Team_Spirit
95% Elliotte
- Jul 3, 2002
- 39,800
- 22,098
In his prime years he played 5 vs 5 with Lemaire and Shutt.By the time he was 29 he had a 104 even strength points season which was the best in history. Only Gretzky beat that (not even Mario which is crazy!!)
In his prime years, PP minutes were basically at their lowest, 30-50% less then in the 80’s/early 90’s. Lafleur’s prime is underrated because of that.
In 1979, before Gretzky, if we compare prime years which is all that matters to me, he was the best offensive player to ever play the game, and second best player ever after Orr, IMO. I don’t know how that isn’t generational.
Edit: for reference, in his best season, Mcdavid had 75 ES points to 71 PP points, and that includes 3v3 hockey…and we all know how dominant he his 5v5…
That’s good context but I don’t think he’s saying Lafleur’s better than Lemieux.In his prime years he played 5 vs 5 with Lemaire and Shutt.
In his prime years healthy Lemieux played 5 vs 5 with Dan Quinn and Randy Cunneyworth or Rob Brown and Bob Errey
At 22 years old.in 1988..Lemieux did 168 points and the second best scorer with the Pens was Quinn with 79 points.
The year after Lemieux did 199 points in 76 games and the first power play unit was Lemieux Brown, Errey, Coffey and Taglianetti.....
Not exactly the Habs rester of the 70s..right....??
Lemieux was way better than Lafleur..way better.... come on.
Lemieux retired at 31...came back in 2000 in the dead puck era with Hasek Brodeur, Roy, Joseph, Belfour etc... in net and the trap, defensive systems etc ..... he was 35 years old when he came back and...scored....35......goals.....in 43 games......and 76 points.
Lafleur was a hell of a player but Lemieux was a martian...a generational player and I have seen them both at their prime...
Can you imagine that after 4 years retirement...at 35 years old in the dead puck era.....Lemieux scored at a better ratio than Lafleur at his prime..
Lemieux was just unreal
In his prime years he played 5 vs 5 with Lemaire and Shutt.
In his prime years healthy Lemieux played 5 vs 5 with Dan Quinn and Randy Cunneyworth or Rob Brown and Bob Errey
At 22 years old.in 1988..Lemieux did 168 points and the second best scorer with the Pens was Quinn with 79 points.
The year after Lemieux did 199 points in 76 games and the first power play unit was Lemieux Brown, Errey, Coffey and Taglianetti.....
Not exactly the Habs rester of the 70s..right....??
Lemieux was way better than Lafleur..way better.... come on.
Lemieux retired at 31...came back in 2000 in the dead puck era with Hasek Brodeur, Roy, Joseph, Belfour etc... in net and the trap, defensive systems etc ..... he was 35 years old when he came back and...scored....35......goals.....in 43 games......and 76 points.
Lafleur was a hell of a player but Lemieux was a martian...a generational player and I have seen them both at their prime...
Can you imagine that after 4 years retirement...at 35 years old in the dead puck era.....Lemieux scored at a better ratio than Lafleur at his prime..
Lemieux was just unreal
I know this isn't a strong argument but you just can't be considered generational when you only had 1 Hart. At least Crosby only having 2 has a very good excuseJagr has to be considered generational too.
In his prime years he played 5 vs 5 with Lemaire and Shutt.
In his prime years healthy Lemieux played 5 vs 5 with Dan Quinn and Randy Cunneyworth or Rob Brown and Bob Errey
At 22 years old.in 1988..Lemieux did 168 points and the second best scorer with the Pens was Quinn with 79 points.
The year after Lemieux did 199 points in 76 games and the first power play unit was Lemieux Brown, Errey, Coffey and Taglianetti.....
Not exactly the Habs rester of the 70s..right....??
Lemieux was way better than Lafleur..way better.... come on.
Lemieux retired at 31...came back in 2000 in the dead puck era with Hasek Brodeur, Roy, Joseph, Belfour etc... in net and the trap, defensive systems etc ..... he was 35 years old when he came back and...scored....35......goals.....in 43 games......and 76 points.
Lafleur was a hell of a player but Lemieux was a martian...a generational player and I have seen them both at their prime...
Can you imagine that after 4 years retirement...at 35 years old in the dead puck era.....Lemieux scored at a better ratio than Lafleur at his prime..
Lemieux was just unreal
AINECGenerational is an overrated term.
There’s 5 years since the 40s not covered in your list. There’s a guy who had 641 points and is +337 in 4 seasons in that stretch, far ahead of any other players including his linemates.The players I would call generational are (outside of goalies) : Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, Crosby and McDavid.
A tier below that, I would have the Ovechkin, Ray Bourque, Jagr, Lidstrom of this world.
I have watched hockey since about 72, I believe I have only personally seen four. Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux and now McDavid. I saw Howe at the tail end of his career so won't commit a comment.Generational is an overrated term.
I think of generational as one of the best of their generation at what they do, or one of the best of all time. So Lindstrom and Ovechkin are definitely generational for me. Jagr also. Bourque then also.The players I would call generational are (outside of goalies) : Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, Crosby and McDavid.
A tier below that, I would have the Ovechkin, Ray Bourque, Jagr, Lidstrom of this world.
DEMIDOV IS A FREAKING HABS
Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov
- Dach - Caufield
One more and the rebuild is over
Have we decided if Demidov has had a better career than Mario yet? Or has it only been Jagr/Ray Bourque level? I must have slept in.
I do wonder if he continues playing his off-wing though or if they will play him regular in the nhl (if he ever makes the roster)?
He's already chasing Gretzky's records. Ovi's already taken a backseat to Ivan right now.
What Lafleur did was unprecendented. Only Gretzky and Bossy managed six consecutive 50/100 seasons. Lafleur was the best player in the league and I don't think it's out of line to say 'generational'. He was also insanely good in the playoffs.Guy Lafleur was not a generational player.
Look around everywhere and nobody outside Montréal are saying that he was one.
Lafleur was done at 29.. Lafleur was the best player in the world in the mid 70s for about 5 years.
It s not because you are the best in the world for a time that a player is considered a generational player.
There is a difference between a star , franchise and generational player
Lafleur was a franchise player.
On all list by almost all experts in the world of hockey...those are the only generational players in history:
Howe
Orr
Gretzky
Lemieux
Crosby
Mcdavid
Thats it
The Rocket was not even close to be a generational player. He was the best scorer...thsts it...The dude never won the Art Ross.and he had less than 30 assists ler season...come on..
The players I would call generational are (outside of goalies) : Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, Crosby and McDavid.
A tier below that, I would have the Ovechkin, Ray Bourque, Jagr, Lidstrom of this world.
You spelled Doug Harvey wrong.My all-time Habs team:
Rocket-Beliveau-Lafleur
Robinson-Chelios
Roy
Is that Ivan “Rocket” Demidov at LW?My all-time Habs team:
Rocket-Beliveau-Lafleur
Robinson-Chelios
Roy