Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterJoji
Had Lemieux had a full healthy career I have no doubts he would have a number of Gretzky's records. In 92-93 based on PPG he also would have the single season scoring record with 218, eclipsing Gretzky by 3 points. In his prime years (discounting seasons where he played less than 30 games) he was putting up 2.03 PPG. So 10 years at 75 games per year (same games per year Gretzky had over his career) at 2.03 PPG works out to 1515 points. In the twilight of his career (again excluding seasons where he played less than 30 games) he was putting up 1.57 PPG. So 5 years at 75 games per year at 1.57 PPG is 589 points. For the middle 6 years, say he split the difference between 2.02 and 1.57 which is 1.80 PPG (which is probably still way overestimating his regression with age, he would've been only 28). So 6 years at 75 games per year at 1.80 PPG is 810 points. 1515 + 810 + 589 = 2914. Again, assuming he played 21 total seasons just like Gretzky. To me Lemieux is the GOAT.
|
Five years into their careers:
Gretzky - 914 points, 393 games, 2.33 points per game
Lemieux - 715 points, 368 games, 1.94 points per game
Six years into their careers:
Gretzky - 1122 points, 473 games, 2.37 points per game
Lemieux -838 points, 427 games, 1.96 points per game
Eight years into their careers:
Gretzky - 1520 points, 632 games, 2.41 points per game
Lemieux - 1014 points, 517 games, 1.96 points per game
Ten years into their careers:
Gretzky - 1837 points, 774 games, 2.37 points per game
Lemieux - 1211 points, 599 games, 2.02 points per game
Thirteen years into their careers:
Gretzky - 2263 points, 999 games, 2.27 points per game
Lemieux - 1570 points, 788 games, 1.99 points per game
Five years into their careers, before any significant time missed, Gretzky already had 200 points more than Lemieux. At no point in their careers was Lemieux ever on a pro-rated pace to finish ahead of Gretzky in total points. Absolutely an argument to suggest the eras they played in played a huge part, but healthy or not, Lemieux was not going to finish ahead of Gretzky's totals.