Favorite player you miss seeing play

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I was just wondering who all you guys miss seeing play.....like guys that had to retire young because of injury or guys that had to retire because of age? personally i miss watching Pavel Bure play along with some others but i dont want to name them all off and everyone just repeating um lol? who do you guys miss watching play

[mrusse01 0]

Mario.

I was so happy when he made his comeback there, I saw him as a kid, but I couldn't really appreciate him or Gretz at the time in the late 80's- mid 90's.

Early on in his comeback he was playing on a different level than anyone else offensively, just a treat to watch.

[JR97 2]

Roenick in his prime. I know he's still active, but in his prime he was a monster. Speed, scoring, passing, and hitting. He played a with a real passion.

Bure is up there. Dude was a highlight film everytime he touched the puck.

Adam Oates is up there for me as well. What a great playmaker and incredible face off guy. He was also very good at rolling off of checks. He attributed that to playing a lot of lacrosse.

[Spreedizzle 1]

While I was growing up in the early 90's in Northern NJ......Adam Graves was fantastic to see in the Garden. One of the best guys on and off of the ice to ever lace up a pair of skates.

[supa 3]

Cam Neely

[kovalchuk71 212]

Pavel Bure.

[dietzie27 0]

Mario as well. I was lucky enough to see the comeback years but i never got to see him when he was dominating in the 90's.

Ron Francis is another name i miss as well.

I think another part of this thread could be players who played in your city who you dont get to watch as much, if at all. 2 names that come to mind are Kovalev and Jagr. I was fortunate enough to go to the igloo to see these guys about 15 times a season. I was blown away when these guys would touch the puck. Both Jags and kovy went out on sour notes, but id love to see them back in black and gold.

[Chadd 916]

As much as I miss seeing Bure on the ice, Ovechkin has the same ability to make everyone in the arena move to the edge of your seat every time he touches the puck.

I really miss Gretz. Not the end of the career ranger gretz, but the guy who was a magician with the puck and made so many of his teammates into all-stars or Hall of Famers.

I honestly believe that we're in an era with more talent than the NHL has ever seen before. While we all have our favorite players from our childhood, we should really appreciate the quality of the players we have the good fortune to see every night.

[kosydar 0]

The old Blackhawks with Roenick, Amonte, Chelios, Larmer, Suter, Daze, Eddie, and Nicholls. I also wish I would have been able to see more of Gilmour and Clark in their prime for the Leafs.

[Karly14 21]

Theo Fleury. He did everything and he was like 5'4 (despite being listed as 5'6). Up to his last days with the Rangers when he was in and out of rehad he was still amazing almost every single night. The night Messier apporached him to go into rehab for the first time was in the locker room after a game agaisnt the senators that I was at. He was apparantly shitfaced throughout the game but he was by far the best player on the ice. I wish instead of going to the blackhawks he would have just taken a year off to try and get his life back in order so he could maybe make a comeback.

[QandA 0]

Neely, I was too young to see him in his prime, but wish he could of played longer than he did. Being a diehard Leafs fan, Clark and Gilmour would of been a pleasure, and I would love if Fleury came back.

[roadrunner 12]

I really miss Bure. Hockey hasn't been the same without him for me. I even used to look to him to get motivated to play. Now I just replay old youtube videos over and over again.

I like Ovy and Kovalchuk but still not the same.

[Jason Harris 31]

Orr and Neely.

Neither one made it past age 30 and each was hobbled by injuries at the end, yet they still managed to put up respectable numbers when they played.

Orr was truly amazing. I've never seen another NHLer who could consistently go coast-to-coast like he could.

[Durph 0]

Another vote for Bure. I loved watching him play.

[ahearn10 0]

pavel bure +1

[Fletch 219]

Bure. LaFontaine is a close second.

[15yearsofhistory 0]

Patrick Roy. He was a wonderful netminder and it would be great to see if he would be able to keep up with today's game.

[chk hrd 164]

Steve Yzerman

[ramensandwich 1]

i would love to have seen wendel clark play in person.

[mack 44]

Mario or young Lindros.

[ronnychencharik 0]

Steve Yzerman

+2

[Langenbrunner15 0]

Stevens, too young to really understand what he was on the blue line back in 03' and such.

Gretzzzzz, during his prime in his Edmonton days.

Patrick Roy. He was a wonderful netminder and it would be great to see if he would be able to keep up with today's game.

You have Brodeur to watch, essentially the same with the numbers.

[Jordan 13]

Mario was the best I ever saw...seen all of them live, Orr, Gretzky, Bure, Potvin, Bossy, Coffey, Jager etc.

Mario was just unstoppable when he was storming down the ice. I can still picture two guys climbing up his back, huge wingspan, stick way out in front making a rdiculous move on the goalie.

The one thing that I do remember about Orr though, that I have never really seen since, was his ability to go slow. He had so much ability in the tank, that everyone on the other team was afraid of being made to look stupid, so they would just back off. If they ever committed to a challenge, he was just gone.

He would start out behind his net and as he came out, you could see the entire defencive team fall back. Amazing. Then he would just gradually build speed and he would be flying at the end of the rush. But, the thing was if somebody tried to forecheck him, he would change gears and be at top speed in about two steps.

[topshelf11 0]

Forsberg. I once saw him put up 6 points in his first game back from injury. Completely dominated the game.

I would like to see Sakic come back and play like he did last year. I love seeing that laser wrister.

[RadioGaGa 162]

+1 for St. Patrick