Greatest 'Foreign' player ever who graced the NHL?

[Albatros]

Jagr's lone top GPG was in 1996/97 when Lemieux assisted 47% of his goals

Aha? Playing with Lemieux in his prime Jágr was the Robin, nothing more would have been available to Ovechkin either.

 

[57special]

I don't know how to choose, as their skillsets were so different. A goalie, a Dman, a sniper wing, and a pass first (sorta) hybrid. They sure would make a nice core of a team, though.

If i had to start a team i would pick Lidstrom or Hasek.

 

[HisNoodliness]

I think Jagr or Ovie probably had the best careers. Their numbers just pop in a way that goalies and defenseman can't replicate. Hasek was the most dominant at his peak. The guy almost won Buffalo that cup by himself.

But if they were all in the NHL draft today and I had 1st overall, I'd take Lidstrom. He completely alters the complexion of any team he is on. He'll spend half of every game on the ice, and you will win that half no matter who he is against and who he is with. He didn't miss the playoffs a single time in his twenty year career. I also maintain that if not for early career Norris snubs when the NHL had a culture of giving it to established stars that had put in their dues, he'd have won three to six more times early in his career (though this same effect got him his last Norris that he probably didn't deserve). In my lifetime, I haven't watched any other player have the same level of consistently dominant play for so long.

 

[Randyne]

Playing with Lemieux in his prime Jágr was the Robin

Agreed.
That's why Ovechkin is the answer to this thread.

 

[Shark Finn]

Jaromir Jagr. It's crazy he put up 1,921 points and he could have gone well past 2,000pts if he didn't leave for the KHL for 3 seasons. If you figure he would put up at least 70pts in each of those 3 seasons he left the KHL for, likely more if he was on better teams, probably finish around 2,150-2,250pts or so.

After Jagr, it'd be hard not to say Ovechkin.

IIRC Jagr stated those years in the KHL revived his career and if not for them he would've retired years ago.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Hašek was the best, Lidström the greatest.

Visa versa for me.

 

[NVious]

You can't go wrong with any of them tbh. Toss up.

But I do agree you take Hasek or Lidstrom to start a team just because how important the position is vs a winger.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

The Players Tribune?

Here’s Paul Martin’s article saying good bye to Pittsburgh
“
At the start of last season, one of the guys put on this clip from the movie Semi-Pro in the locker room. If you’ve never seen the movie, Will Ferrell plays a washed up ’70s ABA basketball player named Jackie Moon, and he ends up boxing a grizzly bear as part of the post-game entertainment. Long story short, before Jackie gets in the ring with the Dewey the Bear, the animal trainer tells him that if he’s in any real danger, just yell out “Spumoni.” That’s his safe word.

So he gets in the ring and Dewey is just confused at first. Then Jackie karate chops him in the neck and the bear jumps up and starts attacking. Jackie’s yelling out “Spumoni! Spumoni! Not my hair! The only thing I care about is my hair!”

Flash forward to a game a few weeks later. I get caught out on a long shift with Rob Scuderi, and we are getting peppered. We just couldn’t get the puck out of our end or even get a whistle, and Marc-Andre Fleury is standing on his head making save after save. Flower is hooting and hollering after every shot like he usually does. And I mean we just can’t get the puck out. We’re so gassed. Finally, another shot comes in from the point and Scuderi yells out, “Spumoni! Spumoni!”

I’m in the corner just dying. We eventually get a whistle and I’m practically doubled over laughing, trying to hide it as I’m skating to the bench. If Scuds would’ve finished the scene with, “If you have a small child, use it as a shield!” they probably would’ve had to stretcher me off the ice.“

Thank You, Pittsburgh | By Paul Martin

My time in Pittsburgh came to an end yesterday when I signed with the San Jose Sharks, and guys like Rob Scuderi and Marc-Andre Fleury are part of what make it

www.theplayerstribune.com

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s Ovechkin. The greatest goal scorer of all time, and in his prime also one of the most physical players of all time, and also nearly unique in his durability and longevity as a star, and also one of the great personalities of the game.

