I was talking with my friends a few months back. Talking top-10 players in NHL history.

#'s 1-3 are Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr, and you can make arguments for each of them to be #1.
#4 was Gordie Howe, partially based on his legend/icon status.
#5 is, probably, Jagr. Just look at his numbers compared to the games he missed (2 lockouts plus 3 KHL seasons).

After that, I think you have to put Crosby at #6. Whether you like him or not, it's hard to argue the numbers.

7-10 had a few different players. Lindros (health concerns), Ovechkin, Bossy, LaFleur, Fedorov, Lidstrom all got mentioned.
- jmatchett383

Messier is absolutely ahead of Crosby and maybe even Jagr.

Same
- Scoob

I always look to Marios 92-93 season as the best single season performance.

60 games
69 goals
91 assists
160 points
2.67 points per game.

Messier is absolutely ahead of Crosby and maybe even Jagr.
- MJL

Messier v Jagr is a great comparison.

After that, I think you have to put Crosby at #6. Whether you like him or not, it's hard to argue the numbers.
- jmatchett383

When you boil it all down, the only reason to not like Crosby is because he doesn't play on the team you root for. That's it.*

* But the whining, Scoob, the whining!!!1 Were he on your team you'd call that leadership.**


** Yes, you would. And you'd be wearing a #87 jersey while saying it.

Messier,
- jmatchett383

He was a force. When he was bouncing around the league I always hoped the Flyers would get him so he could teach Lindros how to be a captain.

Anyone going to the prospect game- have tix been emailed yet? Got a confirmation email when I "bought" the tix that said you'll get an email with the tix on a TBD date.

It's now less than a week before the event.

Anyone going to the prospect game- have tix been emailed yet? Got a confirmation email when I "bought" the tix that said you'll get an email with the tix on a TBD date.

It's now less than a week before the event.
- Giroux_Is_God

I haven't gotten mine either.

Anyone going to the prospect game- have tix been emailed yet? Got a confirmation email when I "bought" the tix that said you'll get an email with the tix on a TBD date.

It's now less than a week before the event.
- Giroux_Is_God

Nope, still waiting brother.

I was talking with my friends a few months back. Talking top-10 players in NHL history.

#'s 1-3 are Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr, and you can make arguments for each of them to be #1.
#4 was Gordie Howe, partially based on his legend/icon status.
#5 is, probably, Jagr. Just look at his numbers compared to the games he missed (2 lockouts plus 3 KHL seasons).

After that, I think you have to put Crosby at #6. Whether you like him or not, it's hard to argue the numbers.

7-10 had a few different players. Lindros (health concerns), Ovechkin, Bossy, LaFleur, Fedorov, Lidstrom all got mentioned.
- jmatchett383

Rating the top 10 of all time is difficult due to many reasons. First it's hard to compare era to era, so you really have to factor in how dominant the player was in his day. Second, I only saw the great players at an age old enough to really understand the game starting in the mid 70s, so anyone who's prime was before 1975 or so, I can only go by film clips and what has been written about them by writers who's opinions I trust. Lastly, you have to decide how you want to rank them, by their overall careers or by how good they were at their peak.

With all that in mind, here's what I came up with:

TOP TEN OF ALL TIME (Whole career)

1. Wayne Gretzky C
The numbers say it all, his records will likely never be broken.

2. Gordie Howe RW
No player was as good for as long as Gordie from 1949 to the late 60s he was one of the best players, and at times the very best, player in the game.

3. Bobby Orr D
If not for injuries, he'd be #1 on this list

4. Mario Lemieux C
If not for injuries, he'd be #2 on this list

5. Doug Harvey D
7 Norris trophies in 8 years is just astounding. Considered by many hockey experts to be the best all around Dman to ever play the game. He also averaged around .5 points per game which is phenomenal in an era where Dmen rarely put up big scoring totals. Played on 6 Cup winners too

6. Nick Lidstrom D
He was the modern day Doug Harvey and the backbone of some fantastic Red Wing teams

7. Jean Beliveau C
In many ways, he was the Mario Lemieux of his era. Unlike Lemieux and Gretzky, he didn't have the advantage of being able to pad his stats against a lot of very weak teams, in the 6 team league, every team for the most part was a good one.

8. Maurice "Rocket" Richard RW
Imagine Pavel Bure with a mean streak and an unstoppable will to win and you'd have the Rocket. He was the first ever to score 50 goals in 50 games and he did it while facing one of the top 6 goalies and top 6 D pairs in the world every night.

9. Mark Messier C
Few players played the game as well for as long as Messier 1887 points in 1756 games is amazing and you can't discount the 6 Cup rings or the intangibles either.

10. Bobby Hull LW
If you factor in his later years in the WHA, Hull played 23 pro seasons. He scored 1170 points in 1063 NHL games, many of them in a 6 team league and he added 638 points in 411 WHA games. He also won 3 Ross trophies, a Hart trophy and was a 1st team all star LW 10 times.

