CanadienShark
Registered User
- Dec 18, 2012
- 37,489
- 10,763
Very good poll question. Robert Nestor Orr, but it's close. They both changed the way the game was played.
Weak competition and not many NHL teams.Orr. The guy won 8 Norris trophies in a row and was essentially done at 27. Had he never been hurt it's not crazy to think he could have won 12+ which would put him as a 1a/1b with Gretzky IMO.
He has more raw talent, and he certainly had it in him to beat some of Wayne's records in a perfect storm of a season - but Wayne had much greater drive, and his playoffs are legendary, always rising to the top as best player/scorer in every playoffs/tournament while at his best. I think for those reasons - even in the best of scenarios - Gretzky is still the "greater" player. But - it would certainly be closer.
That's the thing with Lemieux. He only really got one chance - in 1989, and fell short. 1988/89 is when he hit his "best" level, and had he been healthy, he would have gotten more "shots" at Gretzky in 1990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95...but 1989 was his only full and healthy season during his true peak.
Orr. The guy won 8 Norris trophies in a row and was essentially done at 27. Had he never been hurt it's not crazy to think he could have won 12+ which would put him as a 1a/1b with Gretzky IMO.
Lemieux is ahead of Gretzky in adjusted points per game.Lemieux just so his fanboys wouldn't have the fantasy argument anymore. Gretzky beats Lemieux in literally everything. Raw totals, adjusted, playoffs, single season, half season, career, awards, peak, prime, international. Literally everything, but you still have these Lemieux fanboys crying like 5 year olds that he's better than Gretzky lol.
If Gretzky doesn't exist Mario is likely considered the best player of all time. He would have the top 4 offensive seasons ever at 199, 168, 161, and 160 points.If Orr had a healthy career, we have a legitimate argument for #1 player of all time.
Bobby and it's not close. Mario is #4 no matter what.
Weak competition and not many NHL teams.
Orr most overrated player on Hfboards.
Orr would be considered better than both so what is your pointMario. He would be considered greater than Gretzky.
Lemieux is ahead of Gretzky in adjusted points per game.
If Gretzky doesn't exist Mario is likely considered the best player of all time. He would have the top 4 offensive seasons ever at 199, 168, 161, and 160 points.
Lemieux is ahead of Gretzky in adjusted points per game.
Like a baby? You ever go thru chemo?Lol 1 stat, congrats. Don't forget to mention that Gretzky had 8+ seasons worth of extra wear and tear on his body. He didn't run away and retire like a baby when the game got tough like Lemieux did in 97.
Lemieux missed 250 games when he was averaging 2-2.5 points per game (1990-96, age 24-30). Even when he played he was in debilitating back pain. Lemieux's adjusted ppg would likely go up if he were fully healthy.Is that only true because Gretzky played many more games in his 30’s?
Lemieux is ahead of Gretzky in adjusted points per game.
If Gretzky doesn't exist Mario is likely considered the best player of all time. He would have the top 4 offensive seasons ever at 199, 168, 161, and 160 points.
Like a baby? You ever go thru chemo?
If Mario, Jagr and Crosby are "babies", I'll take a whole nursery full of them.Chemo had nothing to do with 1997. Lemieux kept crying about how physical the league was getting. No one cared about his temper tantrums so he retired like a baby.
It's not surprising why Jagr and Crosby (early in his career) were such babies too because they learned from Lemieux.