. and often injury prone come playoff time.

His post Flyers career with the Bruins and Caps ... he became more of a defensive specialist.

 

[RabbinsDuck]

This thread wouldn't be complete without an Al Rollins mention

I read through two pages, shocked to not see his name mentioned.
Is there a worse Hart winner? His Hart winning season is easily the worst one ever -- led the league in losses, goals against and went 12-47-7 -- "Hey! Let's give this guy the Hart!"

I know he won it largely because of the preceding season, but that is just plain weird... the weirdest of the weird Hart wins in the 50s.