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***luke*** · 01-22-2025, 07:14 AM

San-Sam Emerson
@Thelastheraclid

Might be the most unlucky defenseman of all time. Or maybe the awards team hates him. San-Sam Emerson had 5 Stevens nominations this decade! A S63 draftee to Philly, Emerson first started his SHL journey in S65. However in the S70’s is where he actually had power play time and more opportunity.

S70 started with a bang. 18 goals, 52 assists for 70 points, sporting a 15-77 gva to takeaway ratio. This would be the first of many extraordinary seasons. 3rd in scoring that season. Only 5 behind teammate Hans Graf and 13 behind Christian Kinsinger. Emerson was nominated for both defenseman awards. The Scott Steves and the Bojo Biscuit, however didnt win them. Also making the 2nd Team as well. Emerson would just continue to be one of the best offensive defenseman.

S71 he would have his best season ever in terms of points. Scoring 23 goals and 49 assists for 72 points. Emeron would be tied for 2nd in the league in points by a defenseman. 9 points behind Borje Samuelsson. Emerson would once again be nominated for for the Stevens for the 2nd time in a row. It would also be his first 1st All Star Team.

S72 he would have his first “down” season with only 64 points. And by down season, I meant another season where he was one of the best defenseman in the league. Ranked 5th in points by a defenseman. He also sported a crazy 18-83 gva to takeaway ratio, and 136 shots blocked that season. Believe it or not, but he was nominated for the Stevens for the 3rd time in a row. And again got a 2nd All Star Team.

S73 he would have a normal season for Emerson again. Just a casual 20 goals, 50 assists for 70 point season. His 3rd 70+ point season. 3rd in the league in points this season by a defenseman. Emerson just did what he does the best. 6-79 ratio, 127 shots blocked. Emerson earned his third 2nd all star team, and his 4th Scott Stevens nomination. However, they did not win it.

S74 would be his final 70+ point season, scoring 23 goals and 71 points that season. This time in 2nd place again for most points by a defenseman. His closest yet, only 1 point away from leading the defenseman in points. Having a 15-59 ga-tka ratio, 4 GWG, and 135 shots blocked. He earned his second 1st All Star Team. And his 5th Scott Stevens nomination. However, he would not win a single one!

Still, 5 seasons in a row of being in the top 5 in points by a defenseman, 4 70+ point seasons. Emerson is a rare breed of long sustained play. S75-S79 he would play well, however being taken off PP1 doesnt help. Getting 40+ points twice in S75 and S77. However he maintained a good end the decade. For this decade, he holds 4 out of 15 positions of players who scored more than 70 points in a season. His 524 points over the decade is 2nd in the decade only behind Seamus O’Slapahan. He led defenseman in goals this deade with 158. A one of a kind defenseman, plagued by not winning a Stevens.

Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz
@Zerg

Sorry Zerg, I'm not going to spell your players name again. Drafted in S69 to the Los Angeles Panthers, Zerg had the pleasure of backstopping the Panthers for his career so far. First started playing during their rebuild in S71, Zerg played well when it matters. His first winning season came in S73, with an excellent 27 wins, 21 losses, and 2 OTL. Sporting a .909 SV%, Zerg was able to get his first award recognition. Helping bring Los Angeles back into relevance. Getting a 3rd All Star Team placement, and his first Mcbride nomination. However the win will come very soon.

S74 comes around he literally just did it again. 27-19-2, with 2 shutouts and a .909 SV% again. This time it was enough to win the McBride for the first time in his career. As well as 1st All Star Team. Zerg quickly became a goalie to watch out for. S75 he was doing what we call in the business “saving it for the playoffs”. Having a career high in wins with 34, however sported a .898 SV%. A decline over the season. However he was really saving it for the playoffs. Helping lead Los Angeles to their first win in the S70’s. Zerg had a .907 SV% that season, and was nominated for the Anton Razov for playoff MVP.

S76 with a 36-10-2 with a .908 SV% he was back! Just a slight speed bump. However he was relegated to a 3rd All Star Team, and no nominations. A great season, however not enough to get a nom. S77 he also won his first Mike Honcho for least goals allowed in the league, with only 131 by himself. Sporting a .900 however, he also faced less shots that season.

