 | The Best Players of All-Time |
 bbruins37 writes "Who is the best player of All-Time? Here's my top ten list:
10. Niklas Lidstrom - The best player of this generation, Lidstrom has strung together 6 norris trophies, and is up for it year after year. Just shy of 1000 points.
9. Paul Coffey - Did he benefit from playing with great players in Edmonton? Sure, but they also benefitted from him. The perfect offensive defenseman. Seriously what defenseman puts up 48 goals?
8. Mike Bossy - The NHL has never and likely will never again see a pure goal scorer like Mike Bossy. 10 NHL seasons, 9 50 goal season (in a row); if you pro-rate his last season with 38 goals over an 82 game schedule he would have gotten 49.46 goals. One of the best offensive players ever.
7. Gordie Howe - No other player was this good for this long. His overall statistics aren't as gaudy as some other players but he was a do it all player, and he did it longer than anyone else.
6. Mark Messier - The best intangibles of any player to ever play the game. The best leader ever. He also happened to put up 1887 points.
5. Martin Brodeur - With all due respect to Roy, Sawchuk, and Hasek, this is the best goaltender ever. He will have basically every record when all is said and done.
4. Ray Bourque - A model of consistency. His worst season was 13 goals, 48 points. He averaged over a point per game from 1981-1994. All this and he was one of the most reliable in his own end.
3. Mario Lemieux - There has never been a more talented player to come into the NHL. That combination of speed, size, skill, and power was ridiculous. Injuries were the only thing that kept him from challenging...
2. Wayne Gretzky - There's no point in rhyming off his credentials. We all know what he has done. He is the smartest and best offensive player of all time bar none.
1. Bobby Orr - The best all-around player ever. He revolutionized the game. The best skater in NHL history could lead the offensive rush, lose a gamble, then effortlessly skate back to clear up his mistake. He is the best penalty killer of all-time. There is no question he was the best offensive defenseman of all time. Sure Coffey put up some close stats but Orr did not have the supporting cast that Coffey had. He played with Dallas Smith for the most part of his career and single-handedly won those two cups for the Bruins. The most impressive thing might be that he suffered a severe injury in his rookie season that never fully healed and he still put up those numbers.
Honourable mentions:
11. Bobby Hull
12. Jaromir Jagr
13. Jean Beliveau
14. Guy Lafleur
15. Eddie Shore
16. Maurice Richard
17. Dominik Hasek
18. Doug Harvey
19. Phil Esposito
20. Terry Sawchuk
21. Brett Hull
22. Denis Potvin
23. Larry Robinson
24. Glenn Hall
25. Brian Trottier
26. Scott Stevens
27. Joe sakic
28. Jacques Plante
29. Steve Yzerman
30. Scott Niedermeyer
Who has a shot at cracking this list?
There are 3 players that should definitely crack the top 30 when all is said and done: Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin.
I give an outside shot to Pavel Datsyuk making it if he puts together some more great seasons solidifying himself as one of the best two way players ever.
Predictions: Based on what I've seen so far I think Crosby has the best career and takes the Number 7 spot from Gordie Howe.
I think Ovechkin will be top 20 and Malkin top 30."
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| "The Best Players of All-Time" | Login/Create an Account | 122 comments |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by pezzz123 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | HEY. Top 10 lists are MINE. Screw you :P
Anyways, I'm too young, and I don't know 3/4 of these players enough to comment. |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by mojo19 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | What Steve Yzerman not on the top 10? But Lidstrom is?
Bizarre and terrible list.
Steve Yzerman, 6th on the all-time scoring list, Selke Trophy winner, Conn Smythe, 3 cups, Olympic gold medal, Lester B. Pearson award - voted league MVP in 1989 ahead of Gretzky and Lemieux who were both in their prime at the time.
Most astonishingly though has to be Yzerman's performance in the 2002 playoffs, possibly the single greatest acheivement by an athelete of all time. After doctors had said that he most likely would never be able to play again due to the damage to his ACL (an injury that causes most atheletes to retire) Yzerman plays on the top line with Lemieux and Kariya in the Olympics and was one of Canada's top players, then heads in to the playoffs on 1 leg and leads the Red Wings in scoring and captures the Stanley Cup.
Vancouver was up 2 games to none in the opening round of those playoffs, when Yzerman put the team on his back (and 1 leg, cant stress that enough) and just started scoring, and hitting, and making great plays. He turned the series around.
This list can't be based on pure skill since you wrote about Messier being the greatest leader and having the best intangeables etc. Debateably Yzerman is the greatest in that capacity and had the most heart of any player ever.
