- Status
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
sorry, had to do ten
1 Gretzky
(was still more significant and exciting than 10 michael jordans...i bet #99 could still be a 50-60 pt. guy even today, maybe that's not giving him enough credit though)
2 Howe
(having the good fortune to see him live during his NHL Whalers stint was a treat, although i probably didn't realize the full impact of it at the time...also, watching old footage of him i notice that Gordie was ambidexterous [sic?] working the stick)
3 Lemieux
(at that point in my life, it seemed like all the finesse guys were leftie and up until that time Lafleur had been the only rightie in that vein; if he could have stayed healthy Mario would be well past stat whores like Hull and Messier).
4 Kharlamov
(so gifted...i've gotten my hands on every 70s tape, exhibition, et al, purely to watch this guy...the best stickhandler, ever, and one of the 2-3 most creative playermakers of all time)
5 Lafleur
(growing up an NYR fan, it was kinda hard not to appreciate the mid/late 70s Habs teams and the way they got the blue line, 3 aside, effortlessly...half the people in the garden felt the same way)
6 Orr
(he peaked a bit before my time, so i didn't get a chance to witness his glory years as they happened...another one whose career sadly ended long before it should have)
7 Forsberg
(still the best one on one player in hockey...IMO, currently the single best forward in the corners, one of the 1-2 best assist guys, is meaner than a snake...his style brings a tear to the eye, literally)
8 Leetch
(other than Coffey, perhaps the only player since Orr who had that uncanny surge in transition)
9 Sergei Makarov
(KLM line was just artful to watch operate... fit right in with an already stacked Cup winning Flames team...can't believe that team didn't win like 3 more cups)
10 Jari Kurri
(the best sniper Wayne ever had on his wing and probably the most exciting breakaway/penalty shot guy ever)
1 Gretzky
(was still more significant and exciting than 10 michael jordans...i bet #99 could still be a 50-60 pt. guy even today, maybe that's not giving him enough credit though)
2 Howe
(having the good fortune to see him live during his NHL Whalers stint was a treat, although i probably didn't realize the full impact of it at the time...also, watching old footage of him i notice that Gordie was ambidexterous [sic?] working the stick)
3 Lemieux
(at that point in my life, it seemed like all the finesse guys were leftie and up until that time Lafleur had been the only rightie in that vein; if he could have stayed healthy Mario would be well past stat whores like Hull and Messier).
4 Kharlamov
(so gifted...i've gotten my hands on every 70s tape, exhibition, et al, purely to watch this guy...the best stickhandler, ever, and one of the 2-3 most creative playermakers of all time)
5 Lafleur
(growing up an NYR fan, it was kinda hard not to appreciate the mid/late 70s Habs teams and the way they got the blue line, 3 aside, effortlessly...half the people in the garden felt the same way)
6 Orr
(he peaked a bit before my time, so i didn't get a chance to witness his glory years as they happened...another one whose career sadly ended long before it should have)
7 Forsberg
(still the best one on one player in hockey...IMO, currently the single best forward in the corners, one of the 1-2 best assist guys, is meaner than a snake...his style brings a tear to the eye, literally)
8 Leetch
(other than Coffey, perhaps the only player since Orr who had that uncanny surge in transition)
9 Sergei Makarov
(KLM line was just artful to watch operate... fit right in with an already stacked Cup winning Flames team...can't believe that team didn't win like 3 more cups)
10 Jari Kurri
(the best sniper Wayne ever had on his wing and probably the most exciting breakaway/penalty shot guy ever)
Last edited by a moderator:
ForsbergForever
Registered User
- May 19, 2004
- 3,322
- 2,040
There's something about that Savardian spin-o-rama that just makes him instantly entertaining, just like a Bure breakaway or Gretzky behind the net. Each player mentioned has a unique talent that seperates him from the pack and makes him instantly recognizable just as there is something so inexplicabley exciting about Bobby Orr circling around the other teams blue line waiting for the perfect situation to materialize. With so many players to choose from its hard to pick just five!
Last edited:
Habsfan 32
Registered User
Habsfan 32 said:
Kovalev?