S78 would be another excellent season by Zerg. With a career high in wins going 36-8-2. Also the least amount of losses he experienced, with 4 shutout and a career high of .910. He would not be denied another McBride. Winning his 2nd McBride, 1st All Star… and his 2nd Challenge Cup. To say he popped off would be an understatement. A goalie going .910 in the playoffs would be a Razov worthy stat. However in 24 games, Zerg had 5 shutouts and a .926 SV%. Absolute dominant behavior. Snatching the Razov, he was the best goalie. He was the best player, he was Zerg.

In fact that season was the 2nd best performance by a goalie who played over 10 playoff games in a season in the S70’s. The best coming from Anthony Dionne in S75, where he played 14 games and sported a .929 SV%. The next best was Zerg that season.

5th in wins for the decade, Zerg certainly made his mark this decade.

Cale Salad
@KaleSalad

A more under the radar pick in the top 15. Cale Salad is another player who first started his career in S70. Playing Winger up until S75, where he switched to center and had extreme success being a center. Before turning into a defenseman in S79. A man who does it all. Who have played all 4 positions. Salad first started out as a winger. S70 would be his lowest point season, only playing 16 minutes a game and only 48 points. However as he gained more minutes and TPE, the points started to roll in. From S71 - S74 he was a very solid 2nd line winger, 2nd PP guy. Scoring anywhere from 65-79 points over those 4 seasons. However the inflection point of his dominance came in S75. Where he finally broke away, and was granted the PP1 time. Scoring 32 goals, 64 assists and 96 points in S75. Salad was the next wave of great players to Philly.

S76 he would continue to excel, scoring 33 goals and 93 points, now as a center for the Philly Team. Cale would go on and have his best season in S77. For whatever reason a career 12% shooter turned into a 21% shooter. With good timing as well. Scoring 60 goals, 64 assists and 124 points. Cale had the best season of his career hands down. Leading the league in points this season, winning the Karpotsov, and was only 1 goal away from winning the McDonald. Cale Salad easily won the Ron Mexico and Sarmad Khan for committee MVP and player voted MVP. 1st All Star Team as well. S78 he would continue to just be a solid player. However back down to 11% shooting, his 33 goals, 61 assists for 94 points would be his 4th straight 90+ season.

S79 he would switch to defenseman too. Scoring 48 points as a defenseman. Very respectable.Maybe not having the big legacy that some of the players around this list. Salad was able to show up when it counted. T-14th best individual season in this league. As well as T-10 in most goals scored in a season. The only issue with that was that he chose the wrong season for that haha.

Congrats to Cal for #13 on the list.

Olof Karsikko
@Accka

Along with Evil AllBran, Olof is the 2nd S60 in the Top 20. Olof has made a list for a variety of reasons. An elite goaltender, and an even better playoff performer. Olof was able to win his only McBride in the S70’s. His career started in S62 with the Panthers, however S70’s Olof was all wolf.

Coming out of a rebuild, Olof was able to be their rock for many seasons. Providing great performances year after year. Might as well start in S70. Where he had a great season. 27-13-5, with 4 shutouts and a .907 SV%. Olof had his 2nd McBride nom of his career, and 1st for the S70’s. Earning the 3rd All Star Team as well. It would be a shame to not talk about his playoff performances as well during this decade. The only goalie to start 28 games in the playoffs. Olof helped New England to their first Challenge Cup since S33. The only goalie to win 4 game 7’s in the playoffs. A crazy .916 SV%, and 16 wins to win it all. Olof won his 2nd Anton Razov of his career, and first this decade.

S71 he would have another amazing season ,but even with more wins. 38-7-3 with 6 shutouts and a .908 SV%. Nominated again for the McBride, however he did not get anything else that season. S72 would be a dip in the decade. Even with a stat of 39-15-0, his SV% dipped that season with .895. Olof would once again make the finals against Winnipeg that season. Porting a 13-7-1 record, and a .909 SV%. Olof was not able to carry Winnipeg to another win against the Aurora that time.

