- RafiDRW

i like OV but he has been playing for the most part in the shinny era of the nhl.
plus malkin played 250 less games than him in this era.



i would make the case for bure, fedorov or mogilny over OV any day even though the actual stats won't back it up.

you have to take into account the quality of the game, players and goalies of this era compared to the old days. the game was tougher and more entertaining back in the day and it was about more than just skill. players would literally get shanked in front of the net to score goals, players had to work much harder for their scoring opportunities, etc.

-beef?-

i like OV but he has been playing for the most part in the shinny era of the nhl.
plus malkin played 250 less games than him in this era.



i would make the case for bure, fedorov or mogilny over OV any day even though the actual stats won't back it up.

you have to take into account the quality of the game, players and goalies of this era compared to the old days. the game was tougher and more entertaining back in the day and it was about more than just skill. players would literally get shanked in front of the net to score goals, players had to work much harder for their scoring opportunities, etc.

-beef?-
- ug0tbeef?

The stats don't back it up, but player a, b, and c are better, even though they all played in a higher scoring league and have a worse PPG.



-blackstrom19?-

Hullie. This never gets old...sound on.


https://www.youtube.com/w...5iKW9V5SRRs&feature=share

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

That's not really fair because you're including Gretzky's overage seasons in your totals.

Ovechkin just turned 34 at the start of this season. If you include the totals for Gretzky through the season when he turned 34 (1994-95), then he had 814 goals in 1173 games. That's 0.694 goals/game. Gretzky played in 5 more seasons after that, when he scored only 80 goals in 314 games (0.255 GPG), which significantly brings down his career GPG totals.

After the 2024-25 season, If Ovechkin still has a higher career GPG total than Gretzky, then you can make the determination you made.

Mike Bossy just shakes his head ... just so much no. I suppose Justin Bieber has more talent than Led Zeppelin in some alternate reality too.

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!

Ya but Gretzky would almost lap everyone else in the NHL in his time. Kinda like Bolt at the Olympics.
No one ever has beat the other best in the world like Gretzky and Bolt.

So... that makes Brett Hull the greatest then?

Gretzy won the Art Ross 10 times. Ovi... once?
Gretz would have won it more but he had Hull, Bossy, Mario and Jagr as his goal-scoring peers.
- Nasty_Duck

So the Art Ross is a better comparison than Maurice Richard because?

Willie "Floater" Nylander of course will be best goalscorer ever!

Really surprising that Lemieux isn’t being mentioned more here. Gretzky’s best years came at a low point in terms of quality goaltending and overall level of talent throughout the league. He has the records but his first six or so years saw some pretty weak competition. And he tailed off considerably after about 1993. Struggled a bit on breakaways. He scored a lot of goals early in his career by catching goalies leaning the wrong way and anticipating their moves and taking advantage of small pads, stand up styles. When that changed he wasn’t able to score nearly as much.

Same weak opposition benefitted Bossy. But then again he faced more physical punishment and clutching/grabbing. A lot more was allowed back then as far as the rules were concerned. He scored a lot like OV does - one-timers on the PP, snipes, just overpowering the goalies. Very powerful. accurate shot and he could score on breakaways, deflections.

Ovechkin has been remarkably consistent for his whole career and played in a more competitive league. You have to think that his 65 in 2007-08 would be somewhere around 85 in 1987-88. He benefits from less abuse, better conditioning, stick. But it’s hard to argue against him. He would be an elite goal scorer in any era.

Mario played half his career in the wide open era and half in clutch and grab. What makes Lemieux really special is the way he dominated in every facet of goal scoring: power, accuracy, anticipation, strength, finesse. He could score any way possible. He could blast it by you, snipe a corner, bank it off you, fake and pull it all the way around you. Some of his goals just make you laugh. He could drag a defender on his back and still make a finesse move. If each of these guys had a “tool box” to pull from to score Mario’s had more tools in it then the others. He was a pure goal scoring machine.

It’s very close in my mind between Bossy, Ovechkin, and Lemieux but I give the nod to Mario.

Given the era, the competition, his consistency, yes he absolutely is and I hope he hits 900

Mike Bossy just shakes his head ... just so much no. I suppose Justin Bieber has more talent than Led Zeppelin in some alternate reality too.
- SC116

Actually some basic ratios just shake their heads no, too -- see when someone sticks a 'qualifier' on a statement - then 'having to take into account the era when one plays stops becoming a factor.

Bossy had 50 goals every single season he was in the NHL but his last - an even that he was barely off track to get 50 goals in a full 80 game schedule.