Koivu?
You need to watch more hockey tapes. While I like Koivu, and appreciate what he went through, he is not even remotely CLOSE to players like Mike Bossy or Bobby Hull or Bobby Orr or Rocket Richard or...
The Kingslayer
Registered User
crossxcheck
Registered User
DisgruntledHawkFan said:
he stinks at penalty shots, though
sully is part of one of my most exciting moments of live hockey, but he's not one of the top 5 most exciting players I've ever seen.
solventless710
Registered User
- Jan 5, 2005
- 6,953
- 244
Twist and Shout
Registered User
1. Mario Lemieux
2. Wayne Gretzky
3. Pavel Bure
4. Jaromir Jagr
5. Bobby Orr
and to the person, who mentioned Saku Koivu,
2. Wayne Gretzky
3. Pavel Bure
4. Jaromir Jagr
5. Bobby Orr
and to the person, who mentioned Saku Koivu,
I will stick to guys I have seen live.
Denis Savard-absolutely magical when he had the puck. He scored a goal against Edmonton that is on a generic tape about the NHL's greatest goals that was just Jaw dropping.
Wayne Gretzky-What can be said about him that hasnt probably been said. Even when he came to the Blues for that breif period when he was getting older he was still awesome. I remember a home game against the Devile where he had 3 or 4 points and every time his line was on the ice they created something and the crowd knew this and was a buzz every time he took a shift.
Mario Lemieux- Again another name that speaks for itself I remeber a game he lit up the Blues in the mid 90's it was the same game that Leroux beat Twist in a memorable scrap for Pens fans. He for sure had a Hat Trick and I think more.
Brett Hull-One of the best goal scorers ever and during that 3 year period when he was on a tear capping it off with his 86 goal season the Blues were basically up 1-0 when they came out for warmups. The prettiest goal I ever saw him score was in the 90-91 playoffs vs the Wings, he came down the wing and beat Bobby Dollas and put a rocket off the far post past Tim Cheveldae.
Cam Neely- I have to give some props to the beat Power Forward that I saw play he would use his skill to score a big goal, throw a huge body check and then beat the hell out of someone. As much as I enjoy physical play I have to mention Cam.
Wendel Clark-See Neely
Denis Savard-absolutely magical when he had the puck. He scored a goal against Edmonton that is on a generic tape about the NHL's greatest goals that was just Jaw dropping.
Wayne Gretzky-What can be said about him that hasnt probably been said. Even when he came to the Blues for that breif period when he was getting older he was still awesome. I remember a home game against the Devile where he had 3 or 4 points and every time his line was on the ice they created something and the crowd knew this and was a buzz every time he took a shift.
Mario Lemieux- Again another name that speaks for itself I remeber a game he lit up the Blues in the mid 90's it was the same game that Leroux beat Twist in a memorable scrap for Pens fans. He for sure had a Hat Trick and I think more.
Brett Hull-One of the best goal scorers ever and during that 3 year period when he was on a tear capping it off with his 86 goal season the Blues were basically up 1-0 when they came out for warmups. The prettiest goal I ever saw him score was in the 90-91 playoffs vs the Wings, he came down the wing and beat Bobby Dollas and put a rocket off the far post past Tim Cheveldae.
Cam Neely- I have to give some props to the beat Power Forward that I saw play he would use his skill to score a big goal, throw a huge body check and then beat the hell out of someone. As much as I enjoy physical play I have to mention Cam.
Wendel Clark-See Neely
Good call on Iafrate he had all the tools and would have had an even better career if mot for the Knee injuries. I think he was the first player to win both the hardest shot and fastest skater at the all star game.Jag68Vlady27 said:
Chili
En boca cerrada no entran moscas
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,513
- 4,408
The most exciting I've seen, in no particular order (other than maybe #1).
Guy Lafleur - If you've seen the clip of the Flower scoring the tying goal against Boston, game 7, 1979 that's a taste of what the man brought to a game. Speed, skill and finesse...and he could shoot the puck.
Bobby Hull - The Golden Jet in full flight, coming down the wing and letting go that shot was an awesome sight. I wonder how many goalers he was responsible for donning the mask.
