Staniowski
Registered User
Certainly nobody thought of Bourque as being generational when he played, even if the term wasn't used then.
The term "generational" is used for the purpose of distinguishing a player above a "superstar". For example, in the 1970s you could call Esposito, Clarke, Potvin, Kharlamov, Lafleur superstars....so what are you going to call the other guy, who was obviously better than the superstars? I guess that's the kind of thinking that leads to "generational".
Of course, problems arise....people get labeled generational when they're 15 (Lindros), or after their careers are finished (Bourque?).
And "superstars", which used to be reserved for the very best, are now being used to describe everyday stars.
The term "generational" is used for the purpose of distinguishing a player above a "superstar". For example, in the 1970s you could call Esposito, Clarke, Potvin, Kharlamov, Lafleur superstars....so what are you going to call the other guy, who was obviously better than the superstars? I guess that's the kind of thinking that leads to "generational".
Of course, problems arise....people get labeled generational when they're 15 (Lindros), or after their careers are finished (Bourque?).
And "superstars", which used to be reserved for the very best, are now being used to describe everyday stars.
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