As the second season starts I wanted to see if I could start a fight about who the best players in hockey are :). Here’s my list.
1.Jagr. Without a doubt the best. great skills in every part of the game, plus a good leader and clutch performer.
Bure. Skill wise probably the most taleneted player. But never has shown an ability to lead, or come through when needed, also pads his stats with a little cherry-picking.
Kariya. Great skills in every part of the game also, but hurt a lot and never stepped up to carry the team as much as he could.
Pronger. Great technical and intimidating defender with solid shot and smart passing. Kind of emotional, will get drawn into fights and put in the penanty box at the wrong time.
Lidstrom. Personally I think the most technically skilled defender in the game rarely out of position, rarely gets beaten. Good offensive skills, and point play. But no physical presence.
Hasek. When he is on his game he is easily number one on the list, but that doesn’t happen all that often, and likes to throw hissy fits.
Lindros. physical player with good technical skills. could be much higher on list, but lacks devotion to game and team. hurt to often for big tough guy
Forsburg. Much like lindros, but has determination to win. Tends to take bad penalties and hurt team at times.
9.Tony Amonte. Good leader, skills, and turns it up when needed. to bad hes stuck on such a bad team.
10 Yzerman. best leader in all of team sports. good all around skills, but just not as physically gifted as the guys higher on the list anymore.
Mario Lemieux better than Gretzky? HAH! Based on what? Amount of whining per year? Gretzky, while not my favorite player, beats Lemieux all to hell. Give me some stats.
So far as the best players go, I have to add Claude Lemieux, at least in the post-season. Also, I have to add Martin Brodeur–sure he doesn’t have the history that lots of these guys have but he’s done pretty well to be so young and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon.
Those who are dancing look insane to those who cannot hear the music.
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I suppose you call taking a year off because of chemotherapy for cancer “whining”. If not, please give me a solid example of his whining. I sure as hell don’t recall one incident, and that spans over 8 years of watching him play.
The only reason Gretsky has better stats is because he had a longer career, and he was fortunate enough to not get cancer.
Yes, that’s a lot of what if…but I still stand by the assertion that Lemieux was plagued with injuries throughout his career, and if he could have been blessed with the longevity that Wayne-o had, he’d of smoked him in the stats.
Oh, and BTW,
Um…OK. Why not add Bob Probert and Ty Domi to your exclusive list as well??
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Actually, I was looking for a certain stat which I coudn’t find in my quick search. If anyone really doubts this, I’ll try and find it again. I’ll go from the top of my head, and this is probably not exact, but IIRC, pretty damn close.
Looking at career average of points scored per game played, Lemiuex was in first place (with Gretsky in second), and the gap was almost a half point. Something along the lines of 2.1 or 2.2 pts/PGP for Lemieux and 1.7 pts/PGP for Gretsky.
So, yes, I know that Gretsky has better career stats. However, when healthy, Lemieux was better.
Before this goes on any further lets take a look at some of the career numbers for both Gretzky and Lemieux. I hope this works…
Seasons: Gretzky-20 Lemieux-12
Games played: Gretzky-1487 Lemieux-745
Points: Gretzky-2857 Lemieux-1494
PPG: Gretzky-1.921 Lemieux-2.005
Art Ross: Gretzky-11 Lemieux-6
Stanley Cups: Gretzky-4 Lemieux-2
These numbers indicate that their production was pretty much eqaul.
While it is true that Lemieux did have injury problems throughout his career, he accomplished more with less than Gretzky. Lemieux, didn’t have the luxury of playing with Messier, Anderson, Coffey and Kurri.
Gretzky put up numbers that may never be matched, at least not in the forseeable future. 92 goals in 80 game will last for a long, long time. He is the only player ever to post 200+ points in a season and he did it 4 times (the only other player to come close was Lemieux who had 199).
Many people will tell you that Lemieux was not always focused as a hockey player, he had all the talent, but not the drive to be the best. His attitude really changed when he played on a line with Gretzky in the Canada Cup.
It really is six of one, a half dozen of the other.
“And so he says to me, I don’t like the cut of your jib. And I go, I says, but it’s the only jib I’ve got baby.”
I don’t have much squabble with the OP list, but it does seem to heavily factor offensive production.
I don’t consider cherry-picking at the red line to be mastering all of the nuances of hockey.
For this reason, I would value Yzerman, Sakic, Lidstrom and, to a certain extent, Jagr (who plays some defense and goes into the corners somewhat regularly) over some others.
Anyone talking all-time greatest players that doesn’t give some props to Orr and Howe deserves the Glow Puck on every game they watch for the rest of eternity.
You are correct in your observation. However, since most people in North America equate scoring with exciting (the whole soccer thing), of course the lions share of ‘best players’ are going to have an offensive slant. I don’t know if wishing the glow puck on people don’t know Orr, Howe, Harvey and other legends, will help.
FWIW, my favourite player in the game today is Jere Lehtinen. He is incredible. In the entire time he has been with the Stars I think that he has only made 3 mistakes that resulted in a goal against.
“And so he says to me, I don’t like the cut of your jib. And I go, I says, but it’s the only jib I’ve got baby.”
I would have to say that Gretzkey is the greates player, not only in his sport, but one of the greatest professional athlethes of all time. Yes, he got many more seasons, but thats just the way it goes. Who knows how 8 more seasons would have affected mario’s stats. Oh, and those who leave Roy off the top ten list, your smoking crack.
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