LCS Hockey Player Ratings: Top Centers

LCS Hockey Top Rated Centers
By Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

1. Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers: He's not as dynamic as Joe Sakic, as sound defensively as Peter Forsberg, or as fast as Sergei Fedorov. But no other center can impact a game quite like Eric Lindros.

Eric Lindros

Big number 88 is clearly the most dominating physical force in the NHL. His mere presence can change the flow of a game. When he's on the ice the opposition not only has to fear the damage he can do on the scoreboard, but also the damage he can inflict on their bodies. Lindros is a freight train on skates. He's not much in the way of agility, but he can generate some serious velocity in a straight line. And there's nothing he likes to do more than disperse that momentum through some serious head-on collisions.
There aren't a whole lot of guys willing to take Lindros on in the hitting department. Ed Jovanovski made a good run at it in the 1995-96 playoffs, but look what it did to him. Apparently, going by Eddie Jo's performance last season, Lindros knocked all the talent out of him. Darius Kasparaitis thought about taking Lindros on during the first round of this past postseason, until Lindros railed him into the backboards early on in Game One. After that Darius had trouble thinking about anything. Colorado's Adam Foote has mixed it up with Lindros on occasion, but they don't really play each other enough for it to be a rivalry. Lindros' toughest opponent over the years as been Scott Stevens, but even the New Jersey captain seems to be merely surviving these days during their one-on-one battles.
Lindros does more than just maim. Now that Mario Lemieux has retired, Lindros' 1.47 career points-per-game average is second only to Wayne Gretzky. The catch is that he never plays that many games. Lindros is more fragile than a fishnet-clad leg lamp one would win in a trivia contest for knowing the name of the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse. Eric appeared in 52 contests last season and has only played more than 65 games in a season once, that being in 1995-96 when he suited up for 73. But to this point in his career, injury seems to be the only thing that can slow down Lindros. Now that he's had his first taste of Stanley Cup Finals action, Lindros will be a mission man this season. Good luck trying to stop him.
2. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche: Sakic had somewhat of a disappointing season last year, with a severe calf laceration costing him what surely would have been his fifth 100- point campaign. But even if he remained healthy, it's unlikely he would have matched the career-high 51 goals he had the previous year. Joe just wasn't finding the net last season, posting a mere 22 goals in 65 games. The reason for the power outage? Probably just fatigue. Between Colorado's Stanley Cup championship and the World Cup tournament, Joe has played a ridiculous amount of hockey over the past year. This recent off- season should do wonders for him. Look for the Colorado captain to come out firing in 1997-98. After all, he's now got 17 million more reasons to score goals.

Joe Sakic

Yes, it's hard to believe, but Joe Sakic, the quiet Quebec superstar who most fans probably couldn't have picked out of a lineup before the move to Colorado, will pull down a hefty $17 million dollars for the upcoming season thanks to the cut-throat tactics of Neil Smith and the New York Rangers. And there's a reason why the Rangers wanted him. Now that Mark Messier is on the downside of his career, Sakic is clearly the best clutch player in the NHL. After rarely making a playoff appearance during his first seven years in Quebec, Sakic has emerged as the league's premier playoff scorer. The numbers don't lie. Throughout his career Sakic has averaged 1.25 points per game during the regular season and 1.37 points during the playoffs. The jump in goal scoring is even more dramatic, from a .47 regular-season standard to .65 when the Cup's up for grabs. Over the past two seasons, Sakic has bagged 26 goals and 59 points in 39 postseason contests. Those are by far the best numbers in the league.
It's Sakic's quickness that makes him so hard to contain. He may not be able to fly around the rink like Sergei Fedorov or Peter Bondra, but not many can accelerate from a dead stop or change direction at top speed like Sakic. The best word to describe him is explosive. He uses short, quick bursts of speed to either gain separation or force defenders back on their heels. If challenged, Sakic can either dart wide or beat his man clean with a one-on-one move. However, instead of forcing the issue with defenders, he would much rather prefer to cut laterally or circle back while holding the puck, thereby creating passing lanes for his teammates. Sakic loves to control the puck. He'll hold it for an eternity, allowing the defense time to break down, before surveying the scene and dishing it off to an open man. Sometimes it seems that Joe's got all the vision and the rest of the world is wearin' bifocals.
He truly is a playmaker first and a goal scorer second. Which is hard to believe, considering he owns the best wrist shot in hockey. There have been volummes of poetry written about the beauty of Sakic's wrister... okay, most have been by me, but what can I say? I have a lot of free time. Once again, it's Joe's quickness that makes the shot so deadly. He's a lot like the Sundance Kid... he shoots better when he moves. He can let it go off either foot, in mid-stride, hopping on one leg... it doesn't matter to Joe. That's why goaltenders have such a hard time getting a read on it, they can never tell when it's coming. Sakic also likes to position the defender as a screen before firing, complicating matters even more for the netminder. Watching Sakic do his thing is really something to behold. The price tag is kind of steep, but c'mon, isn't it worth it?
3. Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche: Through the course of reading the various player descriptions in this issue, you'll hear the term "complete player" a whole mess of times. There are two reasons for that. First, that should be the goal of everyone who laces up the skates, to one day be a complete player, or someone who excels at every aspect of hockey. The second reason the term is used so frequently is, well, I have a limited vocabulary.

