Ogopogo*
Guest
I have finally finished my greatest playmakers list. Much like the scorers and goal scorers list, this list is based on my 7 point system to level the playing field across all eras of NHL hockey. Assist rules, offensive eras, defensive eras, huge goalie equipment, the center red line, 80 game seasons, 30 games seasons, all of this stuff is irrelevant. The 7 point system cuts through all of that 'noise' to find out who the true playmakers are. (7pts for 1st in assists during a season, 6 pts for 2nd, 5pts for 3rd, 4 pts for 4th, 3 pts for 5th, 2 pts for 6th, 1 pt for 7th) 2 extra points for winning assist title by 25%. 4 extra points for winning by 50%. 6 extra for winning by 75%.
Two things that immediately stood out when I completed these ratings are:
1) Adam Oates in 3rd place! I have always known that he was a great playmaker but 3rd all time? I had to add it up twice to make sure it was accurate. It is and I have a much greater respect for the man's playmaking abilities.
2) We all know that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest playmaker of all time but, he is even greater than I thought! Many people believe that Wayne's time in New York was poor performance just playing out the string. Far from it! Wayne tied for the league lead in assists in 1997 and 1998 then, in his final season of 1999 he was tied for 6th in the league in assists! That is remarkable considering the stage of his career that he was in.
Wayne also achieved an amazing 13 point assist title in 1985-86. I award 7 point to win a scoring/goal/assist title. Win by 25% and I give 9 points rather than 7. Win by 50% and I give 11 points. Wayne Gretzky won the 1986 assist title by an amazing 75.2% over Mario Lemieux!!! Gretzky had 163 assists to Lemieux's 93. Wow!! Nobody had done that in points or goals and this is the only time it has ever been done with assists. Truly the Great Gretzky.
So, here are the 100 greatest playmakers in NHL history:
1 Wayne Gretzky 137.75
2 Gordie Howe 84.5
3 Adam Oates 55
4 Frank Boucher 51
5 Mario Lemieux 50.5
6 Andy Bathgate 50
7 Phil Esposito 49
8 Stan Mikita 48.5
9 Bobby Orr 46.5
10 Bill Cowley 40.75
11 Jean Beliveau 39.25
12 Ted Lindsay 37.5
Elmer Lach 37.5
14 Paul Coffey 34
15 Jaromir Jagr 31
16 Marcel Dionne 30.5
17 Bryan Trottier 30
Guy Lafleur 30
19 Bobby Clarke 29.5
20 Cy Denneny 28.75
21 Ron Francis 28
22 Alex Delvecchio 27
23 Howie Morenz 26.17
24 Peter Forsberg 24
25 Peter Stastny 23
Art Chapman 23
27 Max Bentley 22.5
Doug Bentley 22.5
Joe Sakic 22.5
30 Sid Abel 22
31 Aurel Joliat 21.17
Joe Primeau 21.17
33 Phil Watson 20.5
34 Bert Olmstead 20
35 Reg Noble 19.58
36 Milt Schmidt 19.5
37 Henri Richard 19
Denis Savard 19
39 Mark Messier 18
40 Paul Ronty 17.5
41 Syl Apps 16.75
42 Billy Taylor 16
Dickie Moore 16
44 David Schriner 15.5
Doug Gilmour 15.5
46 Buddy O'Connor 15
Ted Kennedy 15
King Clancy 15
49 Corb Denneny 14.5
50 Frank Nighbor 14
51 Newsy Lalonde 13.7
52 Clint Smith 13
Dale Hawerchuk 13
Pierre Pilote 13
55 Reginald Smith 12.87
56 Jean Ratelle 12.5
Ray Bourque 12.5
58 Bernie Federko 12
Bobby Rousseau 12
60 Harry Cameron 11.75
61 Rod Gilbert 11.25
62 Marty Barry 11.2
63 Gilbert Perreault 11
Pete Mahovlich 11
Steve Yzerman 11
Mark Recchi 11
Louis Berlinquette 11
Bill Boucher 11
Doug Harvey 11
70 Paul Haynes 10.95
71 Doug Weight 10.5
Red Kelly 10.5
73 Ace Bailey 10
Bill Gadsby 10
Phil Goyette 10
76 Elwyn Romnes 9.25
77 Eddie Gerard 9
Ken Randall 9
Don McKenny 9
Bill Hay 9
81 Bobby Hull 8.5
Eddie Shore 8.5
83 Brian Leetch 8
Frederick Cook 8
85 Jason Allison 7.75
Syd Howe 7.75
87 Norm Ullman 7.5
Denis Potvin 7.5
Herbie Lewis 7.5
Harry Broadbent 7.5
91 Edmond Bouchard 7
Dick Irvin 7
Jack McKell 7
Gus Bodnar 7
95 Leo Reise 6.5
Bill Cook 6.5
Scott Gomez 6.5
Martin St. Louis 6.5
Barry Pederson 6.5
Earl Reibel 6.5
Bill Thoms 6.5
Two things that immediately stood out when I completed these ratings are:
1) Adam Oates in 3rd place! I have always known that he was a great playmaker but 3rd all time? I had to add it up twice to make sure it was accurate. It is and I have a much greater respect for the man's playmaking abilities.