Top 5 all time players:
1. Gretzky
2. Lemieux
3. Orr
4. Yzerman
5. Howe
Much better list than yours. |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by habswinthecup-again on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | All right we all know you hate the Habs, but cmon no Rocket? what a joke list tis is. 1. Bobby Orr
2. Mario Lemieux
3. Wayne Gretzky
4. Maurice Richard
5. Gordie Howe
6. Patrick Roy
7. Steve Yzerman
8. Bobby Hull
9. Doug Harvey
10. Martin Brodeur - Mark Messier
For you to have Bourque @ 4 is ridiculous and to have Paul Coffey in the top 30 is a complete joke.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by mojo19 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | 1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Bobby Orr
3. Mario Lemieux
4. Steve Yzerman
5. Gordie Howe
6. Martin Brodeur
7. Maurice Richard
8. Marcel Dionne
9. Mark Messier
10. Phil Esposito |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by leafy on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) |
I'm old enough to have watched both Gretzky and Lemieux in their PRIME, and I'd take Lemieux.
- Missing 24 games due to cancer, and coming back and winning the scoring title....while receiving chemo!!!!!!!!
- In 1988-89, getting 199 points playing on a line with Dan Quinn and Rob Brown!!!!!
Re: goaltenders, Patrick Roy was the greatest goalie I've ever seen. People become overly fixated on Brodeur's wins, as far as I'm concerned.
Glad you got Bossy in the top 10. But I agree with Mojo you have to put Yzerman in the top 10 somehow (maybe move Coffey to the top 15).
Denis Potvin was one of the greatest defencemen I've ever seen. When he hit you, he destroyed you!!!! Plus he was a points machine too!
No argument from me on Bobby Orr being number 1.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by JustYouW8 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | It's so hard cuz there are so many.. but here goes..
1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Mario Lemieux
3. Bobby Orr
4. Gordie Howe
5. Maurice Richard
6. Bobby Hull
7. Ray Bourque
8. Mark Messier
9. Paul Coffey
10. Jean Beliveau
There are many names that aren't on this list that could/should be..
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by jonnygf40 (jonnygf40@hotmail.com) on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | Gretzky (1A) Lemieux (1B)Orr Bossy Richard Yzerman Brodeur Bourque Sakic Lidstrom
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by bigscoup on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | I am surprised that Marcel Dionne didn't make your list.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by lafleur10 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | bbruins this is a very interesting topic thanks for doing this........here's my top 30 all-time
1. wayne gretzky
2.m.lemieux
3.b.orr
4.g.howe
5.m.richard
6.m.bossy
7.p.roy
8.n.lidstrom
9.m.messier
10.j.beliveau
11.g.lafleur
12.b.hull
13.j.jagr
14.k.dryden
15.l.robinson
16.m.brodeur
17.p.esposito
18.t.sawchuk
19.r.bourque
20.m.richard
21.s.mikita
22.d.potvin
23.s.savard
24.g.lapoite
25.d.sittler
26.j.bower
27.j.sakic
28.s.shutt
29.s.yzerman
30.b.parent
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by cementhead on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | Thank you. I love and appreciate that you listed Orr as number one. I have debated that point so many times that I can no longer keep track. I sure don't want to take anything from guys like Gretzky, but the game of hockey today is played differently because Orr existed. No one has revolutionized hockey like he did. I think that is the mark of the guy who deserves number one.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by THENOTORIOUS (Bigpoppa@yahoo.ca) on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | Martin Brodeur might hold the regular season records but isn't even close to Patrick Roy in the playoffs, I dare you say Martin Brodeur is the best goalie of all time.
Plus the greatest player of all time would have to be great when it counts, Patrick Roy is the ONLY player not only goalie but player to win 3 Conn Smythe, Roy has to be in the top five.
As for the Gretzky/Lemieux debate, Gretzky hold all the records and was consistent but nobody came close to Mario's talent and potential that could of been more!
1.Gretzky/Lemieux tied
2.Roy
3.Orr
4.Bourque
5.Richard
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by Kramer on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | BIGGEST STUDS OF ALL-TIME
These are the Kramer picks for the best womanizers ever:
Dino Ciccarelli - walking around naked at home with drapes open
Gary Leeman - slept with Iafrate's wife
Tie Domi - banged the local MP behind his wife's back
Doug Gilmour - got too close with the baby sitter
Charlie Simmer - married a playboy playmate
Sean Avery - had sex with Elisha Cuthbert before Phaneuf did
Alexei Yashin - hooked with some model chick
Mark Messier - reportedly got some bimbo pregnant but not proven by dna I think
Russ Courtnall - got a medical test right after Magic Johnson tested positive
Anybody got more? Let's debate the most prolific players vis-a-vis women!
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by flamefan20 on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | | man you would think the leafs big pick up would be on there. im sure they are thinking you picked the wrong orr at number one. all seriousness though solid list broski i cant complain |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by the_word on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | The 'who is the best of best, best...' debates bore nearly as much as Hall of Fame talk. However I'm going take a tagent I'm sure I'll get ripped for...
Who is the most dominant player (you've seen) in their prime? Throw longevity, points per game, their era, blah, blah, blah out and who was the best player given only the period of their stride.
