Forsberg vs Mackinnon
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shadow1
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In terms of current legacy it's obviously Forsberg.
This is MacKinnon's 7th NHL season. For comparison's sake, at the end of Forsberg's 7th season he had won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 95 playoff games. I'm not going to post the numbers, but MacKinnon obviously had a slow start to his career the first 3-4 seasons.
Where MacKinnon has the edge moving forward, though, is he's younger (soon to be 25; Forsberg was 28 after his 7th season) and doesn't have the injury issues Forsberg has. Forsberg didn't play at all in the regular season of his 8th season, and his 10th season he only played 39 games. (Of course, he won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in his 9th season with the club...).
Unless he really hits a wall at a young age, or the Avalanche don't win a single cup when he's here, MacKinnon is going to win this in the long run.
This is MacKinnon's 7th NHL season. For comparison's sake, at the end of Forsberg's 7th season he had won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 95 playoff games. I'm not going to post the numbers, but MacKinnon obviously had a slow start to his career the first 3-4 seasons.
Where MacKinnon has the edge moving forward, though, is he's younger (soon to be 25; Forsberg was 28 after his 7th season) and doesn't have the injury issues Forsberg has. Forsberg didn't play at all in the regular season of his 8th season, and his 10th season he only played 39 games. (Of course, he won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in his 9th season with the club...).
Unless he really hits a wall at a young age, or the Avalanche don't win a single cup when he's here, MacKinnon is going to win this in the long run.
Duke was a pretty damn good defensive winger as well. Much better than Mikko. It's too bad Sakic doesn't play now, he'd tore the league in half. As for Foppa, he was amazing, injuries destroyed him but also helped create a mythical-like story around him as we didn't see him playing as an older guy.
Alex Jones
BIG BOWL 'A CHILI!!
Forsbergs vision, strength, and intelligence would have aged extremely well, I don't see that as an issue. He was broken as shit and pushing 35 his last couple of years and was still a ppg player.
Good part of his injuries was due to his playing style. He lived by the sword and died by it. All it is, is "would've, could've" but he didn't.
Alex Jones
BIG BOWL 'A CHILI!!
Yes and no. His willingness to take hits to make plays certainly contributed a lot to his point production, but the number of penalties that were committed against him in the 90's was downright comical. He essentially spent a decade as a Swedish Sea-Doo.
Spleenless Wonder21
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McMetal
Writer of Wrongs
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Way too early to tell. You may as well ask how Alexis Lafreniere stacks up to Jagr, nobody knows yet.
Ask me in 10 years.
Ask me in 10 years.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Not fair to Nathan. The Avs were built for sex the moment Forsberg entered the league. Mackinnon was joining a young team that just got the first overall pick....him.
Spleenless Wonder21
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JoeSakic13
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Patagonia
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Forsberg and don't believe it's close.
He's dominated every level of competition, won every major championship twice. Averaged more than 1 PPG his entire career at every level. Scoring average was even higher during playoff competition. The last 5 injury ravaged seasons, he still limped to a PPG. Built for any era, but still successful in a clutch and grab period.
If he played in this era, I would consider him better than McDavid.
He's dominated every level of competition, won every major championship twice. Averaged more than 1 PPG his entire career at every level. Scoring average was even higher during playoff competition. The last 5 injury ravaged seasons, he still limped to a PPG. Built for any era, but still successful in a clutch and grab period.
If he played in this era, I would consider him better than McDavid.
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
well. do you want the skilled player or the skilled player who is also physical? forsberg brings another dimension to the game becucse of his hitting.
Tralfamadore
Don't Panic.
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I mean all the glory years team did with Forsberg was win 2 cups in 5 years. It's a great accomplishment yes but it's been done several times. Realistically the modern day Blackhawks were a more successful team than the Avs were.
I say this because if this core can manage to win 3 cups like the Hawks did all of them lead by Mackinnon than his legacy would out shine Forsbergs imo.
As of now it's not even close though. Nate has a lot of work to do.
I say this because if this core can manage to win 3 cups like the Hawks did all of them lead by Mackinnon than his legacy would out shine Forsbergs imo.
As of now it's not even close though. Nate has a lot of work to do.
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Lemonlimey
Registered User
I hadn’t considered Nate actually reaching Forsberg legend level. Games of his like last night make me wonder what we’re witnessing.
shadow1
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Sorry meant to respond to this a while ago.
Yeah, I'm not trying to insult MacKinnon with that statement/stat line. I just pointed it out because it's important to the scope of the question of legacy.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
I initially read this thread as who was better. With that its Forsberg but its not a huge gap.
When it comes to the question of who will have a better legacy as an Av I say its Forsberg now but Mackinnon can easily surpass that with a few cups and some personal hardware.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Mackinnon had to mature a little and we are benefitting from his maturity as a person and a pro. Its crazy to say but I think Mackinnon still can reach another level. I don't think this is his final form.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Those Hawk teams would have been destroyed by the Red Wings and Dallas teams the Avs faced in 99,00 and 02. Those two teams f***ed us out of atleast 1 and maybe 2 more cups.
Your point about Mackinnons Avalanche legacy outshining Forsbergs is fair and I hope it happens.
I don't think it will be nostalgia, the dude was just that damned good.
Those teams were just that damned good, too. We had everything you could want from a team. I feel lucky to have been a huge fan at that time, tbh.
It would be super nice to be having this debate for real in about ten years.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
If Mackinnon wins a few cups and adds a Hart,Art Ross then he will surpass Forsbergs legacy as an Av.
Im not sure if I will ever see Mackinnon being a better hockey player than Forsberg though.
Yeah, which ain't a knock on Mackinnon
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Not at all. For the players I have seen play there aren't many guys I would say is a better hockey player than Forsberg.
