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Best Players to Just Not Get the Shot in the NHL

Albatros said:
In 1988 Washington offered him an NHL contract and a Swedish second league team a few beers. He took the beers and went to Malmö. Lindmark had no interest in going to North America (or probably even Stockholm).
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Interesting. I had just read an article that he was quoted in about coming over, but again, that was back in '84...tastes can change. The Caps got Don Beaupre around this time, they probably netted a fairly similar outcome I imagine.
 
I am Bettman said:
Yes, but he was a hall of fame player which means that it is reasonable to conclude that he received a bigger chance than a player who is a bottom six level player but still good enough for the nhl. So if a hall of fame level player only got 2 small shots, doesn’t it make sense logically that there are bottom six level players who received no chances?
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What you’re saying proves the other guy’s hypothesis that those who should be in the NHL inevitably find a way to prove it. He was given a sliver of opportunity and he made a HHOF career out of it.
 
Michael Farkas said:
Interesting. I had just read an article that he was quoted in about coming over, but again, that was back in '84...tastes can change. The Caps got Don Beaupre around this time, they probably netted a fairly similar outcome I imagine.
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He was a colorful personality to say the least, from the far north like Salming. Highly talented and competitive, but no work ethic to speak of. Basically maintained the attitude of a beer leaguer that just happened to be good enough for the highest levels.
 
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Dmitri Kvartalov?

72 points in 73 games as a rookie for the Bruins in 92-93 - Then played 39 games the next year and only had 19 points. He played in the A that same year and had 26 points in 23 games... Then poof.

He went to Europe for the rest of his career but looking back, man, he had a damn strong rookie season for the Bruins.
 
Kvartalnov was already 28 and didn't play the right way™. Fine offensive instincts but non-physical and defensively suspect, that just didn't fly in Boston after the Bruins were swept by the Sabres in the playoffs and Kvartalnov was a complete non-factor after having been a top-line forward in the regular season. Even with his flaws he would have been good enough to make a longer NHL career with a bad team, I don't think the Senators would have got rid of him.
 
Watching Ralph Intranuovo here in Cape Breton, we all felt if he was born 15 years later, he would have been an NHL player for a good 10 years.
 
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HarrySPlinkett said:
Hot take: nobody who’s actually good enough to play in the NHL has ever not made it.

I’m not talking about some five foot six skill player like a Matthew Phillips who’s got talent but obvious physical limitations.

I’m talking about a player with the ability to take a regular shift in the NHL, who’s reliable defensively, and can finish around the net/be physical/not have the play die every time he touches the puck.

Maybe back when there were six teams sure - but in the post-expansion era?

Not happening. If you can play, you can play.
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I bet a whole host of Eastern Bloc players could've thrived in the NHL had teams properly known how to integrate and enculturate them. It's a process teams have learned to do over the past 30 years.

The game was much different back in the day. Less globalized. Throwing some ex-Soviet fresh off the boat onto NHL ice and telling him "here's your chance" isn't as much of a chance as it seems.
 
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It's not like the NHL has ever taken much care of its players, foreign or otherwise. In Europe it's long been normal for professional organizations to take care of all of the basic needs of their players, certainly the foreign imports. They can focus on hockey while the team finds them an apartment, car, kindergarten for the kids etc. In the NHL the attitude has long been learn to swim fast or drown and someone else will take your place.
 
As others have said, Corey Locke. Apparently NHL scouts know what they're doing - I remember being dumfounded that he fell to the 4th round. Players who dominate the OHL as thoroughly as Locke did in his draft year invariably become good NHL players, usually stars. He must've been an outright bad skater - I was too young to really pay close attention, but I did follow the stat sheets. Really weird outlier
 
Dhockey16 said:
As others have said, Corey Locke. Apparently NHL scouts know what they're doing - I remember being dumfounded that he fell to the 4th round. Players who dominate the OHL as thoroughly as Locke did in his draft year invariably become good NHL players, usually stars. He must've been an outright bad skater - I was too young to really pay close attention, but I did follow the stat sheets. Really weird outlier
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I watched lots of Locke when he was in Hamilton. Offensive wizard at that level but his skating, defensive play and size wasn't a combo for NHL success. The ultimate AAAA player they talk about in the MLB, Locke was that guy.
 
blink said:
I watched lots of Locke when he was in Hamilton. Offensive wizard at that level but his skating, defensive play and size wasn't a combo for NHL success. The ultimate AAAA player they talk about in the MLB, Locke was that guy.
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That seems like a fair assessment. His OHL performance is just a really big outlier. 151 points in his D+1 season (technically his draft year, but he went unselected his first year of eligibility) is way more than Marner, Perry, Ryan, Strome, Spezza etc put up in their D+1 season. Pretty good evidence scouts get paid for a reason.
 
You'll never convince me Josh Ho-Sang wouldn't have turned into a solid middle 6 player if he was given an actual shot
 
Nogatco Rd said:
Goalie Zach Fucale, drafted 36th overall by the Canadiens in 2013.

4 GP in 8 years: 1.75 GAA, .924 SV%. Longest shutout streak to start a career in NHL history, 138:31.

Now starting for Traktor in the KHL.
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IIRC , he was fairly good at the WJCs. Everyone touted him to be a legit starter from I remember.
 
Slats432 said:
I have to add Jani Rita. The Oilers butchered his development and by the end he was playing on the 4th line with a defenseman.
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Jani Rita had one incredible season before KHL goalies learned his small tricks. Most seasons he would not have stood out in Liiga. Maybe Oilers ruined him, more likely he was just stronger than his peers in juniors which let him look really good.
 
mattihp said:
Jani Rita had one incredible season before KHL goalies learned his small tricks. Most seasons he would not have stood out in Liiga. Maybe Oilers ruined him, more likely he was just stronger than his peers in juniors which let him look really good.
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I would say that is accurate. By the time he was near the end they had a defenseman playing the wing on his line. :thumbd:
 
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This is my vote. Dude played in our best beer league in our town, which is nothing special ofcourse, but full of a bunch of D3 players and some D1. It was other wordly how easy he made it every game. Sounds like he never was given a real chance and then got too old and couldnt jump ahead of the young guys.

 
conFABulator said:
Fred Perlini? Early eighties Maple Leaf. Who knows what was happening back then with that organization or what the whole story was.

8 gp, 5 points.

He put up decent AHL numbers and then went on to have a ridiculous career in the UK. Ridiculous. I don't even understand what the scores must have been in those games for him to put up those numbers.

Quite honestly, this thread (a good one) was just an opportunity to post his UK stats
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Cool choice.

I remember Fred starring with Soo Legion midgets. Greyhounds didn’t draft him and I was pissed.

Went to Toronto Marlboros and had a good junior career there.

Thanks for triggering the memory bank.
 
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