Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - If Wayne Gretzky played today, is he better than Sid? Is 99 the GOAT?

CaptainCrunch · 12-11-2017, 03:12 PM

Its a weird question to debate

I don't think that Gretzky was physicallly gifted.

He wasn't the best straight forwards skater but he had those funny hips that could let him turn on the time.

His slap shot wouldn't have broken a piece of glass in front of him, nor would his wrist shot, but he was accurate.

He couldn't win a board battle to save his life, but he had a really quick stick.

He had a lot of benefits back then in terms of the late 70's and early 80's being a pretty talentless league without Russian players or as many euro's to fill the league.

the coaching for the most part wasn't great, we had players running 2 minute shifts and they didn't really have a system, that is until the mid to late 80's when we got into the trap era.

Most teams after their top pairing defensemen and top line were filled with beer league quality players, and it was the age of goons who couldn't turn.

but he had a peerless vision of the ice and a idiot savants ability to understand where the open spots on the ice were and where the puck and players were going. His vision was like one of us playing a hockey video game where your viewing the whole ice surface from the press box.

I believe he would be a 100 to 110 point player in this era, the coaches are too good and the players can all for the most part skate, and they play a system and play it well.

Realistically there are no open spaces for the type of hockey that Gretzky needed to score 200 points + a year.

12-11-2017, 03:12 PM	#18
CaptainCrunch Norm! Join Date: Jun 2002 Exp:	Its a weird question to debate I don't think that Gretzky was physicallly gifted. He wasn't the best straight forwards skater but he had those funny hips that could let him turn on the time. His slap shot wouldn't have broken a piece of glass in front of him, nor would his wrist shot, but he was accurate. He couldn't win a board battle to save his life, but he had a really quick stick. He had a lot of benefits back then in terms of the late 70's and early 80's being a pretty talentless league without Russian players or as many euro's to fill the league. the coaching for the most part wasn't great, we had players running 2 minute shifts and they didn't really have a system, that is until the mid to late 80's when we got into the trap era. Most teams after their top pairing defensemen and top line were filled with beer league quality players, and it was the age of goons who couldn't turn. but he had a peerless vision of the ice and a idiot savants ability to understand where the open spots on the ice were and where the puck and players were going. His vision was like one of us playing a hockey video game where your viewing the whole ice surface from the press box. I believe he would be a 100 to 110 point player in this era, the coaches are too good and the players can all for the most part skate, and they play a system and play it well. Realistically there are no open spaces for the type of hockey that Gretzky needed to score 200 points + a year. __________________ My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!