Peter Forsberg

Peter Forsberg is the most complete player in the NHL. If he was anymore complete, there'd be enough there for two great hockey players. Offensively, Forsberg has all the bases covered. Not only does he have great speed, he's so strong that it's virtually impossible to knock him off his skates or even tie him up. And his hands are simply amazing. Whether in the open or bogged down in traffic, when the puck is on his stick some top quality entertainment is sure to follow. He can literally make the puck talk, but only in a German accent... that's odd. As if mystifying defenses with elaborate stickhandling displays wasn't enough, Forsberg can also perplex and befuddle with a plethora of passing pizazz. God bless alliteration. While Forsberg has been known mainly as a setup man during his first three seasons in the league, he definitely has the ability to score some goals, his shot is strong and he's excellent around the net. The potential is there, he just has to apply himself. If all goes well, he should be a 35 to 40-goal guy this coming season.
As staggering as his skills are on offense, Forsberg is equally impressive defensively. He just has natural instincts for the defensive game. He rarely, if ever, gets caught deep on plays. Once in his own end, his coverage is superb. Forsberg is strong enough to tie up even the most physical of opponents and ride them off the puck. He's also shattered the soft-European stereotype by becoming one of the fiercest competitors in the game. Forsberg flat out loves to hit.
Add everything up, and it's easy to see why he's the most complete player in the NHL. So why the hell isn't he even the top rated center? Well, sometimes being so perfect in every way can actually be a detriment. When Forsberg isn't scoring, he just seems content to play defense without forcing the issue. And there's nothing wrong with that. That's what makes him such a great player, being able to help the team even when he isn't scoring. Unfortunately, you can't be the best player in the league if you don't make an impact in the postseason. Think back over the past two years. Whenever the Avalanche need a big goal who always seems to come through? Two words... Joe Sakic. Before Forsberg can be the best player in the game, he has to start coming through with the big play like Sakic. He's had a tendency to disappear at times during the playoffs, where his points-per-game average of 1.05 is far less than his 1.30 regular season average. Focusing on defense is nice and all, but Forsberg is capable of doing so much more. Come playoff time, he needs to dominate at both ends of the ice, not just one. Once this lone flaw gets corrected, it won't be long before ol' Petey is sitting pretty at the top of the list.
4. Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings: Hey, look whose name is on the Stanley Cup! After taking enormous grief in hockey circles for some disappointing playoff years, Fedorov silenced his critics by being one of the most important cogs in Detroit's Cup victory. Sergei led the Wings in postseason scoring with eight goals and 20 points in 20 games. Ironically, that's his lowest postseason points-per-game average in the last five years, but no one was complaining. The difference this year was that he came through with big plays in crucial situations, even tying Claude Lemieux for the playoff lead in game-winning goals with four.
The playoff success came after a somewhat disappointing regular season, in which Sergei saw his ice time cut back dramatically by coach Scotty Bowman. The legendary bench boss wanted to spread his attack out over four lines and often had Sergei centering a third unit with limited talent. If that wasn't bad enough, Bowman also used Fedorov on defense. The result was the worst offensive output of Fedorov's career, as he finished third on the team in scoring with a very mortal 30 goals and 63 points in 74 games. Fedorov wasn't real happy about his new role, but he made the best of it in order to help the team. Aw, that's just considerate. There aren't many stars in the league that would be willing to make such a sacrifice. But he swallowed his pride and took one for the team. He deserves a lot of credit for the way he handled things.
And that's what really separates Fedorov from average Joe Superstar. He can be a team's marquee scorer or he can be placed in a strict defensive role and dominate there, as well. That versatility is hard to find. The reason he's able to switch gears from offense to defense so effortlessly is his skating. Fedorov is, without doubt, the best skater in the NHL. No one can match his power, speed, and agility. Paul Kariya is a close second, but Fedorov gets the nod because of his strength. Plus, he just looks cooler in full flight. They could sell tickets just to watch Sergei skate warmups.
Fedorov's game really doesn't have any weaknesses. His one knock could be that he doesn't score as much as he should, but the nights he isn't scoring he's still doing the little things defensively that don't end up in the boxscores. He's a complete player. And he's Russian, so that's pretty cool. But between you and me, keep an eye on them Russians...
5. Mike Modano, Dallas Stars: Wow, did Mikey Mo jump start his career last season or what? His 35 goals and 83 points were pretty much the same numbers he put up the previous year, but Modano did all his improving away from the scoresheet. Being a great player isn't about putting up big scoring numbers, it's about playing great hockey. To do that you have to be strong at both ends of the ice, make smart decisions with the puck, and do whatever you can to make your team better. That pretty much described Modano's season to a tee.

