Would you take Prime Lemieux, or Prime Crosby and Ovechkin

[slapKing]

A month ago I asked if would you take Prime Gretzky or Prime Sid/Malkin. Gretzky won that poll in convincing fashion. How would things change if we swap Gretzky and Malkin for Lemieux and Ovechkin. Would you choose Mario, or the Sid/Ovie duo if given the choice?

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[Fataldogg]

I think in the NHL today having two talents like Ovechkin and Crosby would be more effective than having Lemieux. You're talking about two top-10 players of all time at their best vs a top-3 player of all time. In today's NHL, depth of elite and high end talent win Cups.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

This shouldn't be close.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Gretzky vs Crosby/Malkin was Gretzky, but close. Now you've swapped Gretzky for a worse player and Malkin for a better player. It's now the duo, but still close.

 

[authentic]

Not really close at all. Crosby and Ovechkin.

 

[Gurglesons]

Lemieux easily. Not really sure where the discredit campaign is coming from him lately..

 

[Ctrain2k]

Are we supposed to consider cap? Cause if there’s cap I might take Lemieux.

 

[Brucelenok]

Crosby and Ovechkin rather easily. Depth matters

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Lemieux was great but we are talking about a generational player in Sid and easily one of the best goalscorers in NHL history. Imagine a line with those 2 and a net front presence in their prime?

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

These threads make me so excited for Shane Wright and Connor Bedard coming into the NHL...

We won't see the end of it!

 

[authentic]

Lemieux easily. Not really sure where the discredit campaign is coming from him lately..

If one player made that much of a difference then Lemieux's team would've made the playoffs in one of his first 4 seasons in a 21 team league.

 

[jetsforever]

Sid/Ovi fairly comfortably, although I wouldn't complain either way

 

[FiveFourteenSixOne]

This is a really interesting though experiment. I have to go with Lemieux. If we're talking all three of these guys at their peak, I believe #66 + any other first line caliber player is going to outproduce Sid and Ovie.

 

[Gurglesons]

If one player made that much of a difference then Lemieux's team would've made the playoffs in one of his first 4 seasons in a 21 team league.

I wouldn’t consider Lemieux in his prime in his first four years.

Prime Lemieux is arguably the best forward of all time. If we are transporting Lemieux to this league he’s a 200 pt player. Lemieux in his prime was a 200 pt player if we are transporting Crosby and Ovie to his era.

 

[nowhereman]

I'm not surprised to see people voting for Lemieux, even though it's clearly the wrong answer. Why pass up almost 250-260+ points for 140-150+ points?

This isn't basketball, people.

 

[82Ninety42011]

Mario is clearly the best here by quite alot. He makes pretty much any second liner a first liner. Crosby and Alex are great but for me Mario plus whoever gets to ride shotgun with him are my choices.

 

[PAZ]

This is a really interesting though experiment. I have to go with Lemieux. If we're talking all three of these guys at their peak, I believe #66 + any other first line caliber player is going to outproduce Sid and Ovie.

Prime Crosby and Ovechkin run their own lines and each score 100+ pts while boosting their teammates production as well.

Lemieux is easily the best player, but he's still only one player.

 

[treple13]

This is a really interesting though experiment. I have to go with Lemieux. If we're talking all three of these guys at their peak, I believe #66 + any other first line caliber player is going to outproduce Sid and Ovie.

Why are you assuming the first line caliber player is on Lemieux's side and not on the other side?

I think this is the duo and not remotely close. I also would take Sid/Malkin hands down over Gretzky if when you say "prime" you mean healthy versions, so I disagree with that poll.

 

[Thenameless]

I'm not surprised to see people voting for Lemieux, even though it's clearly the wrong answer. Why pass up almost 250-260+ points for 140-150+ points?

This isn't basketball, people.

Look at what Lemieux did with Rob Brown and Keven Stevens. It isn't just 140 or 150 now is it? Most hockey is not played with a man advantage, and Lemieux will improve his linemates much more than the other two can.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Crosby/AO very easily.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Crosby and Ovechkin, no matter who the one player is.

 

[bobholly39]

I'm not surprised to see people voting for Lemieux, even though it's clearly the wrong answer. Why pass up almost 250-260+ points for 140-150+ points?

This isn't basketball, people.

How do Crosby/Ovi hit 250-260+ and Lemieux cap out at 140-150?

Your numbers are way off.

You could have made the same point with more realistic numbers

 

[SotasicA]

Lemieux is a top line by himself. The money you save by putting a Rob Brown next to him and watch him score 49 goals is too good to pass. Crosby & Ovechkin would make a team too top heavy to match a Mario + better support cast.

 

[82Ninety42011]

Read it wrong sorry. Taking Mario still.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Prime Crosby and Ovechkin run their own lines and each score 100+ pts while boosting their teammates production as well.

Lemieux is easily the best player, but he's still only one player.

Ovechkin has not scored or sniffed 100 points pace since 2010