Not to mention that the NHL goalie equipment in Gretzky's day is the equivalent of the toddler street hockey equipment we see on sale in Canadian Tire today.
- Chest Rockwell

And I'm fully down for goalies returning to something similar. There's definitely a way to keep goalies safe without puffing them up like the Michelin man.

Not to mention that the NHL goalie equipment in Gretzky's day is the equivalent of the toddler street hockey equipment we see on sale in Canadian Tire today.
- Chest Rockwell

And that Toddler was Glenn Healy.

Sorry Bub, Crosby couldn't carry 99's jock.
- Jeropotato

99 in his prime dominated a bunch of guys who couldn't crack the ECHL nowadays.

And that Toddler was Glenn Healy.
- A_SteamingLombardi

You must be referring to his intellect and maturity. Darren Pang was the true toddler, size-wise, of that era of goaltending.

99 in his prime dominated a bunch of guys who couldn't crack the ECHL nowadays.
- DrChristianTroy

Uhhhhh...Wow.

Sorry Bub, Crosby couldn't carry 99's jock.
- Jeropotato

I still hold 99 as the best ever, but to say the best talent of our generation playing in a much tougher era to score couldn't hold his jock strap is bullsh!t.

I still hold 99 as the best ever, but to say the best talent of our generation playing in a much tougher era to score couldn't hold his jock strap is bullsh!t.
- AlexF

Imagine if there was no instigator rule and Crosby had a guy like Semenko on his wing

Edit: today's superstars take 10 times the amount of crap that players in the 80's and early 90's did. I still shake my head at how much abuse guys like Crosby get, game in and game out and still manage to put up 100 point seasons

\now in 62 games, this is the first time he has ever been a ppg player.

not to rain on your parade but brown has outproduced fox pretty much every year, leading the team in points back to back seasons. If he puts on some weight I can see him being a top 6 forward in the nhl
- GardinerExpress

What does it matter it's all talk now. We'll see how they perform.

I still hold 99 as the best ever, but to say the best talent of our generation playing in a much tougher era to score couldn't hold his jock strap is bullsh!t.
- AlexF

No doubt, it was hyperbole, but Gretz would still be the leading scorer in the NHL if he was in his prime today. The league is different ,( defensive systems, equipment,etc) but the greats of the 70's,80's and 90's would still be great today. The comment that the guys Gretz played against from 83-94 couldn't crack the ECHL is an even bigger bullsh!t comment.

Imagine if there was no instigator rule and Crosby had a guy like Semenko on his wing

Edit: today's superstars take 10 times the amount of crap that players in the 80's and early 90's did. I still shake my head at how much abuse guys like Crosby get, game in and game out and still manage to put up 100 point seasons
- Zogg

Yeah, the instigator rule allows for a lot more bulllpoop. But nothing was worse than the early 70's and the period between 1994-2006 (the clutch and grab era). Crosby is fortunate the NHL changed the rules before he got in the league or it would have been even worse on him then it is now.

No doubt, it was hyperbole, but Gretz would still be the leading scorer in the NHL if he was in his prime today. The league is different ,( defensive systems, equipment,etc) but the greats of the 70's,80's and 90's would still be great today. The comment that the guys Gretz played against from 83-94 couldn't crack the ECHL is an even bigger bullsh!t comment.
- Jeropotato

In the end of the day it's tough to say how the greats of that era would perform in today's game. Modern players do take more punishment, so physique and durability in the face of continuous hits would be a factor.

We'll never know but I do think the NHL brass should wake the (frank) up to the reality the league is scoring at a PPG clip not too much better than the dead puck era. They're big fans of continuous tweaking of the rules which have limited impact on the game but seem to run for the hills when it comes to actual reform.

How many of these would be goals today? The goaltending is a (frank)ing joke. The defense is a (frank)ing joke. The skating is a (frank)ing joke. The positioning is a (frank)ing joke. Crosby would shred these sunken chest suckbags.

How many of these would be goals today? The goaltending is a (frank)ing joke. The defense is a (frank)ing joke. The skating is a (frank)ing joke. The positioning is a (frank)ing joke. Crosby would shred these sunken chest suckbags.
- DrChristianTroy

I'm almost positive I saw Edler out there on that 3rd goal.

There is no doubt moving goal posts in terms of what the NHL seems to allow from one year to the next. Three factors killed the Canucks against the Bruins-- 1. They ran out of bodies 2. The diving and whining caught up with them. 3. Lou could keep his $hit together for ONE game in Boston / AV wasn't smart enough to start Schneider 1 game in Boston.

That said... Paisans hang together through thick and thin. There is no way Gillis hired Torts. I know for a fact that Gully was Gillis call. You REALLY think Gillis hired Torts?

- rugdnit

No, you are the only one stating speculation as fact. All I did is point out that its not well documented at all like you claimed. If you follow what Gillis has stated since he's been here with his flip flop and flip on what style we are going to play..... one can speculate all kinds of things. I mean, Gillis stated we were moving to a more defensive style and now we have Torts.... thats something that isnt speculation. Its a hell of a lot more of an indicator than the rumors you hold as documented facts. So who knows... fun to speculate tho.....

