Mario Lemieux

Biography

Mario Lemieux should have been the greatest player ever. At 6'4" with hands like a surgeon and a reach that made poke-checking routine, he combined size and skill in ways hockey had never seen. Then the universe intervened. Back problems required surgery. Hodgkin's lymphoma cost him two months of the 1992-93 season - and he still won the scoring title, returning from radiation treatments mid-season. A heart condition, hip problems, more back issues. He retired once, came back, retired again. Through it all, he produced points at a rate exceeded only by Gretzky. The 1,723 points came in just 915 games - imagine the numbers if he'd stayed healthy. He saved the Penguins franchise twice: once as a player, once as an owner. The only thing he couldn't beat was his own body.

Career Highlights

• 2 Stanley Cup Championships
• 3 Hart Memorial Trophies (MVP)
• 6 Art Ross Trophies (scoring leader)
• Came back from cancer to win scoring title
• Only player to score 5 goals 5 different ways

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