The rich history of the NHL has provided a showcase for luminous talents of all pedigrees, at all positions, from Sid Abel to Sergei Zubov. The club of players who changed the game, however, is vastly smaller, and that explains why Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion has a singular place in NHL annals -- not because of his world-class nickname but the fact that he had more to do with popularizing the slap shot than anybody.

Just ask any of the goaltenders who had to stand in as Geoffrion, in his famous No. 5 Montreal Canadiens sweater, would crank up his vaunted slapper, with a full, torso-twisting windup that made the prevailing weapon of the day - the wrist shot - seem tame by comparison.

For more of Bernie Geoffrion's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.