Bobby Orr - the puck possesion master, totally fearless (to a fault). I hated him cause he played against favorite team then (the Habs) but once I got older I realized that was respect, not hate. He could control a game like no other.
Mario Lemieux - If ever there was one player who could dominate a game offensively by himself, it was Mario in his prime. Some very average players put up some nice numbers playing along side him. I still marvel at his play in the playoffs of the Pens two cups.
Paul Coffey - the best skater I ever saw, watching him and Mario on the same pp was incredible. It's no coincidence they were on the Pens team that set the record for pp goals in a season.
Wayne Gretzky - Later on he was more of a play maker but early in his career he was an exciting scorer. The game in particular I remember is the night he scored 5 goals to hit 50 in 39 games (still the record). what an awesome performance that night.
Jaromir Jagr - He is so strong on the puck and gifted making plays. Injuries have worn him down but in his prime he was the top offensive player in the game.
And to go off the charts...Eddie Shack...He had some talent but he was as much inclined to try to entertain the fans as he was to try and score a goal. Hence the nickname' the Entertainer'.
Guy Lafleur - If you've seen the clip of the Flower scoring the tying goal against Boston, game 7, 1979 that's a taste of what the man brought to a game. Speed, skill and finesse...and he could shoot the puck.
Bobby Hull - The Golden Jet in full flight, coming down the wing and letting go that shot was an awesome sight. I wonder how many goalers he was responsible for donning the mask.
Bobby Orr - the puck possesion master, totally fearless (to a fault). I hated him cause he played against favorite team then (the Habs) but once I got older I realized that was respect, not hate. He could control a game like no other.
Mario Lemieux - If ever there was one player who could dominate a game offensively by himself, it was Mario in his prime. Some very average players put up some nice numbers playing along side him. I still marvel at his play in the playoffs of the Pens two cups.
Paul Coffey - the best skater I ever saw, watching him and Mario on the same pp was incredible. It's no coincidence they were on the Pens team that set the record for pp goals in a season.
Wayne Gretzky - Later on he was more of a play maker but early in his career he was an exciting scorer. The game in particular I remember is the night he scored 5 goals to hit 50 in 39 games (still the record). what an awesome performance that night.
Jaromir Jagr - He is so strong on the puck and gifted making plays. Injuries have worn him down but in his prime he was the top offensive player in the game.
And to go off the charts...Eddie Shack...He had some talent but he was as much inclined to try to entertain the fans as he was to try and score a goal. Hence the nickname' the Entertainer'.
1-Lafleur ..speed and the art of "dekeing" something sadly lacking in todays hockey
2-Sittler- still remeber the 10 point night like it was yesterday
3-Tiger Williams-many memorable nights as a Leaf
4-Gretzky ..nuff said
5-Steve Shutt -rocket launcher that goal against Tretiak in the 3-3 draw was one of the hardest shots EVER!!!!
Now i know these are not the consensus top guys but they are the guys who made my youth watching "real" hockey so enjoyable !!
2-Sittler- still remeber the 10 point night like it was yesterday
3-Tiger Williams-many memorable nights as a Leaf
4-Gretzky ..nuff said
5-Steve Shutt -rocket launcher that goal against Tretiak in the 3-3 draw was one of the hardest shots EVER!!!!
Now i know these are not the consensus top guys but they are the guys who made my youth watching "real" hockey so enjoyable !!
BubbaBoot
Registered User
1. Bobby Orr
2. Bobby Hull
3. Yvan Courneyor
4. Guy Lafleur
5. Cam Neely
Others that made/make me get out of my seat.
- Sergei Samsonov
- Ilya Kovalchuk
- Rick Middleton
- Gretzky
- Jagr
- Lemieux
- Eddie Shack
- Forsberg
- Coffey
- Fleury
- Terry O'Reilly
- Hasek
- Pie MacKenzie
2. Bobby Hull
3. Yvan Courneyor
4. Guy Lafleur
5. Cam Neely
Others that made/make me get out of my seat.