Mike Modano

Modano always had the talent to be a great one. He checks in at 6'3", 200 pounds and can skate like the wind. A tremendous one- on-one player, he's capable of flying solo on any given rush. And when it comes to shooting, few can inspire as much fear in a goaltender. The puck seems to leap from his stick. His slap shot is positively awe inspiring. Netminders don't try to stop it as much as survive it.
Yet for some reason, despite his dominating skills, Modano never really put it all together until this past season. In the old days, when Modano didn't score, he didn't do anything. He'd have a tendency to just wander around on the periphery, letting himself and his teammates down. That all changed in '96-97. Instead of disappearing when the puck wasn't going in for him, Modano became a stand-up citizen for the Stars. He never took a shift off, working tirelessly to become a complete player. He found as much pride in denying a goal as in scoring one. The work paid off for everyone involved. The Stars won the Central Division with the second-best record in the NHL and Modano earned some personal glory with his first ever Selke Trophy nomination, thanks in large part to his +43 rating, which was a dramatic reversal from the -12 he posted a year earlier.
When evaluating talent, there's an old saying among hockey coaches that sometimes guys have all the tools, but lack the toolbox to carry them in. Well, thanks to hard work and dedication, Mike Modano found his toolbox... yeah, apparently it was up in the attic under some old clothes. He also found one of them wacky moose heads. Thems keen.
6. Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs: He disappeared there for a few seasons, but the Big Swede is back. And he's back in a big way. Sundin was one of the few bright spots last season in Toronto, finishing seventh in league scoring with 41 goals and 94 points. Sundin's stride is so long and effortless that it belies his great speed. Even when defenseman are able to keep up, Sundin's size makes him more than most can handle. With his enormous wingspan, he can turn defenders inside out or simply go wide and protect the puck better than the Secret Service. His lengthy reach also translates into some mighty powerful leverage on his wrist shot. The result is an absolute bomb that can overpower goaltenders from anywhere on the ice.

