Happy 74th birthday to the greatest to ever lace up the skates...
- Thread starter EricStratton-RushChairman
- Start date
Orr is all-time Top Ten, but Gretzky is the GOAT!
Gretzky had a greater career because he was never hit. Orr was by far a better player and had a greater impact on the game. If he hadn't had so many cheap shots to his knees his status would be just as amazing.
Orr could skate circles around Wayno... And he wasn't a puzzy like 99 was either. 99 was not a very strong defensive forward either.
Well, I guess somewhere in the top four qualifies for top ten. I’d say Gretzky, but a case can certainly be made for Orr.
It's NOT Mario Lemieux's birthday sir!
Messier was no slouch, and he played a physical game. On pure talent, I go with Mario. Every other metric and I'm looking at guys like Messier, Gretzky, Orr, Howe, and maybe Jagr at wing. Dark horse candidate would be Trottier, who was all the rage before Gretzky.
Super Mario is not 74. If so, he looks great for his age.
That was kind of uncalled for... Read this, have someone else help you with the big words...
21 Reasons Why Bobby Orr Is Hockey's GOAT
Nobody who ever laced up skates played the game better than No. 4.
www.stadiumtalk.com
Trottier was better than Messier. Underrated over time because of Gretzky but an all-timer for sure. The Mt. Rushmore though is Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe.
Ridiculous discussion here. Everyone knows Eric Lindros is the best ever.
Growing up in Buffalo as a Sabres fan in the ’70s, I hated LaFleur and the Canadiens. Damn, they were good.
I don’t deny Orr’s greatness. He redefined his position. But it seems every time I get into this discussion, the only people suggesting Orr all have 617 area codes.
Gretzky’s overall lack of athleticism is well-documented. He finished last in Edmonton’s conditioning drills every pre-season. Then he would go out and score 200 points, and everyone would forget he couldn’t skate. When the benchmark for scoring greatness is 50 goals and 100 points, and someone nets 98 and scores 200+, it’s hard to overlook that. He was an unworldly hockey player.
Gretzky’s overall lack of athleticism is well-documented. He finished last in Edmonton’s conditioning drills every pre-season. Then he would go out and score 200 points, and everyone would forget he couldn’t skate. When the benchmark for scoring greatness is 50 goals and 100 points, and someone nets 98 and scores 200+, it’s hard to overlook that. He was an unworldly hockey player.
Hockey’s Mt. Rushmore is going to have to be recarved, because we’re going to need a place for Ovechkin. The best pure goal scorer I’ve ever seen.
Gretzky was not a plodder out there like people say. He was fast and had a really good shot as well.
Here is a stat for you:
1. Gretzky - Point 2,857, Goals 894, Assists 1,963
2. Jagr - Points 1,921
Gretzky with zero goals is the NHL's All-Time leading scorer.
Damn, thought it was a thread about Dorothy Hamill.
Ovechkin has to be considered especially due to the era in which he has played most of his career. Back in the day (80's and 90's) 130-140 points was pretty common as well as 60+ goals. Ovechkin has done his in a much lower scoring period.
I get the hate for Ovechkin, especially among Pens fans, but you have to look at him objectively. He’s an all-time great.
Gretzky could skate. Not sure where that idea would come from. He wasn’t Paul Coffey but he wasn’t lacking speed or skating ability.
Lemieux had the best shot I’ve ever seen. Gretzky’s slapshot was almost automatic. I’d still take Bossy over Ovechkin. If Ovi played in the era of Bossy/Gretzky/Lemieux he wouldn’t be close to putting up the numbers he has because his body would have been shot from crosschecks, slashes, knee shots, etc… that those guys all had to deal with. If Bossy didn’t have to take the physical beatings he did (and that Ovechkin doesn’t have to) he would have put the goal scoring record out of reach.
Does that seem crazy? Which do you think doesn’t belong?
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