Who says no one ever remembers who finished second?
I'm not only going to attempt to remember and honour players that finished "second," but I'll even build a team using only players that never got the chance to hoist Lord Stanley's Mug in their careers.
Some of these players never even got to taste a loss in the finals, but they had quality, if not spectacular, careers on an individual level. However, the ultimate team success escaped them.
As always when I create my fantasy teams (see my article here) I try to abide by certain restrictions to make the choices a bit tougher as well as more accurate.
So once again the roster will be filled with players being slotted in their natural positions. (The Internet Hockey Database or Wikipedia will be used as the sources.)
One other factor for the selection of my fantasy team will be that I'll stick to players I witnessed play in the NHL before they retired (1983-present). Also, the players would have to have played at least a decade in the league.
Let's get started with the goaltenders. This was a tough duo to select because most of the great, or even good, NHL goalies have sipped from the Cup and a few quality ones haven't retired yet, like Joseph and Kolzig.
G—Ron Hextall
He won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) on a losing team in 1987.
G—Sean Burke
He was a very solid goaltender, but played on very bad teams.
Honorable mention to Kirk MacLean, John Vanbiesbrouck, Pete Peeters, and Mike Liut.
On defense,"Team Cup-less" would be quite formidable with this group of six.
D—Doug Wilson
With his booming shot from the point, he tallied 237 goals in his 16-year career, and collected a Norris Trophy. But, I'm sure he would trade every goal and that trophy for one Stanley Cup.
D—Craig Hartsburg
He was a steady and solid defender in the NHL, but was unable to capture a Stanley Cup. Hartsburg played 10 seasons, all with Minnesota, collecting 413 points along the way.
D—Phil Housley
He was one of the best all-time offensive rear-guards ever to skate in the NHL. He tallied 1,232 points in his 22-year career. Unfortunately for Housley, he spent much of that time with teams that were never cup contenders.
D—Borje Salming
He was considered the pioneer for Swedish born players that come to North America to earn a living in the NHL. However, he spent 16 of his 17 seasons on very poor Toronto Maple Leaf teams.
D—Randy Carlyle
He broke into the NHL in 1976 and retired after the 1992-93 season, while playing with the Winnipeg Jets. Carlyle was awarded the James Norris Trophy in 1981, but never came close to winning a Stanley Cup.
D—Mark Howe
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2 months ago
Great article, man. You're right, no one remembers second place, but there are so many players who have not yet won any Cups. And don't forget about Jeremy Roenick!!!
2 months ago
Well I didn't add him as he has yet to retire, Mats Sundin was also left off as he hasn't officially retired yet either.
Thanks for the compliment.
2 months ago
I was actually kind of shocked at how thin the list was. Not to take away from any of these players, but this was one of those questions where you sort of expect to hear some REALLY big names. It would suck pretty hard to be such an elite player and never get to win a cup though. I guess that's why you see guys like Ray Bourque jumping to Colorado after, what? a hundred years with Boston?
I bet your list will expload in the coming years. Guys like Iginla, Sundin, Kariya... lot's more but i have to do some work now!
2 months ago
Nate the list will have more names but i don't necessarily think they would be much better. I would argue that Perreault or LaFontaine were better players that Iginla or Kariya.
But I guess many of the players I played in a generation where you spent a majority of your career on one team with one franchise. This was before the days where players could pick and choose especially late in their careers where they play.
Bourque was lucky in that Boston elected to trade him and gave him a choice of teams to be traded too, and he made the right decision, but he did not use free agency to get a cup.
2 months ago
Actually, Langway was on the 1978-79 Canadiens team that won the Cup. He played 45 regular-season games, so his name is automatically on there. Plus, he got into 8 playoff games.
2 months ago
Thanks Rocco. Sorry my mistake. I'll have to check my resources
2 months ago
Great article, Nelson. You honored a bunch of great NHL players with writing your article and miss the days when playewrs stayed their whole career playing for one team. It was cool, Bourque got his cup, once both Sakic and Sundin retire it will be the end of that era.
from 2 months ago
Thanks SM. Yeah these were the players that I grew up watching and I think it's the reason I still find myself attracted to the "gentleman/professional" players. A la Sakic, Yzerman and Francis.
2 months ago
Ahh, I was going to add Oates, but he's already an honorable mention. Best assist man ever imo
from 2 months ago
I wanted to add Oates. Next to Gretzky the truest pure playmaker the game has seen. But i chose Hawerchuk because I just thought that Hawerchuk was unfortunate in that he spent so many years on a bad team watch the two teams from Alberta dominate.
2 months ago
Ciccarelli was dominant; he singlehandedly carried the Capitals in the early 90s but didn't have a good supporting cast - and too bad they had to play the Penguins a couple of those years. But he certainly did his job.
2 months ago
Nice article Nelson. Would have though Marcel Dionne would rate more than a honorable mention though, especially with Charlie Simmer making the cut. I'd put Dionne in Stastny's slot.
2 months ago
how is Paul Kariya not on this list?
maybe it is because he hasn't retired yet. that makes sense. if i'm right, ignore me.
2 months ago
JC....I just thought in his career Marcel Dionne looked happy to show up and not be on a contender. As for Simmer he was fortunate to make the list because throughout history the NHL has been weak on LW....most of the great offensive stars have been centres and there have been some fabulous RW, but for some odd reason LW hasn't see that many greats, especially when you start eliminating cup winners.
TJ, to my knowledge Kariya is back for another season, otherwise he is certainly on the list.
2 months ago
Kariya is back.
Great article Nelson. Can't believe that the Russian Rocket never one a cup! I guess I have Richter to thank for that.
He scored one of the greatest goals, with the Rangers, that I have ever seen, a GWG in OT going coast to coast.
I miss him.
2 months ago
Pavel was a fantastic talent and the reason any Russian kid with great wheels makes it to the NHL. Every team hopes they are getting a cheap copy of Bure.
2 months ago
Pavel was a fantastic talent and the reason any Russian kid with great wheels makes it to the NHL. Every team hopes they are getting a cheap copy of Bure.
2 months ago
Maybe not as a player, but I'm glad Randy Carlyle the coach got to raise the Cup in '07.
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