Just missed the cut:
Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman, Denis Potvin

TOP TEN OFF ALL TIME (at their peak)

1. Bobby Orr D
No one has ever put up the numbers that he did while playing top notch defense too. He was completely dominant when healthy.

2. Mario Lemieux C
At his peak, Mario was virtually unstoppable and a true magician with the puck

3. Eric Lindros C
Even more so than Gretzky, who, during his peak, had a half dozen hall of famers to play with including one on his right wing, Lindros was frighteningly dominant. He could beat you with skill, brute force or his fists. And he was just as adept a goal scorer as he was a passer.

4. Wayne Gretzky C
The best playmaker, by far, to ever play the game.

5. Maurice "Rocket" Richard RW
At his peak, he was an unstoppable goal scoring machine and also as strong as an ox.

6. Gordie Howe RW
At his peak, Gordie just terrorized the NHL. He could intimidate you with just a glance and beat you with skill or strength.

7. Pavel Bure RW
Didn't have Richard's mean streak or brute strength, but the Russian rocket was an even better skater than Richard and also a goal scoring machine.

8. Sergei Federov C
The best Russian Player of all time, IMO. He was, at his peak, the best all around player in the game.

9. BObby Hull LW
No player ever shot as hard with such amazing accuracy. He was also an underrated playmaker and strong as a bull, you just couldn't knock him off the puck.

10. Jean Beliveau C
He was the best center of his era and just a hair behind Gordie Howe for best overall player. At 6'4 210, he was simply huge for his time and he could beat you with skill or strength.

Just missed the cut:
Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Cam Neely, Sidney Crosby

I am currently glued to the TV, while hiding behind my storm shutters, which went up yesterday. I am in new construction and 10 miles from the coast. Smack dab in the middle of Naples. They have not issued evacuation for our area and the evac shelter is 3 miles away in a 1 story school. If we are not in the storm surge area, we are as safe at home as anywhere for the next 100 miles north.
We really have to go to mid Georgia to get away from it.
- jaws1955

Be careful and good luck!

I am currently glued to the TV, while hiding behind my storm shutters, which went up yesterday. I am in new construction and 10 miles from the coast. Smack dab in the middle of Naples. They have not issued evacuation for our area and the evac shelter is 3 miles away in a 1 story school. If we are not in the storm surge area, we are as safe at home as anywhere for the next 100 miles north.
We really have to go to mid Georgia to get away from it.
- jaws1955

Be careful and good luck!
- BiggE

thanks, going to be quite a few wild days. Still no evac order here yet. I still have 24 hours til it starts to turn to poop. I'm only 5 mins from 75. While I can hop in the car and head north, I don"t really have the means to hide out in a hotel for a week to ten days. If I don't get flooded out I am good here for that time frame.
I am praying hard for a more easterly track.

Rating the top 10 of all time is difficult due to many reasons. First it's hard to compare era to era, so you really have to factor in how dominant the player was in his day. Second, I only saw the great players at an age old enough to really understand the game starting in the mid 70s, so anyone who's prime was before 1975 or so, I can only go by film clips and what has been written about them by writers who's opinions I trust. Lastly, you have to decide how you want to rank them, by their overall careers or by how good they were at their peak.

With all that in mind, here's what I came up with:

TOP TEN OF ALL TIME (Whole career)

1. Wayne Gretzky C
The numbers say it all, his records will likely never be broken.

2. Gordie Howe RW
No player was as good for as long as Gordie from 1949 to the late 60s he was one of the best players, and at times the very best, player in the game.

3. Bobby Orr D
If not for injuries, he'd be #1 on this list

4. Mario Lemieux C
If not for injuries, he'd be #2 on this list

5. Doug Harvey D
7 Norris trophies in 8 years is just astounding. Considered by many hockey experts to be the best all around Dman to ever play the game. He also averaged around .5 points per game which is phenomenal in an era where Dmen rarely put up big scoring totals. Played on 6 Cup winners too

6. Nick Lidstrom D
He was the modern day Doug Harvey and the backbone of some fantastic Red Wing teams

7. Jean Beliveau C
In many ways, he was the Mario Lemieux of his era. Unlike Lemieux and Gretzky, he didn't have the advantage of being able to pad his stats against a lot of very weak teams, in the 6 team league, every team for the most part was a good one.

8. Maurice "Rocket" Richard RW
Imagine Pavel Bure with a mean streak and an unstoppable will to win and you'd have the Rocket. He was the first ever to score 50 goals in 50 games and he did it while facing one of the top 6 goalies and top 6 D pairs in the world every night.

9. Mark Messier C
Few players played the game as well for as long as Messier 1887 points in 1756 games is amazing and you can't discount the 6 Cup rings or the intangibles either.

10. Bobby Hull LW
If you factor in his later years in the WHA, Hull played 23 pro seasons. He scored 1170 points in 1063 NHL games, many of them in a 6 team league and he added 638 points in 411 WHA games. He also won 3 Ross trophies, a Hart trophy and was a 1st team all star LW 10 times.