What's Ovi's career scoring ratio -just comparing goals and games played? As of today? .609 -playoff avg - didn't bother as it lower... 65 goals in 128 games.

Bossy? Well he only had 573/752 games in the regular season ( .761) playoffs: 85/129 = .659 goals per playoff game played ...

Era? Well, if it -was- the era ... then why wasn't anyone else able to put up that many consecutive 50+ goal seasons, regardless of 'era'? This includes Wayne Gretzky too for what it is worth...


I doubt Bossy ever was -35 either ... that takes some real effort.

As many have argued, it's a total "apples to oranges" comparison. There are just too many variables involved to be able to compare players from different eras.

quality of skates
quality of sticks
quality of equipment
quality of tender gear
defensive strategies
sports psychology
nutrition
quality fitness capabilities
rule changes
etc.
etc.
etc.

Ever try to skate in those old skates that had no ankle support? Ever try to go back from a $300 composite stick to the old wooden 5030?

It's too hard to compare but yes, Ovi is amazing!

Actually some basic ratios just shake their heads no, too -- see when someone sticks a 'qualifier' on a statement - then 'having to take into account the era when one plays stops becoming a factor.

Bossy had 50 goals every single season he was in the NHL but his last - an even that he was barely off track to get 50 goals in a full 80 game schedule.

What's Ovi's career scoring ratio -just comparing goals and games played? As of today? .609 -playoff avg - didn't bother as it lower... 65 goals in 128 games.

Bossy? Well he only had 573/752 games in the regular season ( .761) playoffs: 85/129 = .659 goals per playoff game played ...

Era? Well, if it -was- the era ... then why wasn't anyone else able to put up that many consecutive 50+ goal seasons, regardless of 'era'? This includes Wayne Gretzky too for what it is worth...


I doubt Bossy ever was -35 either ... that takes some real effort.
- SC116

I think this misses the point entirely. We're not comparing Ovi to "the rest" and Bossy to "the rest". It's wondering what would Ovi have done back then with crappy gear etc. against inferior goalies/players and what could a young Mike Bossy do today with a shotgun for a stick and skates as light as a feather, receiving a two line pass from Potvin every game. Personally I think it's too hard to even discuss these differences.

but yes, Ovi is better then everyone else and Bossy was better than everyone else.

Bossy and Gretzky

The 2 line pass and also the crack down on obstruction, (holding, hooking etc. ) give players today more space.

So the Art Ross is a better comparison than Maurice Richard because?
- DutchSenators

No. I made a mistake and corrected it later on with a


But these stats should clarify what I was getting at...
Most 40-or-more goal seasons: 12 in 20 seasons
Most consecutive 40-or-more goal seasons: 12 from 1979–80 to 1990–91
Most 50-or-more goal seasons: 9 (tied with Mike Bossy)
Most 60-or-more goal seasons: 5 (tied with Mike Bossy)

Bossy and Gretzky

The 2 line pass and also the crack down on obstruction, (holding, hooking etc. ) give players today more space.
- nyisles7

A lot has been mentioned about the different eras and how there was more clutching, grabbing, hitting back in the day, but I'm not so sure any of that applies to Gretzky. I don't think he would ever get touched on the ice.

I've always been a Gretzky over Mario guy, but that is probably just who I like more and not actually who was the best. Mario and Bossy should be in the discussion more for best ever, however injuries/ illness had taken away a lot of their careers. Now, should longevity be considered in if they are the greatest ever? Say if Selanne had a horrible injury and had to retire after his rookie season would he be considered the best goal scorer ever because he had 76 goals in his only season?

If you could start a team with any of the top goal scorers ever regardless of era, who would you pick?
Now, who would you pick knowing that they would have injuries/ illnesses that would affect how long their careers were going to be?

I am going with Ovie. For those saying he's one dimensional is kind of ridiculous. Sure he may not always play the best defense (has improved a lot though), but that's has no bearing on if he can score goals and his physicality brings something a lot of the best goal scorers never had. And for those saying all his goals come from the same spot with the same shot, doesn't that show how good his shot is? Every single person watching and playing know exactly what he's going to do and he still scores. He may not have the tools of Mario or Wayne, but frankly he doesn't need them. It's not about prettiest goals or number of shots taken, it's about goal totals. The question wasn't who had the most skill or who had the best shot.

Ovechkin is scoring goals at .6086 per game rate for his career.
Gretzky for his career scored at .601 goals per game.