Mats Sundin

And while he may not initiate contact as much as he should, Sundin does have a bit of a mean streak. When things get rough he won't rabbit. Although, because of his great size and spectacular finesse skills, some might say that he's a rabbit disguised as a bear. I'm not sure who would say something like that, but it could be said. Like, maybe a zoo warden could say it. Because a zoo warden would have experience being around bears and rabbits, so he'd probably punch up his normal, every- day dialogue with such obscure animal references. That is if rabbits are even in zoos. If they aren't, they sure as hell should be. Those long-eared, pink-eyed, carrot-munching weasels have had it easy with those cushy medical research gigs all these years. It's about time they bust some rocks in the big house. Damn rabbits.
7. Mark Messier, Vancouver Canucks: This whole move to Vancouver is kind of disheartening. It's just not right that the man responsible for ending New York's 54-year Stanley Cup curse in no longer calling Madison Square Garden home. For a guy who is supposed to be the best leader in sports, Messier sure didn't waste any time in turning his back on his Ranger teammates. Whatever the reason for his departure, whether it was strictly money or a desire to finish his career back in Canada, Messier now finds himself on a club that is in desperate need of guidance. His leadership qualities will get put to the test by the often directionless Canucks.
Aside from a winning attitude and veteran leadership, Messier will also bring one of the best wrist shots in hockey to Vancouver. In the whole realm of the NHL, there may not be anything cooler than seeing Messier come in on right wing and wire one of his patented, one-footed wristers on net. As soon as he lifts that right leg off the ice, the goaltender's beat. Messier has used that wrist shot, among other things, to score 83 goals over the past two seasons. That's some amazing output for a 36-year-old center, so he can obviously still get the job done. The main concern now is his health. He missed 11 games last year with a variety of ailments and has shown signs of wearing down towards the end of the last couple seasons. A red flag may have gone up with Ranger brass this past Spring when Messier had just three goals and 12 points in 15 playoff games. Is he slowing down? Sure. Is he done? Don't bet on it.
8. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings: It was definitely worth the wait. For any longtime hockey fan, there wasn't a better sight in the world than seeing Stevie Y lift the Stanley Cup. After 13 years of struggle, Yzerman finally reached the top of the hockey mountain and there's never been a more deserving soul. The journey wasn't without its sacrifices. Always known as a brilliant individual scorer, Yzerman voluntarily changed his game over the past three seasons in order to become a better two-way player. The transition cost him points and headlines, but it made the Red Wings a better team. There aren't many superstars that would make such an unselfish move, but Yzerman is somethin' special.
There's no denying that Yzerman has lost a step or two from his younger days. He can no longer just grab the puck and go end-to- end at will. But what he's lost in flash, he's made up for in smarts and shift-to-shift consistency. Yzerman also elevates his play when the game's on the line. Whenever the Wings needed a clutch goal during their Cup drive, it was number 19 that scored it. He personifies everything a captain should be. But what else would you expect from the guy that bleeds Detroit red? Wait a minute... that really doesn't make any sense. I mean, hell, everyone bleeds Detroit red. See if he was, like, in New York, and I said he bled Ranger blue, that would mean somethin' there... probably that he had some sort of vitamin deficiency, but it would still mean something.
9. Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers: Gretzky made a swell Broadway debut, collecting 25 goals and 97 points in his first year as a Blueshirt. Those numbers are a bit misleading, though, with most of them coming in the first half of the season. Gretzky went buckwild early, collecting 16 goals and 62 points before the All-Star Break. However, as the season went on, Gretzky's production fell off. He even suffered through a brutal 20-game goal-less streak. But Wayne was just pacin' himself. When the playoffs started he cranked it back up and led the Rangers with 10 goals and 20 points in 15 games, boasting two hat tricks along the way.
Even at 36, Gretzky hasn't lost any of his playmaking craftiness. He made a couple passes off the side of the net last season that were somethin' to see. He can still bring the heat with his slapper, but that's the only way he'll score. His wrist shot is softer than Pop 'N' Fresh's midsection. He's also a defensive liability whenever matched up with the opposing team's best. That can be a problem.
Gretzky proved he could still be an impact player, but things are going to be a whole lot tougher this season without Mark Messier around to draw attention from the opposition. The Rangers will undoubtedly try to fill the void left by Messier with some sort of signing or trade. Or they could fill the void with pie. Lots and lots of pie. But this is clearly Gretzky's team now. Pressure's on.
10. Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins: We have the utmost respect for Francis. He's the very definition of the word "professional". He shows up every night and does his job, never complains, and always puts the team first. He's just a great person and a tremendous role model for young players to emulate. That point wasn't lost on Jaromir Jagr, who credits Francis with helping him develop into the player he is today.
Francis is invaluable to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the leadership he brings on and off the ice. But he can still put up some serious numbers. Last season he had 27 goals and 90 points in 81 games. That was good for ninth overall in the league. Not bad for a 34-year-old veteran who seldom gets the respect he deserves. True, Francis may have lost a step, but he didn't exactly depend on a full staircase to begin with. His game is based on intelligence and moving the puck, and that sort of thing just gets better with experience. Age has brought some health concerns, though, as Francis has battled a bad back the last few years. But since he plays through everything, you'll never know he's hurting unless you really pay attention... sort of like John Wayne in "El Dorado".
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Adam Oates, Washington Capitals: Oates usually always ends up in the "Honorable Mentions" section. All he had to do to make it this year was get the Capitals into the playoffs. That would have seemed like a safe bet. After all, Oates had racked up 18 goals and 70 points in 63 games with the lowly Bruins before the trade. Yet after arriving in Washington, Oates came through with only four goals and 12 points in 17 games, "leading" the Caps to a 7-8-2 record and a ninth place finish in the Conference. That'll suck. The good news is that Oates signed a three-year deal over the off-season and will be back in the fold for '97-98. And mark it down now, the Caps will be a juggernaut this season.
Doug Weight, Edmonton Oilers: No doubt, Weight is one of the best playmakers in the NHL. He could set up a bag of potatoes for a goal... mmmm, potatoes. But before Weight ever cracks our top ten, he's going to have to pick up the goal production. His career high is 25, set in 1995-96, and he had a mere 21 last season to go along with 61 assists in 80 games. Weight just isn't a shooter. He finished third on the Oilers with 235 shots. While a modest total, it broke his previous career high by a 31. Weight would much rather set up a teammate than score himself. That's quite the admirable trait. But if he's only gonna score 20, then he's gonna have to set up 80. He might have been able to hit the 80-assist plateau last year if it wasn't for a slow start that saw him register only 28 helpers in his first 46 contests. He finished strong, though, with 33 in his final 34 games. That's the kind of production the Oilers need out of Weight for a whole season.
Rod Brind'Amour, Philadelphia Flyers: How good was Brind'Amour during the playoffs? If the Flyers win the Cup, Brind'Amour gets his name on the Conn Smythe. He was Mr. Everything for the Flyers. So how does he get rewarded? By having his name mentioned in trade rumors all summer long, of course. It's not that the Flyers want to get rid of him, it's just that every other team in the league wants him. Brind'Amour is the ideal second line center. His numbers were way down last season (27-32-59), but he's normally a point-per-game guy that is responsible defensively and almost unbeatable on faceoffs. He's also as durable as the day is long, having played in every game the past four seasons. He rarely gets the headlines, but Brind'Amour is as good as they come. If the rumors of him being moved to Carolina for Sean Burke are true, the Flyers won't realize what they had until it's gone.
MOVIN' ON UP

