Zigmund Palffy skates on the ice during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Brian Costello
2008-07-23 15:32:56
Old NHLers don’t necessarily retire. Some of them travel across the Atlantic to continue their pro careers in the elite European leagues.
And some of them have tremendous seasons away from the NHL spotlight. Here are a handful:
10. Tommi Santala - Had a supernatural season finishing sixth in Finnish Elite League scoring with 58 points in 56 games with Jokerit.
9. Oleg Saprykin - Speedy ex-Flame was third in Russian Super League goal-scoring with 29 in 57 games for CSKA Moscow.
8. Pavel Brendl - Multi-time NHL bust was third in Swedish Elite League scoring after a 30-goal season in Brynas.
7. Jamie Storr - Seventh overall pick in 1994 finished third in GAA in German Elite League with Dusseldorf.
6. Nils Ekman - Two-time 55-point man for San Jose is now a top scorer in Russia with Khimik.
5. Mariusz Czerkawski - The Polish Prince is still producing more than a point per game in Switzerland with Rapperswil.
4. Alexei Morozov - Was again one of the best players outside the NHL after finishing second in Russian League scoring with Kazan.
3. Roman Turek - Led the Czech League in goals-against average at 2.14 with Ceske Budejovice.
2. Dave McLlwain - The only hockey player ever with five consecutive consonants in his last name averaged a point per game with Cologne in Germany.
1. Ziggy Palffy - Runaway winner in Slovakia League scoring with 75 points in 46 games with Skalica.
The THN.com Top 10 appears Wednesdays only on thehockeyenews.com.
If you enjoy this feature, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine for the exclusive countdown, Starting From 10, and other great features from the world of hockey.
by Brian Costello - 2008-07-23 15:32:56
Counting down a few players who went from the NHL to Europe and put up impressive numbers.
Old NHLers don’t necessarily retire. Some of them travel across the Atlantic to continue their pro careers in the elite European leagues.
by Brian Costello - 2008-07-16 15:11:32
The connection between hockey and golf is undeniable.
Hockey players dominated the field at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nev., this past weekend with five former or current NHLers among the top nine.
by - 2008-07-09 15:11:44
Counting down some of the most notable NHL players who are retiring or taking their act overseas next season.
BY JUSTIN DICKIE
When the NHL begins its 2008-09 season in October, there will be a few noticeable omissions from team rosters.
A couple of surefire Hall of Famers said, “See ya later” to the NHL recently, while a few not-so-high-profile others will be missed, too.
by Brian Costello - 2008-07-02 15:21:55
This week's top 10 counts down the July 1 contracts that left us scratching our heads.
One can only imagine the negotiating that took place between Toronto GM Cliff Fletcher and the agent for marquee defenseman Jeff Finger.
Was the $14 million for four years the first offer Fletcher made? If so, Fletcher should have his head examined.
by Brian Costello - 2008-06-25 15:13:27
After the grind of the season, what do players do to unwind in the off-season?
Does anyone still golf? Hockey players do. A lot more than Tiger Woods these days. Some players golf virtually every day in the off-season.
Golf is easily the favorite summer activity among NHL players.
by Brian Costello - 2008-06-18 12:14:04
You can add these 10 things to the Death and Taxes list.
The names and faces change from year to year as does the unfolding drama. But some things remain the same at each and every NHL draft.
It all starts when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman steps up to the podium to address the local crowd.
by Brian Costello - 2008-06-11 14:04:57
With The Hockey Theme headed to CTV, here's some suggestions for the CBC when choosing a new jingle.
Now that Doris Claman’s famous theme song for Hockey Night In Canada has moved to CTV and TSN, the CBC will be looking for a new jingle for its popular Saturday night show.
by Brian Costello - 2008-06-04 15:59:30
Sami Kapanen retired Tuesday, inspiring a Top 10 list of hockey's best Sams of all-time.
One mention of Sam at The Hockey News and all of us think about lovable Sam McCaig, our well-dressed, easy-going senior editor.
Mention Sam in your household and what’s the first face to come to mind? Sam Malone from Cheers? Sam the butcher from The Brady Bunch? Sam Walton, the guy who created Walmart and Sam’s Club? Google puts the Seattle Art Museum first on its list.
by Brian Costello - 2008-05-28 16:08:28
How the first pick in every draft fares is well documented, but what about the tenth overall selection?
There have been plenty of busts along the way, a lot more than we thought there would be.
The No. 10 slot in the NHL entry draft has produced a lot of good players over the years.
by Brian Costello - 2008-05-21 15:43:09
It's this cast of characters who can be the difference between victory and defeat.
It’s only natural names such as Crosby, Zetterberg, Malkin and Lidstrom are getting most of the attention as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings gear up for an epic Stanley Cup final.
by Brian Costello - 2008-05-14 16:14:57
Counting down the NHL's all-time leaders in salary earned since disclosure was introduced in 1990.
Jaromir Jagr is poised to become the game’s first-ever $100 million salary earner should he decide to continue his NHL career next season.
by Ryan Kennedy - 2008-05-07 12:25:36
We count down the best players who graduated from The Hockey News' Hot List to play in the NHL.
When The Hot List began this year, the one rule that governed the selections was no player who had played a shift in the NHL was eligible.
The concept was to follow these prospects until they ‘graduated’ to the big leagues.
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