players who dominated the NHL in their early 20's

puckhead103*

Guest
i can only name three players who dominated the NHL in their early 20's....

when the player hits 25 years of age, thats the cut off...

Gretzky - probably had 500 goals before 25th birthday..(i might be wrong)
Orr -
Sawchuk - had 56 shutouts by the age of 25...
 

Sens Rule

Registered User
Sep 22, 2005
21,251
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Mario, Coffey, Messier, Bourque, Potvin, Orr, Bobby Hull. That is just a start on those that were truly dominant. There is a long, long list of others who were amazing in their early 20's like Hawercuk, Denis Savard, Steve Yzerman and on and on and on.
 

arrbez

bad chi
Jun 2, 2004
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Gretzky notched his 1000th point when he was 23 or 24...:amazed:

Eric Lindros and Mario Lemieux are also guys who dominated the second the stepped into the league
 

pnep

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Mar 10, 2004
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Player -- Pos -- Total "HHOF Monitors" Pts (up to 25 years old)
=============================
Gretzky Wayne -- C -- 4103,5

Orr Bobby -- D -- 2829,1

Howe Gordie -- RW -- 1931
Lemieux Mario -- C -- 1734
Hull Bobby -- LW -- 1674
Sawchuk Terry -- G -- 1515,5

Bossy Mike -- RW -- 1372
Mikita Stan -- C -- 1323,5
Trottier Bryan -- C -- 1311
Jagr Jaromir -- RW -- 1253,5
Coffey Paul -- D -- 1209,9
Dye Babe -- RW -- 1137
Jackson Busher -- LW -- 1073
Conacher Charlie -- RW -- 1058,5
Potvin Denis -- D -- 1047,7
Kennedy Ted -- C -- 1002,5
Beliveau Jean -- C -- 1001,5

Thompson Tiny -- G -- 964,5
Kelly Red -- D -- 950,7
Geoffrion Bernie -- RW -- 946
Lindsay Ted -- LW -- 921,5
Roy Patrick -- G -- 915,5
Richard Henri -- C -- 907

Lindros Eric -- C -- 895,5
Bourque Ray -- D -- 883,4
Apps C.J. Syl -- C -- 865
Kurri Jari -- RW -- 857
Mahovlich Frank -- LW -- 848
Kariya Paul -- LW -- 823,5
Drillon Gordie -- RW -- 814
 

VanIslander

A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
Sep 4, 2004
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Gretzky Wayne -- C -- 4103,5


Orr Bobby -- D -- 2829,1


Howe Gordie -- RW -- 1931
Lemieux Mario -- C -- 1734
Hull Bobby -- LW -- 1674
Sawchuk Terry -- G -- 1515,5


Bossy Mike -- RW -- 1372
Mikita Stan -- C -- 1323,5
Trottier Bryan -- C -- 1311
Jagr Jaromir -- RW -- 1253,5
Top-50 all-time guys. The best players show their stuff from the get-go.
 

WADEugottaBELAKthat

Nikishin turning heads.
Nov 21, 2003
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Gretzky notched his 1000th point when he was 23 or 24...:amazed:

Eric Lindros and Mario Lemieux are also guys who dominated the second the stepped into the league

I agree. Eric Lindros was amazing when he first started. He was perfect. If my memory serves me correct, he was 4th Alltime in PPG in the NHL after 5 years in the league.

He did some things that nobody else could.
 

pnep

Registered User
Mar 10, 2004
2,907
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Novosibirsk,Russia
"HHOF Monitor" Pts by Age

17

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Hillman Larry -- 17 -- 1954-55 -- D -- DET -- 54,4
Gallinger Don -- 17 -- 1942-43 -- C -- BOS -- 48
Guidolin Bep -- 17 -- 1942-43 -- RW -- BOS -- 41,5
Johnstone Ross -- 17 -- 1943-44 -- D -- TOR -- 9,2
Hamilton Jack -- 17 -- 1942-43 -- C -- TOR -- 7

18

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Gretzky Wayne -- 18 -- 1979-80 -- C -- EDM -- 501,5
Barrasso Tom -- 18 -- 1983-84 -- G -- BUF -- 288
Lumley Harry -- 18 -- 1944-45 -- G -- DET -- 175,5
Orr Bobby -- 18 -- 1966-67 -- D -- BOS -- 118,6
Hawerchuk Dale -- 18 -- 1981-82 -- C -- PHO -- 99
Crosby Sidney -- 18 -- 2005-06 -- C -- PIT -- 90
Bodnar Gus -- 18 -- 1943-44 -- C -- TOR -- 89,5
Jagr Jaromir -- 18 -- 1990-91 -- RW -- PIT -- 88
Yzerman Steve -- 18 -- 1983-84 -- C -- DET -- 74,5
Linden Trevor -- 18 -- 1988-89 -- RW -- VAN -- 60,5


