While Rasheed Wallace was known mostly for getting technical fouls, he was so much more than just that. Rasheed cut his teeth with the North Carolina Tar Heels and the former first rounder would make waves with the Portland Trail Blazers, emerging as the team’s leader and whether you liked him or hated him, his passion for the sport of basketball was undeniable. The four-time All-Star may not have been considered the best at his position at any point of his career but he was a vital member of the shocking Detroit Pistons team that won the title in 2004. That is something that men with better regular seasons cannot boast.

A top forward in the WHA, Mark Howe (along with his father, Gordie) took the Houston Aeros to a pair of Avco Cup wins in the 1970’s. As he moved to New England, and later joined the NHL with the Whalers, Mark Howe emerged as one of the game’s top defenseman, who was a power play anchor and gifted two way player. It took him a lot longer to get into the Hockey Hall of Fame, as he was not only in his father’s shadow, but his WHA accomplishments were seemingly overlooked by the Hall. Thankfully, he took his rightful place alongside Gordie in 2011.

Joe Nieuwendyk won three Stanley Cups with three different teams and though his role with each squad was different, he was a leader in all three. Nieuwendyk was an excellent goal scorer who was very good on the Power Play. His aggressive style caused him many injuries but also earned him a lot of respect throughout the NHL. His biggest moment was his 1999 Conn Smythe Award winning performance where took his Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup and proved himself to be one of the most respected players in Hockey history.

Ed Belfour’s first full season in the National Hockey League was a stellar one as he won the Calder, the Vezina, the William M. Jennings and was a First Team All Star. From that point on, Belfour was considered one of the top Goalies in professional hockey, and though he may not have had a season as good as first, he would have a lot of very good ones winning more awards and putting his teams in Stanley Cup contention, eventually winning the grand prize with the Dallas Stars in 1999.   Belfour would become a first ballot Hockey Hall of Fame entrant in 2011.