Orr says Crosby is a top-5 player of all time, McDavid has the potential to be the best ever
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jetsforever
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- Dec 14, 2013
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The Crosby one is fine but I strongly doubt McDavid can pass Gretzky.
M88K
irreverent
- May 24, 2014
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Hasn't Gretzky been on record saying his neighbors cousins best friend is better than him?
Former players over praising younger players is nothing new
Former players over praising younger players is nothing new
ViktorBaeArvidsson
Greenville Swamp Rabbits fan lol
I don’t think Mr. McDavid will have a 92 goal season and 200+ point seasons anytime soon, I don’t think anyone ever will reach Gretzky.
67Leafs67
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- Nov 8, 2014
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McDavid has some catching up to do already at age 23 if he's going to best Gretzky. Great offensive talent, and definitely will go down as one of the greats, best of his generation, HHOF lock, etc, will probably match Crosby and potentially surpass. Cracking the top four? Possibly, but I wouldn't bet on it. Ousting Gretzky at No.1? Nah. This is just the typical past generation of players hyping up the current generation.
16thOverallSaveUs
Danila Yurov Fan Club Executive Assistant
- May 2, 2018
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I don’t think he’ll pass Gretzky but I think he’s going to be a lot closer than people realize. He’s absolutely insane.
hamzarocks
Registered User
McDavid wont touch the top 4. Howe is the closest for him to reach but it's almost assured he wont get to that level. McDavid will end 5th-7th while Crosby 5th-8th
Habsfunk
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Gretzky had already put up multiple 200 point seasons at McDavid's age. Even considering changes to the league, McDavid isn't there.
TheOtherOne
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Have you ever seen Gretzky's neighbor's cousin's best friend play? Gretzky's neighbor's cousin's best friend is f***ing electric. If you're building a team for the ages you want to include Gretzky's neighbor's cousin's best friend. Don't underestimate Gretzky's neighbor's cousin's best friend.
[now pretend I know how to photoshop and attached an all-star trading card showing "Gretzky's neighbor's cousin's best friend" on it]
Statistically he won't touch Gretzky and most likely no one ever will. But Lemieux didn't touch Gretzky stats wise either and some consider him better.
nowhereman
Registered User
Calling Crosby a top 5 player of all time is certainly not a stretch, given he's already in the mix with Beliveau, Hull and Richard. There's still some career value yet to be squeezed out of him, since he'll still need the overall career numbers to go along with all his other accomplishments, but I can very much see Sid ending up close to being #5. He's arguably the 4th best forward of all time, if you look at ability/individual dominance and give him the benefit of the doubt with his injuries.
McDavid, on the other hand, will never touch Gretzky. First of all, he'd have to be as talented as Gretzky, which he is most certainly not. Secondly, everything would have to go right for him in his career, which it most certainly won't (I mean, the guy was drafted by Edmonton). The guy isn't even as good as Crosby, who's not close to Gretzky, so this really doesn't add up. I mean, he hasn't won an Art Ross/Hart in years.
McDavid, on the other hand, will never touch Gretzky. First of all, he'd have to be as talented as Gretzky, which he is most certainly not. Secondly, everything would have to go right for him in his career, which it most certainly won't (I mean, the guy was drafted by Edmonton). The guy isn't even as good as Crosby, who's not close to Gretzky, so this really doesn't add up. I mean, he hasn't won an Art Ross/Hart in years.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Crosby doesn't need to be as good as Gretzky/Orr/Howe/Lemieux to be in the top-5.
He needs to be better than the next player, which is the Hull/Beliveau/Richard tier.
I'd say that as of right now, he's on a plane with those guys. Assuming he still has some impressive exploits left in store for the latter stages of his career, then it will end up being fully defensible to have him #5 when all is said and done. Especially if you don't spend too much time worrying about inconveniences such as including goalies in the game of hockey.
He needs to be better than the next player, which is the Hull/Beliveau/Richard tier.
I'd say that as of right now, he's on a plane with those guys. Assuming he still has some impressive exploits left in store for the latter stages of his career, then it will end up being fully defensible to have him #5 when all is said and done. Especially if you don't spend too much time worrying about inconveniences such as including goalies in the game of hockey.
Gurglesons
Registered User
McDavid is going to need to do a hell of a lot in the next five years to be the best player in NHL history. Orr, Gretzky, and Lemiuex are pretty much untouchable. Howe you could maybe make an argument against, but even then I doubt anyone gets past him.
