I think part of what made those players AS GREAT as they were was playing with Wayne Gretzky. Mario may have been stronger and more naturally talented, but no one was as smarty as Gretzky. Even in the mid-90's, you could still see that he was just better than everyone out there because of how he thought.
- jmatchett383

He used his stick to hook players off the puck better than anyone I ever saw.

Mario was so strong that he didn't have to be as smart. He'd skate the puck up the middle and just power past them. Gretzky's offensive positioning was second to none.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, there was stuff that Mario could do that Wayne simply couldn't.

I don't feel like there were many passes or plays that 99 could make that I couldn't see 66 matching... 66 was more of a wizard than he had any right to be. I always thought of him as 99 in 88's body.

did big e get 3.7 per year or 3.7 over 6 years?

I think part of what made those players AS GREAT as they were was playing with Wayne Gretzky. Mario may have been stronger and more naturally talented, but no one was as smarty as Gretzky. Even in the mid-90's, you could still see that he was just better than everyone out there because of how he thought.
- jmatchett383

He was incredible. But he also was surrounded, from almost the start of his NHL career by guys like Messier, Kurri, Coffey and other extremely talented guys. You bring up Jagr, Francis, etc on the Pens, but for the most part they weren't on the same line as Lemieux.

Sure the same goes for Messier in Edmonton, but Kurri played with Gretzky and he was an incredible player with or without Gretzky. Certainly his goal totals would have been lesser without 99, but he was still a fantastic all around winger who would have-and did-put up very good numbers without Gretzky.

Gretzky's Oilers teams never missed the playoffs. Certainly Gretzky was a huge part of that, but it entered the NHL as a solid team and got better around him faster than the Pens did with Lemieux.

When the Pens drafted Lemieux, they were the worst team in the NHL. They missed the playoffs as they re-built with Mario in the lineup. Gretzky never had to deal with a rebuild or horrible supporting cast around him in his Edmonton days.

I prefer Wawa Coffee myself.
- mayorofangrytown

Good stuff, I like Dunkin Donuts coffee too!

did big e get 3.7 per year or 3.7 over 6 years?
- mydoglicks

3.7 per for 6 years.

Yup, although Scott Laughton was the one who hit Ghost. In the second scrimmage, both Scott Laughton and Tye McGinn fought undrafted Chris Williams after blindside hits. Fredric Larsson suffered a concussion in that scrimmage.
- bmeltzer

That's right, I meant to mention the Larsson hit, not the Gostisbehere hit.

I believe it was Laughton that drilled Ghost but understand what you are saying.
- aightwebang17

Yep, as Bill notes, I was thinking of the hit on Larsson.

Mario Gotze. I thought it was a great call in the moment.
- bodiva88

No no. There's only one Super Mario, thank you very much.

3.7 per for 6 years.
- BiggE

ty, miss that guy

Ok so the guy who scored in the World Cup yesterday...his was like Mario Goetz or something.

The announcer called him Super Mario. I was livid.
- Giroux_Is_God

Foppa Goetz

ty, miss that guy
- mydoglicks

Don't forget, at the time that deal made him one the 3 or 4 highest paid players in the league which was unheard of for a rookie. I'm pretty sure no one else on that club, which included Recchi and Brindamour were even making a million per year at that point.

Foppa Goetz
- PhillySportsGuy

More like Floppa, if we are talking about soccer players. I haven't seen anyone go down that easy since the last time Lindsay Lohan went clubbing!

He was incredible. But he also was surrounded, from almost the start of his NHL career by guys like Messier, Kurri, Coffey and other extremely talented guys. You bring up Jagr, Francis, etc on the Pens, but for the most part they weren't on the same line as Lemieux.

Sure the same goes for Messier in Edmonton, but Kurri played with Gretzky and he was an incredible player with or without Gretzky. Certainly his goal totals would have been lesser without 99, but he was still a fantastic all around winger who would have-and did-put up very good numbers without Gretzky.

Gretzky's Oilers teams never missed the playoffs. Certainly Gretzky was a huge part of that, but it entered the NHL as a solid team and got better around him faster than the Pens did with Lemieux.

