So who *are* the NHL's generational players?

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Moving the years around too much in these lists. A generational player should be one per 20 years at minimum and 30 years at maximum that's a generation, So hockey should not have more than 5 generational players. Seems people are picking players of the decade type players, when in fact that just barely qualifies as half a generation.

Generation in sport isn't the same as a generation in life. Athletes career usually doesn't last 20 years, prime is barely 10 (there are obviously exceptions). While, assuming good health and fortune, your "career" (life) is going to last at least 4x that amount.

Also, if we go by this logic then 2 of Gretzky/Lemieux/Orr aren't generational since they are born only 17 years apart. Especially Gretzky and Lemieux who are born 4 years apart. So who's not generational from that trio?

 

[MadLuke]

A generational player should be one per 20 years at minimum and 30 years at maximum that's a generation,

People can be using different definition here, generation tend to mean cohort, bunch of people that experienced the same significant events.

the 20-30 year's is quite the rule of thumb if you take that list for example (Which Generation Are You?):

Generation Name	Births Start	Births End	Youngest Age Today*	Oldest Age Today*
The Lost Generation The Generation of 1914	1890	1915	106	131
The Interbellum Generation	1901	1913	108	120
The Greatest Generation	1910	1924	97	111
The Silent Generation	1925	1945	76	96
Baby Boomer Generation	1946	1964	57	75
Generation X (Baby Bust)	1965	1979	42	56
Xennials	1975	1985	36	46
Millennials Generation Y, Gen Next	1980	1994	27	41
iGen / Gen Z	1995	2012	9	26
Gen Alpha	2013	2025	1	8

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Many span 15 year's or less, nhler are born from 9 of thoses (1890-2002).


When talking about a generation of nhler, rules/equipement/style change can be faster than general population generation or slower, that why it could be a good idea to define generation when someone is talking about generational talents.

I think considering how long a player can challenge to being the best player in the league has the length of a generation is sensible (so would be using the numbers of generation above) or a simple 20 year's rules of thumb (the nhl would be currently seeing rookie from the middle of the 7th generation of those 20 year's group currently)

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Lmao at Matthews and Bednard’s inclusion

Only guys currently in the league that are generational are Crosby, Ovi, and McDavid

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Malkin is so close to as good as Crosby and ovie that idk how separate them you either include him or take out all three

Malkin is a generational talent, but injuries stopped him from being a generational player. It's actually pretty easy to separate him. Compare top 10 hart, goal, pt finishes, individual awards, ASTs and it's quite obvious that Malkin doesn't measure up. Before you mention PPG, yes I know. But PPG just reinforces the point that he was always injured and lacks the resume. Real awards, pts, goals, ASTs >>> PPG finishes.

 

[Confucius]

Generation in sport isn't the same as a generation in life. Athletes career usually doesn't last 20 years, prime is barely 10 (there are obviously exceptions). While, assuming good health and fortune, your "career" (life) is going to last at least 4x that amount.

Also, if we go by this logic then 2 of Gretzky/Lemieux/Orr aren't generational since they are born only 17 years apart. Especially Gretzky and Lemieux who are born 4 years apart. So who's not generational from that trio?

It depends when you start the count. And yes that's too bad for Lemieux if he entered the league just 4 years later than Gretzky, if you are that generations best player there can only be one. So if you start it in 1960 and end in 1980, its Orr, 1980 to 2000 its Gretzky, 2000 to 2020 its Ovechkin. Sucks to be Mario but that's just the way it goes. One per generation. If you want to call it hockey generation or player of the decade that's a different thing. Generational to me means the best player a fan will see from his generation.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Help me out because I don't know my hockey history that well.

Lost Generation (1885 - 1910)

• Georges Vezina

Greatest Generation (1911 - 1924)

• Maurice Richard

Silent Generation (1925 - 1945)

• Gordie Howe

Baby Boomers (1946 - 1962)

• Mike Bossy
• Ken Dryden
• Wayne Gretzky
• Bobby Orr
• Denis Potvin

Gen X (1963 - 1979)

• Dominik Hasek
• Jaromir Jagr
• Mario Lemieux
• Nik Lidstrom
• Eric Lindros

Millennials (1980 - 1996)

• Sidney Crosby
• Patrik Kane
• Evgeni Malkin
• Alex Ovechkin

Zoomers (1997 - 2012)

• Connor McDavid
• Auston Matthews
• Connor Bedard

Gen α (2013 - Present)

If by generational you mean players that defined the generation of hockey talent then sure, but if we're going by the actual definition of generational then a lot of your list is certainly not.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby 1,1,2,2,3,3,3,3,5,6,10,10
Malkin 1,1,2,4

Malkin has the talent but crosby is well ahead in the regular season and as good as Malkin js in the playoffs, Crosby has the edge there as well.

 

[Goose]

Matthews is not a generational player.

He’s on track to be a generational goal scorer, however.

