These players had truly exceptional seasons. But they could have been even better if they weren’t derailed by one circumstance or another
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The Countdown: Shortened Greatness - Jun. 1, 2020 - Vol. 73, Iss. 07 – Brian Costello
PATRICK MARLEAU should have a pretty special career achievement right this minute if not for circumstances completely out of his control.
The 40-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins winger – remember, he was acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline – could, should, would be the NHL all-time leader in games played if not for 129 games missed due to two lockouts and a season curtailed by COVID-19. Marleau stands at 1,723 regular-season games, fifth all-time but just 44 behind Gordie Howe’s 40-year-old record of 1,767 games.
We’re not sure if Marleau will be back at 41 in 2020-21 to resume his hunt, but it would be a shame if work stoppages, rather than injuries or a stark drop-off in play, were the primary reason why he fell short.
We’re using Marleau as a proxy in this subjective Countdown look at individual outstanding single-season performances shortened by circumstance – whether it be injury, lockout, even contract dispute. Some are unforgettable, others linger only in the minds of hockey historians.
The durability and resilience of Marleau is something to behold. Not only has he been able to contribute for 22 NHL seasons, he’s been able to maintain good health. Should he decide to return, he could top Doug Jarvis’ record of consecutive games sometime in late 2021.
1. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
MARIO LEMIEUX, 27,1992-93Cancer forced him to miss two months and 24 games. Still won the scoring title. Prorated totals: 97 goals, 224 points.
2. BOSTON BRUINS
CAM NEELY, 28,1993-94Bad hip limited him to 49 games – yet he still potted 50 goals. A healthy Neely surely beats Fedorov for the Hart.
3. EDMONTON OILERS
WAYNE GRETZKY, 23,1983-84Missed just six games, but had he not, he would’ve blown past iconic records of 92 goals, 212 points from ’81-82.
4. FLORIDA PANTHERS
PAVEL BURE, 28,1999-2000With 58 goals in 74 games, a full season would’ve produced a third 60-goal season and maybe a Hart over Pronger.
5. ANAHEIM DUCKS
PAUL KARIYA, 23,1997-98Contract dispute and concussion limited him to 22 games. Pace of 63 goals, 116 points would have won the scoring race.
6. BUFFALO SABRES
PAT LAFONTAINE, 26,1991-92Concussions held him to 57 games, yet he still almost had 100 points. Prorated 131 would have tied leader Lemieux.
7. SAN JOSE SHARKS
PATRICK MARLEAU, 40,2019-20He’d likely be third on all-time ironman list at 900 straight games without work stoppages in 2012-13 and this season.
8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
MIKE BOSSY, 29,1986-87Played just a handful of his 752 games as a 30-year-old. Only non-50-goal season was 38 in 63 games in his final year.
9. DETROIT RED WINGS
STEVE YZERMAN, 22,1987-88Scored 50 and finished fourth for Hart. Missing 16 games robbed him of chance at three straight 60-goal seasons.
10. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, 33,2017-18Finished fifth in Vezina voting for first-year franchise. He likely would have won had he not missed 25 games.
11. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
MIKE GREEN, 23,2008-09Scored 31 and lost Norris by a sliver to Chara. Missed 14 games – his 37 prorated goals would be fifth-most by D-man.
12. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
WENDEL CLARK, 27,1993-94Like Matthews, missed time cost Clark 50 goals. He had career-high 46 in 64 games. He was on pace for 60 goals.
13. COLORADO AVALANCHE
PETER FORSBERG, 30,2003-04Reigning Hart, Art Ross winner with 106 points was limited to 39 games. On pace for career-high 38 goals, 116 points.
14. MONTREAL CANADIENS
LARRY ROBINSON, 29,1980-81Was in close battle with Carlyle and Potvin for Norris. Robinson’s 15 missed games surely cost him his third Norris.
15. ST. LOUIS BLUES
CHRIS PRONGER, 26,2000-01Edged Jagr and Bure in Hart voting the year before. This season, he scored at a career-best pace but missed 31 games.
16. CALGARY FLAMES
GARY ROBERTS, 26,1992-93Power forward was coming off 53-goal season. His 38 goals and 79 points in 58 games prorate to 55 goals, 114 points.
17. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
BOBBY ORR, 28,1976-77Playing on one good leg with new team, he was on pace for close to 100 points before another devastating knee injury.
18. NEW YORK RANGERS
JEAN RATELLE, 31,1971-72Rangers could have had three 50-goal scorers. Vic Hadfield had 50 in 78 games, Ratelle 46 in 63 and Rod Gilbert 43 in 73.
19. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
ERIC LINDROS, 21,1994-95Won only Hart in this lockout-shortened year. His 128-point pace for a full 84 games would have been one for ages.
20. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
STEVEN STAMKOS, 23,2013-14A broken leg cost him Olympic duty and a third 50-goal season. Scored at a 55-goal pace through 37 games.
21. LOS ANGELES KINGS
ROB BLAKE, 29,1998-99Reigning Norris winner was limited to 62 games. Blake was top-five in Norris voting each of the next four seasons.
22. CAROLINA HURRICANES
DOUGIE HAMILTON, 26,2019-20Eighth-year D-man has upped his goal production every year. Played 47 games but was on pace for 24 goals, 70 points.
23. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
RICK NASH, 21,2005-06Won the Richard with 41 goals at 19 in ’03-04. After the lockout, Nash was held to 54 games, but his pace was 47 goals.
24. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
VIKTOR ARVIDSSON, 25,2018-19Missed all but four games in November and December. For the other 54 games, he scored at a near 50-goal pace.
25. NEW JERSEY DEVILS
MARTIN BRODEUR, 36,2008-09Runaway leader could have another 30 wins and half-dozen shutouts (and fifth Vezina) if not for time lost to torn bicep.
26. WINNIPEG JETS
PATRIK LAINE, 18,2016-17Matthews was a worthy Calder winner. But what if Laine hadn’t missed nine games? Was on pace to outscore rival.
27. VANCOUVER CANUCKS
JACOB MARKSTROM, 29,2019-20He was in the Vezina conversation before February injury, near the top of NHL in wins and save percentage.
28. DALLAS STARS
DERIAN HATCHER, 27,1999-2000Got Norris votes the previous season. Averaged almost 28 TOI and had near career-best point pace in 57 games.
29. ARIZONA COYOTES
ANTTI RAANTA, 28,2017-18Injuries sidelined him for 22 games and took him out of Vezina conversation. Raanta had .930 SP and 2.24 GAA.
30. OTTAWA SENATORS
WADE REDDEN, 28,2005-06Hailed as a future Norris winner, he came closest with a career-high 50 points, finishing fifth; missed 17 games to injury.
31. MINNESOTA WILD
MATHEW DUMBA, 24,2018-19Coming off a 50-point season and riding a star trajectory, he was on a 56-point pace before a torn pectoral.
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