When the Pens drafted Lemieux, they were the worst team in the NHL. They missed the playoffs as they re-built with Mario in the lineup. Gretzky never had to deal with a rebuild or horrible supporting cast around him in his Edmonton days.
- Jsaquella

The first two years in the NHL the Oilers were hardly a good team. They barely made the playoffs and almost all the players who would eventually make up their cup teams were drafted in those first four struggling seasons. Yes, they made the playoffs but 16 of 21 teams made it.

C'mon, Who did he even have to play with those first few seasons. Messier was on the roster but he was a rookie and not an impact player that he would become. The Oilers entered the NHL with just 4 protected players from their WHA squad. That's more than your average rebuild, that's a virtual expansion team.

More like Floppa, if we are talking about soccer players. I haven't seen anyone go down that easy since the last time Lindsay Lohan went clubbing!
- BiggE

More like Floppa, if we are talking about soccer players. I haven't seen anyone go down that easy since the last time Lindsay Lohan went clubbing!
- BiggE

I am assuming you didn't watch the 2014 NHL Playoffs?

I am assuming you didn't watch the 2014 NHL Playoffs?
- jak521

Allllllll thanks to the Rangers.

(frank) the Rangers

It created a buzz, certainly.

Still the Flyers had a very loyal fanbase and a return to the playoffs wouldhave generated a good buzz as well...and had Forsberg remained and become a superstar as a Flyer, that would have generated a similar attention, albeit at a slower pace.
- Jsaquella

I dunno, I may be crazy or something, but i'm getting the vibe that you were not a Lindros fan

Don't blame him for his parents' actions and how they caused friction with the Flyers organeyezation, but the guy truly wanted to win and compete for the logo on the front of his jersey. That's not something you can say about most of these mercenaries we have playing today. Is that something caused by free agency, sure...but I felt it was so easy to be a fan of Lindros even if you didn't want the Flyers to win.

Missed the old flyers days

The first two years in the NHL the Oilers were hardly a good team. They barely made the playoffs and almost all the players who would eventually make up their cup teams were drafted in those first four struggling seasons. Yes, they made the playoffs but 16 of 21 teams made it.

C'mon, Who did he even have to play with those first few seasons. Messier was on the roster but he was a rookie and not an impact player that he would become. The Oilers entered the NHL with just 4 protected players from their WHA squad. That's more than your average rebuild, that's a virtual expansion team.
- mayorofangrytown

79-80 Edmonton Oilers: 69 points in 80 games
Gretzky had51 goals and 137 points, they also had Messier, Blair McDonald who scored 46 goals and 94 points and 3 other players with 20+ goals

84-85 Pittsburgh Penguins: 53 points in 80 games
Mario had 43 goals and 100 points. Next up was the immortal Warren Young with 40 goals and 72 points. They also had 3 other guys with 20+ goals including future Flyer, Mike Bullard.

While both teams had a couple guys who could score, the Oilers had a better group of Dmen and were stronger in net.

I am assuming you didn't watch the 2014 NHL Playoffs?
- jak521

I've tried to remove all images of the NY Rangers from my memory.

Allllllll thanks to the Rangers.

(frank) the Rangers
- Giroux_Is_God

Probably the most like able ranger team I've come across tho

Probably the most like able ranger team I've come across tho
- Just5

yeah no

Probably the most like able ranger team I've come across tho
- Just5

Choosing a most likeable NY Ranger team is like choosing the nicest Nazi, it just can't be done!

79-80 Edmonton Oilers: 69 points in 80 games
Gretzky had51 goals and 137 points, they also had Messier, Blair McDonald who scored 46 goals and 94 points and 3 other players with 20+ goals

84-85 Pittsburgh Penguins: 53 points in 80 games
Mario had 43 goals and 100 points. Next up was the immortal Warren Young with 40 goals and 72 points. They also had 3 other guys with 20+ goals including future Flyer, Mike Bullard.

While both teams had a couple guys who could score, the Oilers had a better group of Dmen and were stronger in net.
- BiggE

I don't know if Eddie Mio qualifies as "stronger in net."


My point was, Gretzky didn't get a free skate into the NHL. The Oilers were no better of a team than Pittsburgh when Mario rolled in and they weren't for a number of years.

Probably the most like able ranger team I've come across tho
- Just5

Trading Callahan for St. Louis cut their likeability by 80%.