Rink Report

Jere Lehtinen was never the loudest name in the NHL, and he was never chasing headlines. But for 14 seasons with the Dallas Stars, he quietly became one of the best two way forwards of his generation.

Lehtinen finished his career with 875 games, 243 goals, 271 assists and 514 points. He also finished with a remarkable plus 176 rating. His offensive numbers were impressive, but scoring was only part of what made him special. He could shut down top players, win battles, kill penalties and still contribute offensively.

Then there were the Selke Trophies. Lehtinen won the award as the NHL's best defensive forward three times, in 1998, 1999 and 2003. He also scored 35 goals and 54 points during the 2002 to 03 season while winning his third Selke.

His biggest moment came with Dallas in 1999. Lehtinen helped the Stars win their first Stanley Cup, recording 10 points in 23 playoff games. In the decisive Game 6 of the Final, he scored the opening goal before assisting on Brett Hull's overtime Cup winning goal.

What makes Lehtinen so underrated is that his greatness was never about flashy numbers. He was the kind of player coaches trusted, teammates respected and opponents hated playing against. He did almost everything right, and he did it without needing to be the center of attention.

His No. 26 was eventually retired by the Dallas Stars, a fitting tribute to a player who spent his entire NHL career in Dallas.

Three Selke Trophies. A Stanley Cup. 875 games. 514 points.

Jere Lehtinen was not just a defensive forward.

He was a superstar in the art of doing everything.

Brian Rafalski was never supposed to become an NHL superstar. He went undrafted and spent time playing professionally in Europe before finally getting his NHL opportunity with the New Jersey Devils at age 26. Once he arrived, however, he quickly proved that size and draft status meant very little. Rafalski immediately became one of the league's most effective puck moving defensemen.

In his first full NHL season in 1999–00, Rafalski recorded 32 points in 75 games and helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup. The following season, he exploded for 52 points in 78 games, followed by 47 points in 2001–02. He became a major part of the Devils' blue line, combining intelligent positioning with excellent passing and the ability to move the puck quickly out of his own zone.

Rafalski's career only became more impressive as he got older. He won another Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003, then signed with Detroit in 2007. With the Red Wings, he became part of another championship team, winning the 2008 Stanley Cup. During Detroit's championship run, Rafalski contributed 14 points in 22 playoff games. He eventually reached three Stanley Cups in his career, winning all three.

When Rafalski retired in 2011, he had played 833 NHL games, recording 79 goals, 436 assists and 515 points. He also finished with 100 playoff points in 165 games. For a player who was never drafted and didn't even reach the NHL until his mid 20s, that is an incredible career.

Undrafted. Three Stanley Cups. 515 points. 100 playoff points.

Brian Rafalski wasn't just a late bloomer.

He became one of the most underrated defensemen of the 2000s.

Marián Hossa was one of the most complete wingers of his generation, yet when people talk about the great stars of the 2000s, his name can sometimes get overlooked. He entered the NHL with Ottawa in the late 1990s and quickly developed into a dangerous scorer who could combine size, speed, defensive responsibility and an elite finishing touch.

His breakthrough came in 2002–03, when Hossa scored 45 goals and 80 points for Ottawa and earned his first NHL First All Star Team selection. The following season, he produced 36 goals and 82 points. After the lockout, he reached another level in Atlanta, recording 39 goals and 92 points in 2005–06, then 43 goals and 100 points in 2006–07.

Hossa was more than an offensive player, though. He became known as one of the better two way wingers in the league and regularly received Selke Trophy consideration. He could kill penalties, defend against top players and still create offense at an elite level. That combination made him incredibly valuable, even if he was often overshadowed by players like Jaromír Jágr, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk.

The frustrating part of his early career was the lack of a championship. Hossa reached the 2008 Stanley Cup Final with Pittsburgh, then signed with Detroit and returned to the Final in 2009, only to lose to his former team. But he eventually got his moment. In 2010, Hossa and the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, beginning a championship era in Chicago. He later won the Cup again with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.

Hossa finished his career with 1,309 games, 525 goals, 609 assists and 1,134 points, along with three Stanley Cups and five All Star selections. He was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

525 goals. 1,134 points. Three Stanley Cups. Five All Star selections.

Marián Hossa wasn't just a great winger.

He was one of the most complete stars of the 2000s.

Dany Heatley arrived in the NHL as the second overall pick in the 2000 Draft and immediately showed why Atlanta believed he could become a franchise star. He scored 26 goals and 67 points as a rookie, finishing second in Calder Trophy voting behind Ilya Kovalchuk. In 2002–03, he took another huge step, scoring 41 goals and 89 points in 77 games, earning his first All Star selection.

