10. Zigmund Palffy - Ramapithicines. Nobody doubted the Zigs talent level, but his inability to stay healthy for a full season made the decision to make him an FP a nightmare. He would keep anticipation high all off-season with periodic displays of jaw-dropping talent, only to float through the regular season on a bubble of indifference until he would be subject to some random devestating injury. All of this inconsistency was made that much more painful because he was the guy asked to replace Mario as Knuckledragger FP. Possibly the most frustrating points tease outside of Zhamnov in the history of the pool.
9. Alexei Yashin - Shadowmen. In the year after they made a blockbuster deal for Jagr only to then deal him away, the Shadowmen had to replace their FP with a pick in the 4th rnd. Yashin looked like a godsend at the time, but after a few seasons it became apparent that he was a dog complete with fleas and an immovable contract. Few players have gone from franchise heartthrob to public enemy #1 faster or with more venom than Yashin. His immense suckitude so bedazzled the Islanders they gave him a comparably absurd franchise contract as well. In the FUNHL, this is but a memory, but in the NHL, the bust that is Yashin as franchise cornerstone, busts onward.
8. Bryan Berard - Personal Vendetta. After his Calder year everybody was jealous of the Personal Vendetta for their expiring prospect asset of Bryan Berard - perfect for making an FP. A puck rushing defender with a booming shot and more than a little physical edge, he had the leagues GMs drooling at the highlights and deeply envious of the Personal Vendetta. Unfortunately his rookie season was actually his best, and a steady regression by Berard would eventually see him unceremoniously released. Berard upset at being dumped by the Personal Vendetta, would later almost lose an eye, and get disqualified from the Olympics for using steroids. Funny, but I actually like him better now than when he was 'the next Brian Leetch'.
7. Janne Niinimaa - The Collective (now The Lost Boys). Easily the worst case of a GM falling in love with a player outside of any rational assessment of their abilities. Niinimaa rarely played at the level of a #1 defenseman, and never cracked the top 10 in D-man scoring, but was an FP for over 2 and half years. That said, his contributions, while marginal for an FP were still better than the guy at #6.
6. Valeri Bure - The Barbarians (now the Scourge). Deceptive break-out year was to be the clear peak of Bure's abilities, and his over a ppg stats unfortunately convinced the nascent Barbarian franchise to offer him an FP contract. This disastrous FP selection was to rip a massive hole in the team's talent base for years.
5. Jim Carey - The Severed Heads and the
Shadowmen. Having the 12-13 picks to take my FPs meant that Jagr, Kariya, Forsberg, etc. were already gone when I picked. I went for the best goalie on my board under 25 (the other was Brodeur, but sadly, somebody else took him). This epically bad pick was mitigated by the near immediate trade of Carey to the Shadowmen for Paul Kariya. Carey was eventually released at the end of his first year, and for all intents and purposes vanished from the multi-verse thereafter.4. Brendan Shanahan unexpectedly released to take Jason Allison - The Knights Templar.
Its interesting to look back and think that maybe this was one of those moments where a different choice might have made all the difference for a franchise. To the shock of many, the Templar GM kicked consistent power winger FP Shanahan to the curb in favour of pokey playmaker Jason Allison. You know the rest of the story, Allison had a good year and a half or so before injuries eventually destroyed his ability to contribute to a team at an elite level. Last seen Allison was a glacially paced skater who would have trouble tracking down Brett Hull without a head start. Meanwhile, Shanahan just seems to get better, having a 40+ season last year, and having climbed among the leagues top gunners for most of the this year as well.
3. Brian 'Waterboy' Boucher - The Shadowmen. In an era when the trading of your early Entry Draft picks was common, the Shadowmen were forced to reach deep into the draft to find a new FP. As you can see if you check out Boucher's career numbers, they missed.
2. Patrick Roy - Nobody. Easily the most criminal omission from the pantheon of FUNHL franchise players (ahead of both Dominik Hasek and Mike Modano in this regard), is the ultimate goaltending weapon - Patrick Roy. The NHL moved into full blown trap hockey just as Roy exited the prime years of his athleticism (as well as entering the era of oversized pads), and the result is his numbers actually continued to improve as he got older. He has been the goaltender on more Predator Cup winning teams than any other, yet never got any love from anyone as FP. Osgood, Carey, and Boucher all got nods to be franchise goaltenders ahead of him.
1. There is an old saying in the FUNHL, that every once in a while you are going to make a trade that has the potential to 'make you sick for a very long time' should it go bad.
When the Highlanders Traded Jagr to the Shadowmen for Petr Nedved and the Shadowmen's top three entry draft picks the following year, we have the signature case of that occurring.
Having
been awarded the pick that secured the next decades top talent in the league's first ever Franchise player draft, the Highlanders selected a highlight reel dominating, offensively gifted stud in Jaromir Jagr - only to turn around and trade him away.However, the true torture for the Highlanders franchise wouldn't begin until the Shadowmen deal Jagr to the Highlanders arch-rival Severed Heads.
The Severed Heads would cheerfully ride Jagr's gaudy offensive totals to a Triple Crown victory and back to back Predator Cup wins. Nedved would have to be traded at a loss and eventually replaced. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
The explosive points machine with the bad mullet and legendary indifference to back-checking would never hit the open market again, and the Highlanders, with their Cup drought now extending past ten years, have been mutilating their self-esteem as a franchise ever since, coldly eating their hearts out as Jagr piles highlight onto highlight in his now surely hall of fame bound career, every 'Fear My Wingspan' move another dagger to the chest...
...Well, I'm sure you get the picture...
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