- Sergei Samsonov
- Ilya Kovalchuk
- Rick Middleton
- Gretzky
- Jagr
- Lemieux
- Eddie Shack
- Forsberg
- Coffey
- Fleury
- Terry O'Reilly
- Hasek
- Pie MacKenzie
mvp76
Registered User
jiggs 10 said:
This is about 5 most exciting hockey players, not about 5 all-time greats or something. Therefore the whole thing is even more subjective than this type of thread normally are. I've seen old tapes where guys like Richard play, but they did not make me very excited. It could be that those of us used to the modern type of play just can't get too excited about the really old stuff.
My list:
1. The Soviet Union Green Unit (Larionov, Makarov, Krutov, Fetisov & Kasatonov)
2. Gretzky
3. Lemieux
4. Selanne
5. Forsberg
Edit: I realize I'm breaking the rule of 5 by including the Green Unit here, but hey, they played like one man! Every time they were on ice, it was a hockey orgy.
Last edited:
Boucicaut said:
I understand exciting as spectacular...and so, my list is as follows:
NHL Stars
1. Mario Lemeiux
2. Bobby Orr
3. Gilbert Perreault
4. Bobby Hull
5. Paul Coffey
Sure Gretzky was a terrific hockey player, but he was more genius than excitement. I hate to say this but I would have Eddie Shack higher on my exciting list than Wayne Gretzky...I would go see Gretzky play while I lived in Calgary, he would look like he did nothing and you check the scoring summary and he had five points. That was genius! but not all that exciting.
My next 5 would be:
6. Pavel Bure
7. Guy Lafleur
8. Peter Forsberg
9. Maurice Richard
10. Frank Mahovlich
BTW, I am not saying that I am right...I am just telling you what I feel.
Russian Stars
1. Valeri Kharlamov
2. Alexander Yakushev
3. Helmut Balderis
4. Vladislav Tretiak
5. Boris Mikhailov
Guys that are missing , that I think should be mentioned as "exciting":
Jari Kurri
Peter Forsberg
Jaromir Jagr
Mark Messier
Theoren Fleury
Davey Keon
Eddie Shack
John Ferguson
Brad Park
Up and Comers:
1. Marion Gaborik
2. Dany Heatley
3. Ilya Kovelchuk
4. Dion Phaneuf
5. Alexander Perezhogin
And, from the archives:
Ariel Joliat
Eddie Shore
King Clancy
Joe Malone
Cyclone Taylor
Howie Mornez
tom_servo
Registered User
Gee Wally said:
This is the closest I have seen...
#1 Bobby Orr-Infamous ice rushes.
#2 Wayne Gretzky-Was not only dominant himself, made 30 goal scorers of all he played with.
#3 Mario Lemieux-Greatest goal scorer ever.
#4 Vladislav Tretiak
#5 Patrick Roy-Bigtime goalie.
Originally Posted by Gee Wally
1 - Bobby Orr
2- Lemieux
3 - Gretzky
4 - Lafleur
5 - Bobby Hull
I would add Rocket Richard and call it a deal. I feel blessed to have had a father who was a season-ticket owner of the Bruins from 1955-1975. Folks, Robert Gordon Orr was the Michael Jordan of hockey. Imagine having the top defenseman in the NHL LEAD THE LEAGUE IN SCORING as well. I have talked to scores of old hockey pros - from Dave Maloney to Gordie Howe - and all of them TO A MAN - think that Bobby Orr was "The Man." The reverence for him among his fellow players is almost poignant.
1 - Bobby Orr
2- Lemieux
3 - Gretzky
4 - Lafleur
5 - Bobby Hull
I would add Rocket Richard and call it a deal. I feel blessed to have had a father who was a season-ticket owner of the Bruins from 1955-1975. Folks, Robert Gordon Orr was the Michael Jordan of hockey. Imagine having the top defenseman in the NHL LEAD THE LEAGUE IN SCORING as well. I have talked to scores of old hockey pros - from Dave Maloney to Gordie Howe - and all of them TO A MAN - think that Bobby Orr was "The Man." The reverence for him among his fellow players is almost poignant.
- Status