Then came the move to Ottawa and one of the most dominant scoring stretches of the 2000s. In 2005–06, Heatley scored 50 goals and 103 points. The following season, he went even higher with 50 goals and 105 points, finishing tied for second in NHL scoring. He became one of the league's premier goal scorers and one of the most dangerous finishers of his era.

What makes those seasons even more impressive is that Heatley was doing it alongside Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza on Ottawa's famous top line. In 2006–07, the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Final, and Heatley produced 7 goals and 15 points in 20 playoff games. Ottawa ultimately lost the Final to Anaheim, leaving Heatley without a Stanley Cup.

Heatley's career eventually totaled 869 games, 372 goals, 419 assists and 791 points. He also represented Canada internationally and won gold at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and 2010 Winter Olympics. His NHL career did not last as long as many expected after his incredible peak, but for several seasons, Dany Heatley was absolutely one of the most feared goal scorers in hockey.

50 goals. 50 goals again. 105 points. Two All Star selections.

Dany Heatley wasn't just a scorer who had a couple of good years.

At his peak, he was one of the NHL's most dangerous goal scorers.

Geoff Courtnall never had the superstar reputation of some of the biggest names of the 1990s, but he was an extremely effective two way forward who could score, create chances and play with an edge. After bouncing around early in his career, Courtnall found his game in Vancouver and became one of the key pieces of the Canucks during the early 1990s.

His best regular season came in 1992–93, when he scored 31 goals and 77 points in 84 games. He followed that with 26 goals and 70 points in 1993–94, then helped Vancouver reach the Stanley Cup Final that spring. Courtnall produced 19 points in 24 playoff games during that run, including nine goals.

He continued to be productive after leaving Vancouver. With St. Louis, Courtnall had another excellent season in 1997–98, scoring 31 goals and 62 points in 79 games and earning his second NHL All Star selection. He was never simply a scorer either. His willingness to battle, forecheck and play physically made him the kind of forward coaches could trust in difficult situations.

Courtnall eventually retired with 1,048 NHL games, 367 goals, 432 assists and 799 points. He also finished his career with 109 playoff points in 156 games and won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, although he did not play in the Final after being acquired earlier that season.

367 goals. 799 points. 109 playoff points. Two All Star selections. One Stanley Cup.

Geoff Courtnall wasn't one of the names that dominated the headlines.

But for years, he was exactly the kind of player every contender wanted on its roster.

Steve Duchesne was one of the most underrated offensive defensemen of his generation. He never had the superstar reputation of Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey or Al MacInnis, but during his best years, Duchesne was putting up numbers that would make any defenseman stand out.

His breakthrough came with the Los Angeles Kings. In 1988–89, Duchesne scored 25 goals and 75 points in 79 games, earning his first All Star selection and finishing fifth in Norris Trophy voting. Two seasons later, he recorded 21 goals and 62 points, and then came his best NHL season in 1992–93 with the Quebec Nordiques. Duchesne produced 20 goals and 82 points in 82 games, finishing eighth in Norris Trophy voting.

What makes his career so impressive is how consistently he produced from the blue line. Duchesne scored 20 or more goals three times and reached at least 55 points in seven different seasons. He also became a major power play weapon, using his shot and offensive instincts to create chances from the point.

Duchesne eventually joined the Detroit Red Wings and became part of their championship era. He played 23 playoff games during Detroit's 2002 Stanley Cup run, contributing six assists as the Red Wings defeated Carolina in the Final.

When his career ended, Duchesne had played 1,113 NHL games, scoring 227 goals, 525 assists and 752 points. For a defenseman who spent much of his career outside the spotlight, those are remarkable numbers.

227 goals. 752 points. Three 20 goal seasons. One Stanley Cup.

Steve Duchesne may not be remembered as one of the biggest names of the 1990s.

But he was one of the decade's most underrated offensive defensemen.

Ziggy Pálffy was one of the most naturally gifted scorers of the 1990s, yet his name has somehow faded from the conversation. A second round pick by the New York Islanders in 1991, Pálffy arrived in the NHL and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the league. His combination of speed, hands and creativity made him incredibly difficult to defend, especially in an era when physical play dominated the NHL.

His breakout came in 1995–96, when Pálffy scored 43 goals and 87 points in 81 games. He became even better the following season, scoring 48 goals and 90 points in 80 games, earning his first NHL All Star selection and receiving Hart Trophy votes. Then in 1997–98, he produced 45 goals and 87 points, giving him three straight seasons with at least 43 goals and 87 points.

What made Pálffy so dangerous was how effortlessly he could create offense. He was a small winger at 5 foot 10, but his skating and puck skills allowed him to attack defenders with speed and find openings that other players simply couldn't. During his Islanders peak, he was often the team's biggest offensive weapon, and NHL.com has even described him as an underrated Islanders hero.

