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3 NHL players who surprisingly thrived after the 2005 lockout

By Kyle McKenna

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 29: Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates during warm ups before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on December 29, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Flyers won 4-2. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 29: Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates during warm ups before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on December 29, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Flyers won 4-2. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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While the 2005 NHL lockout was miserable for fans and impacted notable skaters for the worse, here are three players who surprisingly thrived post-lockout.

The NHL entered the month of April experiencing its third shutdown since 2000. However, this time the circumstances, unfortunately, weren’t business-related, and now the return of professional sports for even next year in 2021 is also uncertain.

The layoff could affect some athletes in all sports for the worse, but let’s turn back the clock at some positive outcomes from one of the last times the NHL was shut down for an extended period of time.

Here are three NHL players who surprisingly thrived after the 2005 NHL lockout.

NEW YORK – OCTOBER 5: Brendan Shanahan #14 of the New York Rangers reacts to scoring his 600th career goal against the Washington Capitals on October 5, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Rangers won the game 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 5: Brendan Shanahan #14 of the New York Rangers reacts to scoring his 600th career goal against the Washington Capitals on October 5, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Rangers won the game 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Brendan Shanahan

Three-time Stanley Cup champion Brendan Shanahan’s name belonged in the same conversation with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Tony Amonte, Jeremy Roenick and Mario Lemieux.

All of those skaters mentioned above, among others, were all-time greats prior to the lockout. Still, Shanahan was one of the few players that thrived during the 1990s and early 2000s, plus produced and was still effective after the miserable 2005 lockout.

Yzerman, Hull, Amonte, Roenick and Lemieux’s careers declined after all lacing up the skates for the 2005-06 season — with Yzerman, Amonte and Lemieux officially retiring after the 2005-06 campaign. The league’s rule changes and overall pace favored a new generation of players, but Shanahan managed to adapt and fit in with the young guns.

The 1987 first-round draft pick netted 40 goals and chipped in 40 assists in 2005-06 during his final season in Hockeytown with the Detroit Red Wings. Keep in mind that the forward turned 37-years-old that season.

The Hockey Hall of Famer then skated in parts of three more NHL seasons while producing for the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. Shanahan’s first season on Broadway in 2006-07 witnessed a 62-point effort after netting 29 goals.

Even at the age of 39 the following season, Shanahan managed to record more than 20 goals and assists with the Rangers. It’s safe to say he was one of the few all-time greats that surprisingly produced after the lockout especially given his age.

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