Why is Gretzky so underrated on HF?

[MMC]

People seem to think very highly of the stars of the 20th century, but compared to most, Gretzky doesn't seem to get a lot of respect. It seems people constantly try to downplay his numbers, as if they are meaningless because of his era, and believe he wouldn't be very good in today's game. Why is that?

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[Gnashville]

So the Nickname “The Great One” is underrated?

 

[Alwalys]

well, watch a few highlights. many if not most of the goals you see would not go in against modern goalies.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I'm not convinced he's underrated. He easily won a greatest player in NHL history poll that I did and the HOH board ranked him first on the top 100 players list that's being put together right now.

People recognize he was dominant in his era. That's what matters. How he or anyone else from the past would do in today's League is just a matter of speculation.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Meaning no disrespect to anyone for something that isn't their fault, but the average age of HF posters is most definitely low enough that alot of posters here weren't even born when Gretzky retired and the large majority of posters here didn't watch him during his prime.

I'm certain that I under rate Howe and Orr for the same reason, though I think I treat them more fair than what Gretzky gets around here sometimes. I think sports fans just want to witness greatness, and are willing to allow their opinion to be tainted by recency bias too easily in order to facilitate that need for greatness.

 

[ScottyK]

Because Mario was better...

 

[GlitchMarner]

well, watch a few highlights. many if not most of the goals you see would not go in against modern goalies.

Well, the other players of his time were shooting on the same goals and the players who play now are all shooting on modern goalies. Greatness is defined by transcendence. I'm not going to get too heavily into philosophy, but according to the German philosopher Nietzsche (who theorized the "Superman"), a truly superior individual is basically one who sets himself apart from his contemporaries and transcends the apparent limitations and boundaries of his time.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Because Mario was better...

The only thing that Lemieux was definitively better are what if scenarios .

 

[WHISTLERNATE]

Most regulars on here weren't watching hockey when he was in his prime.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

1 part people not being alive for his prime, one part hot takery.

Watching a game of him vs. his peers is just astounding, he's just playing a different game than anyone else. McDavid has that same quality to a degree with his speed/acceleration/hands combo, but while Gretzky had tools, he was all brain. I really feel like highlight reels--that make other players look better--don't do him justice, because it was the frequency with which he was three steps ahead of everyone else that was so amazing.

 

[Alwalys]

Well, the other players of his time were shooting on the same goals and the players who play now are all shooting on modern goalies. Greatness is defined by transcendence. I'm not going to get too heavily into philosophy, but according to the German philosopher Nietzsche (who theorized the "Superman"), a truly superior individual is basically one who sets himself apart from his contemporaries and transcends the apparent limitations and boundaries of his time.

you're not wrong, but that's why to a modern viewer it doesn't look that impressive. it causes you to wonder just how he would have done in the modern game with faster defensemen, tighter systems, and strong positional goalie play.

his play informed the modern game as well so it's just one of those things.

 

[Brownies]

People see him right now and think he doesn’t have the height or weight to last 10 minutes on the ice nowadays, but fail to understand that people said the same thing when he was a teenager. Patrick Kane is tied for first in points by the way (maybe 1 behind haven’t checked) .

He played perfectly for the type of defence and goalies he faced and would adapt to nowadays style IMO because he’s the greatest mind to have played this sport. People talk about hockey IQ all the time... well he’s the undisputed #1 in that category.

 

[GodPucker]

People are young.

It's like basketball. Lebron can't sniff Jordans jock all time, but all of these youngins call Lebron the GOAT lollll

 

[ottawa]

'Gretzky' and 'underrated', two words I never thought I'd see...even on HF

 

[adsfan]

Gretzky had more assists (1963) than any other NHL player had points when he retired. That should tell you everything you need to know about who the greatest NHL player so far is. He also had those 894 goals in 1487 NHL games. That is 0.60 goals per game played, plus 1.32 assists.

Bobby Orr is the greatest defenseman ever. With good knees, the Bruins win more than 2 SC with him on the team.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I was beaten to it but the answer is the vast majority of posters here are too young (including myself) to have actually watched him play.

 

[Thrasymachus]

TIL the greatest hockey player of all time is underrated

 

[SI90]

Because Brent was never as good as his brother. Even though he had a great career in the UHL

 

[GlitchMarner]

People see him right now and think he doesn’t have the height or weight to last 10 minutes on the ice nowadays, but fail to understand that people said the same thing when he was a teenager. Patrick Kane is tied for first in points by the way (maybe 1 behind haven’t checked) .

He played perfectly for the type of defence and goalies he faced and would adapt to nowadays style IMO because he’s the greatest mind to have played this sport. People talk about hockey IQ all the time... well he’s the undisputed #1 in that category.

There are numerous players who aren't that big and are among the most skilled and productive players in the League: Kane, Kucherov, Gaudreau, Marner, Pettersson etc. Even McDavid isn't exactly Lindros in terms of stature, nor does he need to be.

If anything, the current NHL game is more suited for Gretzky than the NHL of 1997 to 2017.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

you're not wrong, but that's why to a modern viewer it doesn't look that impressive. it causes you to wonder just how he would have done in the modern game with faster defensemen, tighter systems, and strong positional goalie play.

his play informed the modern game as well so it's just one of those things.

Which I guess is fair but even a 36 year old Gretzky, two years from retirement, scored 97 points and was 4th in scoring behind only the best or close to best seasons of Paul kariya, Teemu Selanne, and a tailing down Mario Lemieux. Ditto the next year, when he scored 90 and was tied for 3rd with Bure behind Jagr and Forsberg.

 

[135ace]

People seem to think very highly of the stars of the 20th century, but compared to most, Gretzky doesn't seem to get a lot of respect. It seems people constantly try to downplay his numbers, as if they are meaningless because of his era, and believe he wouldn't be very good in today's game. Why is that?

Because he ended his career playing for the rags while looking like a shell of his former self. I'm too young to remember his EDM years, but I do remember some of his LA years, but mostly I remember him being in NY and being incredibly overrated, while I remember guys like Mario absolutely dominating. Hell, even old Jagr was much more fun and impressive to watch considering his age.

 

[saluki]

He wasn't as dominant as Mario at his best.

But that doesn't mean he's not the greatest overall. Pete Sampras at the top of his game was the most dominant tennis player I ever saw but few call him the greatest tennis payer ever.

I would still put him against any other player in history when he was in his groove. Easily.

 

[Asheville]

Most posters didn't see him play.

He's built like a nerd, and hockey fans refuse to accept that a nerd could dominate their vicious sport.

His dominance was nuanced and subtle. Not very obvious to the naked eye. People don't like/accept what they don't understand.

He played during the '80s, an era that today's fans ridicule in order to elevate their modern-day heroes.

Some just like to be contrarian so as to stand out from the crowd with their "unique" understanding.

Orr and Lemieux fans extrapolate their shortened career stats, while conveniently ignoring natural decline/Gretzky's mileage before his 30th birthday, in order to prop them up above Wayne.

Myths like Semenko being his conjoined twin and the league not allowing anyone to touch Gretzky.

His stats are video game stats, so some reject his numbers on the mere premise of their outlandishness. Dismissing something requires no mental strain.

The Tom Brady/Michael Jordan Effect: some people find dominance boring/unfair.

Take your pick.

 

[McShogun99]

Most people on here weren't even born when he was dominating the league. Even in his late 30's he was still one of the best in the league and that was during the dead puck area.

 

[TheOtherOne]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone seriously argue that he's any less than the greatest hockey player of all time.