19

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Gretzky Wayne -- 19 -- 1980-81 -- C -- EDM -- 470,5
Orr Bobby -- 19 -- 1967-68 -- D -- BOS -- 246,65
Kennedy Ted -- 19 -- 1944-45 -- C -- TOR -- 213,5
Fuhr Grant -- 19 -- 1981-82 -- G -- EDM -- 202
Barrasso Tom -- 19 -- 1984-85 -- G -- BUF -- 200,5
Bourque Ray -- 19 -- 1979-80 -- D -- BOS -- 154,9
Nash Rick -- 19 -- 2003-04 -- LW -- CLB -- 139
Jagr Jaromir -- 19 -- 1991-92 -- RW -- PIT -- 107
Trottier Bryan -- 19 -- 1975-76 -- C -- NYI -- 104,5
Lemieux Mario -- 19 -- 1984-85 -- C -- PIT -- 95,5

20

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Gretzky Wayne -- 20 -- 1981-82 -- C -- EDM -- 567,5
Hull Bobby -- 20 -- 1959-60 -- LW -- CHI -- 471
Jackson Busher -- 20 -- 1931-32 -- LW -- TOR -- 354,5
Lemieux Mario -- 20 -- 1985-86 -- C -- PIT -- 320,5
Kovalchuk Ilya -- 20 -- 2003-04 -- LW -- ATL -- 306,5
Orr Bobby -- 20 -- 1968-69 -- D -- BOS -- 259,6
Skinner Alf -- 20 -- 1917-18 -- RW -- TOR -- 247,5
Bossy Mike -- 20 -- 1977-78 -- RW -- NYI -- 231
Roy Patrick -- 20 -- 1985-86 -- G -- MTL -- 225,5
Ovechkin Alexander -- 20 -- 2005-06 -- LW -- WAS -- 197,5

21

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Orr Bobby -- 21 -- 1969-70 -- D -- BOS -- 734,55
Gretzky Wayne -- 21 -- 1982-83 -- C -- EDM -- 632,5
Lindros Eric -- 21 -- 1994-95 -- C -- PHI -- 476,5
Thompson Tiny -- 21 -- 1928-29 -- G -- BOS -- 460,5
Trottier Bryan -- 21 -- 1977-78 -- C -- NYI -- 349,5
Schmidt Milt -- 21 -- 1939-40 -- C -- BOS -- 340
Sawchuk Terry -- 21 -- 1950-51 -- G -- DET -- 318,5
Richard Henri -- 21 -- 1957-58 -- C -- MTL -- 299,5
Jackson Busher -- 21 -- 1932-33 -- LW -- TOR -- 299
Mikita Stan -- 21 -- 1961-62 -- C -- CHI -- 292

22

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Gretzky Wayne -- 22 -- 1983-84 -- C -- EDM -- 656
Lemieux Mario -- 22 -- 1987-88 -- C -- PIT -- 559
Orr Bobby -- 22 -- 1970-71 -- D -- BOS -- 528,25
Sawchuk Terry -- 22 -- 1951-52 -- G -- DET -- 491,5
Jagr Jaromir -- 22 -- 1994-95 -- RW -- PIT -- 472
Hextall Ron -- 22 -- 1986-87 -- G -- PHI -- 458,5
Trottier Bryan -- 22 -- 1978-79 -- C -- NYI -- 454,5
Dye Babe -- 22 -- 1920-21 -- RW -- TOR -- 431
Hull Bobby -- 22 -- 1961-62 -- LW -- CHI -- 423,5
Stewart Gaye -- 22 -- 1945-46 -- LW -- TOR -- 409,5

23

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Gretzky Wayne -- 23 -- 1984-85 -- C -- EDM -- 768,5
Stewart Nels -- 23 -- 1925-26 -- C -- MTM -- 740,5
Orr Bobby -- 23 -- 1971-72 -- D -- BOS -- 675
Howe Gordie -- 23 -- 1951-52 -- RW -- DET -- 596,5
Drillon Gordie -- 23 -- 1937-38 -- RW -- TOR -- 588
Lemieux Mario -- 23 -- 1988-89 -- C -- PIT -- 545
Brimsek Frank -- 23 -- 1938-39 -- G -- BOS -- 441,5
Richard Maurice -- 23 -- 1944-45 -- RW -- MTL -- 427,5
Geoffrion Bernie -- 23 -- 1954-55 -- RW -- MTL -- 406
Clarke Bobby -- 23 -- 1972-73 -- C -- PHI -- 368,5

24

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Beliveau Jean -- 24 -- 1955-56 -- C -- MTL -- 725
Howe Gordie -- 24 -- 1952-53 -- RW -- DET -- 559
Gretzky Wayne -- 24 -- 1985-86 -- C -- EDM -- 507
Iginla Jarome -- 24 -- 2001-02 -- RW -- CGY -- 486
Bossy Mike -- 24 -- 1981-82 -- RW -- NYI -- 475
Liut Mike -- 24 -- 1980-81 -- G -- STL -- 466,5
Kurri Jari -- 24 -- 1984-85 -- RW -- EDM -- 455,5
Fedorov Sergei -- 24 -- 1993-94 -- C -- DET -- 454
Hull Bobby -- 24 -- 1963-64 -- LW -- CHI -- 444,5
Weiland Cooney -- 24 -- 1929-30 -- C -- BOS -- 436

