Best Final Seasons Of All Time

[Felidae]

Off the top of my head if i were to pick a best final season for each position, Bossy's last season, Ray Bourque being the runner up for the Norris, Bergeron winning a selke, and Dryden winning a vezina come to mind.

I think it's fair to say Dryden probably takes the title for best final season of all time considering he was voted best at his position.

But what are some other notable final seasons?

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[Hockey Outsider]

The first that comes to mind is Jean Beliveau (1971). He finished tied for 9th in scoring in the regular season (tied for third among non-Bruins!), and was 4th in year-end all-star voting. Then in the playoffs he helped Montreal win the Cup, finishing tied for 2nd on the team in points.

 

[MadLuke]

Dryden first team all-star, (pre 1982 vezina are a bit of a well....) winning the cup would be tempting.

But being 31 and having pretty much his career worst save percentage for what is worth make it not Ray Bourque or Beliveau level of romantic.

Roy was solid in his last season (4th vezina, 12th place hart, still top 10 in minute played in the league, both him and Belfour had great 37 years old season in 2003.

An other early retired was Scott Niedermayer, probably could have easily got and played a 3 years contract with the ducks.

48 pts was good for 12 in the league (among Ds), 2,120 minutes was 4th in the league, lead his team in short handed minutes per game or total. -8 does not look good, but the teams was really mediocre, Getzlaf-selanne missing time, no pronger-beauchemin anymore..

 

[norrisnick]

Konstantinov was also a Norris runner-up/Cup winner his final season. Shouldn't have been his final season...

 

[Staniowski]

Jacques Lemaire led the playoffs in both goals and points, and also scored the final goal of his final season. The Habs offered him a big raise but, like Dryden, he wanted to pursue other things.

Paul Reinhart was still playing well, was still young, but retired due to his chronic bad back.