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

[SirPaste]

Magnus Pajaarvi could have been a two way monster if he had any offensive instincts at all, could skate like the wind and was a good defensive forward but he is where offense went to die. Can't tell you how many times he could get the puck burn past some defenders and then just cough up the puck or try his patented wrap around move that literally never worked once.

 

[Three On Zero]

Kravtsov

 

[Killer Orcas]

Imagine Matthew Tkachuk also being as tough as Kassian instead of just running him from behind then turtling. Don't mean to say Tkachuk isn't a star but he could have been Neely level with having the muscle to back up his play.

 

[jfhabs]

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

Either IQ and meanness/toughness could work for him

 

[winnipegger]

If Laine could impose himself physically like Jagr or Forsberg he would be a 100+ point player with 50+ goals every year. Instead he has the legs of a deer on a frozen lake.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Adam fox would be a superstar if he could score goals.

Had 17 last season , he can do it

 

[AvroArrow]

Brodie in his prime was legitimately one of the best skaters in the league

I mean skating like how Makar/McDavid skate

 

[Jack Spider]

Xhekaj has a strong shot and can send wristers through traffic. He can slap as hard as Weber. He lacks fluidity in his skating to be able to find more opportunities throughout the game.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Either IQ and meanness/toughness could work for him

Toughness, I didn't even think about it but I agree, that would be a huge plus

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If Byfield had the confidence of even a 3 beers drunk guy he would be unstoppable

I'm not sure if he's still in the league, but when Austin Wagner was on the Kings I thought that if he had even league average finishing he could've been special. The dude was one of the fastest skaters I've seen and would get breakaways almost every game but never finish

God seriously

I've never seen a guy turn Erik Karlsson around like he was in tar multiple times

And then promptly put the puck into the 12th row

 

[Breakers]

Matthew with Brady’s skating


My god that would be a force

 

[Master P]

If Michael Eyssimont could finish his chances then he'd be another Brandon Hagel.

 

[jfhabs]

Matthew with Brady’s skating


My god that would be a force

Brady Tkachuk skating isn't a strength...

 

[cjm502]

Rasmussen if he had a pair of cajones

 

[Breakers]

Brady Tkachuk skating isn't a strength...

Better than his brother rather easily

 

[RipsADrive]

A stretch say he would have been a superstar, but Yakupov could have made it as a star if he had even average hockey sense. Fast skater, good hands, rocket shot, and bowling ball style physicality where he was short but strong and heavy.

As everyone knows though, the guy was perhaps among the dumbest players in the league and would never be in the right spot or make the correct play.

To be fair he did have Dallas Eakins trying to show him the ropes which can't have helped.

 

[HTFN]

If Byfield had the confidence of even a 3 beers drunk guy he would be unstoppable



God seriously

I've never seen a guy turn Erik Karlsson around like he was in tar multiple times
And then promptly put the puck into the 12th row

That snatch back deke from the other week was one of the nastiest things I’ve seen done to a guy, and this post might make me eat crow on some shit I said about the guy in our local board’s trade thread but if he finds that consistently he’s trouble

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

A stretch say he would have been a superstar, but Yakupov could have made it as a star if he had even average hockey sense. Fast skater, good hands, rocket shot, and bowling ball style physicality where he was short but strong and heavy.

As everyone knows though, the guy was perhaps among the dumbest players in the league and would never be in the right spot or make the correct play.

To be fair he did have Dallas Eakins trying to show him the ropes which can't have helped.

Solid pick.

Reminds me I should add one of my all-time favorites, Max Afinogenov, to the list. He had some good seasons, but coulda been great with either hockey iq or anything resembling a decent shot.

 

[ESH]

I mean skating like how Makar/McDavid skate

Just seems kinda unnecessary considering his best attribute was already his skating

 

[Melkor]

Solid pick.

Reminds me I should add one of my all-time favorites, Max Afinogenov, to the list. He had some good seasons, but coulda been great with either hockey iq or anything resembling a decent shot.

Yeah, I loved Mad MAx's game too, he was still pretty good even without a good shot but it would sure help his game.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

kinda surprised no one has mentioned sprong. dude would be a star if he could even spell defense

 

[Norwegianoiler]

Filip Zadina would have been like a top, top pick if he could just fill the nets with pucks.

 

[The Real JT]

The Queen.

If she had b@lls, she’d be the King.

 

[crazynaiman]

Of course John Tavares. Yes, he is a superstar. But we all know what he lacks - skating (aka speed).

 

[crazynaiman]

Ryan O'Reilly - If he had received enough hype, but that's the fate of playing at the same time as Bergeron, who got all the glory