Who is the 5th best NHL player of all time?

[shadow1]

Greatness embodied. Three Conn Smythe Trophies in three different decades.

 

[therealkoho]

no consideration for Red Kelly

5 cups as clearly one of the best Dmen in the league

4 cups as maybe the best 2 way centre in the league

nothing remotely not great about his career and his 20 NHL seasons

 

[Killion]

no consideration for Red Kelly...

He's up there alrighty Koho, and I think Stan Fischler had him ranked 5th or thereabouts when compiling his Top 100 back in the 80's, but no, not in my book.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I just can't rank Kelly over Harvey, when the consensus among people who saw both seems to be that Harvey was better, right?

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

He's up there alrighty Koho, and I think Stan Fischler had him ranked 5th or thereabouts when compiling his Top 100 back in the 80's, but no, not in my book.

No wonder no one was mentioning him.

 

[Killion]

I just can't rank Kelly over Harvey, when the consensus among people who saw both seems to be that Harvey was better, right?

Well, I unfortunately have no memory of seeing Doug Harvey play, not even when he came out of retirement at 44 or whatever it was, and obviously well past it by that stage. Overall though, I think it might well be debatable TDMM. Good arguments made for Red. Kelly was an AllStar Defenceman all through the 50's, converted to a forward in Toronto and an excellent defensive one at that, pretty much proto-typical and again, AllStar, big contributor to the Leafs multiple StanleyCups as you & everyone else well knows. All that being said, and Kelly I did see, still sticking with Harvey@5th Best, Kelly down the line. Harvey was an influential, seminal player in the games development, a Superstar, bridge between Shore & Orr. Least ways thats how I read it.

No wonder no one was mentioning him.

... on principal alone then? Perhaps.

 

[pdd]

I just can't rank Kelly over Harvey, when the consensus among people who saw both seems to be that Harvey was better, right?

Is it? Or is it that Harvey was a better defenseman? Kelly played basically a full career at center after he left the Wings.

 

[namttebih]

Steve Yzerman. Or Joe Sakic. Have your pick.

Both spectactular players, two of my favorites. But neither dominated an era.

 

[namttebih]

I'll throw my chips for Hasek as number 5

If not him Maurice Richard or Eddie Shore

I could back Hasek.

I think that Bossy always gets shorted on these but he's probably closer to top 10.
4 Stanley cups, Conn Smythe, Calder, 3 Lady Byng, 5 first team, 3 second team and...
9 straight 50 goal seasons ?!?!?!?!?

 

[DisgruntledGoat*]

I like Richard in this spot,and always have. I realize some other guys have better statistical arguments, but Richard may be as good a clutch player as there ever was, and in a sport so big on intangibles, he's got pretty sterling credentials there, too.

Hasek and Jagr aren't in my top ten. Yzerman and Sakic aren't in my top twenty. I haven't yet given a lot of thought where Lidstrom ranks (I feel some time needs to pass to put his career in perspective) but he's more likely in the 15-20 range.

 

[Hollywood Burrows]

Until it's okay to list Crosby (give it a few more years) I'll say, oh, Richard. Jagr, Hull, Beliveau, Messier are all right there.

 

[King Forsberg]

I guess it would depend on what skills one is talking about. I would say the most consistently effective players when healthy were Lemieux, Jagr, Lindros, and Forsberg.

Yeah any time "skill" is being discussed its usually a matter of semantics, Ive just never seen anyone say Kariya was more skilled than Forsberg. I agree completely with that last statement.

 

[hexy17]

it's the Rocket of course.

 

[pdd]

it's the Rocket of course.

Why Richard over Beliveau, Hull, Harvey, or Plante?

Mystique is great, but it's worth nothing when it comes to on-ice performance, which is what should be the criteria when ranking players.

 

[CanadienShark]

Bourque, Hasek, Brodeur, Roy, Richard, Stevie Y, Beliveau and Hull all come to mind.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Why Richard over Beliveau, Hull, Harvey, or Plante?

Mystique is great, but it's worth nothing when it comes to on-ice performance, which is what should be the criteria when ranking players.

Once again, 82 goals in 133 playoff games. Contributing to 8 Cups. Greatest clutch goal scorer ever.

No one from his era anywhere in sight.

 

[Lshap]

Not ranking them, just sharing my memories of some of the legends being mentioned:

Bobby Hull: The first game I ever went to was at the Montreal Forum in the late 60s, with the Hawks as the visitors. Hull was an absolute bull, probably the strongest guy on the ice, with a combination of speed and strength that was beyond anyone in the league. Unmatched physical presence. And what a friggin' slapshot!

Bobby Orr: I was too young to appreciate the intelligence of his game, but I remember watching his unbelievable rushes and puck control on TV. Also remember Larry Robinson laying a massive hip check on Orr when I was at the Forum.

Jean Beliveau: Saw him at the tail-end of his career, so I didn't see the speed and dominance in his prime. But he was always the team's icon, its face and undisputed leader. Everybody loved the guy then, as they do now. Met him in person about 15 years ago - gave me a nice smile and was as gracious as you'd imagine he'd be.

Guy Lafleur: My first poster in my bedroom was Lafleur as a rookie, wearing a temporary number on his uniform. I was lucky enough to see him through his career, taking the bus downtown to the Forum dozens of times. $7 bought us standing-room tickets that were always available, letting me and my friends hang out in the upper corridors and watch the 70s Habs make history. Lafleur was fast, lithe and deadly, with that flowing hair that - like Hull - made him visually appealing.

I've seen him at a few functions over the years. Weird that this towering hockey icon is about my height.

 

[King Forsberg]

Thank you for sharing Lshap.