100 Best Hockey Players Of All Time 1998 Vs Now

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

I'd take Iginla over Gartner... I think that's a fair comparison as they both player RW...certainly they're very different players, though.

I take Iginla over Gartner too, pretty easily, actually.

I don't think either makes the list though.

Even now, Crosby is underrated on that list.

Someone else mentioned it, but I put Fedorov up by Nieuwendyk too, ahead of him, actually.

Paul Coffey is in an absurd position on this list as well.

I understand his accomplishments as a defensemen are impressive and almost without equal. HOWEVER, when the greatest coach of all time makes it a priority of trading you off the team that eventually becomes a cup winner, I think it says something about the "points vs. play" argument. 130 points from a defender is incredible, but the best defenseman of that era managed 80-100 points and still played defense.

Paul Coffey shouldn't be close to a top 10 list. Not even top 10 defensemen.

[snipetype]

Any list that has Lindross 37 spots higher than Joe Sakic is a joke!! Once again the hockey news proves that people who write about hockey have no friggen idea what they are talking about. Seriously have you seen the people that write for the hockey news.. A bunch of nerds that weigh in between 100-130 pounds and 250+, no healthy hockey looking types.

[snipetype]

also i just dont see the point of comparing generations. Put crosby back in 80s with his modern day skill and he would get 6 points a game, not even joking. Put modern day goalies back in the 80s and goal scoring would probably be even less than it is today (and thats with the no defense style). When i watch games from the 80s i feel like im watching modern CHL hockey.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by snipetype

Any list that has Lindross 37 spots higher than Joe Sakic is a joke!! Once again the hockey news proves that people who write about hockey have no friggen idea what they are talking about. Seriously have you seen the people that write for the hockey news.. A bunch of nerds that weigh in between 100-130 pounds and 250+, no healthy hockey looking types.

Kind of makes you laugh when you consider that Feaster used to write for THN.

[dissentowner]

I'm sorry but Ray Bourque ahead of Nik Lidstrom is laughable.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Roy is overrated. He didn't carry teams the way Hasek and Brodeur did. For goalies more than other players, who you play for and their profile in the league seems to carry too much weight.

When did Brodeur ever carry a team? He's had it pretty easy most of his career.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I'm sorry but Ray Bourque ahead of Nik Lidstrom is laughable.

Ray Bourque was really really good. It might be a debate over who would be better. Saying Bourque is better than Lidstrom is not laughable.

Bourque:
5 Norris trophies
1st team all-star selection 13 times
2nd team 6 times
1579 points....as a defenceman (11th all time)...and he did so while mainting 3rd overall for +/-.

[GGG]

Hasak
Roy
Brodeur

Is how the top modern goalies should be ranked. Hasak played with nothing in front of him for years and almost won. He beat the Canadian Olympic team with Roy in the other net. The only possible knock was he was a late bloomer as opposed to Roy who retired early. Brodeur loses out because his teams were always so good defensively.

[Flash Walken]

Yeah, I just don't know about Lidstrom/Bourque.

With all the recent hyperbole over Lidstrom, it's easy to forget the 3-zone domination of Bourque.

I'm a huge Lidstrom fan, but Bourque wrote the playbook for Lidstrom to follow. Bourque was a physical Lidstrom in an era of much greater competition for defenders.




Nearly a point per game as a defenseman for 22 years? Get outta here. 10th all time in playoff points? Get outta here.

[Cole436]

It's always funny what hindsight does for you. At the time, Lindros was well on his way to being that good.

Anyways,
Hasek moves to 8
Lemieux moves to 3
Roy moves to 9
Coffey drops to the low 50's
Jagr moves to 16
Chelios moves to 26
Brett Hull moves to 21
Yzerman moves to 24
Sakic to 27

[killer_carlson]

It is times like this i wish there was footage of a guy like Joe Malone, who was so far ahead statistically compared to his peers he ought to have a strong case for top 10 status.

[Alberta_Beef]

IMO the list is flawed @ #1.

1. Bobby Orr

at least IMO.

[Brodie66]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I'm sorry but Ray Bourque ahead of Nik Lidstrom is laughable.

[cowtown75]

What exactly is this thread trying to guage ?

[カナダ人です]

It is basically impossible to compare players from different eras in the game. The post-1967 list is at least doable, but even then quite contentious.

Comparing players who played over a century ago to today's players is impossible IMO.


Is Iginla better than Bugsy Newbert*?
Is Crosby better than Bartholomew Smitterton*?
Heck, is Cammalleri better than Newsy McRae*?

Technically speaking, probably! But this is only after 100 years of the evolution of the hockey player!


*circa 1905 fictional hockey players. I just wanted to type some hilarious names

[vilzeh]

Hasek is the top goalie for me, and why you ask? He dominated the entire 90's, that's when Roy & Brodeur played also.

But if I would have to choose a goaltender for one match, I'd take Roy, he could be a beast if he wanted to. Can't forget his famous quote: " Score once, and I will take care of the rest." 1-0 victory.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

It's pretty ridiculous that there is only one Russian on the 1998 list, and he moved to Canada when he was a month old.

Very important distinction to make from the original post and title is that this is the best NHL players of all time not the best hockey players of all time. Otherwise the list would need to include Kharlamov, Tretiak and friends.

[Hockeyboy2]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

What exactly is this thread trying to guage ?

Its not trying to guage anything. Just came accross the list and thought it would be fun to look at it 15 years later.

Lots of people made some really good points and its been a fun read for me.