Players that would be stars/superstars if they were elite or good at one more skill

[Felidae]

So which players do you think would take their game to stardom or superstardom if they were elite or good at just one more skill?

Would be interesting to hear something specific rather than just generalized "goalscoring" or "skating", though that works too.

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[jetsforever]

Matt Rempe if he were way better at playing hockey

 

[Bouboumaster]

Justin Barron has no hockey IQ whatsoever, and would be a machine if he had it
Because he has everything else: shot, size, speed, etc

 

[GeeoffBrown]

I think Sam Bennett with a better shot would be insane.

 

[LokiDog]

I don’t know if he’d be a star, but if Chytil wasn’t extremely injury prone, he’s probably got a 60-70 point season under his belt and on a trajectory to keep improving and getting more ice time.

I know people will say he already is a star, but if Adam Fox could skate worth a damn he’d have been so much better than he is.

 

[MHO]

Patrick Maroon if he could skate. But I feel like that's a lot of players

 

[RedHawkDown]

If Darren helm could stick handle / had hands, he would have been Canadian pavel bure

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Me if I knew how to ice skate

 

[Norwegianoiler]

Evgeni Artyukhin, if he just had consistency to do this all the time.

 

[AD1066]

If Darren helm could stick handle / had hands, he would have been Canadian pavel bure

Grabner also. I think he was even faster, somehow.

 

[pi314]

Carl Hagelin had elite level skating but hands of stone.

 

[TheOrganist]

If Colton Parayko had better offensive ability and a mean streak he could’ve been Chris Pronger. No other big man skates and defends like him.

 

[Stive Morgan]

If Jake Evans had more offensive instinct/IQ, he'd be every team's dream middle 6 C. He's one of the best PKing forwards I've ever seen on the Habs besides Byron and Plekanec. He's been having a bit of a breakout/career year though, on pace for about 50 points. (his previous career high was 29)

I wouldn't be upset if he got traded and became a consistent 40-50 point defensive C (basically Phil Danault-lite) because I always liked him and want to see him succeed, even if it isn't with the Habs.

 

[PaulD]

Patrick Maroon if he could skate. But I feel like that's a lot of players

 

[tmg]

I mean Jack Hughes is already elite, but if that man could win a faceoff he’d be a demigod.

 

[PaulD]

Tie Domi if he could skate, shoot, and stick handle like Bob Probert.

 

[Mike C]

Matt Rempe if he were way better at playing hockey

The one skill he does have I'd take on the NYI all day every day

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Trent Frederic if he had any iq whatsoever

 

[wetcoast]

Me if I knew how to ice skate

You'd make a good beer league player no doubt.

Carl Hagelin had elite level skating but hands of stone.

Hoglander is the lite version, can really skate and even stickhandle at times but his hockey sense just isn't there.

 

[Fataldogg]

I don’t know if he’d be a star, but if Chytil wasn’t extremely injury prone, he’s probably got a 60-70 point season under his belt and on a trajectory to keep improving and getting more ice time.

I know people will say he already is a star, but if Adam Fox could skate worth a damn he’d have been so much better than he is.

Yup. Imagine if he could skate like Makar... whoa.

I'm tired of seeing Fox getting walked this season by any player who has modest speed. He gets burned repeatedly.

Remember prime McDonagh on Rangers? That was a guy who could skate and keep up with the vast majority of players in the NHL (I also think McDonagh is one of the best defensive defense men of his era).

I also think Lafreniere could be a star if he were a better skater.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

He's still young so he can improve on this but I think Mason Lohrei will improve greatly once his balance improves. He's pretty good at walking the line but I'm always worried he's gonna wipe out.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Carl Hagelin had elite level skating but hands of stone.

Every generation needs at least one Jason Chimera- that dude drove me nuts because he was big and could hit, too, just couldn’t handle the puck for shit.

Anyway, I’ll add that if Owen Power had one mean bone in his body he’d be a beast- instead he’s one of the softest players I’ve ever seen, and I’m a Sabres fan. Still rooting for the guy, I think the defense will improve, but that instinct for punishing dudes with his size- completely absent.

 

[LemonSauceD]

If Garland was 3 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier he would be a top 15 winger imo.

 

[Rafafouille]

I mean Jack Hughes is already elite, but if that man could win a faceoff he’d be a demigod.

My god you're not kidding.


924W-1656L for 35.8%. Is he even trying if he's still averaging 36.7% this year after 343 games? That's sad.

 

[Melkor]

Mike Green if he wasn't soft as baby shit
Daniel Briere if he was just simply bigger
Nick Backstrom would have been a Crosby if he had any kind of wheels
Kuznetsov would have been a Malkin if he cared about hockey a little more than about coke.
Samsonov would have been a Vasilevsky if he knew what "goalie fundamentals" are.
Andrey Kostitsyn if he wasn't an oilhead
Semyon Varlamov if he had a decent groin.