If you except Bobby Orr, Mario is probably the most naturally talented player of all time (Gretzky was the best thinker of all-time)/ But as a pure goal scorer, Brett Hull was better. Yes, Mario may have been able to create more for himself than anyone (besides Orr) but that's not what I use as the measuring stick.

And again, Ryan used "the early 80s" to discredit Gretzky and Bossy, while not mentioning that the late 80s and early 90s were just as bad, if not worse, defensively and goaltending-wise.
- jmatchett383

I think a lot of the argument for Lemieux as top goal-scorer is based on where he'd be all-time with better health and not retiring early. He had 690 goals in just 915 games. He'd still probably never catch Gretzky in points, but getting the 200 more career goals seems very possible if he'd played more.

I thought that the actual shot itself doesn't matter, it's about the chances.
- jmatchett383

You still want to play the percentages as best as possible, but that's going to be a systems based thing. Actual scoring talent is still required.

You can corsi the other team into oblivion but if you aren't able to actually put the puck in the net it doesn't matter.

I think a lot of the argument for Lemieux as top goal-scorer is based on where he'd be all-time with better health and not retiring early. He had 690 goals in just 915 games. He'd still probably never catch Gretzky in points, but getting the 200 more career goals seems very possible if he'd played more.
- Tojo.

Man, you average that over 82 game seasons, and Lemieux averages 60 goals a year for his career. 🤯 Ovie doing what he's doing in this era has a great argument as well, buy I'll go with RW and say it's between them. Lemieux's accuracy was uncanny if you never saw him.

You still want to play the percentages as best as possible, but that's going to be a systems based thing. Actual scoring talent is still required.

You can corsi the other team into oblivion but if you aren't able to actually put the puck in the net it doesn't matter.
- BINGO!

Good post. At some point you need to combine finishing talent with that Corsi.

Man, you average that over 82 game seasons, and Lemieux averages 60 goals a year for his career. 🤯 Ovie doing what he's doing in this era has a great argument as well, buy I'll go with RW and say it's between them. Lemieux's accuracy was uncanny if you never saw him.
- Tojo.

Ovi is the greatest goal scorer of all time.

You still want to play the percentages as best as possible, but that's going to be a systems based thing. Actual scoring talent is still required.

You can corsi the other team into oblivion but if you aren't able to actually put the puck in the net it doesn't matter.
- BINGO!

Tanner disagrees. You can win 100 cups, but if you don’t win the corsi game it’s all luck and doesn’t matter.

Ovi is the greatest goal scorer of all time.
- Feds91Stammer

Yep. Bar none.

The level he's at relative to his peers is goddamned astounding.

Tanner disagrees. You can win 100 cups, but if you don’t win the corsi game it’s all luck and doesn’t matter.
- Rinosaur

Well then Tanner disagrees with Eric Tulsky.

Yep. Bar none.

The level he's at relative to his peers is goddamned astounding.
- BINGO!

I hope to god Ovi breaks Wayne’s career goals record.

Penis.
- j.boyd919

Always reminds me of the time I made a pen holder in middle school that said "the pen is stronger than the sword" but I put "pen" and "is" to close to eachother so it looked like it said "the penis stronger than the sword"

I hope to god Ovi breaks Wayne’s career goals record.
- j.boyd919

Not gonna happen.

If Jagr didn't miss 2 seasons to lockouts (2 half and 1 full) and those 3 years in the KHL, he had a shot.

I thought that the actual shot itself doesn't matter, it's about the chances.
- jmatchett383

Shooting the puck but not getting scoring chances is one thing. They do both really well. They just dont finish well. They are 20th in high danger goals for

I hope to god Ovi breaks Wayne’s career goals record.
- j.boyd919

It's unlikely unless he has another 50 goal season or two left in him.

He'd have to average 33 goals per year for 7 more seasons to tie.

Not gonna happen.

If Jagr didn't miss 2 seasons to lockouts (2 half and 1 full) and those 3 years in the KHL, he had a shot.
- jmatchett383

Oh yeah?

It's unlikely unless he has another 50 goal season or two left in him.

He'd have to average 33 goals per year for 7 more seasons to tie.
- BINGO!

I could definitely see Ovi scoring 50 again next year. And maybe the year after. The Russian Machine Never Breaks.

It's unlikely unless he has another 50 goal season or two left in him.

He'd have to average 33 goals per year for 7 more seasons to tie.
- BINGO!

What makes you think he doesn't have at least one more 50 goal season left in him? I think one more is a given.

He just cant help himself

Man, you average that over 82 game seasons, and Lemieux averages 60 goals a year for his career. 🤯 Ovie doing what he's doing in this era has a great argument as well, buy I'll go with RW and say it's between them. Lemieux's accuracy was uncanny if you never saw him.
- Tojo.

I'll say this about Lemieux; I started watching hockey in the 92/93 seasons. Lemieux and Eric Lindros were the 2 most dominant players I have ever seen. When they came onto the ice and were determined to score, there was little the other team could do. Lindros would pound you into the ground, take the puck to the net, and jam it home. Lemieux would stickhandle around the entire team using his reach and speed, and then either deke the goalie out or just snipe one. I've seen Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, Jagr, and everyone in between in their primes. Those two stood out to me. Lemieux was the better player of the two, but their abilities to take over games was second to none.

Still, as good as Lemieux was, I still argue that Brett Hull is the second greatest goal scorer ever. Over his 3-straight 70-goal seasons and 92/93 (89/90-92/93), he had 282 goals. The second highest during that span was Yzerman at 216. For perspective, when Ovechkin scored his 65, he would have had to beat the 2nd highest player by 15 goals (Kovalchuk had 52), so he came close. And I'm choosing that arbitrary 4-year period because it was the last time anyone scored 70+ goals, but I'm using his contemporaries as a comparison. No doubt Lemieux was a better player than Hull, and it's not even close. But I'd still take Hull over Lemieux in the goal scoring column.

Oh yeah?
- Feds91Stammer

Yes, I would put money on it. I think he'll pass Howe, but not Gretzky.

Here’s to hoping Toronto brings it tonight!

Here’s to hoping Toronto brings it tonight!
- Rinosaur

Rooting for Toronto against anyone but the Rangers and Bruins in never okay. You can root for the opposition to lose, but never for them to win.

Rooting for Toronto against anyone but the Rangers and Bruins in never okay. You can root for the opposition to lose, but never for them to win.
- jmatchett383

Toronto has a chance to catch Boston, but Boston would have to drop their remaining games which is unlikely.

Toronto has a chance to catch Boston, but Boston would have to drop their remaining games which is unlikely.
- Rinosaur

Who is Toronto playing tonight?

Who is Toronto playing tonight?
- jmatchett383

Islanders

Islanders
- Rinosaur

Not acceptable.