NHL player who started worst at beguinning of his career

[joshy207 15]

I think Brian Rafalski would be a good example of the type of player you're asking about. He wasn't drafted, played 4 years at Wisconsin, then another 4 years in Sweden and Finland before New Jersey took a chance on him. I'd say it paid off pretty well...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4438

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Too bad his gloves are sewn to his sleeves, just like Maltby's.

Draper, I understand, he is a speed guy, not a fighter. But you've got a point with Maltby...

Maltby's the toughest half-shield in the league.

[halfmoonyote 0]

Mike Knuble is someone you could add to this list. He's been a journeyman for most of his career, with marginal stats. He's seemed to find his niche in Philly, and his stats over the past two years would reflect that. I know, he played with Foppa. But even when Foppa was hurt (all the time), Knuble still produced.

[top_shelf_24 0]

Too bad his gloves are sewn to his sleeves, just like Maltby's.

Draper, I understand, he is a speed guy, not a fighter. But you've got a point with Maltby...

Maltby's the toughest half-shield in the league.

??? This could make for an interesting topic ;)

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

They drop them though. Maltby has custom gloves.

They're sewn to his elbow pads.

Starts jawing once the refs are in there...

[cabreezy 0]

Zetterberg? Not sure if he qualifies since he had a good rookie season but he was drafted 7th round I think.

[Hidious 0]

I'd say Luc Robitaille. Was suppose to be too slow for the NHL but he had a glorious career.

Edit - From Wikipedia:

due to perceived skating deficiencies, Luc was not drafted until the 9th round (171st overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft - five rounds later than Tom Glavine, whom the Kings also drafted, and who would become a star Major League Baseball pitcher instead. Only Robitaille's former teammate Dave Taylor has ever had as many as one thousand career points after being drafted so low.

I never knew about Glavine! :o

[Jason Harris 31]

Glavine was a goalie.

I read that when Terry O'Reilly showed up at his first training camp, the other players snickered along the lines of "Are you kidding me???" He was such a hard worker, however, that he became the unquestioned soul of the team about 6-8 years later. Then two years ago he had his number retired.

His number went to the rafters more as a ticket stunt than organization recognition of his contributions. In the years 75-00 the B's retired just 2 numbers, Orr and Espo. Suddenly, when they can't pay fans to come to the Fleet they put up 3 in 3 years.

I can see why you say it was more of a PR move, since he had retired around 20 years earlier. But it's hard to argue with Bourque and Neely being retired, so the question is did O'Reilly deserve it?

I think he did. I don't know if you had a chance to watch him during the late 70's, but he was undoutedbly the soul of the club. He built himself into a 600 point scorer who had nearly 2100 PIM's. It was well-known he couldn't skate when he first came up, yet in 1977-78 he lead the B's in scoring and was seventh in the league. He was a career Bruin.

Maybe it was a publicity stunt, but that's only good for one game. Let's just say they found someone who was on the cusp of being deserving.

[hockechamp14 0]

Here's a comprehensive list of guys who have played at least one ECHL and one NHL game (at least I think that's the criteria for the list)

http://www.echl.com/alumni/

[Rocket 0]

I think Brian Rafalski would be a good example of the type of player you're asking about. He wasn't drafted, played 4 years at Wisconsin, then another 4 years in Sweden and Finland before New Jersey took a chance on him. I'd say it paid off pretty well...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4438

Thanks, that´s exactly an example I´m looking for

[J-Shera 0]

I think Brian Rafalski would be a good example of the type of player you're asking about. He wasn't drafted, played 4 years at Wisconsin, then another 4 years in Sweden and Finland before New Jersey took a chance on him. I'd say it paid off pretty well...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4438

Thanks, that´s exactly an example I´m looking for

Boogaard is the best player on that list, whatta stud.

[Project824 0]

I think Brian Rafalski would be a good example of the type of player you're asking about. He wasn't drafted, played 4 years at Wisconsin, then another 4 years in Sweden and Finland before New Jersey took a chance on him. I'd say it paid off pretty well...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4438

Thanks, that´s exactly an example I´m looking for

But if you look at the teams he was playing for, he was playing in the top league in Sweden and Finland, which through the late 90's, both were a higher level of hockey than the ECHL. It's not like he started in the SP and made the show. Remember, Teemu Selanne was 28 year old NHL rookie coming out of that same league.

[millencolin9387 0]

Sergei Zubov, Shane Doan.

Sergei Zubov was the leading scorer for the NYR in his second year in 94 when they won the cup :lol:

he almost had a point a game in his rookie year :lol:

[Drewhunz 3]

Oops, kinda forgot about that.

Hangs head in shame

[srv2miker 0]

Drafted LAST overall (286th) by the NYR in 1994: Kim Johnsson. I say any guy who gets picked last overall and turns in a 200+ point (from the blueline) NHL career gets some consideration.

[Drewhunz 3]

As was Keanu Reeves.

[Jason Harris 31]

He was actually a forward, but don't tell anybody...

Glavine was a goalie.

Wow, for years I had thought he was a goalie. My apologies to the Glavine family....

[TBLfan 25]

No, it was Greg Maddux that was a goalie... hence the gold gloves he's won.

I'm not being serious.

[hunterphfr 12]

I say St Louis hands down. Having lived in Calgary this one hurts bad.

Turns down offer from Capitals to finish NCAA elgibility and get degree.

Passed over in ensuing draft no NHL offer.

Signs with Cleveland of IHL.

Took a pay cut for a shot with the Flames.

Put on waivers by Flames passed over by everyone.

Winds up in Tampa on a prayer.

Hands Calgary their ass in the Cup finals and gets MVP.

Still a solid performer and corner stone of lightning hockey.

I live in Tampa now and that story still hurts.

O'Reily definately was no Gretzky or Messier.

But he came from a different era and is as much a piece of Bruins history as anyone. Sure others are flashier and put more points on the board but he was definately the heart and sole of that team. The man bled black and yellow. You could rewrite the league scoring records and the leafs would never retire your number. Different teams use different criteria, especially amongst the older teams. Look at the Flyers, The Leafs, Boston, Detroit, they aren't all flashy leading scorers numbers hanging from the rafters.

[joshy207 15]

I think Brian Rafalski would be a good example of the type of player you're asking about. He wasn't drafted, played 4 years at Wisconsin, then another 4 years in Sweden and Finland before New Jersey took a chance on him. I'd say it paid off pretty well...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4438

Thanks, that´s exactly an example I´m looking for

But if you look at the teams he was playing for, he was playing in the top league in Sweden and Finland, which through the late 90's, both were a higher level of hockey than the ECHL. It's not like he started in the SP and made the show. Remember, Teemu Selanne was 28 year old NHL rookie coming out of that same league.

True, Rafalski did play in some good leagues in Europe, but the NHL wasn't giving him a sniff. It was as if he had to prove himself in those leagues first. Also, Selanne was 22 when he debuted in the NHL. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=4863

Hunter, good point about St-Louis, I kinda forgot about him. Prime example of a guy who had to fight and claw his way into the league.