Unfortunately, injuries began taking their toll, and his time in New York ended when the Islanders traded him to Los Angeles in 1999. He continued to produce with the Kings, including 38 goals and 89 points in 2000–01, followed by 37 goals and 85 points in 2002–03. His career eventually ended in 2006, but he finished with 684 NHL games, 329 goals, 384 assists and 713 points.

Pálffy never won a Stanley Cup and never reached the Hockey Hall of Fame, but that doesn't change how good he was at his peak.

48 goals. 90 points. Three straight 40 goal seasons. Three All Star selections.

Ziggy Pálffy wasn't just a flashy winger.

He was one of the most underrated stars of the 1990s.

Nolan was already a star. In 1991–92, he scored 42 goals and 73 points in 75 games, earning his first All Star selection. He followed that with 36 goals and 77 points the next season, and during the shortened 1994–95 season he scored 30 goals in only 46 games. He wasn't just a physical player who could occasionally score. He was a legitimate offensive threat.

After the Nordiques moved to Colorado, Nolan was traded to San Jose, where he became the face of the Sharks. His best season came in 1999–00, when he exploded for 44 goals and 84 points in 78 games, earning another All Star selection and finishing fifth in Hart Trophy voting. He followed it with 24 goals and 49 points in only 57 games in 2000–01, before becoming a key veteran presence for San Jose.

What made Nolan special was the way he played. He could score, hit, fight and play with an edge, but he wasn't simply an enforcer who happened to put up points. He finished his career with 1,200 games, 422 goals, 463 assists and 885 points, along with 1,793 penalty minutes. He also represented Canada internationally and won Olympic gold in 2002.

Nolan never won the Stanley Cup, and despite having multiple All Star seasons and a career that stretched across 18 NHL seasons, he never received the same recognition as many of the other stars from his generation.

422 goals. 885 points. 1,793 penalty minutes. Three All Star selections.

Owen Nolan wasn't just a tough player.

He was a legitimate 1990s star who could beat you with skill, strength or both.

Doug Weight was never the flashiest superstar of his generation, but for nearly two decades he was one of the NHL’s most reliable playmaking centers. Drafted 34th overall by the New York Rangers in 1990, Weight became the centerpiece of the Edmonton Oilers during the 1990s and early 2000s, eventually taking over as the team’s captain.

His best offensive season came in 1995–96, when Weight recorded 25 goals and 104 points in 82 games. He followed that with 104 points again in 2000–01, proving that his production was not a one season fluke. His vision and passing ability made him especially dangerous on the power play, where he consistently created scoring chances for teammates.

Weight eventually reached the milestone that defines so many great careers. He finished with 1,238 regular season games, 278 goals, 758 assists and 1,033 points. He also represented the United States at multiple international tournaments, including the Olympics and World Cup of Hockey.

And unlike many stars on this list, Weight eventually got his championship moment. After being traded from St. Louis to Carolina during the 2005–06 season, he became part of the Hurricanes team that won the 2006 Stanley Cup. Weight scored 8 points in 18 playoff games during that championship run.

1,238 games. 278 goals. 1,033 points. 104 points twice. One Stanley Cup.

Doug Weight may not get mentioned alongside the biggest stars of his era.

But a 1,000 point career doesn't happen by accident.

Ray Bourque's career is almost impossible to summarize because he was doing things that defensemen simply were not supposed to do. From his rookie season with Boston, Bourque became an elite offensive force from the blue line. He scored 65 points as a rookie, won the Calder Trophy, and finished second in Calder voting was not the case; he actually won the Calder Trophy in 1979–80. From there, he became one of the most dominant defensemen in NHL history.

His offensive numbers were ridiculous. Bourque recorded nine seasons with at least 80 points, including 94 points in 1990–91 and 91 points in 1993–94. He won the Norris Trophy five times and was selected to the NHL First All Star Team eight times. In an era filled with legendary forwards, Bourque regularly ranked among the league's best scorers despite playing defense.

But his career became defined by the one thing he didn't have. A Stanley Cup. Bourque spent more than two decades with the Bruins and reached the Final in 1988 and 1990, only to lose both times. Even after leaving Boston for Colorado in 2000, the Cup still seemed out of reach. Then, in 2001, everything finally changed. The Avalanche reached the Stanley Cup Final, defeated the New Jersey Devils in seven games, and Bourque finally lifted the trophy after 22 NHL seasons.

When he retired, Bourque had played 1,612 regular season games, scoring 410 goals, 1,169 assists and 1,579 points. He added 180 playoff points in 214 games and retired as the NHL's all time leader in points by a defenseman. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility.

1,612 games. 410 goals. 1,579 points. Five Norris Trophies. One Stanley Cup.

Ray Bourque wasn't just one of the greatest defensemen ever.

He was one of hockey's greatest stories.