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24 months after winning a 2nd Stanley Cup ring with the Penguins, playing 49 games in that season , 12 months after scoring 69 points in 66 IHL games with Cleveland Lumberjacks Ken Priestlay arrived at the Sheffield Arena

He was 28 years old.

In that first season his league stats were. 28 games, 55 goals, 32 assists, 87 points and only 18 PIM.

We have had some incredibly skilled players here in Sheffield but most of them were past their peak playing days or we could not have afforded them, but KP was at his physical peak, only out of the NHL due to some internal politics and no player could outskate him, in speed and positioning he could not be touched and he had an NHL calibre shot.

For me he was the best player we have ever had, and a genuinely nice guy.

It's not even close, but one guy that deserves a mention as being close in terms of skill set and head and shoulders above most other players at the time was Jason Lafreniere, omg he had skills and most players couldn't even get close too..

It's very hard to decide who is the best player/my favourite in Steelers history. KP would likely be in my top 3 easily. A trully brillant player and the combo of Priestlay and and Hand was a joy to behold. What I would say without question was it was the arrival of KP that was the catalyst for our initial success at the top level of UK hockey.

Jayboy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:32 pm

It's not even close, one guy that deserves a mention as being close in terms of skill set and head and shoulders above most other players at the time was Jason Lafreniere, omg he had skills and most players couldn't even get close too..

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Yes he was very skilled but the peak of his career was around 5-10 years before he played for the Steelers.

mark wrote:

Jayboy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:32 pm

It's not even close, one guy that deserves a mention as being close in terms of skill set and head and shoulders above most other players at the time was Jason Lafreniere, omg he had skills and most players couldn't even get close too..

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Yes he was very skilled but the peak of his career was around 5-10 years before he played for the Steelers.

Like I said, it's not even close.. So, in terms of coming in from the NHL, then I guess only Tom Sestito in the NHL lockout could be used as a comparison.

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Sestito was decent but mainly played as an enforcer in his career

I wasn’t lucky enough to see Priestlay play.

My question would be, how good was the league overall from a skill point of view? Wasn’t it viewed as a ‘beer league’ back then with one or two highly skilled players per team?

Whilst I’m sure he would have easily made the 2000\01 grand slam team, I’m not sure he would have put the same amount of amazing numbers?

Still, I would have liked to see him play.

2nd behind only Theo Fleury as the best player I've seen play on these shores.

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:25 pm

I wasn’t lucky enough to see Priestlay play.

My question would be, how good was the league overall from a skill point of view? Wasn’t it viewed as a ‘beer league’ back then with one or two highly skilled players per team?

Whilst I’m sure he would have easily made the 2000\01 grand slam team, I’m not sure he would have put the same amount of amazing numbers?

Still, I would have liked to see him play.

The BHL might have been (I didn't start coming until 96-97) but the ISL certainly wasn't, he was over a point per game at that level......he'd have walked onto the top line of that grandslam winning team I've no doubt at all.

I think as an all rounder KP was probably the best we've ever had.

A silky smooth skater, good vision, good shot, defensively responsible and a good professional.

I'd suggest Lafreniere was the most naturally gifted player we've ever had, but KP had more of an impact for me.

Big Ed was probably the best goalscorer we've had, but he didn't have the two way game of KP.....Ed was all about the goals.

I remember when I first saw KP around about Christmas time and we were struggling to keep in touch with Nottingham in the title race. As soon as he came on to the ice you could see his quality. He was the catalyst for chasing Nottingham down which culminated in the 5 goals he scored to win the league down there.

I think it was Blaiser who said they didn't have a clue how to deal with him, because he was that good.

An absolute Steelers legend and for me one of the only shirts we should have retired (Shudra being the other).

Regards

Doom