Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius
Was Mike Bossy ever considered the best in the game?
There was a brief window (albeit very, very brief) where many people considered Iginla to be the best hockey player in the world...that goes a LONG way when considering lists like this, IMO.
I have no issue with Iginla being mentioned along side Bossy, Selanne, Hull and the like...I'm not saying he's necessarily ABOVE them on the list, but he's right there if we're comparing everyone on their prime.
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There is about 18-24 months where some people would consider Iginla the best player in hockey. He was never the clear cut best player, and there was always a caveat to the discussion. Sure, he led the league in points in '01-02, but does that make him the best player in the league? Jagr scored 79 points in 69 games that season. Yeah, he had that monster playoffs in 2004, but even that season, he was being overshadowed by players like Kovalchuk, St. Louis (who would eventually prove to be a better playoff performer...), Hossa, Sakic and so on.
He's not in the same league as any of Bossy, Selanne or Hull.
Not even close, quite frankly. Don't believe me? Look at the numbers. Dispute that even further? Watch the games. He is likely the best goal scorer of the weakest generation of goal scorers in NHL history. A comparison between Iginla and those players is a recipe for disappointment, fanboy jockeying and a de-evolution of "best of all time" conversations.
Daniel Alfredsson has a better points per game average than Jarome Iginla. Jarome's got better goal scoring numbers but it's more than arguable about who was the better player during their time in the league. Alfredsson captained his team just as far and just as long and had roughly equivalent linemates during his career, potentially worse all years considered.
Joe Sakic is worth two Jarome Iginlas. Sentimentality is the
only reason anyone would argue otherwise.