Best U.S. Born NHL Player

[G1GBallday]

With Jeremy Roenick announcing his retirement today I was inspired to look up some stats of U.S. born NHL players to see who stood out.

First in goal, there were a few good ones like John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Richter but I always seem to remember Tom Barrasso coming up big when it counted most so I'd go with him.

On defense, when I think of defensive defensemen I would put Rod Langway at number one. When I think offensive defensemen, I would go with Phil Housley and his 1232 points and when I think all around D-man I'd go with Chris Chelios.

At forward, I always liked Joe Mullen's skill and work ethic and Mike Modano for his class and consistent play year in year out but I'd have to say my all time favourite and in my opinion greatest U.S. born player was Pat Lafontaine who averaged 1.171 points per game in a career that was sadly much too short.

 

[joelcairo]

Most talented: Lafontaine

Most valuable: Leetch

Most hardworking: Mullen

Most consistent: Modano

Most charismatic: Roenick

Most nasty (not a bad thing in hockey): Chelios

Most annoying: Barrasso !

Rod Langway was born in Formosa.

 

[super hiro]

Lafontaine.

 

[K Douglas]

Most talented: Lafontaine

Most valuable: Leetch

Most hardworking: Mullen

Most consistent: Modano

Most charismatic: Roenick

Most nasty (not a bad thing in hockey): Chelios

Most annoying: Barrasso !

Rod Langway was born in Formosa.

Bang on. I agree with everything but damn I hated Chelios!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Pat Lafontaine gets my vote. The only guy i could see being better one day is Phil Kessel.

 

[lgna69xxx]

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go for Kessel taking the top spot Doc.... but he has the talent for sure, is boston crazy or what? geessh..

Pat Lafontaine gets my vote. The only guy i could see being better one day is Phil Kessel.

 

[Doc Holliday]

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go for Kessel taking the top spot Doc.... but he has the talent for sure, is boston crazy or what? geessh..

I know, this is wishful thinking on my part. As for Boston being crazy, they had no money left to re-sign him. If they did, they would have had to start gutting out their roster, which they didn't really want to do. But they would have matched any offer for his services, no doubt about....just for the principle of the thing. But i can't blame Boston for letting him go.....he didn't fit in their plans anymore, nor in Claude Julien's system. Owner Jeremy Jacobs is quite known for being dirt cheap (goodbye Marc Savard), so i doubt he would have wanted to hand out another multi-million dollar contract to one of his players. Boston made a great deal by getting two first-rounders & a second rounder. I probably would have done the same thing if i were in Peter Chiarelli's shoes. However, i also would have done the same deal if i were Brian Burke. He needed a young player of Kessel's ability & potential to start rebuilding with for the future. Not a single #1 draft pick in the next 2 seasons would have been able to provide the impact of a Phil Kessel.

 

[lgna69xxx]

agree with all that, plus the fact that it has been noted several times by good hockey people both in the states and canada, the next 2 years drafts will be the weakest talent wise in years....

I know, this is wishful thinking on my part. As for Boston being crazy, they had no money left to re-sign him. If they did, they would have had to start gutting out their roster, which they didn't really want to do. But they would have matched any offer for his services, no doubt about....just for the principle of the thing. But i can't blame Boston for letting him go.....he didn't fit in their plans anymore, nor in Claude Julien's system. Owner Jeremy Jacobs is quite known for being dirt cheap (goodbye Marc Savard), so i doubt he would have wanted to hand out another multi-million dollar contract to one of his players. Boston made a great deal by getting two first-rounders & a second rounder. I probably would have done the same thing if i were in Peter Chiarelli's shoes. However, i also would have done the same deal if i were Brian Burke. He needed a young player of Kessel's ability & potential to start rebuilding with for the future. Not a single #1 draft pick in the next 2 seasons would have been able to provide the impact of a Phil Kessel.

 

[TheDon]

How about Keith Tkachuk, John LeClaire...

 

[Doc Holliday]

How about Keith Tkachuk, John LeClaire...

What about 'em? At best, it's only a 50/50 chance that they'll get in the HOF.

 

[eastender]

Frank Brimsek

Frank Brimsek says hi.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/brimsfr01.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Frank Brimsek says hi.

I once met him.

 

[Time to Punt]

Some not very knowledgeable people here if Chelios is out polling Brian Leetch

 

[G1GBallday]

Some not very knowledgeable people here if Chelios is out polling Brian Leetch

Both very good players but Chris Chelios IMO was a more complete player. His offensive numbers were close to Leetch's but defensively he was more effective and much more feared by opponents.

Also Chelios has three Norris Trophies and Leetch has two.