Rank the top 15 forwards since 1990 based on peak and/or prime

[authentic]

1. Lemieux
2. Forsberg
3. Crosby
4. Lindros
5. Jagr
6. Datsyuk
7. Fedorov
8. Ovechkin
9. Sakic
10. Malkin
11. Kane
12. Bure
13. Thornton
14. Iginla
15. Zetterberg

Click to read more...

 

[Lebowski]

Forsberg isn't ahead of Crosby, and I'd say both Ovechkin and Malkin are criminally low on that list.

I'd say peak Thornton was considerably better than anything we've seen from Kane so far.

 

[authentic]

Forsberg isn't ahead of Crosby, and I'd say both Ovechkin and Malkin are criminally low on that list.

I'd say peak Thornton was considerably better than anything we've seen from Kane so far.

In your opinion he isn't. I believe Forsberg in the 02-05 time frame was better than Crosby in any 2-3 year period (it's somewhat of a 1a 1b situation though, I believe they are that close). Also the difference between players from 2-10 on my list is smaller than the difference between 1-2 and 10-11, but they have to go in some order though and when it comes down to it that's the order I prefer. This was well thought out as well, not just off the top of my head and there is no bias involved. I have legitimate arguments for all of my rankings, but I wouldn't mind seeing a list of yours though.

 

[weaponomega]

I don't see an argument for anyone other than Lemieux ahead of Jagr.

 

[Raimu]

Since 1990?

Your list is missing Gretzky and Messier.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Lemieux 93
Gretzky 91
Lindros 96
Fedorov 94
Ovechkin 08
Jagr 96
Bozak 14
Sakic 01
Thornton 06
Malkin 09
Messier 90
Hull 91
Oates 93
Bure 94
Neely 94

 

[Alwalys]

Thornton is around 6 or 7 on this list.

 

[authentic]

I don't see an argument for anyone other than Lemieux ahead of Jagr.

If this was based on careers or length of prime I would agree, I'm thinking more at their best established level of play.

Since 1990?

Your list is missing Gretzky and Messier.

I don't think either of them were as good as any players on my list in the 90s. Probably in the 15-20 range though, but I didn't want to make too big of a list as it gets harder the further you go.

 

[authentic]

Lemieux 93
Gretzky 91
Lindros 96
Fedorov 94
Ovechkin 08
Jagr 96
Bozak 14
Sakic 01
Thornton 06
Malkin 09
Messier 90
Hull 91
Oates 93
Bure 94
Neely 94

I see what you did there.

 

[SEALBound]

Since 1990 the best NHL players have been:

Lemieux, Jagr, Gretzky, Crosby, Ovechkin, Forsberg, Sakic, Malkin, Lindros, Messier, Federov, Bure, Thornton, Iginla...then a slew of people that could take that last spot. Sedins are in there too. Too tough. Easier to do top 5 because after there, there's a major discussion. Also depends on where you view Gretzky.

 

[Puckstuff]

if you're considering peak, Vincent Lecavalier 2006-07

 

[Orange Dragon]

Hi there!

1. Lemieux
2. Jagr
3. Crosby
4. Lindros
5. Forsberg
6. Sakic
7. Selanne
8. Ovechkin
9. Malkin
10. Yzerman
11. Thornton
12. Kariya
13. St. Luis
14. Iginla
15. Bure

First post!

 

[Raimu]

If this was based on careers or length of prime I would agree, I'm thinking more at their best established level of play.



I don't think either of them were as good as any players on my list in the 90s. Probably in the 15-20 range though, but I didn't want to make too big of a list as it gets harder the further you go.

Okay, I kinda see what you're going for now. I still have trouble keeping them out of my top 10, but it may just be bias haha.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Another thread to show how Forsberg is the most overrated player in HFboard history

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

1. Lemieux
2. Jagr
3. Crosby
4. Ovechkin
5. Gretzky
6. Forsberg
7. Fedorov
8. Sakic
9. Yzerman
10. Malkin
11. Thornton
12. Lindros
13. Messier
14. Bure
15. Selanne
HM: Iginla, Kariya, Sundin, Hull, Roenick, Modano

Looking at the top scorers of the past 25 years is interesting, a lot of names i wouldn't have anywhere near top 15 players of the past 25 years.

