Adam Oates would be tearing up today's NHL.

[habsfanatics*]

Oates was and is great a great playmaker, there's nothing more to it. Unfortunately he was not much more than an all-time great playmaker when summoning up his whole deal.

One of the best playmakers ever.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Oates was and is great a great playmaker, there's nothing more to it. Unfortunately he was not much more than an all-time great playmaker when summoning up his whole deal.

He was all-time great at taking faceoffs, which is something.

 

[Hardyvan123]

He was all-time great at taking faceoffs, which is something.

yoda does have a point his 45 and 32 goal seasons are huge aberrations in his career.

even adjusted those seasons of 37 and 29 stand out over his next best 24,23,22,21,21 then 19.

oates compares very henrik sedin like with better peak goal scoring and peak and prime play making.

 

[Pominville Knows]

So, was he really better than Joe Thornton? Big Joe was and in some ways still are a very elite player though as we all know.

 

[Hardyvan123]

So, was he really better than Joe Thornton? Big Joe was and in some ways still are a very elite player though as we all know.

Joe isn't done yet but if the top centers of all time project were done today I'm betting that Adam would be ahead of Joe on most lists.

Joe has a pretty good case though and can bridge the gap as well depending on how he ages.

 

[pdd]

Another major difference -- unlike early-career Yzerman, Crosby has a reputation for being well-rounded and dominating all three zones. I can't even remember the last time someone complained about him floating.

Yzerman first started receiving Selke votes in his fifth season (1987-88). What's Crosby's Selke status?

I am afraid I will disagree.

Cameron Michael Neely had quite impressive offensive stats before Adam Oates joined him at the Boston Bruins club.

Yes, but not close to what he would do after he was put with Oates. Especially considering that the Samuelsson hit occurred in the playoffs the year before Oates was acquired. So Oates never had a healthy Neely.

Combine that with the fact that Neely was already working with one of the league's best passers in Craig Janney, and his offensive improvement with Oates is that much more impressive.

Joe isn't done yet but if the top centers of all time project were done today I'm betting that Adam would be ahead of Joe on most lists.

Outside of the five players who actually achieved 150 points in a single season, Oates is the only player since 1945 to have an 80-game pace of 150+ points. From 89-90 through 93-94, only Gretzky scored more points. Only Gretzky and Lemieux had higher PPG; due to what I call "the Carson effect" Oates managed to eke 0.02 points ahead of Yzerman and LaFontaine for that time period (if you include 88-89, things change in dramatic fashion).

Oates>Thornton is pretty easily justifiable.

 

[Hardyvan123]

Outside of the five players who actually achieved 150 points in a single season, Oates is the only player since 1945 to have an 80-game pace of 150+ points. From 89-90 through 93-94, only Gretzky scored more points. Only Gretzky and Lemieux had higher PPG; due to what I call "the Carson effect" Oates managed to eke 0.02 points ahead of Yzerman and LaFontaine for that time period (if you include 88-89, things change in dramatic fashion).

Oates>Thornton is pretty easily justifiable.

Yet Oates never played for Canada internationally. while the competition for playing international between Adam and Joe has been different Joe has done quite well in this regard playing 3 times for Canada in best on best tournaments.

I'm not sure how they are going to compare when it's all said and done but Oates can be viewed as more of a great assists compiler than a guy you want to build your team around.

I'm sure this will come up in the top centers project but what exactly was Oates highest rank as a center in his career or as the best player in the world?

At least Joe has a Hart, which is usually held in high regard when comparing players.