I disagree. I've seen plenty of those 4 (heck Kovalev was on the pens for years) and they make quicker moves, but Lemieux was just way more effective. It was rare for Lemieux to try and deke someone and fail - truly an unparalleled magician with the puck.
I agree, and Lemieux also had that innate hockey sense that allowed him to make the right move at the right time. I don't understand why reach and size is discounted as part of skill. His ability to protect the puck, and show, then take away the puck with his ginormous reach was near unparalleled. Beliveau was similar, although he had a more understated style, and playing with a straight stick, made much more use of the backhand. That made him near impossible to read, i.e. was he going to shoot, pass, or continue to hold the puck.
Perrault wasn't as big, but his stickhandling was dizzying, and his powerful stride made it very hard to knock him off the puck, as well as very hard to catch. Dionne was even smaller, but built like a fire hydrant, very fast, and was a great puck handler.
Mario is my all time favourite player but actually, I thought he wasn't even the best stickhandler on his team.....admittedly, it was Jagr who is not exactly your average player, was it?I'd have Lemieux at #1, just because how much better he was at stickhandling than everyone else.
If you're comparing age 30+ Mario to Jagr sure. But im talking more 22-27 year old Mario. Jagr was certainly up there but not at Lemieux's level. Imo he picked up those wide sweeping dekes from Lemieux in the first place.Mario is my all time favourite player but actually, I thought he wasn't even the best stickhandler on his team.....admittedly, it was Jagr who is not exactly your average player, wasn't it?
In term of pure stickhandling skills, I have jagr along with kovalev, datsuyk, Kane and Mcdavid in my top 5 all time list.
Mario was a great stickhandler but he didn't have moves which literally blowed you away the way guys like datsuyk or Jagr for example used to do.
Oh yes. I'm not surprised that in your mind, Nylander immediately pops into your head. Not one of the greatsNylander is amazing at it
MacK has to be up there, i'd even put him #3 because he's both a fast skater and great stickhandler.. just to a lesser extent compared to Bure and McDavid.
If we're talking about stickhandling alone then Kovalev is the GOAT.
If you're comparing age 30+ Mario to Jagr sure. But im talking more 22-27 year old Mario. Jagr was certainly up there but not at Lemieux's level. Imo he picked up those wide sweeping dekes from Lemieux in the first place.
I can understand why some like Kane, Kovalev, etc as they make quick flashy moves, but imo they were not nearly as effective stickhandlers.
I don't know about that. Jagr does appear to have been an even better stickhandler than young Lemieux to me, as mentioned there were many other reasons that go beyond stickhandling as to why Lemieux was a more effective player.
+1I don't know about that. Jagr does appear to have been an even better stickhandler than young Lemieux to me, as mentioned there were many other reasons that go beyond stickhandling as to why Lemieux was a more effective player.
Some great names posted but we need to differentiate the styles.
For example, McDavid, Bure and Prime Ovi and Kovalchuk should be in one category. Explosive, top speed handling skills.
Jagr, Lemieux, Malkin in another. Ridiculous hands, reach, puck placement.
Panarin, Gaudreau, Kane and Datsyuk, Denis Savard in another. Magicians.
Why because these 3 groups all have distinct styles. For example, McDavid wouldn't be able do some of the stuff guys like Datsyuk can and vice versa.
Anyway, I nominate Sergei Makarov. Crosby's puck handling style reminds me of prime Makarov.
Helen?Keller will be up there when all is said and done.