Trottier
Very Random
After Bobby Orr; Clarke, Trottier, Mikita, Messier & Forsberg may be my 5 favorite players.
Having said that I'd take Bobby Clarke or Bryan Trottier over Mark Messier.
I love what Clarke and Trottier brought to the ice on both offense and defense, a very rare breed, indeed. Simply talented and tenacious from end to end like no one I've seen before or since. They never seemed to get tired. I tried to play the game like those guys. Couldn't do it (haha) but they were my role models.
Great list. Relatively unfamiliar with Mikita's game (too young), but each of those guys possessed elite skills + a willingness (desire) to punish. Could use a bit more of that today, IMO.
And great description of Clarke's and Trottier's game. Both were a coach's dream, players who consistently contributed in every aspect of the game, over every square inch of the ice. Rare.
Regarding Messier: his "Final Act" - the last seven years of his career - are rightly cited here as being underwhelming, or less. But likewise, his game through the 80s and into the mid-90s is understated by some, especially his detractors. Yes, he played on a dynasty, including the most prolific scorer ever. But the guy was a beast, with a unique multifaceted skillset. Younger fans who did not see him during this time often fall back on the "well he played over 20 years which is why he has so many points!" meme. <<<That ignores entirely the other critical components of his game.
Adding: Obviously, you can tell who I rank at the top among #s 19, 11 and 16. (And had Forsberg avoided injury, the discussion would have been even more interesting, IMO.)
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