Saku Koivu

Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens: The li'l Finn exploded out of the gates last season with Montreal, anchoring at the time the league's most prolific scoring line with Mark Recchi and Brian Savage. But just when it seemed Saku was ready to take his place among the league's elite, he suffered a knee injury in a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on December 7. The injury derailed his season and left the Habs a broken team. Even when Saku returned, he wasn't quite the electrifying player he was before the injury. Look for him to bounce back strong this season. He has all the tools to be one of the game's most exciting players. He's extremely quick on his skates, creative with the puck, and his name is just fun to say.... c'mon, say it with us... Saku Koivu, Saku Koivu, Saku Koivu.
At only 5'9", 175 pounds, Koivu is too small to be Montreal's number one center if the club hopes to compete for a championship anytime soon, but he's still damn cool. That's good enough for us... it's not like we're the ones trying to build a championship team in Montreal. Because if we were, we certainly never would have traded Pierre Turgeon for Shayne Corson. What was that about? Friends don't let friends drink and general manage.
Keith Primeau, Carolina Hurricanes: The trade to Hartford was the best thing for Primeau's career. It was obvious he wasn't going to be allowed to develop at center in Detroit, so getting the chance to swim with the Whale was just what the doctor ordered. At 26, now's the time for Primeau to make his move and become a dominant center.

