How about a little NHL folklore?

[Snoop]

Remember when certain players first entered the NHL? It was once written that Wayne Gretzky couldn't survive in a "man's league". Mario Lemieux supposedly wouldn't make it because he was too selfish and aloof. The point here is this: which NHL players have been characterized as being something upon first entering the league, only to have their reputation soften and their stature become greater? In other words, which players are the by-products of the "folklore" effect (meaning that the more people saw them play, the more the negative comments subsided and the players were viewed in a different light)?

[gardeniagirl07]

This is one particular player that people thought would do a lot better than he has this past season and that is The Montreal Canadiens' Right Wing, Michael Ryder. So far, Ryder has just barely managed to escape arbitration and/or being traded by the Canadiens' head coach, Guy Carbonneau. If Carbonneau had his way, Ryder would be platooning through all four lines, as well as, the press box. Ryder simply has been off his game and he has not lived up to his expectations this year. After back-to-back 30-goal seasons, Ryder has cooled off, but was expected to have a great offensive campaign. Ryder has yet to reach double digits in goals this year.
And because of Ryder's lack of production and his 07-08 salary of $2.95M, which is a relatively high number, it makes him a tough trade to move. It is considered to be unlikely that Ryder will leave the Canadiens' this year, despite Coach Carbonneau's frustration with his performance and lack of interest, and Ryder is expected to finish out his contract with The Canadiens.
Ryder's current draft position in the NHL is 183.4, which is another factor considering the amount of money that he is being paid of any NHL team going out on a limb to take on Ryder as a transfer. Many Hockey fans think that a trade for Mike Ryder would have to involve two or more good team players, but many Hockey coaches aren't willing to trade that high up to take on Ryder. Ryder simply has not nearly lived up to the expectations that the Hockey fans and Coaches expected him to show during 07-08 games.
Ryder will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of '08 and there are currently no negotiations or any potential prospects for Ryder's future career in the NHL. Too many people think Ryder is no longer worth the money he's being paid for the job that he's been doing on the ice. If Ryder just happens to get picked up by another team, chances are slim that the means will justify the end, if this guy continues being paid the amount of money he has been paid in the past. Ryder's heart isn't in the game anymore and he seems to think that because his contract is 'locked in' until the end of the '08 season, therefore, he does not have to play Hockey to the best of his ability.
But playing subpar means you may not have a future. And when the draft comes up, Ryder may just find himself out of a career as a NHL player because of an off-year and a non-chalant attitude. You can bet your skates that Tavares will have a position waiting for him as a rookie. He just needs more practice and experience on the ice. There are too many good rookies in the background, just waiting for their chance to prove themselves, and it appears that Ryder has blown his NHL career chances to bits. When you have people like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby playing like they do, how can Ryder compete against that kind of competition?
Whoever would have thought that Steve Yzerman would continue on to become a GM for Team Canada? There is no comparison when you pit the really great players against the sub-par players. To some, winning is everything and to others, it is a ho-hum experience. That is why Ryder has either got to shape-up or ship-out.

[jobberswinger85]

Mario Lemieux is an asshole thats not folklore!

he's not as nice as people think he is

[zapcity29]

Since folklore goes both ways, I'll say if Tavares doesn't improve his skating, he'll be an Edsel, not a phenom.

[J Z]

Sidney Crosby is the next super domintaing player in the NHL, like a Gretzky or Lemieux.

He may not even be the best player on his team and there are half a dozen players in the league as good as he is.