Top Three
Gilmour - The reason I still watch hockey. Hart and leadership to compliment elite production and a well rounded game. Gilmour wasn't a one dimensional player that could pad his own stats. He was a creative playermaker and playoff performer to boot. PK, PP, even strength he was a mull no matter the situation.
Sergie Fedorov - Steve who? Nick who? Fedorov was the Red Wings durings their early ascent to greatness. Not many players could play the point as well as center the top line. Dynamic, dominant period.
Lindros - Played himself onto the top fifty players of all time. If not for injuiries would be considered the greatest player of his generation. As a young Flyer was a recking ball that played with reckless abandonment. Was a better version of Mark Messier.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by DevilsDynasty on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | I love lists, and this is good, but.....
Points of issue:
-Lidstrom isn't 1/100th the defenseman that Larry Robinson was and you have him 13 spots ahead! Larry could play any style you wanted...rough it up, offensive puck moving, stay at home defenseman. He had a plus minus of +120 in the late seventies. No contest.
-I'm a Devils fan, and Brodeur isn't the best goalie of all time, let alone in the top five players list. I think last years game seven against Carolina showed that. If you have a time machine and you need a goalie to win a game to save your life, you're getting Dryden or Roy in their primes and that's that. Brodeur has failed in too many big spots to make it. And Roy isn't even on your list...putting him behind Marty, Espo, Hall and Hasek.
-Bourque is okay, but i wouldnt have him that high. As fas as reliable in his own end...just find a tape of "most awesome playoff goals" or more specifically the 87 Canada Cup vs. the USSR, and you can see him get twisted up like a pretzel on several occasions.
-People seem to have some obsession with discounting Gretzky and putting Orr or Lemieux or Howe ahead on the Greatest Lists. And I guess you can make a fuss over it...people can support just about anything with a well worded argument.
But the statistics don't lie. It's not Gretzky's fault that he was able to smash records and amass gaudy point totals while Lemieux and Orr couldn't stay healthy.
Orr and Lemieux may have had better talent, but they weren't able to display it for the stretch that Gretzky did. The year Lemieux scored his most points, Gretzky can top that in less games. The year Lemieux played his most games, Gretzky can top his point total in less games.
Howe amassed the most points and goals in 26(24?) seasons. Gretzky broke the points record in nine years and the goal record in 14.
More goals, more assists, more points in the reg. season and playoffs |
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Re: Niedermayer > Lidstrom (Score: 1)
by the_word on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | Where is the love for Scott Niedermayer?
The most accomplished team player in the LNH
Memorial Cup check
World Juniors check
World Champion check
Stanley Cup with multiple teams check
Olympic Gold medal check
World/Canada Cup check
No small feat, not to mention he a pivotal piece of each of those victories.
Its annoying that many people just want to look at scoresheet to determine the worth of a hockey player.
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by BruMagnus (PensCup2009@hotmail.com) on Sunday, July 12
(User Info | Send a Message) | Mario
Crosby
Jagr
Malkin
Francis
those are the Top 5
Ron Francis is godly. |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by THEGREATHAB on Monday, July 13
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Good list, here is my opinion
1.Wayne Gretzky
2. Boby Orr
3. Mario Lemieux
4. Gordie Howe
5. Mark Messier
6. Frank Mahovolich
7. M Richard
8. S Yzerman
9. Bobby Hull
10. Paul Coffey |
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Re: The Best Players of All-Time (Score: 1)
by hatterson on Tuesday, July 14
(User Info | Send a Message) | | imo messier doesn't get enough respect in these lists
#2 all time points and undoubtedly the best leader in sports history. My list would be this.
1. Orr - The reason he's #1 instead of Gretzky/Lemieux is because no one is really sure who the best forward is, everyone knows without a doubt who the best defensemen is 2. Gretzky - He gets #2 just because he was able to put up the numbers longer and holds every major scoring record. 3. Lemieux - Unfortunate cir*****stances (cancer, injuries) kept him from challenging Gretzkys numbers but he still might be the most talented player ever to lace em up. 4. Messier - See above. Greatest sports leader ever 5. Gordie Howe - #3 all time scoring, 4 cups, 6 Hart trophies. Nuff said 6. Maurice Richard - First to get 50 in 50. First ever to get 500 goals. He really set the standard for goal scoring. 7. Steve Yzerman - Probably the best two way player ever. He could have put up crazy offensive numbers but instead he played a team game and won a bunch of cups 8. Joe Sakic - His offensive numbers aren't crazy but he played his prime in the cluth and grab NHL. If he was 10 years older he'd have much better numbers. His work in 2002 at the Olympics gets him crazy respect too. 9. Martin Brodeur - When he retires he will hold virtually every goaltending record and it won't even be close. The absolute model of consistency over his career. 10. Marcel Dionne - 5th in all time points, 3rd highest PPG recorded. I'll give him the nod to round out the top 10
I may have forgot someone but I think this is a pretty good list |
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