The best "hockey players" of all time?

[ElsinoreBrewery]

I'm looking to see opinions of who are the best complete hockey players ever in the NHL. I'm talking about guys who could score an end to end goal, make a defensive play for the puck, check you through the glass and then beat up your tough guy. I submit Orr and Howe for obvious starters.

Click to read more...

 

[Steelhead16]

Bobby Clarke

 

[MXD]

Jean Béliveau and Sprague Cleghorn comes to mind as well.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

the last time i saw a guy who not only could do all of those things but also did consistently do them was pronger's hart season.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Brendan Shanahan comes to mind. Certainly not the best ever, but a player you want to emulate your game after.

 

[kmad]

Clarke, Trottier, Messier, Mikita, Lindsay

 

[Blades of Glory]

Brendan Shanahan comes to mind. Certainly not the best ever, but a player you want to emulate your game after.

Bryan Trottier, Bobby Clarke, Joe Sakic, so many more.

 

[kmad]

Joe Sakic

I'd say he lacked the physical game you need to be on this list..

Eric Lindros in his prime would be on here.

 

[Boxscore]

Messier.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Larry Robinson fits the criteria. Didn't score a lot, but he could pick his spots and did at times go end for end.

He certainly did the rest.

 

[avs1986]

Foppa with Howes longevity. End of story.

 

[ck26]

I would have so much fun coaching this team I'd probably get fired for just sitting down giggling to myself behind the bench instead of actually coaching them, although to be fair this isn't a lineup that needs just a whole lot of coaching:

Ted Lindsay - Jean Beliveau - Gordie Howe
Busher Jackson - Phil Esposito - Stan Mikita
Brendan Shanahan - Bryan Trottier - Lanny McDonald
Toe Blake - Bobby Clarke - Jerome Iginla
Mark Messier

Doug Harvey - Bobby Orr
Eddie Shore - Larry Robinson
Ray Bourque - Denis Potvin
Chris Chelios​

 

[tommygunn]

I would have so much fun coaching this team I'd probably get fired for just sitting down giggling to myself behind the bench instead of actually coaching them, although to be fair this isn't a lineup that needs just a whole lot of coaching:

Ted Lindsay - Jean Beliveau - Gordie Howe
Busher Jackson - Phil Esposito - Stan Mikita
Brendan Shanahan - Bryan Trottier - Lanny McDonald
Toe Blake - Bobby Clarke - Jerome Iginla
Mark Messier

Doug Harvey - Bobby Orr
Eddie Shore - Larry Robinson
Ray Bourque - Denis Potvin
Chris Chelios​

No goaltender?

 

[Oilers1*]

Foppa with Howes longevity. End of story.

How about Gordie Howe with Gordie Howe's longevity?

Since, y'know, he was better than Forsberg in literally every facet of the game


Three guys stand out above all others, to me:

Orr
Howe
Messier

 

[Blades of Glory]

I would have so much fun coaching this team I'd probably get fired for just sitting down giggling to myself behind the bench instead of actually coaching them, although to be fair this isn't a lineup that needs just a whole lot of coaching:

Ted Lindsay - Jean Beliveau - Gordie Howe
Busher Jackson - Phil Esposito - Stan Mikita
Brendan Shanahan - Bryan Trottier - Lanny McDonald
Toe Blake - Bobby Clarke - Jerome Iginla
Mark Messier

Doug Harvey - Bobby Orr
Eddie Shore - Larry Robinson
Ray Bourque - Denis Potvin
Chris Chelios​

You might have the "too much leadership" syndrome, but other than that, oh and the lack of a goaltender, this team is ridiculous.

 

[Boxscore]

Denis Potvin.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Foppa with Howes longevity. End of story.

So fictional players are okay? Mario Lemieux with Scott Stevens' physicality and defensive ability.

 

[seventieslord]

I think the HOH top-100 list does a good job. Not every player on the list is perfect, but those who aren't are so good offensively or defensively that they make up for other players being better in one area or the other.

 

[ck26]

No goaltender?

I've watched a lot of hockey in my life, but I've never seen a goaltender who could score an end to end goal, make a defensive play for the puck, check you through the glass and then beat up another team's tough guy.

Please post the youtube link if you've got one ...

 

[JarkkoRuutu]

I've watched a lot of hockey in my life, but I've never seen a goaltender who could score an end to end goal, make a defensive play for the puck, check you through the glass and then beat up another team's tough guy.

Please post the youtube link if you've got one ...

Ron Hextall's the closest I've seen to that, though his goals weren't end to end.

 

[greatgazoo]

Messier could meet almost all of those criteria except beat up the other team's tough guy. However, he could at least drop the mitts and hang on to him!

 

[tommygunn]

I've watched a lot of hockey in my life, but I've never seen a goaltender who could score an end to end goal, make a defensive play for the puck, check you through the glass and then beat up another team's tough guy.

Please post the youtube link if you've got one ...

Easy there, Tex..

You did say 'team'.. and I've watched a lot of hockey in my life too, and every 'team' I've ever seen has always included a goalie.

What hockey have you been watching?

 

[EagleBelfour]

22 posts without mention of Milt Schmidt? Apart from the fact that he was only a ''good'' goalscorer, he had absolutely everything else:

- Great playmaker
- Tough as nail
- Great bodychecker
- Excellent stickhandler
- Excellent defensively
- Very fast
- Amazing stamina
- One of best leader of All-Time

 

[Blades of Glory]

I've watched a lot of hockey in my life, but I've never seen a goaltender who could score an end to end goal, make a defensive play for the puck, check you through the glass and then beat up another team's tough guy.

Please post the youtube link if you've got one ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429QFwN8Yy4

 

[TheHotRock]

Messier could meet almost all of those criteria except beat up the other team's tough guy. However, he could at least drop the mitts and hang on to him!

i've only been watching hockey seriously since about 93, but that's about right.

trottier probably has to be in this discussion though.