i agree with this. lindros, when healthy, may have been a man among boys against a really top-heavy buffalo team that the flyers were doing just fine against without him, but he sure wasn't a man among boys against scott stevens.
even in his very best year, lindros missed three playoff games. and the playoff games he did play, while nothing to scoff at, are not in the same league as clarke, messier, and especially trottier.
as for the best day thing, i still think that on his best day lindros, while possibly more dominant against average competition in a regular pressure setting, couldn't elevate his play to the degree of the other three.
trottier
clarke
messier
lindros
to me, trots was as complete as clarke, and had a higher offensive ceiling. messier is behind trots in terms of goal scoring, playmaking, and defensive play. my only question would be what we would count as trottier's peak: his hart season, smythe season, or '82?