 

[dr robbie]

I guess everyone is generational now. We need a new term for what generational use to mean if we're going to keep watering it down like this.

 

[DonM]

If this thread doesn't convince you of the stupidity of the term 'generational player', I don't know what would.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Playing in the league today

McDavid
Sid
OV

 

[McRpro]

Everyone defines 'generational player' differently so it's impossible to get any sort of concensus.

 

[DontLaughAtThat]

The only generational players currently playing are Sid, Ovi, and McJesus.

Matthews will end up in that conversation soon enough. He's only 23 years old and would've had two 50 goal seasons already had he not missed time. He'll get there.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Vezina, Richard, Bossy, Dryden, Potvin, Lidstrom, Lindros, Malkin, Kane, Matthews and Bedard were/are not generational. Some of them were generational talents (Malkin and Lindros especially) but injuries stopped them. Some of them just don't belong. I mean if Richard is generational, then what about Bobby Hull and Beliveau who were both better than him? If Bossy is generational then what about his own team mate Trottier who was better than him? If you're including Lidstrom and Potvin, you have to include Bourque. Now you're at way too many players.

Generational:
Bobby Hull
OV
Crosby
Jagr
Hasek
(Bourque and Roy are fine too)

Tier above generational:
Orr/Howe/Lemieux

In his own tier:
Gretzky

Good list

 

[Steve]

Gretzky, Orr and Lemieux and that’s it.

When these polls come up I like to remind people that “Generational” literally means once in a Generation. A generation is typically defined as 15-25 years. If you have multiple people all the same age we may have to reconsider the list. The list will also be debated but I like to share this reminder.

 

[Confucius]

Everyone defines 'generational player' differently so it's impossible to get any sort of concensus.

I think players would fall into the category generational based on the fans generation. The best of my generation, compared to the best of my child's generation, compared to the best of my dad's generation, compared to the best of my grandfathers generation. compared to the best of my grandsons generation. So that would be 5 players I could relate to as generational. Somebody born 10 years sooner or later than I may come up with a couple of different names.

To pick the player from your generation, you would take a player that is or was playing at your age. If you are 25 I would not consider a 5year old or 45 year old your generation.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Vezina, Richard, Bossy, Dryden, Potvin, Lidstrom, Lindros, Malkin, Kane, Matthews and Bedard were/are not generational. Some of them were generational talents (Malkin and Lindros especially) but injuries stopped them. Some of them just don't belong. I mean if Richard is generational, then what about Bobby Hull and Beliveau who were both better than him? If Bossy is generational then what about his own team mate Trottier who was better than him? If you're including Lidstrom and Potvin, you have to include Bourque. Now you're at way too many players.

Generational:
Bobby Hull
OV
Crosby
Jagr
Hasek
(Bourque and Roy are fine too)

Tier above generational:
Orr/Howe/Lemieux

In his own tier:
Gretzky

Uhhhh I think you're missing a guy, I think he plays for Edmonton maybe? Believe he just had one of the best seasons of all time if that rings a bell.

 

[RussianRacket]

Quinn Hughes

 

[Dexter Colt]

It’s also a 15 game sample size

And also not 2.0 PPG.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Quinn Hughes

Forgot the sarcasm emoji

 

[Cricket Green]

Bossy
Potvin
Lindros
Kane
Matthews (lol)

Dont belong

Where's Patrick Roy and Ray Bourque

 

[Newusername]

Patrick Roy should be on everyone’s list. Any player that changed how the game was played should be included. Gretzky, Orr, Roy, Mcdavid.
edit: that’s a short list, obviously more players then that are generational.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Patrick Roy should be on everyone’s list. Any player that changed how the game was played should be included. Gretzky, Orr, Roy, Mcdavid.
edit: that’s a short list, obviously more players then that are generational.

How did he change the game, butterfly, was by Tony Esposito

 

[Newusername]

How did he change the game, butterfly, was by Tony Esposito

Fair enough I actually didn’t know that. I would still say Roy popularized it & deserves the generational tag

 

[Connor McConnor]

Help me out because I don't know my hockey history that well.

Lost Generation (1885 - 1910)

• Georges Vezina

Greatest Generation (1911 - 1924)

• Maurice Richard

Silent Generation (1925 - 1945)

• Gordie Howe

Baby Boomers (1946 - 1962)

• Mike Bossy
• Ken Dryden
• Wayne Gretzky
• Bobby Orr
• Denis Potvin

Gen X (1963 - 1979)

• Dominik Hasek
• Jaromir Jagr
• Mario Lemieux
• Nik Lidstrom
• Eric Lindros

Millennials (1980 - 1996)

• Sidney Crosby
• Patrik Kane
• Evgeni Malkin
• Alex Ovechkin

Zoomers (1997 - 2012)

• Connor McDavid
• Auston Matthews
• Connor Bedard

Gen α (2013 - Present)

Lol at malkin Kane and matthews being considered generational. Malkin is the closest to it and due to injuries misses imo