Walter, Brown and Gully are all PP coaches forced on the head coaches by Gillis. Exactly what people are accusing FA of.

How about that Pacioretty 38 goals in 69 games, Kessel 36 goals in 78 games. Who really deserves 8mil?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Probably the guy who's third in the league in scoring....

How many of these would be goals today? The goaltending is a (frank)ing joke. The defense is a (frank)ing joke. The skating is a (frank)ing joke. The positioning is a (frank)ing joke. Crosby would shred these sunken chest suckbags.
- DrChristianTroy

You're @$# killing my Gretzky buzz, Herr Doctor . With respect to the Wayner, you have to concede, that similar to what Orr accomplished in his time, Gretzky had a huge influence in terms of how the offensive aspect of the game was and is played. I feel that is the most important consideration when comparing the importance and impact of generations of players.

P.S. you could easily pose the same argument with respect to guys like Trottier, Bossy, Lafleur, Potvin, D Savard, Clarke, Ratelle, Sittler, Esposito etc.. who were all simply unbelievable players and yet they never really came close to what Gretzky ultimately accomplished (other than perhaps Orr)

You're @$# killing my Gretzky buzz, Herr Doctor . With respect to the Wayner, you have to concede, that similar to what Orr accomplished in his time, Gretzky had a huge influence in terms of how the offensive aspect of the game was and is played. I feel that is the most important consideration when comparing the importance and impact of generations of players.

P.S. you could easily pose the same argument with respect to guys like Trottier, Bossy, Lafleur, Potvin, D Savard, Clarke, Ratelle, Sittler, Esposito etc.. who were all simply unbelievable players and yet they never really came close to what Gretzky ultimately accomplished (other than perhaps Orr)
- Zogg

My opinion stands for all of those other guys too.

I never said Gretzky wasn't the stud of his era... Here's my bottom line... Take all the studs from each era (in their primes) and put them on the same sheet of ice. Crosby is the best ever and it isn't close. He would murder them. Fitter, faster, thinks & plays at a speed they couldn't fathom. As good as those others were in their eras against those goaltenders/dmen/schemes etc... They'd be absolute sh!t if they traveled through time & tried to compete in today's NHL with skills that were considered "elite" when they played. Crosby's the only guy out of all those names who would dominate ANY era with his skillset.

PS I own a sh!tload of Gretzky memorabilia so the more people who disagree with my POV the better for its value I guess...

KEEP GILLIS/TORTS BOTH! McDavid 2015!!!! omgzzz lolzzzz

How many of these would be goals today? The goaltending is a (frank)ing joke. The defense is a (frank)ing joke. The skating is a (frank)ing joke. The positioning is a (frank)ing joke. Crosby would shred these sunken chest suckbags.
- DrChristianTroy

20 years later u will be saying the same thing bout todays players..

20 years later u will be saying the same thing bout todays players..
- unplugged_boy

Uhhh, yeah exactly. Your point?

If someone does it better than it's ever been done, WTF's the point in clutching onto a delusional nostalgic bias?

Uhhh, yeah exactly. Your point?

If someone does it better than it's ever been done, WTF's the point in clutching onto a delusional nostalgic bias?
- DrChristianTroy

Gretzky and Jordan were the best EVER, no one will EVER be better.

Gretzky and Jordan were the best EVER, no one will EVER be better.
- Scooby_Doo

Mario Lemieux was better than Gretzky, more talented

You're @$# killing my Gretzky buzz, Herr Doctor . With respect to the Wayner, you have to concede, that similar to what Orr accomplished in his time, Gretzky had a huge influence in terms of how the offensive aspect of the game was and is played. I feel that is the most important consideration when comparing the importance and impact of generations of players.

P.S. you could easily pose the same argument with respect to guys like Trottier, Bossy, Lafleur, Potvin, D Savard, Clarke, Ratelle, Sittler, Esposito etc.. who were all simply unbelievable players and yet they never really came close to what Gretzky ultimately accomplished (other than perhaps Orr)
- Zogg

Let's not forget how Patrick Roy has influenced today's game playing the style of goaltending that he did.

Mario Lemieux was better than Gretzky, more talented
- LeftCoaster

http://statshockey.homest...ad.com/alltimepoints.html.

I hate seeing Messier at 2, I hope someone passes him. And why did Gretzky retire without getting 3000???

My opinion stands for all of those other guys too.

I never said Gretzky wasn't the stud of his era... Here's my bottom line... Take all the studs from each era (in their primes) and put them on the same sheet of ice. Crosby is the best ever and it isn't close. He would murder them. Fitter, faster, thinks & plays at a speed they couldn't fathom. As good as those others were in their eras against those goaltenders/dmen/schemes etc... They'd be absolute sh!t if they traveled through time & tried to compete in today's NHL with skills that were considered "elite" when they played. Crosby's the only guy out of all those names who would dominate ANY era with his skillset.

PS I own a sh!tload of Gretzky memorabilia so the more people who disagree with my POV the better for its value I guess...
- DrChristianTroy

Gretzky was the start of the evolution of the game. He changed the way players thought and played the game and he would be the first to say that Crosby would skate circles around him.