Being the fun-loving guy that I am, I have decided to compile a list of who I think are the ten most unlucky players in recent NHL history.
Here they are, and remember these are recent NHL history, so some of these players may be retired:
10) Eric Lindros- Even though sometimes he asks for it, Eric has had more concussions than I can count on my fingers and toes. He seems to just go out to play one game, then announces a concussion and doesn't play ten more games.
9) Brent Gretzky- This poor young guy could not hold his job in the NHL for very long. He played the wing position for Tampa Bay, but could not live up to the extremely high expectations put on him, due to his older brother's success. Even though he was selected in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft in the third round, forty-ninth overall, people expected this thirteen-game NHL veteran to bring the Lightning through the ranks. He currently is playing for the Port Huron Beacons of the UHL.
8) Paul Kariya- A proven NHL superstar, Mr. Kariya has not had much success in the playoffs. Why do you ask; he has played in just fourteen games. His team cannot get to the playoffs, even under his leadership as captain. The pressure has been set on his coach (now Mike Bab*****) and himself every season. They are even more so this season, with the acquisitions of Adam Oates, Petr Sykora, Fredrik Olausson etc.
7) Brent Johnson- Despite Brent's heroics against the Chicago Blackhawks in the opening round of the playoffs last season which saw him shutout the opposition three straight games in a row, Brent has a problem that replays in his head day after day. He seems to remember a game against Detroit, which many say was the cause of the early exit for the Blues, where he thought he had an open lane to shoot the puck out. He did not seem to notice Wings' captain Steve Yzerman right in front of him. The puck hit Yzerman straight in the chest and popped into the gaping net. Johnson says of the goal, "It still haunts me."
6) Pat Lafontaine- Many believe this American would have broken every record held by a US born player in the NHL, had he not of been forced to retire due to concussions This man played for many NHL teams, but this was not what stopped him from his goal of breaking records. He finished his career with the New York Rangers at the tender age of thirty-three, only playing 865 games in his short-lived career. He never got the big goal either; a Stanley Cup ring.
5) Marc Bergevin- 'Bergy' has always been known around Pittsburgh and St. Louis especially as a solid, fun-loving defenseman. He always seems to be where he is needed on the rink, and he is always there to cheer up his teammates. But one mistake is all you will be remembered by for Blues (and Sharks) fans. A shot was taken by a Sharks player in the 2000 playoffs when Bergevin grabbed the rising shot. He then thought to throw it into the far corner, and did just that. But he was not paying attention where he was throwing it, and threw it into his own net, past then Blues goaltender Roman Turek. That would prove to be the game winning goal for the Sharks, who took that series in seven games.
4) Kirk McLean- This goaltender had a few spectacular years in his Vancouver days, but one problem with a teammate saw his exit in the NHL. His teammate Jeff Brown, who was nursing a foot injury while the Canucks left town for a three game road-trip, was good friends with Kirk McLean and his wife. But on that road-trip, Jeff got a little 'tipsy' and had McLean's wife cheat on him with Brown. When Kirk found out about it, he gained twenty pounds and began a drinking bend. After about a year, when Brown was traded away, Kirk stopped drinking and lost the twenty pounds. But he could not fully recover, and was shipped away to Carolina, who later traded him to Florida. He then was sent to the New York Rangers, where he played backup for Mike Richter in 2000-01, then retired from the NHL.
3) Geoff Courtnall- Irony defines this man's career. He had the same number of concussions (14) that he wore on his jersey for most of his career (14). He also had to end his seventeen-year career in 1999, when he was upended by Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan Berard. That hit to the head gave him the end of his career, and the end to his search for 800 points. He had to leave with 799 career points, also ending his career with an average of 79.9 games played in a season in his five-year career with the St. Louis Blues. Irony.
2) Cam Neely- Another great Canadian player, Cam Neely was expected to be one of the NHL's elite players of all-time. But another injury prone player means another tough road to get to that expectation. This true Bruin had his best season in 1989-90, when he scored ninety-two points in seventy-six games. Battling career-threatening injuries his entire career, he seemed he could not be destroyed. But finally, a degenerative hip condition forced Cam into early retirement at the age of thirty-one. He is still a Bruin to many though, and he is always recognized when on the streets of Boston.
1) Eric Lacroix- I know it is strange to see his name at the #1 spot, but you are telling me that if you are traded by your OWN FATHER you are not unlucky??!! Pierre Lacroix, GM of the Colorado Avalanche, sent his own son to the Los Angeles Kings in 1998 for Roman Vopat and a sixth round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He was then traded after twenty-seven games with the Kings to the New York Rangers for Pronger. No no no, not Chris Pronger, Sean Pronger. This guy is very unlucky, to be traded for Roman Vopat and Sean Pronger in the same season is outlawed in forty-eight states. The man had to have lost all self-confidence after his own father traded him, but then to move on to the Kings, Rangers and Senators in the matter of a year is a lot of packing. Can you imagine what Pierre Lacroix heard at home for this? Geez......
That is my top 10, just remember it is all in good fun. What do you think?