Ovechkin has played 1132 games
Gretzky played 1487 in the nhl

Ovie is within reach. Needs to stay healthy. He could very well catch Gretzky in goals. NO WAY Gretzky will EVER be caught in assists or points

Ovechkin is scoring goals at .6086 per game rate for his career.
Gretzky for his career scored at .601 goals per game.

Ovechkin has played 1132 games
Gretzky played 1487 in the nhl

Ovie is within reach. Needs to stay healthy. He could very well catch Gretzky in goals. NO WAY Gretzky will EVER be caught in assists or points
- BluesDroogie

I'm curious - what was Gretzky's gpg average at the 1132 games mark? In most cases that last few years are declining years unless a player retires suddenly.

i like OV but he has been playing for the most part in the shinny era of the nhl.
plus malkin played 250 less games than him in this era.



i would make the case for bure, fedorov or mogilny over OV any day even though the actual stats won't back it up.

you have to take into account the quality of the game, players and goalies of this era compared to the old days. the game was tougher and more entertaining back in the day and it was about more than just skill. players would literally get shanked in front of the net to score goals, players had to work much harder for their scoring opportunities, etc.

-beef?-
- ug0tbeef?

Nobody back in the day could catch Bure or Mogilny. They were a class above the rest. Without injuries and a better team their stats would have been better. Tougher game back then but at the same time nobody messed with them. They were not the physical players. Players had respect back then. They knew they’d have to answer for it. Now it’s a free for all. No answering the bell, no fights, no repercussions. Player safety is a joke. Fines/suspensions dished out sporadically. Task got punched in the head and is concussed but nothing against the offending player. No standards. Perrault was completely right in his interview the other day. Players need to start swinging their sticks to protect themselves. Maybe that will get the attention

Ovie is within reach. Needs to stay healthy. He could very well catch Gretzky in goals. NO WAY Gretzky will EVER be caught in assists or points
- BluesDroogie

I don't know if anyone gets more total points than Gretzky had in just assists. 1963 assists for Gretz. The closest active players are Thorton with 1497 total points and Ovie with 1258.

I'm curious - what was Gretzky's gpg average at the 1132 games mark? In most cases that last few years are declining years unless a player retires suddenly.
- Nasty_Duck

No idea. I thought of that but did not go that far in depth with the stats

I don't know if anyone gets more total points than Gretzky had in just assists. 1963 assists for Gretz. The closest active players are Thorton with 1497 total points and Ovie with 1258.
- adambuffalo

If I were a betting man I would not take that bet. No one gets close to 2000 points in a career. Gretzky had that in assists alone. In a league of his own. While he was terrible in his later days after the Kings he was still a great player. Terrible only to his own stats ha ha. Horrible with the blues but still point per game player for that small time. Thanks Keenan. Richard. Blues had Gretzky and Hull. That could have been great. THANKS KEENAN

A lot has been mentioned about the different eras and how there was more clutching, grabbing, hitting back in the day, but I'm not so sure any of that applies to Gretzky. I don't think he would ever get touched on the ice.

I've always been a Gretzky over Mario guy, but that is probably just who I like more and not actually who was the best. Mario and Bossy should be in the discussion more for best ever, however injuries/ illness had taken away a lot of their careers. Now, should longevity be considered in if they are the greatest ever? Say if Selanne had a horrible injury and had to retire after his rookie season would he be considered the best goal scorer ever because he had 76 goals in his only season?

If you could start a team with any of the top goal scorers ever regardless of era, who would you pick?
Now, who would you pick knowing that they would have injuries/ illnesses that would affect how long their careers were going to be?

I am going with Ovie. For those saying he's one dimensional is kind of ridiculous. Sure he may not always play the best defense (has improved a lot though), but that's has no bearing on if he can score goals and his physicality brings something a lot of the best goal scorers never had. And for those saying all his goals come from the same spot with the same shot, doesn't that show how good his shot is? Every single person watching and playing know exactly what he's going to do and he still scores. He may not have the tools of Mario or Wayne, but frankly he doesn't need them. It's not about prettiest goals or number of shots taken, it's about goal totals. The question wasn't who had the most skill or who had the best shot.
- adambuffalo

Ovie is a solid 3rd Behring Bossy and Gretzky

if bossy was playing today, they could have fixed his back

just like orr's knees


you are better then this

And if ovi played back then he'd score 2 goals a game

In the era of pussies hockey it’s OV.
Back when it was rough & tough not a chance. Injuries would add up no different than it was for others. Bure Bossy Kerr etc.
OV doesn’t create but a great trigger man.

Back to blogger who has no opinion?