Who do you think is the best NHL player of all time?

Question

Why?

Answer 1

Gretzky, hands down. He has 200 points FOUR TIMES, something Lemieux did.....well never did. He also was on 4 cup winners to Mario's 2.

And since I have this opportunity, I have never understood the argument that Lemieux was better. Supposedly he had no help...I guess Jagr, Francis, Trottier and Coffey were minor leaguers? He "would have" more points had he been healthy, fine, by that logic maybe the best all-time is Eric Lindros.

And something very interesting: in Gretzky's first season with the KIngs, Lemieux had more points and the MVP that year was....Wayne Gretzky. Who was getting points playing on lines with future hall of famers like Mike Allison, Paul Fenton, and Sylvain Couterier......

At least Lemieux is not a totally unreasonable pick.
Sidney Crosby is NOT a reasonable pick.....


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Attention people:
READ the question please.

Crosby and Ovechkin are NOT the best players of ALL TIME.

Answer 2

I love how 75% of people choose #99, mainly because of his stats. Which are amazing at first glance, but when you break it down it is not that impressing. He played with future hall a famers practically his whole career. He was on an Oilers team that was loaded with great players and continued throughout the rest of his playing days.

If you would limit the surrounding talent on the oilers and then compare his stats if he had some ok / decent players, I believe he would not be near his career ending stats. Don't great me wrong, I believe he is near the top ever, but not #1.

In that case, My personal vote goes to Mario Lemieux. This is a tough call, since he was out with back problems, and then he freakin battled cancer and returned to the ice. Mario didn't have really any "hall of famers" till '89/90. So, for 6 years, he was beasting himself. But, he stats are amazing for what he has done in his career among overcoming the obstacles he has faced. Before he came back out of retirement to save the Pens, he was the ONLY player to retire with 2 pts/game!!
*Also something to consider. Imagine how many points Mario could have tallied if he played on the lines Gretzky did.

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First off,clueless nerd - Kurri, Tikkanen(not too bad),Messier, & Robitaille(who
only played in Pittsburgh in 94-95, 42pts) don't count as hall of famers?
They both shared coffey.
Gretzky had people protecting him and no one could
really even check him or lay a hand on him. Lemieux was a way better 2-way
player and had the size and skill.
Gretzky after he left the Oilers, he's point total
dropped off towards the end. He had a few decent years, but from when
he was an Oiler for 9 years, amounted 500 more points than the years
he wasn't on the oilers.

Then you mention Bryan Trottier. He played a VERY LIMITED time with Mario.
And 2 of those years Mario had medical issues. Trotts had a total of 72
pts with the Pens. Who knows out of that how many were with Mario.
Jagr didn't break 100+ pts till 95-96 campaign. And started being a beast
when Mario was away from hockey.

That's cool about the 4 times he had 200+ pt seasons. I know for a fact Mario
could have equalled or had more pts if he was in the situation Gretz was with the Oilers.

Mario's stanley cups finally came when the Pens had some type of help.

Question for you: Forgetting how their careers ended up, neither
had any medical issues and each came in at the same time, who'd you chose?

Answer 3

I'm not sure who the best of all-time in my opinion would be, I'd say Gordie Howe, but don't want to type out all the reasons. Also, by the way, the best defenseman right now is not Bryan McCabe, he'd be #2 in my opinion, I'd put Sheldon Souray from Montreal at #1. He can score, he can pass, he can play great defense, and I wish the Sabres had him. Wayne Gretzky isn't the best player of all-time because.. well.. look at Gretzky's goals. Look at the goalie, and count how many easy goals he had, or how many times the goalie doesn't even move, or how many times the goalies slips and falls. If you look at this, and you see how the goalies played their position, you'll see why everyone back then scored so much. Goalies were straight up horribly, pathetic.

Answer 4

Mario Lemieux.

His pure skill and perseverance will never be matched. Mario was never healthy at any point in his career, but still put up massive amounts of points. Whether it was cronic back pain, cancer, or broken bones Mario played on.

When people try to decide who was the best player of all time the first thing they look for is stats. Yes stats matter, but the circumstances surrounding those stats are just as important. For example, Cheechoo scoring 50 goal would not have happened without Thorton.

Answer 5

Gordie Howe!!! Why! Because he did everything. He was feared as a goalscorer, playmaker, checker, and yet he could still take care of himself (he didn't need a goon on the team to look after him.) He was also a great team player. No one has come close to his accomplishments in hockey and no one ever will. He also played when there were only 6 teams and every night you played a team that would be comparable to playing an all star team today.

Answer 6

martin brodeur. he's not a forward or a big leading scorer or anything but he is amazing. he's climbing quickly on records that were said never to be beaten. next year..he'lll be number one in shutouts easily. he's climbing on the all-time win record. he's probally going to beat the most wins in a season this year and he just os so consistanta nd amazing. not only is he skilled but his attitude is great. he dosn't do it for the fame and the money. he just loves playing hockey. and he always starts so much because he wants to. he tells the coaches when he wants to start and when he dosn't. and sometimes the coaches give hima day off. but he is alos the humblest person i ahve ever seen. everyone knows he is such an amazing player but he never gives any credit to himself. in post-game interviews, while looking a replay's of unbalivible saves all he says is how great a job his defensemen did. by keeping the puck to the outside, blocking shots, getting the guy out of the crease...etc. he never says "well i just played really well tonight" he always gives credit for his wins or shutouts to his team. even though some of his shutouts are all him. example 1-0 over pittsburg. even thoguht the team did a great job keeping crosby, malkin at bay.

Answer 7

Bobby Orr...no other player in NHL history has ever won the Norris Trophy and the Hart Trophy as a defenseman

Answer 8

For sheer dominance in stats and on the ice, Wayne Gretzky has to be the choice.
That being said, if you ever saw Bobby Orr play, you know if he had stayed healthy we would of spoke of him the same way.
And the russians once said they felt the best all-round hockey player ever was Bob Gainey. Bob did it at both ends of the ice and displayed leadership qualities that were key to the Habs dominance in the late 70s and 80s.
And of course, we can't forget that Martin Brodeur will one day be called the greatest goalie to ever play and one just needs to look at his numbers to see why.
Since I was born in 1960, I really can't fairly comment on players who played before then but in their time Rocket Richard, Joe Malone and George Hainsworth (22 SO in 44 games) certainly need to be mentioned.

Answer 9

Gordie Howe because he played his last professional game when he was somthing like 70. He may not have had as many points as Gretzky but he made up for it with what a physical presence he was. He also has his own version of a hatrick. A goal, an assist and a fight is known as a Gordie Howe Hatrick.

Answer 10

Wayne Gretzky. 894 goals, 1963 assists, 2857 points, 4 Stanley Cups, and 9 Hart Trophies. His 1963 assists are more than anyone else's career point total.