I would have LOVED to see what Bobby Orr and Mike Bossy would have done with full careers.............would have been incredible to see. Bossy only played 10 seasons and had almost 600 goals, I think had he stayed healthy he would have had more than Gretzky
- sensarmy_11

I saw the Terry Sawchuk and Jacques Plante displays... how would goalies have been with the equipment they have today!?

On the other hand, players didn't have composite sticks then either.

Reading forward - I sort of agree with Pat - I also hope he doesn't. I will fully accept the Ov is one of the best goal scorers of all time. But I don't like him all that much. I think my biggest problem with him is just that there's a special set of rules that apply to him and it bugs the crap out of me. Any other player charging and leaving their feet consistently to deliver hits would be suspended constantly.

I go with the standard athletic curve. It gets harder and harder and harder to stay in elite game shape after 30. You have to physically work harder and harder every year just to get to the level you used to coast to be at, and then you need to work hard just to maintain it. I think he actually noticed this 2 years ago when he turned his game back around.

Ov is exceptionally strong already, so that's an advantage, and as long as he has the competitive fire, I think he can maintain 40 for 3 more years.

As I said, I doubt he does it just based on standard decline, but I wouldn't write him off.
- Monkeypunk

It's nothing personal, I just don't think OV belongs in the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If he breaks Gretzky's record, that would put him in the conversation.

It's nothing personal, I just don't think OV belongs in the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If he breaks Gretzky's record, that would put him in the conversation.
- PatC80

How can he not be? He even got the Cup which was the only thing people could hang their hats on him being "bad/unworthy."

It's nothing personal, I just don't think OV belongs in the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If he breaks Gretzky's record, that would put him in the conversation.
- PatC80

I don't see him breaking Gretzky's record.

Players have to be judged in the context of their peers during their playing time. When OV retires he will have been the best goal scorer in his era and one of the best ever, even though his era had much better goalies and less scoring.

He may not be at the Gretzky / Lemieux / Orr / Howe level, but he is only one notch below that I think.

How can he not be? He even got the Cup which was the only thing people could hang their hats on him being "bad/unworthy."
- AdamFrench

Still don't think winning a Stanley Cup is enough to put him at that level.

I don't see him breaking Gretzky's record.

Players have to be judged in the context of their peers during their playing time. When OV retires he will have been the best goal scorer in his era and one of the best ever, even though his era had much better goalies and less scoring.

He may not be at the Gretzky / Lemieux / Orr / Howe level, but he is only one notch below that I think.
- Aetherial

Plus back in the old days, there were many great European players (especially Russians) who would've been stars in the NHL. Guys like Kharlamov, Tretiak and Mikhailov. Not to mention the best years of Makarov, Larionov, Fetisov. Or the younger version of Dominik Hasek. It wasn't really best on best like it is now.

How can he not be? He even got the Cup which was the only thing people could hang their hats on him being "bad/unworthy."
- AdamFrench

I don't believe he is/was as dominant as Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr or Howe were in their respective eras.

For me, he is at the Crosby, Malkin, Messier, Richard, Belliveau, Dionne, etc. level.

It's nothing personal, I just don't think OV belongs in the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If he breaks Gretzky's record, that would put him in the conversation.
- PatC80

Best goal scorer of his era.

Just having a conversation of him breaking Gretzky's record puts him as one of the best of all time imo.

Also: HI! I'm back!

I don't see him breaking Gretzky's record.

Players have to be judged in the context of their peers during their playing time. When OV retires he will have been the best goal scorer in his era and one of the best ever, even though his era had much better goalies and less scoring.

He may not be at the Gretzky / Lemieux / Orr / Howe level, but he is only one notch below that I think.
- Aetherial

I'd also agree with that. I mean, reasonably speaking, he may not beat Gretzky's all-time goals record, but he'll almost certainly end up in the #2 all-time spot.

Plus back in the old days, there were many great European players (especially Russians) who would've been stars in the NHL. Guys like Kharlamov, Tretiak and Mikhailov. Not to mention the best years of Makarov, Larionov, Fetisov. Or the younger version of Dominik Hasek. It wasn't really best on best like it is now.
- gergeswillems

Kharlamov!

Yeah, the Russians had some great players. Mogilny is my fave player of all time and the only hockey card I own.

I don't believe he is/was as dominant as Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr or Howe were in their respective eras.

