Best Player, End To End

The man to the left: Center Bryan Trottier of the Islanders.

Wayne Gretzky is unquestionably the greatest offensive force in the history of the NHL. But the operative words here are "end to end." Says Islander Goalie Billy Smith, " Wayne doesn't play in his own end. Someday I'm going to take him by the hand and introduce him to his goalie."

Trottier, on the other hand, is a very close friend of Smith's on the ice. He also digs the puck out of the corner, fights for it along the boards, forechecks like a latter-day Dave Keon, swings back deep enough in the defensive zone to help cover the slot—and is an offensive machine, setting up Mike Bossy for dozens of goals a season and averaging 39 goals a year himself. Bobby Orr says, " Trottier is the most complete player in the league."