25

Player Name -- Age -- SEASON -- POS -- TEAM -- "HHOF Monitor" Pts
==================================================
Lafleur Guy -- 25 -- 1976-77 -- RW -- MTL -- 691
Gretzky Wayne -- 25 -- 1986-87 -- C -- EDM -- 651,5
Morenz Howie -- 25 -- 1927-28 -- C -- MTL -- 554
Conacher Charlie -- 25 -- 1934-35 -- RW -- TOR -- 513,5
Richard Maurice -- 25 -- 1946-47 -- RW -- MTL -- 511,5
Bailey Ace I. -- 25 -- 1928-29 -- RW -- TOR -- 496,5
Bentley Max -- 25 -- 1945-46 -- C -- CHI -- 490
Hull Bobby -- 25 -- 1964-65 -- LW -- CHI -- 482
Fuhr Grant -- 25 -- 1987-88 -- G -- EDM -- 464
Nighbor Frank -- 25 -- 1918-19 -- C -- OTT1 -- 429,5
 

Trottier

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Feb 27, 2002
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I always get a kick out of how Trottier and Bossy get slighted when conversations like this come up. And, of course, there they are, near the top of most every list of greatness, by every measuring stick. To be sure, among players of the last four decades, #99, #66 and #4 are on a pedestal unto themselves. (And, BTW, the idea that Ovechkin and Crosby "will soon be there" is ridiculously premature and a slight to greatness achieved).

But beyond that trio, #19 and #22 are right there in the conversation. Or at least should be. (And, oddly, often are not.)

Rest assured, this is no 15 y/o fanboy seeking "pub" for his heroes, nor pleading for love and attention.

Just an observation.
 
Last edited:

pitseleh

Registered User
Jul 30, 2005
19,164
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Vancouver
But beyond that trio, #19 and #22 are right there in the conversation. Or at least should be. (And, oddly, often are not.)

I think that Trottier gets the shaft because people are envious of his wicked 'stache. :D

On a more serious note, I had a chance to watch some old Islanders games from their dynasty years (being too young to have seen them first hand), and Trottier and Bossy were just incredibly dominant. It's amazing what they were able to do at such a young age. They were what, maybe 23 or 24 when they won their first cup?
 
Last edited:

Trottier

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Feb 27, 2002
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I think that Trottier gets the shaft because people are envious of his wicked 'stache. :D

On a more serious note, I had a chance to watch some old Islanders games from their dynasty years (being to young to have seen them first hand), and Trottier and Bossy were just incredibly dominant. It's amazing what they were able to do at such a young age. They were what, maybe 23 or 24 when they won their first cup?

Yep, exactly (about the age; not so sure about the moustache. :D ).
 

reckoning

Registered User
Jan 4, 2005
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With all due respect to all the other players who were mentioned, Orr and Gretzky were on a completely different level. Early 20s? Hell, Orr was winning Norris Trophies and Gretzky was winning Harts as teenagers. Most teens can`t hold down a roster spot. By the time those two were 22, they had both clearly established themselves as the best player in the game. There is a world of difference between that and an Ovechkin having a very good rookie year.

Look at it this way: Mario Lemieux won his first MVP at 22; when Gretzky was 22 he was working on MVP season #5. Ray Bourque won his first of many Norris Trophies at age 26; Orr already had 7 of them under his belt at that age.

Orr and Gretzky were simply in their own world. I honestly believe if they joined the NHL at age 16 they would have been better than the average NHL veteran.
 

pitseleh

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Jul 30, 2005
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Vancouver
With all due respect to all the other players who were mentioned, Orr and Gretzky were on a completely different level. Early 20s? Hell, Orr was winning Norris Trophies and Gretzky was winning Harts as teenagers. Most teens can`t hold down a roster spot. By the time those two were 22, they had both clearly established themselves as the best player in the game. There is a world of difference between that and an Ovechkin having a very good rookie year.

Look at it this way: Mario Lemieux won his first MVP at 22; when Gretzky was 22 he was working on MVP season #5. Ray Bourque won his first of many Norris Trophies at age 26; Orr already had 7 of them under his belt at that age.

Orr and Gretzky were simply in their own world. I honestly believe if they joined the NHL at age 16 they would have been better than the average NHL veteran.

In a psychology course I took a few years ago, I remember reading about a study that someone did that showed how Gretzky was able to see the game. He was able to look at a group of players and determine how the play was going to develop instantaneously, much like a great chess player can analyze a board and determine what the best move is. This is contrasted with most other hockey players who had no such ability - they inferred that was the reason that Gretzky felt the game was 'in slow motion' when he was playing. I'm sure that Bobby Orr had a similar type of gift. It would take a special player with the same type of gift, IMO, to come close to them.
 

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