Which 2003 draftee will end up with the most NHL games played?

[rogermexico]

So far this off-season we’ve seen Cory Perry sign with the Lightning to try and make a third consecutive run to the finals, and Marc-Andre Fleury win the Vezina only to get traded for a roll of hockey tape. Brent Seabrook is retiring due to injuries and Shea Weber’s future is uncertain. Suter and Parise got bought out. Journeymen goalies like Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott continue to find work. Meanwhile, Patrice Bergeron continues to be a perennial Selke candidate.

The 2003 draft class has been famous for the sheer number of great NHLers that it produced. 130 different 2003 draftees played at least 1 NHL game and 82 played more than a hundred. But a lot of those guys are starting to reach the end of the road. Only 19 of them played last season.

So I thought this might make for a fun random summer Hockey discussion:
Which player from the 2003 draft will finish his career with the most NHL games played?

Here is a list of the 2003 draft players that played games last year, and their current games-played totals:

1. Eric Staal — 1293
2. Dustin Brown — 1232
3. Ryan Suter — 1198
4. Brent Burns — 1169
5. Patrice Bergeron — 1143
6. Ryan Getzlaf — 1101
7. Jeff Carter — 1094
8. Corey Perry — 1094
9. Joe Pavelski — 1086
10. Zach Parise — 1060
11. Shea Weber — 1038
12. Braydon Coburn — 983
13. Loui Eriksson — 977
14. David Backes — 965
15. Marc-Andre Fleury — 883
16. Brad Richardson — 825
17. Nate Thompson — 811
18. Jaroslav Halak — 539
19. Brian Elliott — 502

What do you think? Who is going to hold out the longest and rack up the most total games?

[Beatle17]

Burns or Bergeron. Can't pick between the 2, Burns seems to have fun playing and Bergeron is still at such a high level.

[looooob]

Its a fine group of players. at this point I think Bergeron is the best player (in terms of current level of performance? ) I don't think I'm selling anyone short- yet at this age , Staal has a 2 year edge on him which isn't trivial


Bergeron then Staal? (for total GP?)

[timbit]

My bet would be on Suter, with confidence.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by timbit

My bet would be on Suter, with confidence.

interesting and a good point. the buyout makes it easy to forget he's still a useful player and the kind of dman that will retain value for a while longer

[Enoch Root]

Suter

[Jiri Hrdina]

Suter - his skating will keep him in the game as long as he wants to play.

[neo45]

I can see Bergeron

He could be a Matt Cullen type well into his 40’s if he wanted with the way he plays. Didn’t he miss a bunch of time with concussion issues early on too?

[powderjunkie]

Suter has only missed like 12 games in the last 10 seasons. Pretty amazing considering the minutes he plays.

[FanIn80]

I don't think you should lump goalies in with players when discussing total number of games played.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I don't think you should lump goalies in with players when discussing total number of games played.

That 883 is quite impressive! Top 10 all time right now and fresh off a Vezina

2 more years and he could be top 5

[Macman]

Biggest surprise for me on that list is Dustin Brown, not sure why but I thought he retired a couple years ago already. I know he's still active but I actually looked it up there last season.

[mikephoen]

No one wants to bet on the current leader? Fine, I'll take Staal!

[Erick Estrada]

Is this the greatest draft ever in regards to quantity of talent? Has to be pretty close if it isn't.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I thought I was going against the grain thinking Suter, but apparently I'm not alone.

[Jacks]

Suter just signed a lucrative new 4yr contract, he'll likely play at least 300 more games based on his track record. I think Staal doesn't have a lot left in the tank but you never know I suppose.

[dino7c]

I would bet Suter if I had to but its a tough call

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Is this the greatest draft ever in regards to quantity of talent? Has to be pretty close if it isn't.

348EdmontonMark MessierCCincinnati Stingers [WHA]17566941193188719102003-04 1 8
Boston Ray Bourque D Verdun Black Hawks [QMJHL] 1612 410 1169 1579 1141 2000-01 1 4
Washington Mike Gartner R Cincinnati Stingers [WHA] 1432 708 627 1335 1159 1997-98 2 41
Quebec Dale Hunter C Sudbury Wolves [OHA] 1407 323 697 1020 3563 1998-99 3 44
Montreal Guy Carbonneau C Chicoutimi Sagueneens [QMJHL] 1318 260 403 663 820 1999-00 1 21
Edmonton Kevin Lowe D Quebec Remparts [QMJHL] 1254 84 348 432 1498 1997-98 1 15
Boston Brad McCrimmon D Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL] 1222 81 322 403 1416 1996-97 4 69
Edmonton Glenn Anderson F U. of Denver [WCHA] 1129 498 601 1099 1120 1995-96 3 42
Minnesota Neal Broten C U. of Minnesota [WCHA] 1099 289 634 923 569 1996-97 1 16
Los Angeles Jay Wells D Kingston Canadians [OHA] 1098 47 216 263 2359 1996-97 1 20
Quebec Michel Goulet L Birmingham Bulls [WHA] 1089 548 604 1152 825 1993-94 1 11
Buffalo Mike Ramsey D U. of Minnesota [WCHA] 1070 79 266 345 1012 1996-97 1 1
Colorado Rob Ramage D Birmingham Bulls [WHA] 1044 139 425 564 2224 1993-94 1 3
Detroit Mike Foligno F Sudbury Wolves [OHA] 1018 355 372 727 2049 1993-94 1 14
Philadelphia Brian Propp L Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL] 1016 425 578 1003 830 1993-94 2 40