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-25-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

 

[Treb]

Here is the top 15 point wise between 1990-present:
Jaromir Jagr
Joe Sakic
Mark Recchi
Teemu Selanne
Mats Sundin
Joe Thornton
Mike Modano
Jarome Iginla
Brendan Shanahan
Sergei Fedorov
Daniel Alfredsson
Jeremy Roenick
Brett Hull
Rod Brind'Amour
Adam Oates

 

[daver]

1. Lemieux
2. Forsberg
3. Crosby
4. Lindros
5. Jagr
6. Datsyuk
7. Fedorov
8. Ovechkin
9. Sakic
10. Malkin
11. Kane
12. Bure
13. Thornton
14. Iginla
15. Zetterberg

A clear Top 6

Mario
Jagr/Crosby
OV/Sakic/Forsberg

 

[Regal]

Thornton is around 6 or 7 on this list.

I don't see a case for him above any of Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Forsberg, Lindros or Sakic on that list.

 

[nbwingsfan]

If we're talkino about peak/prime there really isn't an argument to have Crosby so much higher than Ovechkin.

 

[BruinLVGA]

If this was based on careers or length of prime I would agree, I'm thinking more at their best established level of play.



I don't think either of them were as good as any players on my list in the 90s. Probably in the 15-20 range though, but I didn't want to make too big of a list as it gets harder the further you go.

Wayne Gretzky's 163 points season in 1990-91 is the 11th highest point totals in a season in NHL's history and highest point totals from the 90s till now by anyone (even though Lemieux would have beaten that as he had 161 points in 95-96 in only 70 games and 160 points in 92-93 in... 60 games...).

His 1993-94 130 points season was beaten from the 90s till now only by... Lemieux (three times), Jagr, Lafontaine, Oates, Yzerman, Selänne, Turgeon, Hull (all once).

He also had 121 points in 1991-92 and was on pace for: 119 points in 92-93 (45 games, 65 points) and 107 points in 95-96. In 96-97 and 97-98 he still managed to hit 97 (good for 4th overall) and 90 (good for 3rd overall & 1 point behind Forsberg for 2nd overall) at age 37 & 38.

I think this warrants #99 to be in your list, to put it very mildly...

 

[Roboturner913]

Gretzky had 878 points in 640 games from the start of 90-91, and was still top 5 in scoring as a 38 year old with a bad back, but sure, he doesn't belong here.

 

[longchange]

This one's tough because it's not so clear how to define peak/prime. All I can say is under most reasonable definitions it seems:

1. Lemieux
2. Gretzky

 

[bobholly39]

Crazy to think Pittsburgh may have the top 3 all to themselves.

though an argument can be made for Ovi/Gretzky in there.

edit:

Actually Gretzky is above Crosby probably. Not sure exactly what the separation is for Gretzky post 1990. But Doesn't matter - the 3 best fowards in the NHL since Gretzky are all Penguins. Pretty crazy. You could technically almost say Malkin has at least somewhat of a case for #4 too :/

 

[Charlie Conway]

PPG in the last 25 years. Obviously, some players played far more games than others in that period, but it's still an interesting stat to consider in this argument.


1 1965 CA Mario Lemieux 1.814
2 1961 CA Wayne Gretzky 1.372
3 1987 CA Sidney Crosby 1.327
4 1965 US Pat Lafontaine 1.298
5 1973 SE Peter Forsberg 1.250
6 1965 CA Cam Neely 1.221
7 1969 CA Joe Sakic 1.203
8 1986 RU Evgeni Malkin 1.180
9 1985 RU Alexander Ovechkin 1.151
10 1972 CZ Jaromír Jágr 1.147
11 1973 CA Eric Lindros 1.138
12 1971 RU Pavel Bure 1.110
13 1962 CA Adam Oates 1.107
14 1964 US Brett Hull 1.085
15 1969 RU Alexander Mogilny 1.069

 

[tarheelhockey]

PPG in the last 25 years. Obviously, some players played far more games than others in that period, but it's still an interesting stat to consider in this argument.

Overall scoring has changed dramatically since 1991. You've got guys who played in some of the highest scoring years in history mixed in with guys who played in some of the lowest scoring years.