Aside from Mario Lemieux, which NHL player would have had an outstanding career if not for an injury?

Question

Granted, Lemieux already had an outstanding career despite the numerous setbacks (and mark my words when I say he was the only legit threat to Gretzky's throne). My question to the point asks: if not for a career ending injury, what player would have had an outstanding NHL career?

Answer 1

My pick would have been Mike Bossy.

His numbers were insane and a bad back was the only thing that stopped him from being mentioned in the same breath as game's greatest players.

Even though I grew up a Ranger fan, I truly admired this guy and have always wondered how far he would have gone had he had the opportunity to last the duration.

He hit major career performance marks even though he played just 10 years.

752 gp, 573 goals, 553 assists, 1126 pts

His playoff stats were also astounding with 160 pts (85G/75A) in 129 games on the way to 4 cups.

Answer 2

Well, since I'm late and a couple of the guys I would have listed have been said (haha, like Bobby Orr isn't obvious though)...

Cam Neely had an outstanding career over all, so injury didn't prevent him from that... but I'm sure he would have played longer and put up more than only one more 50 goal season if not for Ulffy.

I'm stretching things a bit today. Haha. It's first day in, I think, five that it hasn't rained and I've been in the house because I didn't have work or plans. Ahhh.

Answer 3

All three of these guys had excellent careers, despite the fact that they were shortened by injuries.
Bobby Orr
Cam Neely
Mike Bossy

Bobby Orr is still talked about amongst the top 5 regardless but Bossy definitely would have been and Neely probably would have been save for the injuries.

Answer 4

Orr and Bossy are the obvious choices. Both would of been the all time leading goal scorers (not points) at their position if healthy.

How about Tim Horton. He died on the way home from a game in a car wreck in Ontario. He was near the end of his career but still had 4-5 more seasons left in him.

Answer 5

One player would be Pat Peake. He had a lot of potential playing for the Capitals back in the mid-90s but he shattered his heel in the playoffs one year, and didn't play any more than 30 games after that, I believe. I wouldn't say he would be a record-breaker or anything, but just one of those young players with so much potential that had an injury cost him his career at a very young age.

Answer 6

Mike Bossy- he would have given Gretsky's goal record a run but probably not total points, he ended a great career a few year early with a back injury, just as Pat Lafontaine was coming in from the Olympics, and we all know how great a passer Pat became,

Answer 7

Mike Modano, without that Ken Hitchcock monkey on his back handicapping him with a defense first strategy, Mo would be more than just the highest scoring American.

I saw Lindros named here; his problem was a monster ego that led to a holdout and when he didn't get the money he wanted he just wussed out, became an average player with a chronic stubbed toe and wouldn't play an entire season.

Answer 8

Saku Koivu! He had knees operations and also a cancer. Before his first injury (knee) he was leading the NHL for points...

And Mike Bossy! Probably the best after Lemieux and Gretzky...

For those who wrote Eric Lindros, even before his injuries, he never was a dominant player, his reputation was dominant, not him.... Show me his standings... You'll see he wasn't that good.

Answer 9

Pavel Bure
Peter Forsberg

Answer 10

The Russian Rocket - Pavel Bure
Cam Neely