This is a fantastic mix of hockey legends across more than a century of the sport—from early 1900s icons to modern-day stars. If these players were somehow in the same room, their conversations would reflect admiration, curiosity, and possibly surprise at how the game has evolved. Here's a fun and historically informed imagining of what might happen, especially around who remembers whom:
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Joe Malone (1910s):
"So you're still using six skaters, eh?"
(He nods at Cale Makar, impressed.)
"You remind me of a rover the way you skate, son."
Newsy Lalonde and Didier Pitre exchange a knowing look:
"Back in our day, the puck was square by the end of the third."
Paul Kariya to Teemu Selanne:
"You know they still talk about our chemistry in Anaheim, right?"
Selanne laughs: "We'd still score on these guys—no offense."
Norm Ullman to Darryl Sittler:
"That 10-point game of yours? I thought they were joking!"
Sittler: "You scored more than me overall, Norm. Let’s call it even."
Herbie Lewis, Marty Barry, and Larry Aurie sit together like old Red Wings war buddies, sharing stories about Jack Adams yelling in the locker room.
Frank Finnigan to Tim Horton:
"You were a rock out there. But man, what’s with the coffee shops?"
Tim Horton, deadpan: "A guy’s gotta plan for retirement, right?"
Tommy Smith to Joe Malone:
"Can you believe they don’t even have a rover anymore?"
Malone: "Unbelievable. And helmets! What happened to grit?"
Butch Goring to Bob Nevin:
"You were clutch with the Rangers. But I’ll take my Cups on the Island."
Slava Fetisov to Doug Wilson:
"You were one of the best rush D-men. Now you manage a team. Hockey gods smile on us, no?"
Wilson, smiling: "Didn’t have the Iron Curtain to deal with, Slava. Respect."
Hap Day to Tiny Thompson:
"How’d you stay so calm in net with no mask?"
Tiny: "Same way you stayed calm on defense—prayer and luck."
Patrick Roy interrupts:
"Tiny, no offense—but the butterfly changed everything."
Roy winks at Cale Makar: "This kid would’ve had 150 points in my era."
Artemi Panarin, a bit overwhelmed, to the room:
"I read about most of you. Legends. But hey—who else made the KHL-to-NHL leap?"
Fetisov nods proudly: "You followed a path we cleared. Keep dazzling."
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Who remembers whom?
The early 1900s players (Malone, Lalonde, Pitre, Smith) would remember each other well—some even played together.
Players from the 1930s–1950s (Lewis, Barry, Aurie, Thompson, Day, Finnigan) would be familiar within their cohort.
The 1970s–90s players (Ullman, Sittler, Goring, Nevin, Roy, Wilson, Horton) would have seen each other on the ice or coaching.
Modern stars like Cale Makar and Panarin likely know of the legends but aren't remembered by them (unless we imagine some hockey afterlife).
Fetisov bridges the Soviet-era greats and the NHL transition, and might recognize Roy, Wilson, and Panarin especially.
Want this turned into a short script or dialogue?
