The Greatest Hockey Player Who Ever Lived

by talesin 58 Replies latest social physical

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  William Penwell

  I seen both Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr play and I would say they are both up there for top spot. The only thing is comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. Gretzky was the best forward and Orr was the that defence that played the game. They both played with compassion and revolutionized the game in their respective position more than any other player before them. The only other player that I would say comes close to Gretzky is Mario Lemieux. It is unfortunate that Mario's career has been plagued with injuries, otherwise I think he may have challenged a lot of Gretzky scoring records.

  Will
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  talesin

  Special K

  RIGHT ON!!!! MVP - he must be TOO excited!

  CRR

  ummmm ... Orr was a defenseman

  WP

  Yes, I agree with your analysis. Apples and oranges, also longevity - who knows if Orr's knees didn't turn to mush? After all, his career was so brief compared to Gretzky's. Same for Lemieux (injuries).

  XJW_B12

  The Brits, hmmmmmm, ah, they're just jealous cause they can't play hockey. They do have soccer; and as for cricket, well I have never seen a game so I guess that critiquing it just wouldn't be ... cricket, would it?

  Edit to add: Oh, btw, as a Canadian I find Don Cherry embarrassing, like Az said, anyone who dresses that bad ... I always think of him as our very own 'Canadian redneck'. Maybe he should get into wrestling (heheh).

  tal
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  William Penwell

  It is too bad that Bobby Orr's career was cut short. If not he would have set defensive records that would be hard to beat. I know that Dennis Potvin ended up with more career goals than Bobby Orr but he played more games than Orr.
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  talesin

  WP

  Yes, actually, he was the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy (twice). (top NHL score for the year) Check the stats I posted on page two. I don't think that has been accomplished by anyone else (could be wrong).

  It's not too often I can be accused of hero worship, but Bobby is the exception.

  To me, he will always define 'poetry in motion'

  tal
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  William Penwell

  Talesin,

  I think you are correct, Bobby Orr is the only defenseman to ever win the Art Ross trophy. It was not the same 40 years ago as it is today. When you consider that in an age when defenseman were not offensive threats it is quit the accomplishment. Also I must add that the last time he did it, 1975, he was playing on a bad knee. See stats below:

  Recipients

  Year	Player	Team
  2003	Peter Forsberg	Colorado Avalance
  2002	Jarome Iginla	Calgary Flames
  2001	Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins
  2000	Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1999	Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1998	Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1997	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1996	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1995	Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1994	Wayne Gretzky	Los Angeles Kings
  1993	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1992	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1991	Wayne Gretzky	Los Angeles Kings
  1990	Wayne Gretzky	Los Angeles Kings
  1989	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1988	Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins
  1987	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1986	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1985	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1984	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1983	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1982	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1981	Wayne Gretzky	Edmonton Oilers
  1980	Marcel Dionne	Los Angeles Kings
  1979	Bryan Trottier	New York Islanders
  1978	Guy Lafleur	Montreal Canadiens
  1977	Guy Lafleur	Montreal Canadiens
  1976	Guy Lafleur	Montreal Canadiens
  1975	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins
  1974	Phil Esposito	Boston Bruins
  1973	Phil Esposito	Boston Bruins
  1972	Phil Esposito	Boston Bruins
  1971	Phil Esposito	Boston Bruins
  1970	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins
  1969	Phil Esposito	Boston Bruins
  1968	Stan Mikita	Chicago Blackhawks
  1967	Stan Mikita	Chicago Blackhawks
  1966	Bobby Hull	Chicago Blackhawks
  1965	Stan Mikita	Chicago Blackhawks
  1964	Stan Mikita	Chicago Blackhawks
  1963	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1962	Bobby Hull	Chicago Blackhawks
  1961	Bernie Geoffrion	Montreal Canadiens
  1960	Bobby Hull	Chicago Blackhawks
  1959	Dickie Moore	Montreal Canadiens
  1958	Dickie Moore	Montreal Canadiens
  1957	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1956	Jean Beliveau	Montreal Canadiens
  1955	Bernie Geoffrion	Montreal Canadiens
  1954	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1953	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1952	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1951	Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings
  1950	Ted Lindsay	Detroit Red Wings
  1949	Roy Conacher	Chicago Blackhawks
  1948	Elmer Lach	Montreal Canadiens
  1947*	Max Bentley	Chicago Blackhawks
  1946	Max Bentley	Chicago Blackhawks
  1945	Elmer Lach	Montreal Canadiens
  1944	Herbie Cain	Boston Bruins
  1943	Doug Bentley	Chicago Blackhawks
  1942	Bryan Hextall	New York Rangers
  1941	Bill Cowley	Boston Bruins
  1940	Milt Schmidt	Boston Bruins
  1939	Toe Blake	Montreal Canadiens
  1938	Gordie Drillon	Toronto Maple Leafs
  1937	Dave Schriner	New York Americans
  1936	Dave Schriner	New York Americans
  1935	Charlie Conacher	Toronto Maple Leafs
  1934	Charlie Conacher	Toronto Maple Leafs
  1933	Bill Cook	New York Rangers
  1932	Harvey Jackson	Toronto Maple Leafs
  1931	Howie Morenz	Montreal Canadiens
  1930	Cooney Weiland	Boston Bruins
  1929	Ace Bailey	Toronto Maple Leafs
  1928	Howie Morenz	Montreal Canadiens
  1927	Bill Cook	New York Rangers
  1926	Nels Stewart	Montreal Maroons
  1925	Babe Dye	Toronto Arenas
  1924	Cy Denneny	Ottawa Senators
  1923	Babe Dye	Toronto St. Pats
  1922	Punch Broadbent	Ottawa Senators
  1921	Newsy Lalonde	Montreal Canadiens
  1920	Joe Malone	Quebec Bulldogs
  1919	Odie Cleghorn	Montreal Canadiens
  1918	Joe Malone	Montreal Canadiens
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  talesin

  Thanks, Will

  KEWL!

  I see what you mean about Lemieux, he gave Gretzky a good run for the money!

  tal
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  berrygerry
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  talesin

  Actually, I was thinking 'too bad there's no hockey trash talk on JWN these days', so it's fun to see it bumped.

  There will never be anyone like the Rocket, and he changed the face of hockey forever. (no pun intended)

  So, it would be safe to assume you are familiar with the Gordie Howe Hat Trick? hehehe

  tal
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  talesin

  PS, it's *always* okay to bump a thread~!

  If the thread is to be left alone, the moderators will have it locked, and that is rare, indeed.
  
  Just a heads-up.