Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Top Ten Hockey Mullets.

In my last blog we touched on the tradition of the playoff beard. In this blog we'll spot light a now seemingly dead tradition in hockey, The Mullet.

Is there any sport more associated with mullets than hockey? Maybe soccer in Europe but hockey hair has become synonymous with mullet. And with very good reason, some of the best players have had their best seasons partying in the back. But was there anything sweeter than seeing a helmetless player fly down the wing. The mullet was the ultimate anti-helmet. And so here are the top 10 mulleted players and how their mullet led them to greatness.

10. Barry Melrose. Some may expect that he should be number one but his mullet isn’t what made him famous as a player, it was his coaching hair that is best remembered. It led him all the way to the Stanley Cup final in 1993, although maybe Wayne Gretzky and Kelly Hrudey had something to do with that. Leaf fans won’t forget it that’s for sure.

9. Wendel Clark. Anyone remember when he had 17 shaved into the side of his head on top of his mullet that was freaking awesome. His mullet was matched only by his tenacity; it’s too bad his body couldn’t keep up with his will. Still one of the most beloved Leafs is only more so beloved for his hair.

8. Wayne Gretzky. Yes I rated the great one more on his mullet than on his career. His mullet led him to greatness, or followed whichever you prefer, but his mullet was really second rate. You only ever really saw it when the helmet was off otherwise he’s better remembered for his helmet, which was also unique.

7. Brett Hull. Everyone remembers those GT snow racer commercials with Brett Hull, we all wanted to go out and get one with Brett Hull’s face on the box, with a glorious mullet. Well it also led him to a very successful career, his 86 goals in 90-91 third all-time. He finally won a cup long after the mullet came off. The only thing bigger than his mullet was, and still is, his mouth.

6. Mario Lemieux. Yes Gretzky had better career statistics, but Lemieux had a better mullet. Between the great one and super Mario they owned the Art Ross between 1981 and 1994. Mario also had 199 points in 1988-89. But Mario and mullet’s best accomplishments, arguably the two consecutive Conn Smythes, Bernie Parent is the only other player to accomplish that.

5. Jaromir Jagr. Lemieux’s partner in crime, both in mullets and in success, had a better mullet and was the best scorer in a time when scoring was harder to find than an exciting Devil’s game. But his mullet was pure gold; it led him to five Art Ross’ and a Hart, as well as two Stanley Cups while with Lemieux and the Penguins.

4. Dean Evason. Who? He didn’t have much of a career; his best season was 1986-87 when he had 59 points. He did finish with 139 goals and 372 points, which is nothing to sneeze at but he did have one of the best mullets. It was blonde and all party in the back. If he had been a few years younger he might have even gone without the helmet and just let it flow.

3. Mike Ricci. He came into the NHL billed as an offensive talent, coming off 50 goal 116 point season with the Peterborough Petes. He never got close, with only 30 goals in 1993-94. But the Petes have produced some of the best checking forwards, Bob Gainey, Jamie Langenbrunner, Doug Jarvis and Steve Yzerman all won the Selke. Ricci didn’t but he carved a niche being a shutdown forward. And his hair was the best, black and covering most of his name on the back of his jersey, some American announcers had a tough time figuring out who he was.

2. Ryan Smyth. His NHL success has only been limited by the teams he’s played for, but he is the toughest son of a bitch in the league right now. Taking a Pronger shot to the teeth and playing again in the same game. He’s the modern era mullet, something that has gone out of style of late but still represents hockey.

1. Al Iafrate. By the time he was done Iafrate didn’t have the hair in the front anymore, but that didn’t stop him from having the league’s best skullet. It’s his dedication to the hair style that sets him apart from the rest; he didn’t let baldness get him down. But his awesome hair was made all the more awesome during his hardest shot competitions; before Al MacInnis ran away with it Iafrate was the man. And his skullet was the best.

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