Jason Spezza. He never gets mentioned in the same breath as the top players, but here's some career pts/gm stats for Spezza compared to other Star players.

Spezza 1.02 pts per game


Ilya Kovalchuk 1.01 points per game
Pavel Datsyuk 0.98 points per game
Brad Richards 0.92 points per game
Eric Staal 0.89 points per game
Rick Nash 0.81 points per game
- trolleytracks

Very true. He's definitely a star, but that laugh of his holds him back from being mentioned with those guys.

Get ready to be flamed.

Honestly, I used to be anti-phanuef because lets be real...he's pretty difficult to like as a person but he's such a huge part of our team now, he's pretty irreplaceable for us. It doesn't matter about the consistent numbers he puts up or what he does for the Leafs, he'll never be loved in this league.
- clarkysduster

irreplacable on a bad team. what does that mean?

First time I have ever heard you say something nice about a Leaf player.
- VANTEL

I hope you guys out west are nice to Bozak, Frattin and Aston. They're good kids.

irreplacable on a bad team. what does that mean?
- DoubleDown

It means if we didn't have him, we'd be as low as the Habs.

Get ready to be flamed.

Honestly, I used to be anti-phanuef because lets be real...he's pretty difficult to like as a person but he's such a huge part of our team now, he's pretty irreplaceable for us. It doesn't matter about the consistent numbers he puts up or what he does for the Leafs, he'll never be loved in this league.
- clarkysduster

He's a d!ck...end of story. He has terrible lateral movement for a defenseman, he can't skate backwards very well but he's great on the PP with that big shot. He's really no better than Sheldon Souray when he was making news.

It means if we didn't have him, we'd be as low as the Habs.
- clarkysduster

5th worst to 3rd worst

He's a d!ck...end of story. He has terrible lateral movement for a defenseman, he can't skate backwards very well but he's great on the PP with that big shot. He's really no better than Sheldon Souray when he was making news.
- LeftCoaster

Let's not get carried away LC. Dion isn't that bad.

Let's not get carried away LC. Dion isn't that bad.
- IanEsplen

always a little extra motivation when dealing with Leafers!

5th worst to 3rd worst
- LeftCoaster

It's still something.
Toronto sucks, but we're slowly climbing.
Vancouver is awesome, but you're rapidly declining.

It's still something.
Toronto sucks, but we're slowly climbing.
Vancouver is awesome, but you're rapidly declining.
- clarkysduster

Rapidly? Declining due to this lockout yes, but not rapidly.

It's still something.
Toronto sucks, but we're slowly climbing.
Vancouver is awesome, but you're rapidly declining.
- clarkysduster

there is no hockey right now, no one is any better than then were last year and no one is any worse.

It's still something.
Toronto sucks, but we're slowly climbing.
Vancouver is awesome, but you're rapidly declining.

How is Vancouver "rapidly" declining?

He's still a giveaway machine!
- LeftCoaster

That's because he tries crazy poop all the time. It's either a giveaway or up for one of the plays of the year.

I'm feeling like I did with baseball when they cancelled the season.

I used to watch 100 games a year, now I watch 5 at the most. I haven't bought any gear either since then.

Like you said, I will watch when it's on, but do I have a whole lot of interest going forward.

F*U*C*K NO

And I'm an aspiring sports journalist. If I feel this way, there are other journalist out there that feel the same way as well. So how the hell is the NHL suppose to market themselves and sell the game if the main medium they use has absolutely no interest in them?

I'll be spending my time looking at Amateur/Olympic sports from now on.
- IanEsplen

Larry Brooks is fuming on twitter.

He said NHL cancelling games is 15 th down on sports stories today soon to be 25 th, telling season ticket holders demand your money back now.

I think season ticket holders should ask for money back, I have a feeling after this lockout it won't be hard to find an empty seat.

Good list.

My hab friends are constantly defending desharnais. Wonder what he'd do without cole and pacs though? Horcoff had a pt a game with hemsky and smyth remember! Dudes got one of the worst set of hands in the game

Lapierre is so easy to hate. That grin!! I want to wipe it off his face. Cant imagine how his opponents feel.
But yeah, hes a pretty decent player.

Hamhuis comes to mind also.
Burrows for sure as well. Hes easy to hate too. He pulls hair.

