Everyone likes ot throw out the different eras as a case for why Ovi is the best, but they ignore the fact that he played his entire career where 2 line passes were legal. Anyone who watches Ovi knows that he takes full advantage of that. How many goals is that rule change worth I have no idea, but it has definitely helped him out, especially in his earlier no defense at all days.
- HarvP

That's irrelevant completely.

Whatever it is worth, it's already been taken into account by total scoring. With the two line pass, scoring is still way down in this era. So what does it matter? It's statistically harder to score. Maybe one or two changes have made it easier, but they've obviously been outweighed by other changes, because the stats don't lie.

I never saw the point in comparing players of different eras, much less their roles on the team. The data is of unequal value.

Ovi will freighttrain you if given the chance. Gretzky was passive. Gretzky had eyes in the back of his head, and was a much better playmaker. Ovi overpowers you, Gretzky would make you look silly with his finesse.

No way to compare them except to say they were the best of their respective eras, appreciate their talents, and stop the ridiculousness. There are winners to an un-winnable question....only clicks to make more money.

Wayne frickin Gretzky

The Great One vs. The Great Eight

Gretzky had 894G in 1487 Games. That is 0.601 GPG. He played from 1978-1979 to 1998-1999, where the average team scored between 2.63 and 4.01 GPG, for an average of 3.50 over his career.

Ovi has 689G in 1132 Games. That is 0.608 GPG. He has played since 2005-2006. During his career, the average team has scored between 2.71 and 3.08 GPG, for an average of 2.85 over his career.

Ovi scores more GPG than Gretzky, despite Gretzky playing in an era where almost 23% more goals were scored on average.

In short, yes. Ovi is #1.
- matty12345

50% of stats are always 90% wrong.

Bossy

you could make a case for Mario

https://www.quanthockey.c...als-per-game-leaders.html
- homiedclown

Agreed it’s Bossy and it’s not even close.

Until someone else scores 9 consecutive 50 goal seasons starting with their rookie campaign, I'm going to stick with Bossy. The rest of you can debate about the second best all you want.
- buster29

It's hard to overlook the fact that Bossy did it in the late 70's and 80's, pre-butterfly, with goalies who were usually about 5'10, and had tiny pads.....there's a reason that every year in that era you had a poopLOAD of 50 goal scorers, and now people win the rocket Richard trophy with less than 50 goals sometimes.

players today are dealing with butterfly goalies, who are 6'7, 240lbs, and have pads that are bigger than most of the goalies were back in the 80s

it's SIGNIFICANTLY harder to score in this era than it was in that era......with everything else being equal, I think Ovi is the best goal scorer of all time (and I don't even like him as a player)

I never saw the point in comparing players of different eras, much less their roles on the team. The data is of unequal value.

Ovi will freighttrain you if given the chance. Gretzky was passive. Gretzky had eyes in the back of his head, and was a much better playmaker. Ovi overpowers you, Gretzky would make you look silly with his finesse.

No way to compare them except to say they were the best of their respective eras, appreciate their talents, and stop the ridiculousness. There are winners to an un-winnable question....only clicks to make more money.
- Hokeeguy9

How can you say they were the best in their own era? Ovie plays on a better team than other players, with a better playmaker than some players, in the east instead of the west, different TOI than other players, different situations, etc. If you want to be like that nothing is comparable ever.

By being able to use your coconut, you can weigh all that stuff and decide Ovie is the best goal scorer of his time. Similarly, you can use the same coconut to compare him to a player from another era. It's surprisingly easy to do. And you know, this is kind of the fun of sports, these conversations.

Dougie Hamilton breaks leg. Where do the Canes turn to for help?
- ward30nhl

Buffalo: McCabe, Bogosian, Gilmour, Nelson are all on sale now!

Nobody brings up the insanity that is Short Handed Goals in the majority of leading goal scorers pre-90's.
- AdamFrench

lol yes

Wayne Gretzky scored 23 SHG from 1983-1985.

Wayne frickin Gretzky

Until someone touches the records he set, it's Wayne. I'll take the argument that it's Ovi post lockout. All time? It's 99.

i guarantee that the two line pass has not accounted for as many goals as having goaltenders barely capable of making a save did.
- BINGO!

Absolutely.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos... etc would score triple digits if the goalies were equipped like they used to be.