Khelandros
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- Feb 12, 2019
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One of your points is fact, the other is your opinion. Here is the quote from the actual article:
Orr said. “I think Connor McDavid can be up there with them someday. But Sid is there."
Crosby needs to continue to be effective for about another 6-8 years, IMO, for him to be top 5. Off the top of my head, Beliveau, Lafleur, Trottier, Perrault were all in Crosby's class as forwards...I'm sure others can chime in with examples. Hell, Ovi is now in his class, with his terrific production as he ages and his Cup win.
I never saw Beliveau in his prime(1950's), so I might be underrating him.
I never saw Beliveau in his prime(1950's), so I might be underrating him.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Crosby is top 5 or at least very close. McDavid will never surpass Gretzky or Lemieux and he will have a hard time passing Crosby
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
One could argue that Beliveau had a more decorated career, in terms of staying healthy and consistently being the best C in the league.
That said, if I were to argue Crosby over Beliveau, I'd start with:
1) Crosby played on a relatively ordinary NHL team, not a completely dominant dynasty that had the league's best defenseman, best goalie, and best goal-scoring winger at the same time. He can be forgiven for not winning 10 Stanley Cups, seeing as very few players from this era can match Crosby's 3.
2) Having 2 Conn Smythes as opposed to 1 is a non-trivial difference.
3) Crosby's numbers hold up against Beliveau's, and they're better on a per-game basis.
4) Beliveau dealt with the odd injury, but nothing nearly as catastrophic as losing entire prime seasons to neurological issues.
5) We're comparing a guy who turns 33 next month to a guy who racked up achievements until age 39, including his final 4 years in an expansion environment that artificially extended careers.
6) The tie should usually go to the more recent player.
DearDiary
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Ovechkin hasn't hit 90 points since the 09-10 season, despite playing pretty much every game. Let's slow the brakes
JackSlater
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If I had an agency at which McDavid was a client, as Orr does, I'd also say that he had the potential to be the best player ever and that a player he is likely to end up comparable to like Crosby is a contender for top five ever.
You are forgetting that is was harder to score during most of Beliveau's career. Defence and physicality was a thing during the original six era. He was also a relative giant back then and could physically dominate in a way that Crosby can not.
Losing games to injuries can not be perceived as a positive thing. Durability is an ingredient to the recipe for greatness.
Losing games to injuries can not be perceived as a positive thing. Durability is an ingredient to the recipe for greatness.
Ovi scores goals at a prolific and consistent rate. That matters, and always has mattered. That's what made Richard and Hull great. Ovi is the closest thing I've seem to Hull.
filinski77
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- Feb 12, 2017
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The McDavid thing is laughable, McDavid is part of Orr Hockey group, so either Orr is:
a) A senile 72 year old man, or
b) Wants to boost and give some confidence to his client (more likely IMO)
The Crosby thing at least has some basis, Crosby is definitely up there for the #5 spot with Jagr/Hasek/Ovi/Hull etc, so it's reasonable for Orr to want to just throw in a Canadian in that spot.
McDavid has a long way to go before he is appointed anything. For all we know, he could never win a scoring title, or goalscoring title, or a cup. Too much potential for things to go wrong. Crosby was probably deemed the next Gretzky after his Ross in his 2nd season, then he only went on to win 1 more the rest of his career. Ovechkin won 3 straight Pearsons, and lead the league in points/gp those same 3 years, and never did after that. Crosby's greatness now has came from great consistency and cups, Ovechkin from his goalscoring.
a) A senile 72 year old man, or
b) Wants to boost and give some confidence to his client (more likely IMO)
The Crosby thing at least has some basis, Crosby is definitely up there for the #5 spot with Jagr/Hasek/Ovi/Hull etc, so it's reasonable for Orr to want to just throw in a Canadian in that spot.
McDavid has a long way to go before he is appointed anything. For all we know, he could never win a scoring title, or goalscoring title, or a cup. Too much potential for things to go wrong. Crosby was probably deemed the next Gretzky after his Ross in his 2nd season, then he only went on to win 1 more the rest of his career. Ovechkin won 3 straight Pearsons, and lead the league in points/gp those same 3 years, and never did after that. Crosby's greatness now has came from great consistency and cups, Ovechkin from his goalscoring.
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