Getty ImagesThere may never be another Scott Gomez Goal Drought.
It was the perfect storm of elephantine contract, given out before low-wage back-end years became the popular way to circumvent a large cap hit; a symbolic failure to meet expectations that mirrored that of his team; and a player that, for whatever reason, drew the comedic attention of hockey fans, to the point where websites were created in honor of his futility.
This perfect marriage of ridicule and astonishment turned a year-long goal drought into the kind of punchline usually reserved for … well, for teams that haven't won a Stanley Cup in roughly 45 years.
Typically, goal droughts are historical footnotes when a offensive-challenged player scores; or part of hockey folklore for cult heroes, like when the late Derek Boogaard scored to end a 234-game drought.
We lost the Scott Gomez Goal Drought. But there are some other players were are on the clock, if not wearing the dunce cap like Gomer.
Please note that these might not be the longest droughts; rather, some that could rise to the level of fame (infamy?) of previous ones.
George Parros, Anaheim Ducks
Last Goal: Dec. 1, 2010; Games without a goal streak: 84
The Ducks bruiser/smarty-pants has 16 career goals, but hasn't potted one since a 2-goal performance against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 1, 2010. (Dude, stop scoring in clusters … space'em out more.) This drought exists despite the fact that Parros is basically Ray Bourque in the shot accuracy skills competition.
Mark Fistric, Dallas Stars
Last Goal: Dec. 29, 2010; Games without a goal streak: 80
Again, not a player exactly expected to score, as a defensive defenseman. And by that we mean he has a career goals-per-game average of 0.01. But he's in a heck of a rut since the midway point of last season. His suspended games to goals ratio in that stretch is 3-to-0. That's Trevor Gillies territory, sir.
Brad Staubitz, (ex)-Minnesota Wild
Last Goal: April 10, 2011; Games without a goal streak: 43
We hesitated to put Staubitz on here because he was placed on waivers today, to the joy of Wild fans; but he's gone goal-less for the season and isn't exactly a great candidate to break that run (a) in the minors or (b) in frequent trips to the penalty box.
Marek Zidlicky, Minnesota Wild
Last Goal: March 31, 2011; Games without a goal streak: 37
Zidlicky scored in his last game of the 2010-11 season, and has yet to score a goal in 37 games this season. Not exactly a streak we see growing to Gomer proportions; he's got 60 goals in 544 games as a defenseman, and he'll score again when he finally escapes the from under the thumb of Mike Yeo.
Michal Rozsival, Phoenix Coyotes
Last Goal: March 24, 2011; Games without a goal streak: 36
Another defenseman, but one that has 63 goals in 729 career NHL games. By no means an eye-popping amount of games without a goal, but could be a player that matches Gomez on the calendar for length of drought — and, let's face it, preposterousness of cap hit.
Andrei Loktionov, Los Angeles Kings
Last Goal: Feb. 17, 2011; Games without a goal streak: 34
The Kings center has bounced back and forth from the AHL which contributes to his streak. What gives? From Rich Hammond:
Loktionov was a reliable scorer in Manchester, but with the Kings he has four points (all on assists) in 31 games, and he has not recorded a point in his last 14 games. Loktionov is considered more of a playmaker than a sniper, and for the most part, he's been playing between some combination of Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis and Brad Richardson — not exactly three snipers themselves — but the feeling is that Loktionov has yet to tap his potential.
Well, if he can't make Trevor Lewis a 20-goal man, what's the point.
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