For me, he is at the Crosby, Malkin, Messier, Richard, Belliveau, Dionne, etc. level.
- Aetherial

It's pretty hard to compare eras.

And wait, Richard? How is he not one of the greatest of all time? He was the best player (or at least goal scorer) of his time by a mile!

Plus back in the old days, there were many great European players (especially Russians) who would've been stars in the NHL. Guys like Kharlamov, Tretiak and Mikhailov. Not to mention the best years of Makarov, Larionov, Fetisov. Or the younger version of Dominik Hasek. It wasn't really best on best like it is now.
- gergeswillems

Of course the flip side of this argument is that back during the old "original 6" days it was much harder to even make it to the NHL. There were very good players playing in the minors who would've been very good players in the NHL today.

Best goal scorer of his era.

Just having a conversation of him breaking Gretzky's record puts him as one of the best of all time imo.

Also: HI! I'm back!
- Scabeh

Scabeh, Hello!

... Saw the Habs dressing room display at the HHOF this weekend.

Was very cool seeing those sweater and names, and all the old, crappy equipment. Lafleur looks like he had size 6 skates though

Scabeh, Hello!

... Saw the Habs dressing room display at the HHOF this weekend.

Was very cool seeing those sweater and names, and all the old, crappy equipment. Lafleur looks like he had size 6 skates though
- Aetherial

I couldn't say I know much about Lafleur's feet but that sounds pretty small even for a guy who wasn't that big.

Best goal scorer of his era.

Just having a conversation of him breaking Gretzky's record puts him as one of the best of all time imo.

Also: HI! I'm back!
- Scabeh

Yeah, I can accept that, he's the best goal scorer of his generation.

Also, why are you back?

It's pretty hard to compare eras.

And wait, Richard? How is he not one of the greatest of all time? He was the best player (or at least goal scorer) of his time by a mile!
- Scabeh

Be thankful I even mentioned or was aware of a Habs.

I just don't consider anyone else in the class of the 4 I listed. So far, I think those 4 are the ones who are always in the discussion as the greatest player of all time.

The only person I know of who may one day join that group is McDavid.

Yeah, I can accept that, he's the best goal scorer of his generation.

Also, why are you back?
- PatC80

I was on vacation for the last 2 weeks.

No work = no hockeybuzz.

oh just what we need

another under 6’ under 240lb soft as slime euro pu$$y

that’s pretty much been every prospect

we will never win a round built like this let alone the cup

greedy b!tch marner can go suck a big green donkey d!ck in glendale along with melander and jack each other off in the change room while they rack up points then get buttraped by real men in the playoffs in the first round

dubass should trade these creampuffs for some grownups who play defense and don’t shrink like dead d!cks in winter when the rubber meets the road

Kharlamov!

Yeah, the Russians had some great players. Mogilny is my fave player of all time and the only hockey card I own.
- Aetherial

Mogilny never got the accolades he deserved. When he first broke into the NHL he made it look ridiculously easy. He had a great career. His attitude rubbed people the wrong way but he was an excellent player.

Be thankful I even mentioned or was aware of a Habs.

I just don't consider anyone else in the class of the 4 I listed. So far, I think those 4 are the ones who are always in the discussion as the greatest player of all time.

The only person I know of who may one day join that group is McDavid.
- Aetherial

By that definition, yeah, fair enough.

oh just what we need

another under 6’ under 240lb soft as slime euro pu$$y

that’s pretty much been every prospect

we will never win a round built like this let alone the cup

greedy b!tch marner can go suck a big green donkey d!ck in glendale along with melander and jack each other off in the change room while they rack up points then get buttraped by real men in the playoffs in the first round

dubass should trade these creampuffs for some grownups who play defense and don’t shrink like dead d!cks in winter when the rubber meets the road
- Skalapy

Nice "ah lit errr eh shin." ☺

By that definition, yeah, fair enough.
- Scabeh

Leafs don't even have anyone at the next tier down

I was on vacation for the last 2 weeks.

No work = no hockeybuzz.
- Scabeh

Leafs don't even have anyone at the next tier down
- Aetherial

Auston Matthews?

Leafs don't even have anyone at the next tier down
- Aetherial

Well they have some interesting candidates coming up.

If you guys don't all hate them and drive them out of town for asking to be paid that is....