Were you a more a 99 fan or 66 fan? - oddly specific window of time.

Who did you cheer for more ~85-94?


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DL44

Status quo
Sep 26, 2006
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Was having a nostalgic conversation with a friend regarding 99 and 66...

Outta of it came a curiosity, which player was more universally liked during their peak overlapping yrs?

I'll paint the era in question as a decade long overlap between 85-94... so Prior to 66 missing a season with lymphoma. -( his legend exploded when he came back.)

Which player did you lean towards liking more during that pocket of time, 85-94?


As Canuck fan, I was NOT a 99 fan till he finally left Edmonton... So there was a period there between 66 getting drafted in 84 to the 99 trade in 88 that I was all aboard train 66...

After 99 went to LA... I cheered for and appreciated him more..
Also effecting everything was being in Vancouver, and it being the late 80's/early 90's, we didn't see nearly as much of 66. So 99 for me.
After 66 came back from his missed season, it was a different story..

'both' was not an option... but if it is for you,,, just post it below.
 

libertarian

Registered User
Jul 27, 2017
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99 is the greatest player that ever lived and proved himself to be so. 66 might of been better but his health held him back from being the greatest but he is in top three. Orr changes the game permanently with his play as a defencemen. No other D has ever led the league in scoring like he did and should be rated #2 all time. 99 was the greatest player to ever live and todays fans that never saw him play live or at his best were able to see him in his prime would have no doubt that he would destroy the Crosby's, OV's and McDavid's.
 
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Nino33

Registered User
Jul 5, 2015
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I watched the whole era, the two were the best players by far during that time, but I was neither "cheering for" or "liking" either (I'm not really sure what "liking" even represents; I was never an Oilers/Penguins fan so I never cheered for either, and when Gretzky/Lemieux played for Canada and I cheered for Canada I cheered no more/less for them than any other player on the team)

I definitely thought Gretzky was the better player back then (and still do now)

So for me, "watched the era - neither" would be my choice
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
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I was born in the late 70s so as a Gretzky fan (along with millions of other bandwagoning kids), I took immediate umbrage to anyone who challenged his records, to the point where I was happy that Lemieux only scored 199 due to injury.

The All-Star game was actually enjoyable (for kids) because the Campbell and Prince of Wales teams were anchored by each of them and it was about who would get more points.

Gretzky had a pretty massive marketing footprint for a hockey player at that time - from ProStars hockey cereal, to 99 sneakers (which my older brother owned). I had a Titan stick because he had one.

As an adult, I had a great deal of respect for Lemieux's tenacity in terms of returning multiple times from serious illness and the leadership role he took on that 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics team.

I feel kind of bad about my earlier position but hey, I was a kid and they aren't particularly rational. ;)

In retrospect, I have a pretty equal amount of respect for them both and am pretty happy to say that I saw them play live.
 
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tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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I came in at the end of that era and was always more mesmerized by Lemieux. It took a long time for me to understand that Gretzky was the more dominant player.
 

pheasant

Registered User
Nov 2, 2010
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Both were a bit before my time. I can say that I saw both play, but only as a child. I remember playing with their hockey cards more than seeing them play on the ice.

Was a 99 fan at the time. So I voted "before my time - 99".
 

tgo0

Registered User
Aug 28, 2007
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Winnipeg
I was born at the start of that window so my first hockey memories were of the mid-end of your timeline.

Remember watching, and loving 66's playoff runs so went with him. Oddly enough don't remember 99's 93 run as much. Wasn't as captivating to my childhood brain I guess....
 

authentic

Registered User
Jan 28, 2015
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I started watching in 1992 so it's probably no surprise I liked Lemieux more. He was the better and more talented player at his best but horrible health and starting his career later on a worse team robbed him of having a comparable career to Gretzky. Gretzky was something else back then and probably would've been better in the 80s no matter what but I have little doubt Lemieux would be the better player in the recent era of hockey. His size and skillset was more suited to dominate mid 90s-current era hockey.
 

BAM

Registered User
Nov 21, 2016
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I still take prime 66 as the more dominant player but at this point you're arguing about 2 of the top 3 players of all time. Might as well compare Jordan and Lebron, everyone's got their pick but in the end you can't really fault either choice.
 

zar

Bleed Blue
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Oct 9, 2010
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Really liked Lemieux as a player and always say he was a better INDIVIDUAL talent... big, strong, hands of gold, ... but Gretzky was a better overall player. His use of the ice, his teammates and anticipation was off the charts. His Hockey IQ and vision was the highest there ever has been and his individual talents were just under that of Mario. Strange enough, neither would ever be considered a fantastic skater.

Gretzky for me.
 

NORiculous

Registered User
Jan 13, 2006
5,309
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Montreal
The question is ambiguous.

I think Gretzky is better but I enjoyed Lemieux more. What should I have voted?? I picked Lemieux but Gretzky would get my vote if its for who we think is better.
 

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