alko
Registered User
Alternative history talk. Lets say, Gretzky played his last season in 2001/2002. Would he receive an invitation to Canada olympic team? To give him the last chance to win gold.
I hadn't realized it until recently, but he was actually scoring points at a solid clip in 1998-99 until his injury. He had 56 points in 56 games just before getting injured. When he came back on March 22nd, the Rangers were way out of the playoffs and he was getting set to retire, so I think he kind of mailed in those last dozen games of his career.Given it's Gretzky I think he would make it. The guy was still doing quite well even in his last season.
It would take stones to cut Gretzky
Fleury was having attitude problems in 2001-02 (pointing sticks at fans, allegedly breaking SJ Sharkie's ribs, and such). Gretzky himself wanted him for the team, and there's a good chance that without Gretzky making that call, Fleury's roster spot is up for grabs.
but don't you think as the team's captain gretzky still manages to get fleury on the team?
It's a bit weird thinking back on that team. I wouldn't have guessed Lindros was on it. In hindsight, it kind of feels like his career was basically over by the turn of the millennia and I guess that is true in a sense. He did come back and scored a PPG for the 01/02 season but by then it was more than clear to everyone that he was just a shadow of the old Lindros.
Does anyone remember his performance at the OG? 6 games and 1 goal. No assists. -3.
It's a bit weird thinking back on that team. I wouldn't have guessed Lindros was on it. In hindsight, it kind of feels like his career was basically over by the turn of the millennia and I guess that is true in a sense. He did come back and scored a PPG for the 01/02 season but by then it was more than clear to everyone that he was just a shadow of the old Lindros.
Does anyone remember his performance at the OG? 6 games and 1 goal. No assists. -3.
From what I recall, many critics said that Joe Thornton should have selected ahead of Lindros. It likely wouldn't have mattered though since Lindros didn't play a pivotal role, and Thornton would have been behind Sakic, Yzerman, and Lemieux.
Fleury was having attitude problems in 2001-02 (pointing sticks at fans, allegedly breaking SJ Sharkie's ribs, and such). Gretzky himself wanted him for the team, and there's a good chance that without Gretzky making that call, Fleury's roster spot is up for grabs.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it speculated why Bourque was not selected among the first 8 players when they were announced in 2001 and it was later said Bourque told Gretzky he was planning to retire once the 2001 season was over.The bigger question is does Bourque make the team in 2002 if he is playing? That's pretty legitimate as he was still playing a high level in 2001.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it speculated why Bourque was not selected among the first 8 players when they were announced in 2001 and it was later said Bourque told Gretzky he was planning to retire once the 2001 season was over.
I seem to remember there was some debate about whether Gretzky (and Messier) should make the team in 1998, never mind how it would have been 4 years later. As it was, Gretzky made it, Messier didn't.
Aside from his big 3 goal-2 assist game against Vancouver early in the 1997-98 season, Gretzky was not looking good in the first half of that season (nor, to be fair, were any of the Rangers, with the team then entering a long period of crap-ness). By December 21st (presumably around the time the final line-up for the Olympics was settled), Gretzky had 31 points in 38 games.
I doubt I myself would have picked him for the '98 team. And if he'd still been going in 2001-02? Zero chance.