Keith Primeau

He's already one of the most feared physical players in the game. The 6'5", 220-pounder doesn't just hit guys, he destroys them. Arenas all over the NHL have to be checked for structural damage once Primeau leaves town. He can also throw with the best of them. He had eight fights last season, but his most famous tussle was probably a few years back when he took it to Bob Probert during a Detroit practice.
Primeau can do so much more than just bust heads. Considering his size, he's an unbelievable skater. Once he gets rolling he can really motor. And he also has the hands to bust out the moves at full speed. People never think of him as a finesse player, but Primeau can score some goals that are pimp smooth. The only problem with him playing the middle is that he isn't really a great playmaker. He's not terrible at moving the puck, but it's not his strong suit. He's at his best when he barges it to the net himself.
With his talent and size, Primeau could be a 40-goal, 80-point guy. His big problem has always been consistency. One night he'll look like a world beater and the next time out he'll hardly get noticed. He never really had a chance to find his niche with the Wings since he was always being moved around so much, but he has a definite role as the Hurricane's top center. Now that he's had time to adjust to his expanded role, look for a major improvement on the 26 goals and 51 points he had last season.
Chris Gratton, Philadelphia Flyers: Bobby Clarke knows a good thing when he sees it. The Flyer GM wasn't about to let the 22-year-old, 6'4", 218-pound Gratton slip through the free agent market without making a serious run at him. Now Gratton brings even more size and strength to what was already the biggest team in the NHL.
Last year was clearly a breakthrough season for the young center, as he established career highs in goals (30), assists (32), points (62), and penalty minutes (201). He was one of only two players (Keith Tkachuk) to lead his team in both points and penalty minutes. Gratton has a heavy shot and loves to play an aggressive, physical game. He's also proven to be extremely durable, missing just two games in his four-year career. He should be a perfect fit for the Flyers. Imagine a power-play front line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Gratton? That's some scary stuff. The one downside to Gratton at this point is his defensive play. He was a -28 for the Lightning Bolts last season. If he wants to get better in that area he'll have one of the best role models possible as a teammate next season in the form of Joel Otto.
Jozef Stumpel, L.A. Kings: Hey, I wonder if the Bruins could pick up my pants the next time the Kings take them to the cleaners? Kings GM Dave Taylor swiped the up-and-coming Stumpel, along with Sandy Moger, from Boston for Dimitri Khristich and Byron Dafoe. It's nice to see the Bruin brass is still wacky on the junk. That whole just-say-no thing was really getting kind of preachy.
This trade will pay huge dividends for the Kings. Stumpel, 25, is just now starting to find his stride in the NHL. He had a career year with the lowly Bruins last season, setting new personal bests in goals (21), assists (55), and points (76). Stumpel is by no means a physical player, but he does have great size (6'3", 208). He's also extremely skilled. He can pull off stickhandling moves that most players can only dream about. I once saw him do a toe-drag through his own legs in full flight to beat a guy one-on-one. Aw, that's just fancy. Keep an eye on Stumpel, he's one to watch. You might want to keep watching the Bruins, too. They'll be the team in last place with all the mediocre players. Well, except for Anson Carter and Landon Wilson... those are two cool cats, dad.
NOW I GOT WORRY
Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo Sabres: Laffy's future is still very much up in the air thanks to his ongoing battle with post-concussion syndrome. He's one of our all-time favorites, so we hope to see him back out there terrorizing defenses. But even if he doesn't come back, we'll always have the memories... and his wallet. We lifted it the last time he was in town. Hey, we have to get money somehow.
Doug Gilmour, New Jersey Devils: Gilmour rebounded from two rather subpar seasons to post 82 points in 81 games for the Leafs and Devils. Unfortunately, his personal renaissance hit a snag in the playoffs. Gilmour all but crippled New Jersey's bid for a second championship by failing to score a goal and registering just four assists in 10 playoff games. Over his last three postseason appearance, Gilmour has just one goal in 23 games. At 34, the idea that Gilmour is still strong enough to lead a team to the Stanley Cup is somewhat questionable.
WHICH WAY DO I GO, GEORGE?
Jeremy Roenick, Phoenix Coyotes: Ah, remember the good ol' days when Jeremy Roenick would talk about himself in the third person, draw eyes on his blade, and just be one of the most dominating offensive forces in the game? Or how about the time him and Tony Amonte dressed up as Batman and Robin for Halloween? Aw, that was great, that was fun.
But Roenick hasn't been having much fun lately. A series of knee injuries have clearly taken their toll on JR. His scoring has dropped off dramatically, with his points-per-game average declining in each of the past three years. He was starting to play like his old self late last season and did some wonderful work shadowing Paul Kariya in the playoffs, but yet another knee injury ended his postseason early. The good news is that the injury did not require surgery and Roenick should be ready to go when training camp opens. And he'll need to be at full strength if he hopes to regain his former superstar status. One more uninspired season like he had last year and it could be a one-way ticket to Palookaville.
Jason Arnott, Edmonton Oilers: For awhile there it seemed like Arnott was going to be Edmonton's next Mark Messier. He was a big, strapping lad that scored goals and carried his heart on his sleeve. Which while inspirational, can't be at all sanitary. Yet instead of developing into one of the best young centers in the game, Arnott has seemed to hit a wall. His overall game hasn't really progressed much and injuries have kept him out of 33 games the past two seasons, rendering him unable to match the 33 goals and 68 points he put up in his rookie year of 1993-94. His 19 goals and 57 points in 67 games last season were far below what a player of his caliber should be producing in his fourth season. To make matters worse, he also finished at an embarrassing -21. Now there's even talk in Edmonton that the 23-year-old might get dealt. Arnott definitely needs a strong season to turn his career back in the right direction. And there's no time like the present.