S73 would have his bast season of his career. His only 40+ win season, going 41-10-2, 7 shutouts and a .918 SV%. This time Olof would not be denied. Winning his first McBride, Honcho, and 1st All Star Team. This would be the peak of Olof’s career.

S74 Olof went 27-16-3, with a respectable .900 SV%. Olof was saving the energy for cup runs now. His 3rd time going to the finals in the S70’s, Olof went 16-6-2, 1 shutout and a .913 SV%. Winning his 2nd Challenge Cup this decade, and was nominated for his 2nd Anton Razov of this decade. However this time, he did not win it.

S75 he went 23-16-2. A .899 would make it his 2nd under .900 SV% this decade. Just barely, though New England would once again make the finals, and the first B2B Cup Finals he has been apart of. However, New England got swept, and Olof tried his best with a .904 SV%.

Deep into regression, Olof’s last great season came in S77. Splitting time with Scary Jerry, Olof only played 40 ish game seasons from S75-S77. In S77 he went 22-14-2, with 3 shutouts and a .905. However this would be his last season being a starter in the playoffs. Winning his 3rd Challenge Cup that season. Going 16-9 over that run. Olof once again put up crazy numbers. A .913 SV% over that time, Olof won his 2nd Anton Razov of his decade, a 3rd in his career. Having the most amount of Razov’s won and the most nominated(5 total). Over his entire career Olof had a .914 SV% in the playoffs, which is also insane to look at. Though he did play in FHM6 which was more favorable to goalies.

Olof was a great regular season goalie. And an even better playoff one.

Chris Valentine
@downer

Someone had to be looking outside the top 10. And Valentine seems right to be the guy at 11. Looking at the chart you may think wtf. However, for the first 5 seaosns he was just a solid defenseman, on a great Texas team behind some stellar defenseman. However, the team needed a center, and Valentine stepped up big time.

Drafted 16th OA in S68, Valentine was a very solid Hodor light in Texas. His defensive partner on the penalty kill. Valentine was about blocking shots. In all 5 seasons in being a defenseman, he blocked 200+ shots on all of them The points did not come though. The most ever was S75 being 31 points. We are not here for his career as a defenseman. Sorry downer. We came here for when he switched to forward. Being the 1C Texas needed, taking over from Donskoi to be the 1C.

Thats when his career took off. In S76 scoring 36 goals and 89 points. S77 would be the most points he scored in his career. Even with a sad 12.6% SHT that year, only scoring 36 goals. He made up for it in his passing ability, having 77 assists that season for 113 for Points. 7th most assists in a season for the decade. For that insane season, Valentine was nominated for the Aidan Richan, and 2nd All Star Team. 3rd that season in points as well. Though no Mexico or Khan love that season.

S78 he would get his goal scoring touch. 51 of them specifically, to go along with 105 points. 10th most that season, Valentine was making a career now out of it. Being one of the best forwards in the SHL for this time.

However, as S70’s was closing, Valentine made his final push, and what landed him at #11 on this list. WIth 54 goals, 58 assists for 112 points. Ironically 1 point less than his career high, Valentine led all skaters in points and goals this season. Just barely edging out Logan Webb for the victory. Having the Karpotsov, McDonald, Mexico, and Khan wins. Valentine catapulted himself up to the #11 spot on this list. Well deserved for #11.

***KaleSalad*** · 01-22-2025, 10:20 AM

The legend Norm!!! also thank you very much for the kind words on Cale!

downer · 01-22-2025, 10:42 AM

I demand a recount.

spidey · 01-22-2025, 11:03 AM

Wow, if this is the group outside the top 10, I can't wait to see whom made it inside.

**bbjygm** · 01-22-2025, 11:09 AM

Valentine #1 for latter half of the 70's

***Anthique*** · 01-22-2025, 01:37 PM

Almost a point per game player even if he played half of the decade as a defenseman... big career for Valentine, and it's not over!

Congrats guys, almost top 10 that's impressive!