Not really... he was one of the 30-40 best, which is obviously amazing, but not top 5 or close to best ever, which is overrating him.
I don't recall anyone saying he was top 5 of all time.
For one thing, scoring was much higher in Bossy's time so his international resume is not as good as Selanne's. In any year Selanne hasn't been injured in the playoffs he's done better than average, and Bossy was obviously better in the playoffs but Selanne's overall career is atleast as impressive to me if not more.
Bossy didn't have the opportunity to feast on international teams that were devoid of their best players (who were playing in the NHL).
Based on their records in the best on best Canada Cup, Bossy was clearly better. You can say scoring was up during that time, I can say excelling in a best on best tournament is better than against mediocre competition. Selanne's longevity has allowed him to compile Olympic points but again, how many of those were meaningful?
Laughable logic? Selanne lead the league in goals in his rookie season. We know that Bossy did not. Doesn't matter what freak year it was or whether it was 200 goals or 30 goals he lead the league with fact is no one scored more goals than him in his rookie season, this has nothing to do with discounting Bossy's numbers.
It is a bit of laughable logic in this instance because everyone knows that 92-93 was a very strange year for top scorers, and you're using macro environmental variables like league scoring to discount Bossy at the same time. Not to mention Lemieux missed 24 games that year or Selanne would not have tied for the league lead in goals.
I think they're obviously close overall and don't really care how much support I have in believing Selanne was better. Has nothing to do with him being a newer player either.
Virtually every time you post on these boards it is to play up how good more recent players are in comparison to older ones.
See the current Lemieux thread on these boards where you think Crosby would be hanging out within spitting distance of a prime Lemieux. Absolutely crazy to anyone who saw Lemieux in his prime.
I think Trottier and Potvin were both better than Bossy and if let's say Selanne was paired on a team with Forsberg and Bourque for the first 9 years of his injury free career opinions would be just as in favour of Selanne as Bossy. Overall I just think Selanne was the slightly better talent and player.
Yeah, and if pigs had wings then I think they could fly.. so what?
For what it is worth, I agree that Selanne didn't play on a lot of teams with a good opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.
The problem is that his personal performances were horrible in comparison to what he is capable of.. a counter example would be another player who was a lone star with the Jets franchise: Dale Hawerchuk produced while being the focal point for the other team and playing in a division with two of the NHL powers at the time. Selanne didn't - even under better circumstances.
Selanne, while being a hockey legend in his own right, is not a better player in hockey history than Bossy. His lack of playoff performance puts several nails in that coffin.