I see the case for the other three and they are all great in their own right. But Ovechkin is just a different breed, it’s like he was made in a lab to be an NHL superstar.

 

[Albatros]

nearly unique in his durability and longevity as a star

Lidström won the Norris age 41, Ovechkin his final award so far at 34.

 

[kp61c]

Imagine how many points Jagr would have if he didn't spend those 2 seasons in the Bolivian Hockey League.

he spend 3 seasons in the khl and wasn't even a ppg player there, lol

 

[Honour Over Glory]

IIRC Jagr stated those years in the KHL revived his career and if not for them he would've retired years ago.

No, with Jagr it was probably money related far more than that. His gambling is no secret and the KHL threw a lot at him.

 

[Ben Grimm]

1. Hasek
2. Lidstrom
3. Jagr
4. OV

 

[Czechboy]

Jaromir Jagr. It's crazy he put up 1,921 points and he could have gone well past 2,000pts if he didn't leave for the KHL for 3 seasons. If you figure he would put up at least 70pts in each of those 3 seasons he left the KHL for, likely more if he was on better teams, probably finish around 2,150-2,250pts or so.

After Jagr, it'd be hard not to say Ovechkin.

2 lockout years too.

I can accept it was his fault for going to the KHL... but I always think 'what if' he played those 3 KHL seasons here and didn't have 2 lockouts. He was obviously durable and that's over 4 seasons missed.

 

[Guttersniped]

Why are you so mad?
2004/05 -50 G (2005/06 Ovechkin scored 52)
2012/13 -23 G (.67 GPG)
2019/20 -10 G (.71 GPG)
2020/21 -17 G (.53 GPG)
863+100=963 G and he can easily score 50-60 goals in ~150 games left. It's more than 1000 goals.
BTW WTH Sid is doing in this thread.

Jagr in 2005/06:
82 GP 54G 69A 123 Pts (won the Pearson)

Also
94/95 48 GP 32G 38A 70 Pts

So he could’ve had more points too without lockouts and leaving for the KHL for 3 years.

 

[WarriorofTime]

IIRC Jagr stated those years in the KHL revived his career and if not for them he would've retired years ago.

that's just platitudes, impossible to verify even by Jagr himself

 

[Czechboy]

Shame Hasek couldn't have come over earlier.. same with some of those Russians.

 

[Czechboy]

I also love that people think Lemieux carried Jagr to over 1700GP and damn near 2000 points. How long does everyone think Mario played with Jagr exactly?lol

Here is every single game Lemieux played for the Penns while Jagr was a member of the team. And not all of it was on the same line.

 

[um]

Lidström won the Norris age 41, Ovechkin his final award so far at 34.

Lidstrom won his first award at 30, first all star team at 26.

Ovechkin's first award was 20 (or 22 if you don't count Calder. First team all star team at 20.

 

[Mike C]

The guy who I thought for a very long time was the first - the great Anders Börje Salming.

Paved the way and was targeted for years on the ice because he was perceived as "soft".
Great mention!

 

[Randyne]

Jagr in 2005/06:
82 GP 54G 69A 123 Pts (won the Pearson)

Also
94/95 48 GP 32G 38A 70 Pts

So he could’ve had more points too without lockouts and leaving for the KHL for 3 years.

KHL was his willing. If I remember correctly w/o KHL he would quit.

 

[Skidooboy]

Probably Mike Modano. or Brian Leetch.

 

[Anemia]

Drai
Kurri
Tikannen

- not biased

 

[waitin425]

Ovechkin is going to pass one of Gretzky's record.

That puts him in #1. Jagr #2. Lidstrom #3. Hasek #4

 

[Bixby Snyder]

It may be a bit nitpicky but I think most would consider Stan Mikita to be Canadian.