Am I nuts...?

Question

... that I would rather have Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe over Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky any day of the week?

Answer 1

I think you have a valid point. First of all ask yourself if Gretzky and Lemieux would pile up the points they did if they had to play 5 other teams that feature nothing but elite players. They of course are great and deserve thier due but both got to pile up points against some pretty sorry teams and lots of players that quite frankly are not NHL caliber players (look at some of the guys skating today....some arent even AHL All Star material yet they get a roster spot?). Also Howe and Richard didnt have good equipment (ever held one of those old wool jerseys....my god are they heavy even when they arent wet), didnt have team trainers, hot tubs, medical staffs, private airplanes (mostly they had to travel by train or bus). The skill guys today dont need to defend themselves, they have personal cops on the ice to protect them, Howe and Richard had to take care of themselves. I certainly have tremendous respect for Lemieux and Gretzky, both deserve every accolade they get and are the best players I've personally ever seen but given the difficulty the older players had to face both on and off the ice I can understand your line of thought and think Howe and richard with todays media would be mentioned with the same passion. Too many people find greatness in only what they actually see without regard for the struggles of the times before (but isnt it interesting that those same people quickly name Babe Ruth as the best baseball player....do they think he could dominate today like he did then?)

Answer 2

I would disagree with you but you certainly have a reasonable opinion. There are too many factors involved in comparing players from different eras. The "original 6" had fewer teams, a "tougher" style of play, players had to play more minutes. Today there is more travel, players skate better, but recent expansion has watered down the league -- maybe not from the original 6 but at least what it was a few years ago. 92 Gretzky Goals is definitely not 92 Howe Goals, that's for sure.

I STILL take Lemieux and Gretzky because they were ROUTINELY waaaay ahead of everyone else more than Howe and Richard.

But I'm not going to sit here and say they played as well defensively. That'd be silly.

Answer 3

personally i think your nuts...of course maurice richard and gordie howe were good players but they would have never got any of there records in the late 80's and early 90's. this due to the fact of the equipment and skill of the goalies as welll as the health factor. howe would never have played as many games as he did if he was taking checks from guys like stevens, chara or blake. that is why you cant compare guys like gretzky and lemeuix to crosby and ovechkin. the played two different games...

Answer 4

Maybe way back when. The game has changed since they played. The players have gotten bigger & stronger. In 2007 ... I'd take Lemieux & Gretzky.

Answer 5

Well with Gordie Howe you'd sure get your money's worth his longevity record was the only one Gretzky couldn't beat. Nor will anyone else I would imagine. He was still scoring goals at an age when all the others were long retired.

Answer 6

Its an opinion. Do you want speed/skating/strength which you would get with Howe and Richard or do you want scoring touch around the net and ability to score which Lemiuex and Gretzky would give. Its all prefrence but i would agree with you considering speed is the main component of a winning team

Answer 7

Well since they didn't play in the same era it is kinda hard to say how Howe or Richard would do in this era isn't it? I mean we have a pretty good idea of how Mario and Gretzky would do in this era. So I wouldn't call you nuts. I just would disagree with your choice.

Answer 8

No because all four of those guys are great players. It is just preferance.

Answer 9

if you are then i am too. screw the not so great one who never played Defense and Mario the always injured Lemiuex.