Greatest goal scorer ever? Ovy or?

Greatest goal scorer of all time?


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Vaporwave

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Jan 19, 2019
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When careers overlapped (79/80-86/87)

Bossy: 451 goals in 679 GP = 0.66 GPG
Gretzky: 543 goals in 632 GP = 0.86 GPG

Rockets:
Ovechkin/Hull: 7
Gretzky/Howe/Richard: 5
Lemieux: 3
Bossy: 2

GPG wins:
Ovechkin/Hull: 8
Lemieux: 6
Richard: 5
Gretzky/Howe: 3
Bossy: 1

Combined:
Ovechkin/Hull: 15
Richard: 10
Lemieux: 9
Gretzky/Howe: 8
Bossy: 3

Bossy GOAT!!
You can't even do stats right.

Bossy had 451 goals in 599 games (.75), which includes his last year when he wasn't healthy. Funny how you got Gretz' numbers right.

Islanders also played in Arbour's defense first system. Winning the Jennings trophy (fewest goals allowed) in '82-'83, only 226 GA. Bossy still managed to score 60 that year.

Current Islander forwards would have more goals and points (see last year) under a different coach. Trotz' system is working though. Isles giving up the fewest goals in the league and sit atop the Metro right now. Wouldn't be the case if Weight was still here. Perspective is useful.

The fact that you say that Bossy doesn't belong in the conversation is the most priceless thing in this entire thread.
 
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KoozNetsOff 92

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Apr 6, 2016
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You can't even do stats right.

Bossy had 451 goals in 599 games (.75), which includes his last year when he wasn't healthy. Funny how you got Gretz' numbers right.

Islanders also played in Arbour's defense first system. Winning the Jennings trophy (fewest goals allowed) in '82-'83, only 226 GA. Bossy still managed to score 60 that year.

Current Islander forwards would have more goals and points (see last year) under a different coach. Trotz' system is working though. Isles giving up the fewest goals in the league and sit atop the Metro right now. Wouldn't be the case if Weight was still here. Perspective is useful.

The fact that you say that Bossy doesn't belong in the conversation is the most priceless thing in this entire thread.

OK I apologize for the honest mistake. Still doesn't change the fact that he was clearly inferior to Gretzky. I mean he won 1 rocket competing vs Gretzky who won 5.

I think you're having a hard time understanding. Bossy doesn't belong in the GOAT conversation because he was 2nd in his own era. No one is saying he isn't one of the greatest, but he has no argument to be THE greatest. Maybe if Gretzky didn't exist, but that's too bad for Bossy.
 
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RMimagery

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Jul 22, 2006
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OK I apologize for the honest mistake. Still doesn't change the fact that he was clearly inferior to Gretzky. I mean he won 1 rocket competing vs Gretzky who won 5.

I think you're having a hard time understanding. Bossy doesn't belong in the GOAT conversation because he was 2nd in his own era. No one is saying he isn't one of the greatest, but he has no argument to be THE greatest. Maybe if Gretzky didn't exist, but that's too bad for Bossy.
Don't know why you're trying so hard to counter Bossy. Even analysts still choose him for reasons stated above.

But Ovi is 146 votes to 36 as of now over your GOAT. Polls have been closed for lesser differences.
 

Plural

Registered User
Mar 10, 2011
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He's not worth arguing with. Obviously never saw him play. Those who did know. Probably the best playoff goal scorer all time. He's one of the greatest, period.

That's Maurice Richard by a long shot.

Bossy has grown a bit too big of a legacy to himself. By the numbers and general opinions during his time, Gretzky was considered consensus better player and goal-scorer. In retrospect it's kind of a weird opinion to take, to say Bossy is the greatest goal-scorer ever.
 

RMimagery

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Jul 22, 2006
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That's Maurice Richard by a long shot. (as you quoted and bolded Bossy probably the best playoff scorer of all time")

Bossy has grown a bit too big of a legacy to himself. By the numbers and general opinions during his time, Gretzky was considered consensus better player and goal-scorer. In retrospect it's kind of a weird opinion to take, to say Bossy is the greatest goal-scorer ever.
By a long shot? How about not at all...

Richard scored 82 goals in 132 playoff games.

Bossy 85 goals in 129 playoff games. And again - 51 in 56 games across 3 years. With goalies wearing masks.
 

Caps8112

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Aug 12, 2008
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Young fans not acknowledging old players they have never seen and old fans not acknowledging young players changing the history they remember.

When ovi is done it will be him if it isnt already.
 

daver

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Apr 4, 2003
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Mario, Howe and Wayne will always need asterisks in this discussion given all the other offense they brought with them.

