Jagr the 3rd best forward in NHL history

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Not always. Jair was far and away the Penguins' best player after Mario retired. He was the best player in the NHL by a country mile during the dead-puck era, and single-handedly carried that Pittsburgh team into the playoffs year after year, and often into the next round.

I respectfully disagree with the "country mile" part. To me Sakic was the king of that era. There was no player that stood out as the best

[jlh2640]

My list would be

Iginla.

[chubeyr1]

Jagr as the third best forward of all time? I would think top 3 would have to be Gretzky Lemieux and Howe.

As 4th best though one could definately argue. I remember years ago a stacked Team Canada playing the Slovaks in the Olympics. Canada was stacked and the Slovaks had Jagr and Hasek. Jagr seemed like he played the whole game against our best and he looked like the best forward in the world at the time. Agile, Quick, skill galore, and a big body.

Ive been blessed to see about 40 other hockey players that one could argue as 4th best.

I might even be so bold to say Eric Lindros should be considered. Guy was a monster, total package that had a very short career.

As for the poster that mentioned Hull? I hope you are talking Bobby not Brett.

[Rerun]

Yep.. Eric Lindros could absolutely crush you against the boards and it would be a totally legal check... and he could score too. Too bad he was healthy for so few years of his career. He was a game changer out there when he was healthy.

If I had to chose 12 forwards to have on my team of the century, a healthy Lindros would be one of them.
Another one would be Mike Bossy. I've never, in 40 years of watching hockey, seen a pure goal scorer like Bossy. The guy had a phenominal quick release and accurate shot.

[codynw]

Lindros is one of those players who isn't in the conversation for greatest players of all time, but makes you think "what could have been?" He was one of the most dominant players of all time before the concussions started adding up.

[T@T]

I hope "Brett Hull" was a joke or someone needs a lobotomy.

Most people don't realize just how good Bobby Hull was. The guy had over 900 goals/1800 pts in less than 1500 pro games.

For 8 or 9 years he was the most feared sniper in hockey.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by codynw

Lindros is one of those players who isn't in the conversation for greatest players of all time, but makes you think "what could have been?" He was one of the most dominant players of all time before the concussions started adding up.

He is in the conversation for being one of the best arseholes the game ever saw though.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by neo45

I respectfully disagree with the "country mile" part. To me Sakic was the king of that era. There was no player that stood out as the best

I remember some pretty good Forsberg v. Jagr debates during that era too.