2) We all know that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest playmaker of all time but, he is even greater than I thought! Many people believe that Wayne's time in New York was poor performance just playing out the string. Far from it! Wayne tied for the league lead in assists in 1997 and 1998 then, in his final season of 1999 he was tied for 6th in the league in assists! That is remarkable considering the stage of his career that he was in.
Wayne also achieved an amazing 13 point assist title in 1985-86. I award 7 point to win a scoring/goal/assist title. Win by 25% and I give 9 points rather than 7. Win by 50% and I give 11 points. Wayne Gretzky won the 1986 assist title by an amazing 75.2% over Mario Lemieux!!! Gretzky had 163 assists to Lemieux's 93. Wow!! Nobody had done that in points or goals and this is the only time it has ever been done with assists. Truly the Great Gretzky.
So, here are the 100 greatest playmakers in NHL history:
1 Wayne Gretzky 137.75
2 Gordie Howe 84.5
3 Adam Oates 55
4 Frank Boucher 51
5 Mario Lemieux 50.5
6 Andy Bathgate 50
7 Phil Esposito 49
8 Stan Mikita 48.5
9 Bobby Orr 46.5
10 Bill Cowley 40.75
11 Jean Beliveau 39.25
12 Ted Lindsay 37.5
Elmer Lach 37.5
14 Paul Coffey 34
15 Jaromir Jagr 31
16 Marcel Dionne 30.5
17 Bryan Trottier 30
Guy Lafleur 30
19 Bobby Clarke 29.5
20 Cy Denneny 28.75
21 Ron Francis 28
22 Alex Delvecchio 27
23 Howie Morenz 26.17
24 Peter Forsberg 24
25 Peter Stastny 23
Art Chapman 23
27 Max Bentley 22.5
Doug Bentley 22.5
Joe Sakic 22.5
30 Sid Abel 22
31 Aurel Joliat 21.17
Joe Primeau 21.17
33 Phil Watson 20.5
34 Bert Olmstead 20
35 Reg Noble 19.58
36 Milt Schmidt 19.5
37 Henri Richard 19
Denis Savard 19
39 Mark Messier 18
40 Paul Ronty 17.5
41 Syl Apps 16.75
42 Billy Taylor 16
Dickie Moore 16
44 David Schriner 15.5
Doug Gilmour 15.5
46 Buddy O'Connor 15
Ted Kennedy 15
King Clancy 15
49 Corb Denneny 14.5
50 Frank Nighbor 14
51 Newsy Lalonde 13.7
52 Clint Smith 13
Dale Hawerchuk 13
Pierre Pilote 13
55 Reginald Smith 12.87
56 Jean Ratelle 12.5
Ray Bourque 12.5
58 Bernie Federko 12
Bobby Rousseau 12
60 Harry Cameron 11.75
61 Rod Gilbert 11.25
62 Marty Barry 11.2
63 Gilbert Perreault 11
Pete Mahovlich 11
Steve Yzerman 11
Mark Recchi 11
Louis Berlinquette 11
Bill Boucher 11
Doug Harvey 11
70 Paul Haynes 10.95
71 Doug Weight 10.5
Red Kelly 10.5
73 Ace Bailey 10
Bill Gadsby 10
Phil Goyette 10
76 Elwyn Romnes 9.25
77 Eddie Gerard 9
Ken Randall 9
Don McKenny 9
Bill Hay 9
81 Bobby Hull 8.5
Eddie Shore 8.5
83 Brian Leetch 8
Frederick Cook 8
85 Jason Allison 7.75
Syd Howe 7.75
87 Norm Ullman 7.5
Denis Potvin 7.5
Herbie Lewis 7.5
Harry Broadbent 7.5
91 Edmond Bouchard 7
Dick Irvin 7
Jack McKell 7
Gus Bodnar 7
95 Leo Reise 6.5
Bill Cook 6.5
Scott Gomez 6.5
Martin St. Louis 6.5
Barry Pederson 6.5
Earl Reibel 6.5
Bill Thoms 6.5