Player of the decade poll #7: 1980s

[toothlessgoon]

Bobby Orr didn't dominate that 1970s poll as much as expected, as 5 other players received votes. Orr won the poll with 88.6% of the vote, 3rd most behind Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard.

Previous winners

1920s: Howie Morenz (68.5%)
1930s: Eddie Shore (68.8%)
1940s: Maurice Richard (94.6%)
1950s: Gordie Howe (100%)
1960s: Bobby Hull (62.7%)
1970s: Bobby Orr (88.6%)

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[snipes]

The Great One.

 

[NigerianNightmare]

Voted Dionne over Gretzky who benefited greatly from playing with Semenko

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Gretzky, should be unanimous.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I mean seriously, there’s really not an argument for anyone other than Gretzky. At least not beyond “I like this guy more than Gretzky”.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Voted Dionne over Gretzky who benefited greatly from playing with Semenko

You've put a lot of effort into trolling tonight.

 

[NigerianNightmare]

You've put a lot of effort into trolling tonight.

I actually saw Dionne play in the 80s

 

[TheGuiminator]

lol at people not voting Wayne Gretzky

 

[Weztex]

I actually saw Dionne play in the 80s

If only anybody else did.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I actually saw Dionne play in the 80s

So did I, and I put him after Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy, and Roy.

 

[NigerianNightmare]

So did I, and I put him after Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy, and Roy.

Good for you. Aren't other opinions allowed?

 

[Albatros]

I mean seriously, there’s really not an argument for anyone other than Gretzky. At least not beyond “I like this guy more than Gretzky”.

One can argue that young Mario was the ultimate hockey player of the 80s more so than Gretzky.

 

[tarheelhockey]

One can argue that young Mario was the ultimate hockey player of the 80s more so than Gretzky.

How? In the decade:

626 goals vs 345
1216 assists vs 493
1842 points vs 838
8 Harts vs 1
5 Lindsays vs 2
9 Rosses vs 2
2 Smythes vs 0
4 Cups 0
Peak season 92-120-212 vs 85-114-199
Biggest media superstar in the sport vs… not

I get that Mario was fun to watch, but that goes back to “I like this guy more”. In an objective comparison, Mario is closer than anyone but it’s still not that close.

 

[Albatros]

Statistical totals are just one metric, best player can be defined in many ways. For example the one with the highest peak ability which could very well be seen in favor of Lemieux.

 

[ijuka]

Very AINEC it's Gretzky.

Statistical totals are just one metric, best player can be defined in many ways. For example the one with the highest peak ability which could very well be seen in favor of Lemieux.

You rate "player of the decade" by "peak ability"? I rate it by their performance during the decade.

Maybe if it was "player of the month" it'd be about peak ability during that month or something. For this poll that makes no sense.

 

[HFpapi]

Anything other than Wayne here is just trying too hard and thinking too much. Might be the most dominate decade for any athlete in any sport ever.

 

[Staniowski]

If it's not NHL only, three of the ten choices should be Soviets:

Makarov
Krutov
Fetisov

 

[NigerianNightmare]

If it's not NHL only, three of the ten choices should be Soviets:

Makarov
Krutov
Fetisov

And what about Tretyak?

And by the way, Larionov was a better centre than Trottier and Stastny. But because of the Tikhonov system, in most tournaments Larionov didn't have to be heavily focused on offense.

 

[Kaner9]

I burned my damn eyes reading some of the scorchin hot takes in this thread lol

 

[tarheelhockey]

Statistical totals are just one metric, best player can be defined in many ways. For example the one with the highest peak ability which could very well be seen in favor of Lemieux.

Again — “I just liked Mario more”

Nothing about the peak ability of 1980s Wayne Gretzky fell short of 1980s Mario Lemieux.

 

[ijuka]

Mario also suffers from, well, only entering NHL during the second half of the decade. That gives Gretzky an innate advantage when wanting to span the entire decade, he was there for the entirity of it.

 

[JackSlater]

Lemieux would have a very interesting case for the #2 player of the decade. Unfortunately for him Gretzky owns this decade more than any other player owns any other decade, by far.

 

[bobholly39]

Massive failure from OP. There should have been only 2 options listed:

1. Wayne
2. Gretzky

 

[notDatsyuk]

Good for you. Aren't other opinions allowed?

Which is why I offered one.

In case you didn't notice, I didn't say "he's behind...". I said "I put him after...".

 

[leafsfan5]

How? In the decade:

626 goals vs 345
1216 assists vs 493
1842 points vs 838
8 Harts vs 1
5 Lindsays vs 2
9 Rosses vs 2
2 Smythes vs 0
4 Cups 0
Peak season 92-120-212 vs 85-114-199
Biggest media superstar in the sport vs… not

I get that Mario was fun to watch, but that goes back to “I like this guy more”. In an objective comparison, Mario is closer than anyone but it’s still not that close.

8 MVPs and 9 Rosses in a decade is so messed up lol