Who is the best NHL player that ever played the game?

Answer 1

Gordie Howe by a long shot. Wayne Gretzky was great, no doubt, but he also played in a decade of expansion, so the goalies weren't top tear like they were in Gordie Howe's age. Besides, Gordie could play defense exceptionally, and would drop his gloves for his team if he had to. Plus, he also played without a helmet, Gretzky played with one.

Answer 2

Lets get real old school with this one. Since you said EVER to play the game, lets set the way back machine for 1917-18 and talk about 'Phantom Joe' Malone. The NHLs first season, only the cream of the crop were taken into the 4 team league. Joe Malone, playing for the Canadiens, scored 5 goals in the NHL debut. That season he went on to score 5 twice more and finished with an amazing 44 goals in 20 games. That is 2.2 goals per game, nearly doubling Gretzkys now unmatchable 92 goal season if you work that out to 82 games. His team leadership skills are unsurpassed, scoring more than 50% of his teams TOTAL goals three times in his career. He finished with 143 goals in 125 games, the last 40 games of which he was a substitute only allowed by rules to play in case serious injuries to 3 or more players thus scoring only 1 goal in his last 40 games.

Answer 3

Wayne Gretzky or Bobby Orr, in my opinion. Gretzky is the best of the guys I really grew up watching, and I wish that I'd seen more of Orr before his knees had started to give out on him.

I chose these two not only because they were great players, but because they were so good that they really changed the game. Before Orr, defensemen rarely rushed the puck, and Orr really ushered in the era of the offensive defenseman, while maintaining his defensive greatness. His +/- numbers in some years are almost staggering.

Gretzky was an offensive genius, who had the best hockey sense and instincts that I've ever seen. He could play with anyone and quickly learn their tendencies, and he'd immediately make his linemate a better player. It was his ability in the open ice of 4-on-4 hockey that forced the NHL to change their rules regarding coincidental minor penalties. I believe Lemieux showed flashes of greater ability, but he never sustained it as did Gretzky.

Again, this is just my opinion. I think there are a lot of arguable answers to this question, for a variety of reasons.

Answer 4

Maurice "THE ROCKET" Richard for sure. yes Wayne Gretzky was great but do you really think he could of play hockey back in those days, there is know way in hell he would survive playing back in the good old days.

and for CRAIG S.... Mario Lemieux was a better goal score then Greztky and would of past the all time points records of Gretzky's if the cancer and injuries didn't catch up to him, i know injuries are apart of the game but cancer isn't and Lemieux had over 600 goals before he even played 900 games so know you tell me how can Gretzky be better then Lemieux when Gretzky had a stacked team when Lemieux had to struggle for years to finally win a cup.

Answer 5

Best I ever saw was Mario. First time he retired he had a Points Per Game Avg. of 2. Only player to ever do that. As to injuries being a part of the game the man played with what was then a chronic back injury. That ISN'T part of the game either. Minor injuries are ones as big as that means you are really putting your heart in it. I can't say who the best of all time though.

Answer 6

Wayne Gretzky

Answer 7

Wayne Gretzky

Answer 8

No doubt Bobby Orr, although Gretzky was a great player, Orr played when hocky had many more stars, Gretzky had no one really challenging him at the time of his game

Answer 9

Wayne Gretxzy

Answer 10

1. Bobby Orr
2. Super Mario
3. The Great One