2006-10-29 10:05:11 · 9 answers · asked by messtograves 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Well, most of the players that hockeycraze99 said aren't even centers. and the word "elite" doesn't mean showy, or moves, but being great at that position. And he is. He's a great scorer, great leader, can carry a team, scores the clutch goals, and does everything a great center does. If that's not elite, i don't know what is. Many of these people saying no don't get to watch him that often since he plays out west. But i've seen him play millions of times, and i can safely say yes
2006-10-29 10:27:01 · answer #1 · answered by chris m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nearly, not quite. I'd say you have to hold steady among the top 5 or 6 NHL centers to be 'elite.'
Can he be? Absolutely.
Is he going to languish on the second line? Maybe.
He's an agile, hardworking, consistent player. Right now, he's only a point, a *point* behind Thornton in the stats, eleventh in the league in terms of centers, and you're talking about a player who still has growing room. Marleau's not done developing.
Last year, he was 10th in the league among centers, with 34 goals to Thornton's 29.
Marleau has every potential to balance out into a comparable player.
He's just starting to hit his stride.
Elite now? Not quite. Almost.
Will he be?
Hopefully.
2006-10-29 21:48:36 · answer #2 · answered by lotusice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't go as far as calling him "elite." He's been placed on the second line and it's hard to ascend to a higher level in the shadows of someone like Joe Thornton. I won't deny he's a very good player, but he doesn't have the opportunity to become elite.
2006-10-29 19:45:56 · answer #3 · answered by bnelson87 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's a good centre, but I have to dispute 'elite'. He can score some timely goals and as captain he leds by example. But I don't think he can do the things elite players do. Like Thornton, Jagr, Ovechkin, Crosby, Heatley, Kovalchuk... I don't think he has the moves that can wow you.
2006-10-29 18:08:53 · answer #4 · answered by hockey craze99 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't go as far to say an elite center, but he's a decent centermen to have on your team.
2006-10-29 18:48:34 · answer #5 · answered by Deavious999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if he was, San Jose wouldn't have seen the need to trade for Joe Thornton
2006-10-29 19:56:58 · answer #6 · answered by cyrenaica 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, he isn't.
Just because Thornton is there now, and besides, he's really good but he's missing that extra "skill" or "desire" that would make him elite.
Let's see him produce Thornton's season and then we'll talk.
2006-10-29 19:35:46 · answer #7 · answered by CRISTOBAL HUET!!!! 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cause every team would like him..
2006-10-29 19:37:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, but he'd be 1st line on the hawks.
2006-10-29 18:09:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