Top 10 NHL Legends That Never Hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup – Hockey Writers – Hockey History

If you ask any young hockey player what he wants, more than anything, his answer will probably be to win the Stanley Cup. A significant few get the chance to play a game in the NHL, and even fewer get the chance to lift the biggest trophy in sports.

Many NHL players have had great careers. They were first-ballot Hall of Famers, but the Stanley Cup eluded them throughout their careers. For every Ray Bourque or Kimmo Timonen who gets one in the twilight of their career, there are many who don’t. Despite their great success, their lack of a trophy almost seemed to define them.

They deserve to be celebrated for their achievements. Let’s honor them here:

#10. Darryl Sittler

Sittler owns one notable NHL record that may not be broken anytime soon: 10 points in a single game. He broke Maurice Richard’s record of eight goals with six goals and four assists against the Bruins in 1976. Throughout his career, Sittler was a consistent goalscorer and equally skilled as a goalscorer and playmaker.

He surpassed 90 points eight times in his career and finished in the top 10 with five points. However, he suffered from a poor supporting cast and did not reach the Stanley Cup Final.

#9. Adam Oates

Adam Oates enjoyed a 19-year career playing for seven franchises and racked up some impressive points in the process. A playmaker with incredible vision and playmaking ability, Oates led the NHL in points on three separate occasions (finishing in the top 12 times). He scored more than 30 goals just once in his career but was such a strong passer that he finished in the top ten with seven points.

Oates’ closest came in 1998 with the Capitals and in 2003 with the Ducks, losing to the Red Wings and Devils, respectively. Oates was well past his youth by then, and his first appearance came at the age of 35.

#8. Mark Howe

Despite winning four Stanley Cups as a member of the Red Wings front office, the trophy eluded Mark Howe throughout his playing career. He began his career as a forward in the WHA, sometimes playing with his father Gordie.

Howe is best known for his work on the Flyers’ blue line from 1982 to 1992, where he finished as the Norris Trophy runner-up three times. If it weren’t for Paul Coffey and the mighty Oilers, Howe would probably be known as the best offensive defenseman of the 1980s. In his career in Philadelphia, he surpassed 50 points six times.

#7. Henrik Lundqvist

The list of awards that Henrik Lundqvist collected during his 12 years in the NHL is simply outstanding. Who is the winner? Check it out. Olympic gold medalist? Made in 2006. The record for most wins by a European goalkeeper? Filed in 2016 with 459. NHL-record 20 wins in 13 consecutive seasons and 30 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons in the league? Lundqvist did it.

Despite reaching the playoffs 11 times throughout his career and the Final in 2014, he was unable to host the trophy as a junior. With his contract expiring in 2020 came the end of an era in New York as he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals to get one last shot at that elusive trophy.

#6. Peter Stastny

Hailing from Czechoslovakia, Peter Stastny and his brothers Anton and Marian were some of the first European players to make a big impact in the NHL. Arriving in the NHL in the 1980-81 season at age 24, Stastny exploded for 109 points and won the Calder Trophy.

He went on to score at least 100 points in six of the next seven seasons and finished in the top 10 in points six different times. Despite his high-scoring efforts, he never made it to the NHL finals. His entire career was spent with the Quebec Nordiques, where his vision and passing ability helped make him the franchise’s all-time leader in points.

#5. Pavel Bure

Only 13 men in NHL history have led the league in goals three or more times. Few, if any, have done it with worse support than Pavel Bure. Playing 12 seasons in the NHL, Bure’s teams made the playoffs just five times. The Canucks made one big run to the Finals in 1994, where Bure led the playoffs in goals and finished second in points.

If it weren’t for a bad knee that forced him to retire at age 31, Bure would have gotten his name on the Stanley Cup later in his career. Bure was known for his blinding speed and shot and was able to create offense on his own, something he was forced to do in Florida.

#4. Borje Salming

Stastny was one of the first Europeans to star in the NHL, but Borje Salming was the first. Many Europeans credit Salming with paving the way for Europeans to be accepted into the NHL. It was a tough road for him though.

Salming was subject to constant abuse and foul play from opponents who questioned his fitness and ability to play the North American game. To his credit, Salming never backed down and recorded one of the greatest career goals of any European in the NHL.

He finished in the top five of the Norris Trophy voting seven different times and was named to the second team All-Star five different times. Despite his efforts, he did not play in the final Stanley Cup game.

#3. Gilbert Perreault

A large, smooth swing center was the driving force behind one of the great lines of the 1970s, the French Connection. Flanked by Rick Martin and Rene Robert, the line terrorized opponents with their ability. Gilbert Perreault was a power forward who could set up teammates and score.

He was a consistent scorer who put up more than 80 points nine times and finished in the top 10 in assists and points five different times. The Sabers’ all-time leader in goals, assists, and points made one finals appearance in Buffalo’s loss to the Flyers.

#2. Marcel Dionne

Marcel Dionne may score. Despite coming in at just 5-foot-9, he was able to consistently rack up points in the NHL. He built a Triple Crown line with Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor doing the hard work on the wings and Dionne scoring in the middle.

He scored 1,771 career points (6th most all-time) and finished in the top 10 in goals, assists, and points for nine teams each. Unfortunately, Dionne’s legacy is known for his failure to make the playoffs. Not only did his teams succeed in the postseason, but Dionne’s individual performance left much to be desired compared to his regular season production.

#1. Brad Park

If Brad Park played in any other era in hockey history, he would have been held in high esteem. Unfortunately for Park, his career was directly aligned with that of Bobby Orr, and Park would be in his shadow. Park finished last in the Norris Trophy voting an unprecedented seven times.

An excellent two-way defenseman, Park could move the puck better than anyone else and play a rough, physical style on his end. He scored at least 50 points on 10 separate occasions and actually finished 9th in the entire NHL in points in 1974.

Park made the Final three different times but fell short each time. Once for the Big Bad Bruins, and twice as a member of the Bruins against the Canadiens.

Honorable Mention: Jean Ratelle, Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, Mats Sundin