Just missed the cut:
Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman, Denis Potvin

TOP TEN OFF ALL TIME (at their peak)

1. Bobby Orr D
No one has ever put up the numbers that he did while playing top notch defense too. He was completely dominant when healthy.

2. Mario Lemieux C
At his peak, Mario was virtually unstoppable and a true magician with the puck

3. Eric Lindros C
Even more so than Gretzky, who, during his peak, had a half dozen hall of famers to play with including one on his right wing, Lindros was frighteningly dominant. He could beat you with skill, brute force or his fists. And he was just as adept a goal scorer as he was a passer.

4. Wayne Gretzky C
The best playmaker, by far, to ever play the game.

5. Maurice "Rocket" Richard RW
At his peak, he was an unstoppable goal scoring machine and also as strong as an ox.

6. Gordie Howe RW
At his peak, Gordie just terrorized the NHL. He could intimidate you with just a glance and beat you with skill or strength.

7. Pavel Bure RW
Didn't have Richard's mean streak or brute strength, but the Russian rocket was an even better skater than Richard and also a goal scoring machine.

8. Sergei Federov C
The best Russian Player of all time, IMO. He was, at his peak, the best all around player in the game.

9. BObby Hull LW
No player ever shot as hard with such amazing accuracy. He was also an underrated playmaker and strong as a bull, you just couldn't knock him off the puck.

10. Jean Beliveau C
He was the best center of his era and just a hair behind Gordie Howe for best overall player. At 6'4 210, he was simply huge for his time and he could beat you with skill or strength.

Just missed the cut:
Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Cam Neely, Sidney Crosby
- BiggE

I find Lindros ahead of Gretzky on the latter list to be interesting and though provoking.

3) Godspeed to former Flyers equipment manager Kevin Cady, who has been assigned by the Coast Guard to assist during Hurricane Irma. Although hockey will always be part of Kevin's life, his real calling has been to help and protect others. I'm proud to call him a friend.



And Lindros

Hey Bill, or anyone that might know for that matter. Any idea of times that on ice stuff will be happening at rookie camp on Monday the 11th?

I find Lindros ahead of Gretzky on the latter list to be interesting and though provoking.
- MJL

It's because I believe at his peak, if he had the hall of fame talent around him that Gretzky did, he could have put up comparable numbers in his era.

It's because I believe at his peak, if he had the hall of fame talent around him that Gretzky did, he could have put up comparable numbers in his era.
- BiggE

Completely subjective but I can't go there. Gretzky along with Lemieux were a step above offensively than anyone who has ever played in my opinion.

If I was Taylor Leier and Cole Bardreau made the Flyers ahead of me despite him still being waiver exempt I would be very disappointed.

I think Leier will safely pass thru waivers if he isn't on the team at the end of camp, but it's gotta be somewhat nerve wracking for a kid who has spent five years in the organization to know that in four weeks he could be claimed by another team and have to pack his bags and move to some other North American city. Of course, the 10x salary increase from being on an NHL roster would be decent compensation.
- Feanor

Why?

You always have to be looking over your shoulder. And before the injury last year i believe Bardreau was someone they thought could fill a bottom 6 role.

Leier has some nice skill and speed but i don't think it is enough to say he is far better player than Bardreau. I like Bardreau's game because he seems to play bigger than he is. Plays a good defensive game. And i actually like the attitude he seems to play with. he has a swagger about him which i think is nice to have on a team.

I find Lindros ahead of Gretzky on the latter list to be interesting and though provoking.
- MJL

I didn't really see 99 until he was with the kings. His insane scoring season s with the Oilers are Incredible. Mostly skill, part luck, part supporting cast, part era. Regardless of those factors he would be around the g.o.a.t. discussion.

It's because I believe at his peak, if he had the hall of fame talent around him that Gretzky did, he could have put up comparable numbers in his era.
- BiggE

You explained it better than me. Not only the cast around him but the way defense and goaltending were coached/excecuted.

Completely subjective but I can't go there. Gretzky along with Lemieux were a step above offensively than anyone who has ever played in my opinion.
- MJL

Fair enough.

Completely subjective but I can't go there. Gretzky along with Lemieux were a step above offensively than anyone who has ever played in my opinion.
- MJL

There were other factors that led to their lofty numbers.

You explained it better than me. Not only the cast around him but the way defense and goaltending were coached/excecuted.
- twotoekenn

Exactly. Gretzky didn't have to face the trap and he faced some god awful teams and goalies too. Now imagine instead of Rico, Renberg/Hawerchuk, Brindy and Dineen, Lindros instead had Al MacInnis, Pavel Bure, Peter Forsberg and Teemu Selanne to play with. Is it that much of a stretch to him go from 1.5 ppg to 1.8? I would say that 1.8 ppg in the mid 90s is equivalent to 2+ ppg in the early 80s and you'd still have the physical element and faceoff dominance that Gretzky didn't have.

What's a dab of ranch?

I urban dictionary'd it