Best players to never play in a Stanley Cup Finals

[ktang 34]

Now that we're in the 2006 NHL playoffs, who were the best / classiest / most deserving players who never got to the finals?

For me, James Patrick (?), Thomas Steen, Borje Salming, Mats Sundin, Bobby Hull (?), Teemu Selanne (?), Stastny (?). Although some of them could have played in a finals...

[mack 44]

Not sure about the other ?s but Patrick was on the Sabres in their '99 run.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

LaFontaine? Gilmour, Wendel Clarke, Alfredsson,

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Gilmour won a Cup in 89.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

oh yeah... I should have realized that when I almost put down roberts and niewy.

[slaw 1]

Dale Hawerchuck

[ItalianSpartan 0]

Hawerchuk played with Philly in '97 vs. Detroit...some other good players are Marcel Dionne, Mike Gartner; Michel Goulet, Dino Ciccarelli, and Brad Park made it once or twice but never won it; and at this rate, you might as well add Roberto Luongo to that list.

[kkancho 6]

LaFontaine? Gilmour, Wendel Clarke, Alfredsson,

LaFontaine played with the Isles against the Oilers in the cup finals.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Wendel Clark is the one who stands out in my mind. Then there's a handful more Leafs that are kind've on that list as well. I didn't see Salming enough, I'm not sure if Sittler got his shot with Philly or not, Gartner comes to mind.

[jjtt99 0]

I'd add Markus Naslund. He's flirted with 50 goals a couple of times. Winner of leage MVP award as voted by the players a few years back. A good community guy. But not even a sniff at the cup.

I'd also add Mat Sundin.

[thejackal 46]

Hull won a cup in 61

[althoma1 574]

Pierre Turgeon - 4 time all star, 2 100 plus point seasons, 9 80 plus point seasons, 10 30 goal plus seasons, 2 40 plus goal seaons and one 50 plus goal season, but no cups or final appearances that I can recall.

Teemu Selanne - Calder Cup winner and points record holder, 10 time all star, 4 100 point plus seasons, 6 80 point plus seasons, 3 50 goal plus seasons, and 6 40 goal plus seasons, but no Cup appearances.

[Fury of One 6]

Hawerchuk played with Philly in '97 vs. Detroit...some other good players are Marcel Dionne, Mike Gartner; Michel Goulet, Dino Ciccarelli, and Brad Park made it once or twice but never won it; and at this rate, you might as well add Roberto Luongo to that list.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Michel Goulet playin' for the Blackhawks in the '91 or '92 final when they lost to Pittsburgh?

[DarkStar50 679]

I checked hockeydb and he only played 9 games in playoffs in 92. I don't know if he was injured or not during Cup Final.

[QandA 0]

Cujo.

[mack 44]

Pronger, Tkachuk, Weight

[Cheesehead 0]

Pronger, Tkachuk, Weight

couldnt agree more

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Roenick?

[Chadd 916]

Roenick?

92

[j8Zt8r 0]

Pronger, Tkachuk, Weight

I can agree with 2 of those 3 but, Tkachuk should not be listed there and I will give my reasons.

1 - he held out for more money, don't sign a contract if you can't honor it

2 - at 7+ million a year in the "New" NHL you should show up in the second best shape in the league since he was the second highest paid

3 - he is 1 of the biggest cry-babies in the league, if the cup was award for bi***ing and moaning, he would come in 2nd place behind Domi

4 - he disappears in the playoffs

It is too late to keep listing.

Don't get me wrong, Keith is a nice guy on a personal basis but, this guy puts the I in team.

When I think of players worthy of lifting the cup, I think of the warriors who consistently staple their hearts to their sleeves and give a 110%. Players more like Dallas Drake, Ryan Smyth, Scott Mellanby(yes I know he has been in the finals twice), Wendal Clark. You can't win it all with 1 or 2 lines. Remember the '96 panthers. Third and fourth lines need to contribute to win a cup. In the past 10 years I can think of guys who scored that clutch goal to get their teams into the finals, Valeri Zelepukin, Mike Keane, Messiers hat trick.

[Chadd 916]

1. Irrelevant to this question of his talent

2. Irrelevant to this question of his talent

3. Irrelevant to this question of his talent

4. You can say the same about a lot of players on this list. If some of them came through a little more often or had a little better luck, they probably wouldn't be on the list.

[bwear 0]

I'll second Ryan Smyth! Perhaps this could be his year! B)

[bwear 0]

Thinking about this made me think about the incredible career ending season of Ray Bourque... What a great story that is!!!

[ktang 34]

Thinking about this made me think about the incredible career ending season of Ray Bourque... What a great story that is!!!

Tears rolling down his cheeks as Sakic hands him the Cup...

After the Avs were bounced the year before...

[D3nZ 0]

Marcel Dionne