Anyone denouncing Eichel as a generational talent is a nitwit.

Go watch some hockey before you make claims like this.
- Jammerz04

I think it would be prudent to watch him in particular, yes, but there's a lot of hockey that young man has yet to play before we start calling him generational.

Do you think he's changed the way the game is played? Has he done things on the ice that few or no other players have done before? Does he measure up to the greatest players ever?

EDIT: I think I just realized that you may have chosen your words poorly there: did you mean anointing? Denouncing in that context reads like you agree with the generational talent assessment.

I think it would be prudent to watch him in particular, yes, but there's a lot of hockey that young man has yet to play before we start calling him generational.

Do you think he's changed the way the game is played? Has he done things on the ice that few or no other players have done before? Does he measure up to the greatest players ever?
- gravyface

Yeah, people get confused between "elite" and "generational". Eichel likely belongs in the former, but that would put him in the company of Thornton, Sakic, Forsberg, Yzerman etc., which is not anything to be sad about.

Anyone denouncing Eichel as a generational talent is a nitwit.

Go watch some hockey before you make claims like this.
- Jammerz04

Nobody needs to watch hockey.

Just look at the advanced stats!

Yeah, people get confused between "elite" and "generational". Eichel likely belongs in the former, but that would put him in the company of Thornton, Sakic, Forsberg, Yzerman etc., which is not anything to be sad about.
- lumlums

Problem is, the speculative world that is the draft permeates into the mindset of the fans, so they're still tagging the players with the hyperbole into their rookie seasons and beyond.

Let the kid play; see what happens. There's no need to keep pinning these superfluous adjectives on the player when his career has just begun.

Nobody needs to watch hockey.

Just look at the advanced stats!
- Atomic Wedgie

I expect better comebacks from you; that was suboptimal at best.

Still, it's early, so I'll give you a bye until the end of the day.

Yeah, people get confused between "elite" and "generational". Eichel likely belongs in the former, but that would put him in the company of Thornton, Sakic, Forsberg, Yzerman etc., which is not anything to be sad about.
- lumlums

He's not even elite yet. Maybe some day? Calling him generational is at this point is absurd.

I showered but will never feel truly clean after reading this creep-fest......

Why? WHY!!?!?!

Generational?

Anyone denouncing Eichel as a generational talent is a nitwit.

Go watch some hockey before you make claims like this.
- Jammerz04

Sorry, but if he isn't a generational talent now, he probably won't ever be. That's not a knock on him, but he'll never be in the same convo as McDavid. He will be a great elite talent someday which is pretty good

Anyone notice the original title of this blog?

Generational?
- spatso

Yes, just like Pageau and Turris

The generational list as of today

Howe
Beliveau
Orr
Gretzky
Messier
Lemieux
Lidstrom
Jagr
Crosby

that is all

The generational list as of today

Howe
Beliveau
Orr
Gretzky
Messier
Lemieux
Lidstrom
Jagr
Crosby

that is all
- Ripped Fuel

*Esposito
*Lafleur (id put him before even considering Beliveau)
eventually: McD

The generational list as of today

Howe
Beliveau
Orr
Gretzky
Messier
Lemieux
Lidstrom
Jagr
Crosby

that is all
- Ripped Fuel

With all due respect to him, Messier wasn't generational. He's in the next tier with Yzerman, Sakic, Forsberg, Selanne etc.

*Esposito
*Lafleur (id put him before even considering Beliveau)
eventually: McD
- DeflatedPucks

Also Roy, Brodeur.

The generational list as of today

Howe
Beliveau
Orr
Gretzky
Messier
Lemieux
Lidstrom
Jagr
Crosby

that is all
- Ripped Fuel

This "generational player" crap being thrown around is ridiculous. Maybe I am thinking about it incorrectly, but when someone is using that term, don't they mean that a player of that ability is rare to find? If some of these players listed as "generational" played in the same generation, then really they weren't generational because there were other comparable players. I'm confused!

Also Roy, Brodeur.
- lumlums

What no Hasek? (Im also not as high on brodeur as many others; he just wasn't on the same level as Hasek)

What no Hasek? (Im also not as high on brodeur as many others; he just wasn't on the same level as Hasek)
- DeflatedPucks

Probably, but my knowledge of goalies isn't as strong, so I can't claim to be an expert. It was hard to follow the NHL from the UK as a kid (and a poor kid without cable at that!) and it was only when I moved over in 2004 that I was able to give the NHL the attention that it deserved

Probably, but my knowledge of goalies isn't as strong, so I can't claim to be an expert. It was hard to follow the NHL from the UK as a kid (and a poor kid without cable at that!) and it was only when I moved over in 2004 that I was able to give the NHL the attention that it deserved
- lumlums

haha right when the lockout hit!

haha right when the lockout hit!
- DeflatedPucks

My first ever live game was a Hamilton Bulldogs AHL game.....

Jackorenko!
Eichorenko!!!

With all due respect to him, Messier wasn't generational. He's in the next tier with Yzerman, Sakic, Forsberg, Selanne etc.
- lumlums

I agree about Messier. He doesnt define the era that he played. mario came in and defined that era, no one ever saw a man of his size do the things that he could do.

Sadly Sakic was just an elite level talent but not generational ....but that wrist shot of his was legendary

What no Hasek? (Im also not as high on brodeur as many others; he just wasn't on the same level as Hasek)
- DeflatedPucks

Hainsworth

Anyone denouncing Eichel as a generational talent is a nitwit.

Go watch some hockey before you make claims like this.
- Jammerz04

Good one, Randy.

The generational list as of today

Howe
Beliveau
Orr
Gretzky
Messier
Lemieux
Lidstrom
Jagr
Crosby
Eichel

that is all
- Ripped Fuel

There, that's better.