Bobby Orr tears any era apart. His size is not a factor. Ray Bourque are 5'11". Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer are 6'1". Chelios is 6'1", and still playing a top three role at 44. MacInnis and Lidstrom are 6'2". Bobby Orr is considered by many to be the fastest skater ever. And strong. And incredibly smart. His skating may not be as far advanced above everyone else as it was in 1974 (or maybe it would, considering he'd have had the benefit of modern medicine for his wonky knee), but he'd still be the fastest player on the ice, and more importantly, he'd definitely be the smartest.
A simple question: what makes a great goal scorer? A top-notch shot that combines velocity, accuracy and release? That's the most important skill. Great speed? It helps, but it's not a pre-requisite. (Cheechoo won the Richard this year, but he'd be described as an average skater, at best, in any era). A great goal scorer, though, extends far beyond shooting and skating. It's the mental side of the game. It's the proverbial "nose for the net," being in the right place at the right time. In some cases, it's determination: willing to stand in front of the net and take cross-checks and slashes from opposing defencemen or goaltenders, to get in the right place for a deflection or a rebound. It's having a goal scorer's mentality. It's forging chemistry with a teammate, to know what each other is thinking. And, as hokey as it sounds, it's wanting to score goals. I can teach a player skills. It's much harder to teach him how to score.
Alexander Volchkov had the skill to score 50 goals in the NHL. Had the blazing speed and the powerful shot. What he lacked, however, was the determination, the instincts, the nose for the net, and often, just the willingness to score goals. Michael Henrich has everything you'd ever want in a goal scorer. Except a goal scorer's mindset. Pavel Brendl may have the best shot of any player drafted since Brett Hull in 1984. But his character, determination, work ethic and dedication to the game are lacking. If goal-scoring was simply a skill thing, these three guys would be top 10 goal scorers in the NHL.
Pavel Bure is likely the fastest skater with the puck I've ever seen. (Wetcoaster, a long-time knowledgeable fan who I rarely agree with, said recently that Bure is the fastest he's ever seen with the puck, followed by Orr). But what made Pavel Bure the goal-scorer that he was, was his determination and desire to score goals. He wanted to score a goal at all costs, even though it often resulted in some of the worst cherry-picking in NHL history.
What makes a player an all-time great is his ability to dominate any era. Some top players from the NHL of the past might have a hard time cracking today's NHL. But some good players from today's NHL would not crack the Original Six or even the league before that. Wouldn't have the resiliency, and in those days, if you weren't willing to play the all-round game, if you weren't willing to battle in the corners, if you weren't willing to fight through checks, you didn't have a job.