Laddy Smid. Hes a warrior. Guess hes really only had 1 real good season though.

That's because he tries crazy poop all the time. It's either a giveaway or up for one of the plays of the year.
- clarkysduster

Well, maybe not rapidly declining, but certainly on the decline. Vancouver has 5 elite players, no?
Two of which are nearing the exit of their primes (Sedins).
One has had substantial injury issues and character questions (Kelser)
One is a UFA in the summer (Edler)
One is a declining goalie who will likely be moved once a CBA is in place (Luongo)

Well, maybe not rapidly declining, but certainly on the decline. Vancouver has 5 elite players, no?
Two of which are nearing the exit of their primes (Sedins).
One has had substantial injury issues and character questions (Kelser)
One is a UFA in the summer (Edler)
One is a declining goalie who will likely be moved once a CBA is in place (Luongo)
- clarkysduster

You quoted yourself.

You quoted yourself.
- LeftCoaster

touche, sir.

Well, maybe not rapidly declining, but certainly on the decline. Vancouver has 5 elite players, no?
Two of which are nearing the exit of their primes (Sedins).
One has had substantial injury issues and character questions (Kelser)
One is a UFA in the summer (Edler)
One is a declining goalie who will likely be moved once a CBA is in place (Luongo)
- clarkysduster

To me, the Sedins are in the same boat as Ray Whitney. They won't be top players going forward, but they are still going to be pretty dam good players.

Kesler is still elite imo when he is healthy. he's had one bad year. don't be bitter because he is twice as good as anyone on the leafs, even if he was only playing with one arm.

Edler, Gillis will get it done or he will move him for assets. It's as simple as that. and his skills are not declining.

Luongo, ahhh, we have a guy who is better waiting in the wings. the worst case is Vancouver will buy him out, but VANCOUVER WILL GET VALUE FOR HIM.

Will Vancouver win a couple more Presidents, and a Cup? tough call, but i'd be willing to bet they will be in the hunt for a few more years.

To me, the Sedins are in the same boat as Ray Whitney. They won't be top players going forward, but they are still going to be pretty dam good players.

Kesler is still elite imo when he is healthy. he's had one bad year. don't be bitter because he is twice as good as anyone on the leafs, even if he was only playing with one arm.

Edler, Gillis will get it done or he will move him for assets. It's as simple as that. and his skills are not declining.

Luongo, ahhh, we have a guy who is better waiting in the wings. the worst case is Vancouver will buy him out, but VANCOUVER WILL GET VALUE FOR HIM.

Will Vancouver win a couple more Presidents, and a Cup? tough call, but i'd be willing to bet they will be in the hunt for a few more years.
- IanEsplen

If this lockout is like the last one Gillis will not be able to deal Edler seeing he will be an UFA

Vancouver would not buy Luongo out too much of a cap hit,more likely to ne put on waivers.

He's still a giveaway machine!
- LeftCoaster

He does turn it over quite a bit, yes. Kovalchuk led the league in that category last season with 120 vs 42 takeaways. Spezza had 84 GA 64 TA, good enough for 8th on the list of most giveaways.

If this lockout is like the last one Gillis will not be able to deal Edler seeing he will be an UFA

Vancouver would not buy Luongo out too much of a cap hit,more likely to ne put on waivers.
- VANTEL

I'm sure there will be a period of time to do a deal or trade him. I can't see players just being turned loose without any time for GM's to do anything about it.

There is also a good chance that the new CBA will make Edler and RFA

My only complaint is Maxim has not earned the Lappy name yet. Not saying he can't it's just that the real Lappy just retired let the dirt on the retirement grave settle before giving his name away please.

My only complaint is Maxim has not earned the Lappy name yet. Not saying he can't it's just that the real Lappy just retired let the dirt on the retirement grave settle before giving his name away please.
- onac22

We've been calling him Lappy since before the other Lappy retired—not gonna stop now.

I'm sure there will be a period of time to do a deal or trade him. I can't see players just being turned loose without any time for GM's to do anything about it.

There is also a good chance that the new CBA will make Edler and RFA
- IanEsplen

Speculation only. The NHLPA would need to agree on that and so far they have agreed on Sh!t.

I would be pissed if teams were given a grace period to sign unsigned FAs .The should have done that prior.

What happens to the RFAs this year who were not given a contract ?Does that make them UFAs ?