By the end of the 2002-03 season, Thomas had played in 1,191 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Islanders, Devils and Mighty Ducks. He scored 30 or more goals four times and 20 or more 10 times in his career.

Thomas is a smart, opportunistic player who has been regarded as a solid citizen in each of his NHL stops.

No. 6, Brian Rafalski, signed in 1999 by New Jersey

Four seasons at the University of Wisconsin didn't whet the appetite of NHL scouts, so Rafalski took his act on the road to Europe and was "discovered" there by the Devils, who signed him prior to the 1999-2000 season.

Rafalski jumped right into the mix with the Devils and became Scott Stevens' partner as the Devils won the 2000 Stanley Cup. With five goals and 27 assists in 75 games that season and another two goals and six assists in 23 playoff games, Rafalski was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2000.

He has remained an important part of the New Jersey defense and has matured into one of the top all-around defensemen in the game. Last spring, Rafalski scored two goals and nine assists in the Devils' run to the Stanley Cup. In 2002, Rafalski also played for Team USA at the Winter Olympics, scoring a goal and two assists in six games.

Mike Keane, who was signed as a free agent in 1985 by Montreal, has three Stanley Cups to his credit in a 14-year career where he established himself as a tireless worker and productive forward.

No. 5, John Madden, signed in 1997 by New Jersey

Despite impressive college credentials at the University of Michigan, Madden was undrafted. He signed with the Devils prior to the 1997-98 season and has become one of the team's most important and productive players. Two AHL seasons in Albany cemented his reputation in the Devils' organization and he grabbed a regular spot with New Jersey in 1998 and hasn't looked back.

He had a career-high 22 assists and 41 points last season and was an integral part of the team's run to both the 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cups. Last spring, he scored six goals and 10 assists in 24 postseason games.

Madden won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward in 2001 and was a finalist in 2003.

No. 4, Mike Keane, signed in 1985 by Montreal

Keane has three Stanley Cups to his credit in a 14-year career where he established himself as a tireless worker and productive forward.

Signed as a free agent by Montreal, Keane spent seven full seasons in Montreal, playing on the Canadiens' 1993 Stanley Cup team where he had two goals and 13 assists on the run to the Cup. He was sent to Colorado in the Patrick Roy trade 18 games into the 1995-96 season and lifted the Cup again in 1996.

After going undrafted, Curtis Joseph was signed to a free agent contract in 1989 by the St. Louis Blues and went on to become one of the game's top goaltenders.

Keane spent the majority of the 1997-98 season with the New York Rangers, but was traded to Dallas at the trade deadline. That deal paid off for Keane in 1998-99 as the Stars won the Stanley Cup. He signed with St. Louis in 2001, but the fit wasn't good and he returned to Colorado near the end of the 2001-02 season.

No. 3, Curtis Joseph, signed in 1989 by St. Louis

By now, everyone who follows hockey knows "Cujo", but that wasn't the case back in 1989, when Joseph was coming off a very good college season with Wisconsin. That lack of name recognition changes rapidly as Joseph got his feet wet with the Blues in 1989-90 and then became an NHL regular for good in 1990-91. He had four-straight seasons with 20 or more wins for the Blues before being traded to Edmonton on Aug. 4, 1995.