Eric Lindros

PRO CAREER: 1992-2007
TEAMS: Philadelphia Flyers
              New York Rangers
              Toronto Maple Leafs
              Dallas Stars
DRAFTED: Quebec Nordiques 1st choice, 1st overall, 1991.

Lindros was called the next Gretzky. They expected him to become the NHL's greatest player of all time. Lindros had refused to play for the Sudbury Wolves, and after they drafted him, he requested a trade. This situation was repeated in 1991, when the Quebec Nordiques had the first overall selection. Lindros and his parents warned the Nordiques not to draft him, but they did. Lindros refused to play in Quebec. A year later, he was traded in a deal that sent Peter Forsberg and Ron Hextall to the Nords. Lindros was a finalist for the rookie of the year award,behind Joe Juneau and the winner, Teemu Selanne.

He led the Flyers to the finals in 1997, only to lose to the Red Wings. Although he won the Hart Trophy in 1995, injuries hampered Lindros. Finally, GM Bobby Clarke traded him to the Rangers. He then made stops in Toronto, and Dallas, before retiring on November 8, 2007.

He was also the ombudsman of the NHLPA from 2007 to 2009.

Dave Chyzowski

PRO CAREER: 1989-2007
TEAMS: New York Islanders
              Chicago Blackhawks
DRAFTED: New York Islanders 1st choice, 2nd overall

Chyzowki was one of the NHL's biggest draft busts, after being drafted second overall in front of future stars such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Bure, Sergei Federov, Arturs Irbe, Bill Guerin, Bobby Holik and Adam Foote. He never established himself as a star in the NHL, and played most of his career in the minors. He is currently the Marketing Coordinator for the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. 

Mats Sundin

PRO CAREER: 1988-2009
TEAMS: Djurgardens IF (SEL)
               Quebec Nordiques
               Toronto Maple Leafs
               Vancouver Canucks
DRAFTED: Quebec Nordiques 1st choice, 1st overall.

Sundin was one of Sweden's greatest players to ever play. The first European ever drafted 1st overall, he joined the Nordiques a year later. He was one of the NHL's best players, with 114 points in 1992-93. He then was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, in a deal that sent Wendel Clark to Quebec. Sundin became the Leafs' captain after Doug Gilmour's departure. Sundin holds the Leafs' record for most points, he gained it in 2007. Sundin became a free agent in 2008, when new GM Cliff Fletcher announced that Sundin was not part of the Leafs' future. He eventually signed with the Vancouver Canucks, becoming their alternate captain. He led them to the second round of the playoffs, where they were beaten by Chicago. Sundin retired on September 30, 2009 to spend time with his wife, Josephine.

Wayne Gretzky

PRO CAREER: 1978-1999
TEAMS: Indiannapolis Racers (WHA)
              Edmonton Oilers
              Los Angeles Kings
              St.Louis Blues
              New York Rangers

Wayne Gretzky holds or shares 62 different NHL records. Some say he is the greatest to ever play the game. Whatever your view on Gretzky was, he was like no other player had ever been. After being a superstar at only 9, when he scored over 300 goals when playing with teenagers; he played briefly in the OHA, before being overlooked by NHL scouts, and being signed by the WHA's Indiannapolis Racers.

After a few games in Indiannapolis, he was traded to Edmonton, where he led the Oilers to the Avco Cup Finals, only to lose to Winnipeg. The Edmonton Oilers and three other teams came to the NHL after the WHA folded. Gretzky and the Oilers won 4 Stanley Cups in one of the NHL's greatest dynastys.

Then, only weeks after he had led the Oilers to their fourth Stanley Cup, he was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky was named captain, and he led the team to their first and only Stanley Cup Final. He led the NHL in scoring in 1994 with 130 points, the last time he led the league.

Gretzky flet that he wanted to win another cup, so he requested a trade to St. Louis to join his friend Brett Hull. Gretzky felt that his future did not lie in St. Louis, so he signed a three year deal with the New York Rangers.

Gretzky was reunited with former Oilers teammate Mark Messier, but Messier left for the Canucks a year later. Gretzky finally retired in 1999,as the NHL's all time goals, assists and points leader.
He was also the coach of the Phoenix Coyotes from 2005 to 2009.

Sidney Crosby

PRO CAREER:  2005- Present
TEAMS:  Pittsburgh Penguins (2005- Present)
DRAFTED: Pittsburgh 1st choice, 1st overall.

Sidney Crosby was one of the QMJHL's rising stars for the Rimouski Oceanic. Said to be the next Gretzky, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 1st overall in 2005, where he made the team after preseason. He played alongside Mario Lemieux and other veterans such as John LeClair, Ziggy Palffy, and Mark Recchi. He was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, but lost to Alexander Ovechkin. He became captain of the Penguins in 2007-08, and led the team to it's third Stanley Cup in 2009, as the NHL's all time youngest captain. Crosby is one of the NHL's top poster boy, being in Nike and Gatorade commercials.