if you could have any of the top four picks of the 1990 draft's career (just on-ice career, not career earnings... or wife), would you pick ricci's? i might.
up to 1995, after which ricci's offensive game falls off a cliff, he was still the second leading scorer from that draft, after you know who.
up to his cup win in 1996, he'd fallen to fourth but was still ahead of all three guys picked before him.
nolan and nedved pass him in the '97 season, primeau finally in the '99 season, eight years after the draft. ricci actually does take pass primeau back in the '00 season, before primeau takes it for good in '01.
ricci outscored nolan 38 points to 33 in the playoffs when they were on the same team (54 vs 51 games). in between stints as nolan's teammate, of course, ricci won the cup.
nolan-- by far the most elite regular season resume, never accomplished a lick in the playoffs, though he does have an olympic gold medal from 2002, though people generally look back on him making that team as a mistake. has a few high goals finishes but never made a post-season all-star team. 18 seasons, 1,200 games, 885 points; 65 playoff games, 40 points, won two rounds
nedved-- longtime good scorer, never was especially close to great. arguably better known for two protracted holdouts than anything he did on the ice and forced his way out of two very good hockey situations. not a lot to show for his time other than numbers and even though he had his career year with jagr and francis (and mario and zubov on the PP), he never finished top ten in anything. 15 seasons, 982 games, 717 points; 71 playoff games, 42 points, won 5 rounds
primeau-- until an unexpected run in what would be his last season, one of the worst playoff performers in the league. his talent and promise resulted in his team twice getting franchise-altering players when they traded him. never seriously considered for any awards, made two best-on-best team canadas but did not win. 15 seasons, 909 ganes, 619 points; 128 playoff games, 57 points, won 12 rounds
ricci-- in addition to the adulation already posted in this thread, topped out at 3rd and 4th in selke voting. 16 seasons, 1099 games, 605 points; 110 playoff games, 66 points, won 10 rounds and a cup