Kenny Jonsson

Obtained from Toronto primarily because Maple Leafs General Manager Cliff Fletcher was desperate to regain former captain Wendel Clark, Kenny Jonsson would become a jewel on the Islanders defense. He stood tall, played both ends of the ice without any fuss or fanfare, and, despite his modest, low-key personality, he was lauded throughout the league for his overall flawless play.

My son, Simon, adored Jonsson, the defense player, so I asked why.

"He was a 'lite' version of Nik Lidstrom, arguably the best Swedish defenseman ever to play in the NHL," said Simon. "Kenny wasn't quite as big nor as strong as Lidstrom, but Jonsson played defense in the same, effortless way; and he did it game in and game out."

An Islander from 1996 through 2004, Jonsson was regarded as one of the most underrated -- if not the most underrated -- defenseman in the NHL. His positioning was near-perfect, and he played equally smart on offense. One reporter put it this way: "His quiet demeanor and low-key playing style kept him below the radar of some observers."

Until 1999 that is, when Jonsson made the NHL-All Star team and also was named captain of the Islanders. He led the the team into the playoffs three years in a row, from 2001 - 2004, played almost 600 games in his nine years with the team, and was always the consummate teammate.

The fact that he suffered several concussions and skated for a team often in turmoil did not help his cause, but still, Jonsson skated through the challenges without complaint. Despite Kenny's unobtrusive playing style and low-key off-ice personality, Jonsson was just about everybody's favorite Islander.

The bottom line -- when evaluating this silent star -- was that he ranked fourth, all-time among Isles defensemen in points and third all-time in games played. Or, as one commentator summed up, "Kenny spoke softly but carried a big stick!"