Who's The Third Best Player In NHL History?

[GlitchMarner]

Who's the third best player ever?




Best NHL players of all-time (according to previous poll results):

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Mario Lemieux

Click to read more...

 

[snipes]

Orr and Lemieux should have a run off for 2nd. It was so close.

I think most in the History of Hockey have Orr comfortably second.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Orr and Lemieux should have a run off for 2nd. It was so close.

I think most in the History of Hockey have Orr comfortably second.

Because the HOH board is the paragon of objectivity, right?

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

I don’t see Matthews on this list...

Jokes aside, it’s Orr

Colton Orr

 

[lakai17]

Orr and arguably the second best ever.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Ugh. Howe so disrespected.

 

[Martinez]

Ugh. Howe so disrespected.

Mr. Hockey will win #4 with 100% of the votes. Or at least he f***ing better

 

[snipes]

Because the HOH board is the paragon of objectivity, right?

I think generally speaking there's more knowledgeable discussion there than you see on many subsections here.

Of course there will be bias in any discussion, this is the internet lol

In any event, doesn't change my general point that the Lemieux and Orr vote was so close that a run off would have been nice.

 

[57special]

Orr might've had the highest ceiling, but Howe's numbers are staggering over the course of an absurdly long career. He played in over 5 decades. The early years(40's, 50's, 60's) during the original 6 era were when points were harder to come by.

Keep in mind that he was also a ferocious physical presence in all areas of the ice. Even older members like me never saw him during his glory years in the early and mid 50's. I remember him in the mid 60's(during his mid late 30's, when most players had retired, back then), often finishing in the top 5 in scoring, and cruising around the ice relatively untouched. I thought it was because he was so respected(there was no doubt back then that he was a Superstar), not realizing that other players were petrified of making him mad.

I don't know who was the better player, because I never saw Howe in his prime. I do know that Howe had the better career.

Orr was spectacular, and I would take him any day over Lemieux. He would skate circles around him. Hell, I'm not sure that a young Beliveau wasn't Lemieux's match. It was a different game pre expansion, with much tighter defense. Very tough, also.

 

[Howie Hodge]

Bobby Orr was the best. If you don't agree, then you most likely never saw him play.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I think generally speaking there's more knowledgeable discussion there than you see on many subsections here.

Of course there will be bias in any discussion, this is the internet lol

In any event, doesn't change my general point that the Lemieux and Orr vote was so close that a run off would have been nice.

Oh they're definitely knowledgeable, which is why I go to that section in the first place. As far as evaluating players, I take their opinions with a huge grain of salt; I don't need to hear about how players in the past will always be better than the ones today.

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Mario is #3.

 

[HC7]

Look at all of his highlights. He played against plumbers. I've seen better D in shinny games.

 

[McRpro]

Mario is #3.

Or #4. It's Gretz and Orr 1 and 2 all time.

 

[Puckstuff]

Look at all of his highlights. He played against plumbers. I've seen better D in shinny games.

Wow. That is really telling. That defence is pathetic and the goalie's are twigs. Karlsson would score 300 points

 

[bobbyking]

Wow. That is really telling. That defence is pathetic and the goalie's are twigs. Karlsson would score 300 points

U know it doesn't work like that. Karlsson looks so much better because he's learned from past generations and has better equipment/ training to make his shot and game more polished. If he grew up in that era he wouldn't look as good as he does today

 

[Paul4587]

How did Lemieux beat Orr for second???

 

[elmaco]

How did Lemieux beat Orr for second???

Lemieux has the support from a wider audience world wide, mainly Canadians drool over Orr.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Gretzky.

 

[ProspectsSTC]

U know it doesn't work like that. Karlsson looks so much better because he's learned from past generations and has better equipment/ training to make his shot and game more polished. If he grew up in that era he wouldn't look as good as he does today

That's true but the poll is asking for the best, not the greatest. I think there's a distinction to be made there, and I think it's fair to say that the players today stand on the shoulders of giants, but in terms of ability and skill the players today are far ahead of players from the 60s and 70s.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Orr and arguably the second best ever.

Not arguable. He is.

 

[FlyTimmo]

Orr should have been #2

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Gretzky and Orr are pretty comfortably 1 and 2

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Gretzky
Orr
Howe
Lemieux

 

[Critical13]

Ugh. Howe so disrespected.

Being the unanimous 4th best of all time is disrespect?

Not arguable. He is.

It's definitely arguable. We all love Orr, and you can thank Perry Sound for lending him to you, but take your Bruins goggles off. I voted Orr for #2 but I don't think there is any real argument that can put 1 over the other.

Lemeiux was an artist on ice, who has amazing athletic gifts, and put up stats that are absolutely mind boggling.

Orr was a pioneer, and it can be argued that there was never a time where such a huge gap existed between one play and the field. He did something Lemeiux can't claim - he changed the game.

Both are absolute legends that every Canadian child learns about growing up, and will continue to for many eras.