The sad ending to Paul Kariya's HOF hockey career

Frozencaribou

I was lucky enough to go to every UMaine Black Bears home game during the 1992-93 season. At 17, Paul Kariya was the most amazing player I have seen in US college hockey, before or since. Simply dominant. Please watch some of his highlights on youtube, such as end to end vs. Northeastern. I'm still bitter at Cal Ingraham for not burying that pass. 100 points in 39 games, the Hobey Baker award, and a NCAA national championship as a freshman? Unreal.

His first few years in the league showed he was on an upward trend of a HOF career, until the concussions took away his magical Gretzky-like awareness on the ice. It was just as hard to see him bounce around in the American south and west in the latter part of his career as it was to see him in that atrocious Mighty Ducks of Anaheim jersey during his prime. I would like to ask him what his aversion was to major hockey markets.

All in all, he is my favorite player of all-time. Seeing greatness in person before it is appreciated by all allows for an affinity that goes beyond overall career success.

-Nathanael

PS- I believe in Karma, Gary Suter.

artistlost

Kariya was always one of my favourites. Loved watching him play in his prime. It is really too bad that his great career ended the way it did.

mathew

Dboneesq

Don't follow hockey very much, but read an article about him after reading your post. Article stated:

He had 989 career points (402 goals, 587 assists) in 989 regular-season games

What percentage of players have at least 1 point for each game they have played in?

Sean1125

Dbones:

Here is the top 10, assuming with the top TEN having barely 1.24 I think the number is pretty low and probably is similar to finishing .350 batting or something (I DON'T KNOW HOCKEY AT ALL DON'T CRUCIFY ME LOL)

Link

Frozencaribou

As far as points per game strictly speaking, Kariya did not put up exceptional numbers. But for his generation, there were only a handful of players who had point per game careers. It wasn't like the 80's when Rob Brown was scoring 140 points in a season.

ThoseBackPages

Remember how insanely blazing hot his Czech rookies were?

I miss those days

Dboneesq

Thanks Sean and Frozen. Frozen, I like to compare players vs. other players from the same era. So I guess he was a pretty damn good player.

Boopotts

I understand the sidebar about Suter, since that was the kind of cheap shot that could make even Matt Johnson blush, but to me the most vicious hit I've ever seen in a hockey game was Stevens' hit on Kariya. There's just something about that. Everytime I see it I get shivers.

jimrad

Stevens hit on Kariya

cardsnbeads

Paul Kariya is Unlikely to make the Hall of Fame. If Pavel Bure can't get in then No Way Kariya gets in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hockey Hall of Fame is becoming as bad as the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lindros belongs in before Kariya. Kariya was a great player for about 5 Seasons but he probably will not make the Hall of Fame.

Boopotts

Tabe

<< <i>Don't follow hockey very much, but read an article about him after reading your post. Article stated:

He had 989 career points (402 goals, 587 assists) in 989 regular-season games

What percentage of players have at least 1 point for each game they have played in? >>


There have been 54 players to average at least 1 pt per game for their entire career with a 55th missing by just 1 pt (711 pts in 712 games). Nearly all of the guys who topped 1 pt played in the 1970s and 1980s when defense was often just a rumor. Perhaps most amazing is Sidney Crosby's 1.39 pts/game while playing in the current NHL.

Tabe

dpuccio

I was sophomore at Maine during that season and also went to every game. I feel that I was lucky to experience firsthand what he did that season.

RedHeart54

<< <i>Remember how insanely blazing hot his Czech rookies were? I miss those days >>



Indeed.

Kariya was as an anticipated player as anyone. He actually spent what should have been his NHL rookie year with the Canadian national team (contract dispute?) but his cards were still hot as hell. The '91-92 Czech card was awesome but I never ended up owning one. (Packs were like $7-8 apiece!)

Unfortunately, guys like Kariya, who would have dominated in the free flying '80s (or did dominate in the early '90s), get their careers nearly ended in the headhunting late 90's/2000s. See also- Crosby, Sidney.