Everyone hopes to have a lengthy, successful NHL career, but that’s not always the case! Every player’s hockey journey is different and sometimes they end a lot sooner than expected. Here are 6 NHL Players Who Retired Too Soon!
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31 Comments
Ken Dryden is the only player who wasn't forced to retire due to injuries. He was still the best goaltender in the NHL when he retired.
Vladimir Konstantinov. He came into the league with Nicklas Lidstrom, and it's easy to imagine them playing together for another 14 seasons. Vlady led the league in +/- in 1996, and was a runner-up for the Norris in '97. Were it not for the limo accident, he'd be in the HoF.
Hello
Ten year tenure? Say that 5 times fast.
Whats a pure goalscorer vs great goalscorer?
Bossy easily coulda been all time leader in goals
Thank you, for not shouting: Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaalalalalalallalalafontaine!
Mike Bossy is a straight up Sniper. One of the slickest releases of all time. Didn't need a lot of space or time to get his shot off. Just an absolute gentleman on & more importantly off the ice. Boss & Trots were one of the best centre – winger combo of all time.
Really, Booby Orr
How is Erik Lindros not here? He was on pace to have a legendary career before Scott Stevens decked him.
Hot take: Lemieux is better than Gretzky. If Lemieux stayed healthy, he would've broken all of Gretzky's records.
Lemieux was the GOAT
Cam Neely probably could have played for another 5 years if it wasn't for Ulf Samuelsson
if only medical science were advanced when Orr played he would have had a way longer career. Dryden retired as the best goalie in NHL at that time but wanted to be a lawyer so walked away.
Peter Forsberg. Still currently 9th all time for points per game.
Bobby Orr Fact. He annihilated Doug Harvey's point record by a dman by a 70 points margin. Doug Harvey's record was 50 points. The difference between both record (70) was higher than the actual previous record (50)
Cam Neely could've been on here too!? His career was cut short cuz of knee injuries too!! The Bruins haven't had the greatest luck with knee injuries….both Orr and Neely got screwed by bad knees!! Imagine if they'd both had long careers!!!??
"Transitioned to the Blackhawks" lmfao
Brian Burke is a lawyer who should have remained a lawyer.
Dryden set himself up for life by becoming a lawyer. What's wrong with him retiring? So what if he was still at his peak? Jim Brown did the same thing in football.
Ziggy Pallfy was a real elite player who suddenly retired at 33 but then came back and spent the rest of his career in Slovakia
Geoff Courtnall, a very underrated prolific goal scorer, injuries plagued his NHL career too also forced to retire too soon.
Saying Orr retired at 30 is a bit deceiving more like 26, 75/76 he only played 10 games, 76.77 20 games, 77/78 he didn't play at all and 78'79 6 games. He did make it Official at 30 BUT ,really 26 , and it just add to what he did .
I’ll never forget as a kid during Christmas at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium wanting him to always score just to hear Rick Jeanereat go “Tis the season to be jolly….FA LA LA LA LA LALAFONTAINE!!!”. In my opinion he’s the best American to ever play.
I think Bossy got 50 nine years in a row not 8
Dryden won 6 cups NOT 5
Dryden was a better than average goalie who only looked " great " on a team that was probably the the best in NHL history. Any goalie in the league would have looked like an all – star on that team. Meanwhile, guys like Don Edwards of the Sabres faced 40 shots a night on some pretty weak teams and quite often stood on his head. But the best goalie of that era, in my opinion , Bernie Parent of the Flyers and Leafs.
I paused the video to throw my 6 players out there …. Cam Neely , Eric Londros , Mario Lemieux , Paul Kariya , Vladimir Konstantinov and lastly Jaromir Jagr … nah just kidding 😛 My 6th player would be Pavel Bure not a really short career but could have been better/longer have a great day everyone 🙂
Lemieux will always be the #1 for me. Could've easily scored 900+ goals had his health not let him down.
– Bobby Orr (bad knee)
– Mario Lemieux (back injuries, cancer, hip issues, heart problem)
– Mike Bossy (chronic back problems)
– Peter Forsberg (ankle & foot issues)
– Eric Lindros (concussions; his brother Brett’s career ended before it even started for the same reason)
– Pavel Bure (knee injuries)
– Nolan Patrick (concussions & migraines)
– Chris Pronger (post-concussion syndrome, eye injury)
– Vladimir Konstantinov (TBI from limo crash)
– Paul Kariya (concussions)
– Gabriel Landeskog? (knee problems)
– Bryan Berard (subversion; eye injury)
– Carey Price (chronic knee pain)
– Matt Niskanen (mutual decision)
– Ben Bishop (ditto)
– Shea Weber (ditto)
– Marian Gaborik (back issues)
– Pat LaFontaine (concussions)
– Peter Mueller (concussions)
– Cam Neely (myositis ossificans & hip issues)
– Corey Crawford (concussions)
– Marc Savard (post-concussion syndrome)
– Rick DiPietro (knee problems)
– Ryan Ellis (hip & back problems)
– Jiri Fischer (ventricular fibrillation resulting in cardiac arrest during game)
– Nathan Horton (degenerative lumbar)
– Josh Harding (multiple sclerosis)
Bossy scored 50+ goals in 9 consecutive regular seasons! Purest Goal Scorer !