Winnipeg Dave Christian R U. of North Dakota [WCHA] 1009 340 433 773 284 1993-94 1 9
Toronto Laurie Boschman L Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL] 1009 229 348 577 2260 1992-93 2 26
Vancouver Brent Ashton C Saskatoon Blades [WHL] 998 284 345 629 635 1992-93 5 103
Winnipeg Thomas Steen F Sweden 950 264 553 817 753 1994-95 4 66
Detroit John Ogrodnick R New Westminster Bruins [WHL] 928 402 425 827 260 1992-93 2 30
Los Angeles Mark Hardy D Montreal Juniors [QMJHL] 915 62 306 368 1293 1993-94 6 112
Chicago Doug Crossman D Ottawa 67's [OHA] 914 105 359 464 534 1993-94 6 120
Boston Mike Krushelnyski C Montreal Juniors [QMJHL] 897 241 328 569 699 1994-95 1 7
Chicago Keith Brown D Portland Winter Hawks [WHL] 876 68 274 342 916 1994-95 1 5
Vancouver Rick Vaive R Birmingham Bulls [WHA] 876 441 347 788 1445 1991-92 3 54
Atlanta Tim Hunter F Seattle Breakers [WHL] 815 62 76 138 3146 1996-97 5 89
Vancouver Dirk Graham R Regina Pats [WHL] 772 219 270 489 917 1994-95 6 124
Winnipeg Tim Watters D Michigan Tech [WCHA] 741 26 151 177 1289 1994-95 1 17

NY Islanders Duane Sutter R Lethbridge Broncos [WHL] 731 139 203 342 1333 1989-90 4 75

Atlanta Jim Peplinski F Toronto Marlboros [OHA] 711 161 263 424 1467 1994-95 2 32
Buffalo Lindy Ruff D Lethbridge Broncos [WHL] 691 105 195 300 1264 1990-91 3 57
Boston Keith Crowder R Peterborough Petes [OHA] 662 223 271 494 1344 1989-90 2 37

Montreal Mats Naslund F Sweden 651 251 383 634 111 1994-95 4 83
Quebec Anton Stastny F Czechoslovakia 650 252 384 636 150 1988-89 1 12
Atlanta Paul Reinhart D Kitchener Rangers [OHA] 648 133 427 560 277 1989-90 1 13
NY Rangers Doug Sulliman F Kitchener Rangers [OHA] 631 160 168 328 178 1989-90 1 2

St. Louis Perry Turnbull L Portland Winter Hawks [WHL] 608 188 163 351 1245 1987-88 4 81

Hartford Ray Neufeld R Edmonton Oil Kings [WHL] 595 157 200 357 814 1989-90 16
MinnesotaCraig HartsburgDSoo Greyhounds [OHA]570983154138181988-8




both drafts were great- 79 was a true double cohort- 17 over 1000 games in 79 versus 15 in 2003? - I think that's 7 HOFers in that draft (even if they might not be the 7 I would have picked )

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by rogermexico

Here is a list of the 2003 draft players that played games last year, and their current games-played totals:

1. Eric Staal — 1293
2. Dustin Brown — 1232
   Ryan Suter — 1198
3. Brent Burns — 1169
4. Patrice Bergeron — 1143
5. Ryan Getzlaf — 1101
6. Jeff Carter — 1094
7. Corey Perry — 1094
   Joe Pavelski — 1086
   Zach Parise — 1060
8. Shea Weber — 1038
9. Braydon Coburn — 983
   
10. Loui Eriksson — 977
    David Backes — 965
11. Marc-Andre Fleury — 883
12. Brad Richardson — 825
    Nate Thompson — 811
    Jaroslav Halak — 539
13. Brian Elliott — 502

What do you think? Who is going to hold out the longest and rack up the most total games?

The bolded have not yet won cups. Funny that the top 4 are mainly MIN/SJ guys.

Burns has a 536 game ironman streak right now (+60 PO games in that time)...his body and play-style seem like more of a LTIR threat than Suter. I doubt either will retire early given salaries remaining. Burns is pretty buyout proof, Suter much less so.

[Hackey]

Very impressive that Bergeron is still a top line player in the league after all this time.

Amazing that Boston found Pastranak, Bergeron, Marchand with 25, 45, and 71.