Many NHL players break into the league on fire and stay heated throughout their careers. Players like Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Sidney Crosby, all continue to play at a high level. However, certain players used to play at the highest level but have fizzled out over time.
Now, let’s take a look at 10 active NHL players who are no longer superstars.
Kyle Okposo
The New York Islanders drafted Okposo with the 7th pick in the 2006 draft. After enrolling at the University of Minnesota the following season in 2006, Okposo would sign his entry-level deal on December 19, 2007.
Okposo played 35 games in the AHL scoring 28 points before being called up for his NHL debut on March 18, 2006.
Okposo would play with the Islanders organization before signing a 7-year deal in the 2016 free agency with Buffalo where he would be named Captain prior to the 2022-23. He would be one of the best players in the league from 2013 to 2019, having been named an All-Star in 2017.
Okposo was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 8th, 2024.
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Mark Giordano
After going undrafted, Giordano played one season in the AHL earning himself a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames in 2004 where he would replace Jarome Iginla as captain in 2013. His first 2 pro seasons were split between the NHL and AHL, with Giordano playing 55 and 78 games respectively.
Giordano’s breakout season was in 2014-15. He had 11 goals and 48 points through 61 games and was still considered for the Norris Trophy for best defenseman. Giordano was a top defenseman through the 2018-19 season when he would win the Norris Trophy, having scored 17 goals and 74 points.
He would be selected by the Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 20, 2022.
Corey Perry
Corey Perry was drafted by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2003 and would go on to be considered one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation.
Perry saw his first action during the 2005-06 season where he would put up 25 points in just 56 games that season. The next season would see him play the full 82-game schedule, accumulating 17 goals and 44 points, winning a Stanley Cup in the process.
Perry would go on to play in 4 All-Star Games, win a Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP, and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the top goal scorer through the next 9 seasons.
From 2016 till now, Perry has spent time with 6 NHL teams, currently playing with the Edmonton Oilers.
Zach Parise
Parise was selected 17th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He would join the Devils for the 2005-06 season where he would put up 14 goals and 32 points in 81 games.
The 2006-07 would be the start of a 4-year 30-plus goal season streak for the forward, earning him an NHL All-Star selection in 2009. He would later be named captain of the Devils at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.
In the 2012 off-season, Parise signed a 7-year deal with the Minnesota Wild, playing through the 2020-21 season.
After Signing a 2-year contract with the New York Islanders, Parise would sign a 1-year, $825,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche on January 27th, 2024.
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Dubois was drafted 3rd overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft behind Auston Matthews and Patrick Laine. In his first 2 seasons with the Jackets, Dubois would score 47 goals, for 109 points playing all 164 games in that span.
After not liking the Blue Jackets system, Dubois was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on January 3rd, 2021. Dubois would play 2 and half seasons in Winnipeg, scoring 63 goals and 143 points, earning himself an 8-year $68 million extension after being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 off-season.
Dubois has not lived up to his extension so far in the 2023-24 season.
Patrick Laine
Laine was drafted 2nd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, where he would play the first 4 seasons of his career. He would be named an NHL All-star in his rookie and would hit the 30-goal plateau in his first 3 seasons, missing the mark by 2 in 2019-20.
Laine was involved in the aforementioned Pierre-Luc Dubois trade as he was part of the package heading to Columbus, where he would sign a 4-year $34.8 million extension.
Laine has not his not scored more than 26 goals since the aforementioned 2019-20 and is currently on leave from the NHL for personal reasons.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury was the 1st overall pick in the 2003 NHL, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins where he would play the majority of his career, winning 3 Stanley Cups.
He would be selected to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft where he would become the face of the franchise for the next 4 seasons winning both a Vezina Trophy as the league’s top netminder, and a William M. Jennings Trophy for goalie with the fewest goals against as a starter.
Fleury was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2021 off-season where he would play until March 21st, 2022.
Fleury has made 4 All-Star games, with his last showing being in 2019, as he currently backs up Filip Gustavsson in Minnesota.
Tyson Barrie
Barrie was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanch where in his rookie season, he would lead the team in time on ice with an average of 21:35. He would go on to play his next 8 seasons in the mile high city.
Barrie would be traded to the Maple Leafs for a package including Nazem Kadri at the 2020 Draft. He would play one season in Toronto recording 5 goals and 39 points before signing with Edmonton in the off-season.
Barrie was traded to the Nashville Predators on February 28, where he has fallen out of favor and seemingly has lost his touch.
Semyon Varlamov
The second goaltender on our list, Varlamov was selected 23rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2006 NHL draft. In his rookie season, Varlomove was third among rookies in goals against average and save percentage with 2.55 and a .909 respectively.
In 2011, Varlomove would be traded to the Patrick Roy-led Colorado Avalanche and would lead the team in wins over the next 2 seasons with 37 wins. His performance would earn him a 5-year extension with the Avs.
Varlomov signed with the New York Islanders in the 2019 off-season and has been integrated into a backup role.
Jonathan Quick
Quick was drafted in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings where he would win 2 of his 3 total Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and 2 William M. Jennings Trophy through over 15 seasons with the club.
He earned himself 2 All-Star selections while in Los Angeles, and after starting 46 games for the Kings in 2021-22, he would be traded to Vegas on March 1st, 2022.
Quick would sign a 1-year $825,000 contract with the New York Rangers in 2023 free agency to back up Igor Shesterkin.
