The best player in the famous Nordiques/Flyers Eric Lindros trade was not Lindros. Rather it was the Swedish born playmaker, Peter Forsberg, who would win the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and two Olympic Gold Medals and two Colorado Avalanche. Not a bad career for what was perceived as a throwaway in that trade!

The talented Slovakian player was a very good scorer in the National Hockey League and in International play, but Pavol Demitra is probably best known these days for his tragic end. Demitra was killed in the tragic plane crash that killed the entire Lokomotiv squad from the Russian League. We would rather remember him for his skilled play in hockey than for his unfortunate end.

A very good power forward, Owen Nolan, combined skill and strength to create a solid career in the National Hockey League. Nolan had over 400 goals (and 400 assists) and was a staple on many power play units in his career. As good as he was, Nolan was not always the best player on his team, and he only made the Olympic Roster (granted, it was Canada) once. Nolan was one of those players who do not have a legitimate claim to the Hall of Fame, but would be in the proverbial “Hall of Very Good”

The first player selected in the 1988 NHL Draft, Mike Modano would go on to have a very fruitful career as the highest scoring player all time by an American born player. Modano would take the Dallas Stars to their first ever Stanley Cup Championship in 1999 and would also be named to a Second Team All Star squad.