Just read the other day that the best era adjusted 5v5 goal scorer in NHL history is Auston Matthews.

I never saw the point in comparing players of different eras, much less their roles on the team. The data is of unequal value.

Ovi will freighttrain you if given the chance. Gretzky was passive. Gretzky had eyes in the back of his head, and was a much better playmaker. Ovi overpowers you, Gretzky would make you look silly with his finesse.

No way to compare them except to say they were the best of their respective eras, appreciate their talents, and stop the ridiculousness. There are winners to an un-winnable question....only clicks to make more money.
- Hokeeguy9

If you drop 1983 Wayne Gretzky into the NHL in 2017 he's barely a 3rd line player.

People talk about how watered down the league is now but the truth is just that the talent gap between players is a LOT smaller than it used to be. It's a different level entirely from the one Wayne had to play in.

mike bossy

Just read the other day that the best era adjusted 5v5 goal scorer in NHL history is Auston Matthews.
- James_Tanner

Yeah, over a ludicrously small sample size. 3 1/2 seasons, and he missed time in two of them.

Maybe if he keeps this pace for another 3 years, he would start to enter the discussion. He hasn't even scored more than 40 goals ever in a season, and never won a Richard.

Absolutely.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos... etc would score triple digits if the goalies were equipped like they used to be.




- Aetherial

correct me if i'm wrong, but in the Bossy/Gretzky era, if a team was on a powerplay, even a 2 minute one, could they not score multiple goals. I don't believe they changed the rules to allow the player to come out of the box after a goal until like the mid 80s. that would have a HUGE impact on the extra number of goals those players had.

talk to me when he scores 50 goals in 50 games.
- 77emac77

99 did it in 39 games.
Still confounds me how that record isn’t talked about WAY more. Insanity.
It’ll never be broken

YES!!!!!



Ovechkin is THE BEST!

Absolutely.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos... etc would score triple digits if the goalies were equipped like they used to be.




- Aetherial

Look at that crap. And goalies would stay standing to try and kick pucks away. they'd flub on a routine wrister because they had so few options to actually stop pucks.

Between 1979 and 1991 the best save % posted by a goalie with at least 100 games was Patrick Roy's .899

That's not even acceptable for a BAD back-up anymore.

They did all post sub .900 save percentages because the players they were against were so good. They posted those numbers because they sucked. hockey players in general sucked.

Yeah, over a ludicrously small sample size. 3 1/2 seasons, and he missed time in two of them.

Maybe if he keeps this pace for another 3 years, he would start to enter the discussion. He hasn't even scored more than 40 goals ever in a season, and never won a Richard.
- matty12345

but he LOVES them hence the stache

correct me if i'm wrong, but in the Bossy/Gretzky era, if a team was on a powerplay, even a 2 minute one, could they not score multiple goals. I don't believe they changed the rules to allow the player to come out of the box after a goal until like the mid 80s. that would have a HUGE impact on the extra number of goals those players had.
- sensarmy_11

That rule changed in the 50's after Jean Beliveau scored a hat trick on a single 2 minute powerplay.

That rule changed in the 50's after Jean Beliveau scored a hat trick on a single 2 minute powerplay.
- BINGO!

how was the -50 weather?

how was the -50 weather?
- Nucker101

barely even noticed.

(I hated it so much)

Just read the other day that the best era adjusted 5v5 goal scorer in NHL history is Auston Matthews.
- James_Tanner

wow, maybe you should go lick his sack then.............oh wait, nevermind, you basically already do that in every blog you write anyways (even the ones about the Coyotes)

If you drop 1983 Wayne Gretzky into the NHL in 2017 he's barely a 3rd line player.

People talk about how watered down the league is now but the truth is just that the talent gap between players is a LOT smaller than it used to be. It's a different level entirely from the one Wayne had to play in.
- BINGO!

Don’t disagree. However, the players today are bigger, stronger, faster, etc. Plus, the argument then, includes 2 lines passes, much smaller goalie and smaller equipment of yesteryear, etc. That’s why I said it’s an unwinnable argument. There are too many differences and inequities to “accurately” argue who’s better. Sure, you can debate it, and to some, it’s fun to do, but there are no winners due to the many differences of their eras, the rules, teammates, training, and even the genetics due to today’s diets (inherent steroids passed through foods).