I've made my points known about Ogopogo's system/definitions before, and unlike some people around here, I don't believe in arguing in circles. I will simply re-iterate my stance that this is a starting point, should not be taken as gospel, and that the best way to get true evaluations is to research and speak to unbiased, knowledgable sources. (Winning assist titles now is also a lot easier than it was 20 years ago, as Gretzky/Lemieux/Stastny/Hawerchk/Savard aren't around/in their prime).
I again commend him for his work, although send my condolences to his employer/customers/family/friends/anyone else associated with him who have clearly been shortchanged in recent weeks with the amount of work he has done in his rankings. One thing that is of note is it's not just forwards that were discussed here, but defencemen as well.
A few random thoughts:
*I know it's been said before, but I think Oates is a little too high. In terms of playmaking centres, he's probably in the top 10 to 15 of all-time, and a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer, but having watched Oates, I would put him behind Gretzky and Lemieux for sure, and likely Sakic and Forsberg for playmakers over the past 20 years. (Ironic, isn't it, that Oates got this finish for longevity, when Ogopogo has long fought for greatness over a short period of time).
*There are a few guys I think are too low, like Lemieux at 5, Orr at 9, Beliveau at 11, Dionne at 16, Stastny at 25, Federko at 58, Perrault and Yzerman at 63 and Leetch at 83.
*As much as I can't stand the guy, (he was soft and a cancer in the locker room), I think Craig Janney deserves some consideration. He was considered one of the top five playmakers in the game from about 1989-1994, and was a wizard with the puck. I watched Janney and Gomez play, and no doubt about it, Janney was the better playmaker.
I think this list is more about longevity than short-term excellence, which flies against what Ogopogo has preached recently. (We all rolled our eyes at that Carey over Joseph beauty). Maybe that's because Ogopogo didn't use awards as part of his criteria. Just hard stats. It's also more 70s, 80s and 90s heavy, as longer careers, couple with conditioning, have enabled guys like Oates and Francis to remain great for longer stretches.