Current player: Sidney Crosby

All-time: There is nothing that beats watching Mario Lemieux. I just wish I had been able to watch him in full health rather than see him as he battled numerous ailments.

All-time Joe Sakic, Man what a player.

This playoffs- Henrik Zetterberg, the guy has been a beast and taken his game up 5 notches.

Eklund: What Player Do You Feel Most Priviledged to Watch?
- Eklund

They should be privileged that we are watching any of them after the lock-out.

Ridiculous. These millionaire players should all be thankful that WE watch THEM.

Seeing that he has died several times and keeps playing...Patches hands down

All-time Joe Sakic, Man what a player.

This playoffs- Henrik Zetterberg, the guy has been a beast and taken his game up 5 notches.
- IanEsplen

OMG!

I AGREE WITH IAN ESPLEN!

Eklund: What Player Do You Feel Most Priviledged to Watch?
- Eklund

Bryz

Bryz
- vejim

Why you Hef to be soo Mad!?

Kings now:
Kopitar/Quick

Kings past:
Gretzky/Blake

Richard Park

All-time Joe Sakic, Man what a player.

This playoffs- Henrik Zetterberg, the guy has been a beast and taken his game up 5 notches.
- IanEsplen

All time...I'm gonna have to go with Sakic's bff, Pedro Forsberg.

And Eric Lindros, pre-skull crushing concussions.

Seeing that he has died several times and keeps playing...Patches hands down
- drexel

The guys that I've watched live that were the most impressive were Forsberg, Lemieux, Bure and post 04-05 lockout....Crosby hands down ....I'm talking about players Ive seen in person and I've only been going to games since 2000

Eklund: What Player Do You Feel Most Priviledged to Watch?
- Eklund

Colby Armstrong

All time is Peter Forsberg. The strongest player on the puck that there ever was, and someone who always raised his already-insanely high level of play when the playoffs came around. I could live to be a million and never forget watching Foppa.

Other all-timers I felt privileged to watch: Nick Lidstrom - Aptly described as the "perfect hockey player," just never made mistakes; Cam Neely - As unique a player as there ever was, was liable to beat the hell out of someone one night (just ask Claude Lemieux) and then score an insane spin-o-rama highlight reel goal the next (you all remember that one against the Senators); and Joe Sakic - I doubt any of us will ever see a wrister like that again in this lifetime.

As for the present.....The player I feel most privileged to watch right now is Zdeno Chara. I might feel differently if I got to watch guys like Datsyuk or Crosby or Malkin on a regular basis, but to me feeling "privileged" to watch someone means they bring something truly unique to the table, or at the very least something we aren't likely to see again anytime soon. Big Z fits that bill with his size, strength, reach, and most importantly his insane conditioning.

All time is Peter Forsberg. The strongest player on the puck that there ever was, and someone who always raised his already-insanely high level of play when the playoffs came around. I could live to be a million and never forget watching Foppa.

Other all-timers I felt privileged to watch: Nick Lidstrom - Aptly described as the "perfect hockey player," just never made mistakes; Cam Neely - As unique a player as there ever was, was liable to beat the hell out of someone one night (just ask Claude Lemieux) and then score an insane spin-o-rama highlight reel goal the next (you all remember that one against the Senators); and Joe Sakic - I doubt any of us will ever see a wrister like that again in this lifetime.

As for the present.....The player I feel most privileged to watch right now is Zdeno Chara. I might feel differently if I got to watch guys like Datsyuk or Crosby or Malkin on a regular basis, but to me feeling "privileged" to watch someone means they bring something truly unique to the table, or at the very least something we aren't likely to see again anytime soon. Big Z fits that bill with his size, strength, reach, and most importantly his insane conditioning.
- TheGreatNumber8

All time is Peter Forsberg. The strongest player on the puck that there ever was, and someone who always raised his already-insanely high level of play when the playoffs came around. I could live to be a million and never forget watching Foppa.

Other all-timers I felt privileged to watch: Nick Lidstrom - Aptly described as the "perfect hockey player," just never made mistakes; Cam Neely - As unique a player as there ever was, was liable to beat the hell out of someone one night (just ask Claude Lemieux) and then score an insane spin-o-rama highlight reel goal the next (you all remember that one against the Senators); and Joe Sakic - I doubt any of us will ever see a wrister like that again in this lifetime.

As for the present.....The player I feel most privileged to watch right now is Zdeno Chara. I might feel differently if I got to watch guys like Datsyuk or Crosby or Malkin on a regular basis, but to me feeling "privileged" to watch someone means they bring something truly unique to the table, or at the very least something we aren't likely to see again anytime soon. Big Z fits that bill with his size, strength, reach, and most importantly his insane conditioning.
- TheGreatNumber8

forsberg was a GREAT player.

but just for argument sake; stronger than jagr in his prime? debateable.

i was just a pup, but ill never forget jagr dominating a stacked team canada in the 98 olympics. he kept the puck at will it seemed like.

jagr and hasek > team canada

Cory Cross

Brett Lindros

Sid hands down, speed, vision, power, honestly this question shouldn't even be close if people actually watched the games vs. blindly hating the guy.

But haters gonna hate. So get to it.

All time #66. Pure dominance.

forsberg was a GREAT player.

but just for argument sake; stronger than jagr in his prime? debateable.

i was just a pup, but ill never forget jagr dominating a stacked team canada in the 98 olympics. he kept the puck at will it seemed like.

jagr and hasek > team canada
- hugefemale dog77

Jagr may have a claim to the throne, but I don't think anyone protected the puck like Forsberg did. Peter was much more of a true horse than Jagr was, in part because he needed to be as a center (as opposed to a wing like Jagr who used his speed and shot more). In my opinion, Forsberg was the greatest puck possession player of my lifetime.....Jagr included.

Sid hands down, speed, vision, power, honestly this question shouldn't even be close if people actually watched the games vs. blindly hating the guy.

But haters gonna hate. So get to it.

All time #66. Pure dominance.
- Sell My Monkey

I don't think it's necessarily people "hating" on Sid so much as it is people giving credit to other players they love to watch play. I mean, the question was what players we feel "privileged" to have watched play and you chose the best player now and the second greatest player ever....both of whom happen to play for your favorite team. You're not exactly breaking new ground here or spurring any thoughtfulness on the blog. And given that this is a conversation thread on a message board, isn't that kind of the point? If you were on an ice cream message board would you list Vanilla and Chocolate as your two favorite flavors? I'd hope you'd have more creativity than that.....or else not even bother posting.

Agreed that Datsyuk is worth the price of admission... well gamecentre anyways.

Honorable mentions:

Dave Reid on a Penalty Kill

Darcy Tucker vs Zdeno Chara

Arturs Irbe doing anything

Zenon Konopka hands down

All time: The Rocket

There's that one iconic pic with that psycho look in his eye. Would've loved to see him in his prime

Present: Buff

When the big fella is on and feeling it - he's like a tight end on skates.