OV and Bobby Hull are the two best "goalscorers" in its purest form with the Rocket getting a nod for his playoff resume.
 

daver

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By a long shot? How about not at all...

Richard scored 82 goals in 132 playoff games.

Bossy 85 goals in 129 playoff games. And again - 51 in 56 games across 3 years. With goalies wearing masks.

I think you are ignoring some of the greats from the "no protective cup" era.
 

CHGoalie27

Don't blame the goalie!
Oct 5, 2009
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Until someone breaks the 39 in 50, has the top 2 highest goal scoring seasons, AND takes over the all time goal scoring records, it's the guy that actually did it.

Maybe people are confusing "greatest goal scorer" with "hardest/most accurate shot"?

Gretzky is still the all time top master of putting the puck where his opponent was not. Be it by goals or assists, he's still the greatest goal scorer *and* play maker ever.

OV can shoot the puck thru anyone but for the shots he missed the net, Gretzky floated a 30 mph puck wherever it needed to be.
 

Peiskos

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Jan 4, 2018
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At the end of the day the player who has the most goals is awarded greatest goal scorer, you can take your adjusted era BS and talk about it until you're blue in the face, if goal scoring was so easy back in Gretzky's era than why did no other player come close to his goal tally?

Until Ovechkin surpasses 894 goals Wayne Gretzky is the greatest goal scorer to ever play this game, why else do we even count goals if the player who racks up the most won't even be considered the best?

End.
 
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psycat

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Oct 25, 2016
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that is, admittedly, very simple.

Provided you are willing to claim that Maruk, Stastny, Nilsson, Goulet and several others peaked higher than Crosby, and that Hextall, Roy and Van beezer couldnt crack the league, then ya, i guess.

Amazing coincidence that we produced 50% of the greatest all time offensive talent out of one generation, yet couldnt find a goalie who could stop a puck at over a .900%

I don't think it's outlandish to believe a player like Stastny peaked higher than Crosby, infact it's very close. Same goes Nilsson(whom obviously lack career value in comparasion). That said I agree that era needs to be taken into consideration.
 
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goonybird

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Jul 9, 2015
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even taking into account the era, Gretzky's 92 in '82 seems wild. 30 more than the next player lol
 

WingsFan95

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Mar 22, 2008
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Ovechkin is tied with Bobby Hull for most goals leads with 7. He will most likely break that tie this year.

That's really all that should matter. Gretz lead the league 5 times so whatever you might think Ovechkin is the more dominant goal scorer.

Now what get's tricky is pure scoring. In this case it's hard not to take Lemieux because he lead the league 3 times but was injured in other years:

86-87: Lemieux gets 54 in 63, Gretz leads with only 62
92-93: Lemieux has 69 off by 7 from the league lead playing only 60 games
93-94: Lemieux gets 17 in 22, league lead ends up 60
00-01: Lemieux scores 35 in 43 games, Bure leads with 59 playing all 82

Pretty sure he wins 2 of those playing anything close to a full season. And then overall he had a shortened career as it was.
 

shazariahl

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Apr 7, 2009
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Gretzky's got the record only because he played his peak during an exceptional high-scoring era, he doesn't belong to this discussion. Ovechkin, Hull, Jágr, Selänne.
Gretzky most certainly belongs in the discussion. But he's not a clear #1. Obviously the era helped his records tremendously, but he still holds the records for goals in a season, playoff goals, most 80+ goal seasons, most 70+, most 60+, tied with Bossy for most 50+, and has the most 40+ goal seasons. He has the fewest games played to reach most goal-scoring milestones (300, 400, 500, etc). He led the league in goals 5 times, and had to compete with some of the best goal scorers ever (Bossy, Lemieux).

I personally think Gretzky is the greatest player of all time, but not the greatest goal scorer. I actually think that goes to either Bobby Hull or Ovechkin at this point. Lemieux is probably equal or slightly ahead of Gretzky as well, but obviously missed too many games. Not sure why Selanne and Jagr are on your list though. Gretzky was clearly superior to either.
 
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Albatros

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Aug 19, 2017
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Gretzky's scoring fell off a cliff early leaving his peak short, while Selänne was one of the very best in the league still in his mid-30s and could exceed 30 goals as a 40-year-old.
 

Plural

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Mar 10, 2011
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Gretzky's scoring fell off a cliff early leaving his peak short, while Selänne was one of the very best in the league still in his mid-30s and could exceed 30 goals as a 40-year-old.

True. Gretzky was still better scorer.
 
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