With Theoren Fleury announcing his intent to return to the National Hockey League, I can’t help but think that it would be a good thing for the game and for the NHL. He was such an entertaining player, a great personality on the ice, and the fact is, everybody loves an underdog.
This is a guy who was always told he was too small for the NHL, making it just another reason why it would be great to see him back. I remember a discussion a few years ago about the “New NHL” (as an aside, I’m glad we don’t get inundated with that every broadcast now), and how guys like Fleury would have thrived (throve? threwved?) under the new rules.
Anyways, all this got me thinking about some other comebacks I think would be great to see.
- Cam Neely
I always thought Cam Neely was cut down in his prime, and I think most fans in Boston would have to agree. The guy was an animal, and an absolute powerhouse on the ice. Can you imagine him now though. While the new rules have made it great for smaller, skilled guys, there still plenty of room for giant power forwards like Neely. With less clutching and grabbing, a guy like Neely would be a freight train. I swear that playing Boston would strike fear in the hearts of defencemen and goalies everywhere….again.
- Pavel Bure
When Pavel Bure left the league, it was done with very little fan fare or excitement. He just kind of left. But it’s really too bad when you look back on his career and how good he was. He scored some of the best highlight-reel goals I can remember, and the open space on the ice would give him the room to manoeuvre and make those fantastic goals look even better.
- Mats Sundin
Too soon?
- Anson Carter
I know, I know. It doesn’t seem to fit. But Carter was a guy that I thought was such a great complimentary player. Remember when he played in Vancouver on the Sedins’ line. He scored a career-high for goals that year, and provided some much needed enthusiasm for that line. I respect what the Sedins can do, but let’s be honest; they’re not always the most entertaining when they’re not scoring goals. All this is to say that Carter could still play a pretty good role on an NHL team, but for some reason is toiling in Europe. I’ll never forget that goal he scored at the World Hockey Championships to win gold. This guy had heart.
- Eric Desjardins
Man I miss Eric Desjardins, if nothing else that he was absolutely dominant in EA Sports NHL 98 and was the heart and soul of my blue line. But seriously, Desjardins, like other dominant players in the 90s, kind of faded away. Maybe its better to leave on top than watch yourself fade away, but this was a defenceman I was always worried about when we played Philadelphia. He was absolutely one of the best powerplay specialists of his day. Not to mention that he is the only NHL defencement to ever score a hat trick in the Stanley Cup Finals when Montreal won the Cup in 1993.
- Paul Coffey
Again, talk about another great defencemen of the 80s and 90s. Coffey was an absolute animal when he played with Gretzky and Messier in Edmonton, and he continued to play a dominant role until he retired. I always loved to watch Coffey jump into the play and you never had to worry about his position, cause it usually meant they were going to score. He could be the puck moving defencement that so many teams still covet….ahem Bryan Murray.
- Alexandre Daigle
Too soon?
There you have it folks. A short list of players that I think would make great comeback stories. Thoughts, suggestions? Did I miss anybody?
Stay classy, retired NHL players. Thanks for the memories.
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All jokes aside, I seriously can’t see Fleury’s comeback being successful… even if a team takes a chance on him like the Sharks did with Claude Lemieux last year.
Yes, a prime Fleury would thrive in the “new NHL”, but his comeback will get him 4th line minutes at best and he’s too old and small to really grind other 4th lines. Not sold he’ll be effective and more than a quick ticket promotion. We’ll see.
I’d love to see Fleury make it…. I like an underdog.
I thought it was great that Lemieux came back and managed to play a bit.
Fleury has had his share of good times and bad in the NHL, but I believe he loves the game like Lemieux does…. not sure just how effective he could be. But why not give it a shot.
Sundin – too soon. ;-)
Paul Coffee! Come on back!
Pavel Bure! Left too soon.
Great article.
Thanks Yves. We love your stuff – honored that you read our blog.
Bure is my absolute all time favorite, so I couldn’t agree more. Scary to think what could have been, had he played a career with today’s game.
Again, Fleury’s size is what concerns me for the minutes he will get, providing an NHL team takes a chance on him.
Other than Neely (whom would I’d actually like to see play the most), everyone you listed would be a bigger contributor to a team than Theo. I guess I get it, he left the league on someone else’s terms, but just give it up man.
It will be interesting to see if he still has what made him so valuable in the 90s. The guy was pretty gifted.
Neely would be an absolute monster. Pierre McGuire might not be able to handle that.
One guy I didn’t mention but would still love to watch play is Messier. You can’t teach killer instinct like he had. For all the smiling he does in those commercials, there is a reason they called him Moose.
Full disclosure: Tambland grew up out west, has an obvious bias for anything Oilers, but he’s right here. I’d like to see Messier’s iconic wrist shot on the off wing from the faceoff circle with these new one-piece composite sticks they have. His shot was unreal before, but with the improved technology… just think of the damage!
Yes, McGuire may have to rename the segment.
Hey gents. I’ve been enjoying the reads for the last couple weeks. Keep up the good work.
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Continue to keep it classy boys.
Awesome shirts! I may have to get one, thanks for the link. I encourage all Classy readers to take a look at the shirts.
Thanks for reading our blog and hope to keep seeing you around!
In his interview on TSN, he said something that made me think I don’t care whether he goes on the whole season without a goal. He said he didn’t want to retire as a suspended player. And rightfully so, yes he made mistakes but the guy deserves to go out of the NHL is a more honourable way. Call me crazy but the only success he’s looking for is retiring as an active player instead of being kicked out. The best of luck to Fleury
And is Sundin retired already? Isn’t he waiting till December to decide?
Maybe February. Still way to earlier to tell :)
You bring up a good point. Younger hockey fans may only remember Theo from his New York days and that’s not the whole story, as you and I well know. He broke some pretty big size barriers in the NHL. One of the game’s grittiest small guys. He does deserve to retire out of choice, not forced to because of suspension.
Just watched some highlights of the ’94 Finals between Vancouver and New York. Basically, Pavel Bure was an awesome player, even during the clutch and grab years. Man I’d love to see him back.
My favorite player, as you know. Still think he’s the most talented NHLer to not be in the Hall of Fame (and eligible).