I think there's big difference between original six era and 1888. You won't hear me slandering Howe either.
The idea (in my opinion, at least) is that stars were stars because they could transcend era. There is no watershed moment in history where all the sudden the stars of previous eras (in their primes) suddenly couldn't compete. We can take this to another thread if you wish, since the evidence will require the use of currently undrafted players, but you can make an overlapping chain of players active star players from 1881 to present day.
You said you like Howe- alright, we can work from there a little bit. Howe debuted in 1946-1947. Milt Schmidt was second in Hart voting that year. He was in the midst of a career that began in 36-37 and ended in 54-55.
So we are back to 1936-37. Babe Siebert won the Hart that year, in the midst of a care that spanned from 25-26 to 37-38.
Alright, let's go back to 1925-1926. Frank Nighbor was in the midst of his career that began in 1912-13 and didn't end until 1929-30.
Guys like Newsy Lalonde, Joe Malone, Didier Pitre, Clint Benedict, etc were in the 1912-13 NHA. Newsy Lalonde debuted in the FAHL in 1904-05. Pitre in the 1904 FAHL season. Guys active in 1904? Russell Bowie, Frank McGee, Lester Patrick, Moose Johnson, Hod Stuart, Tommy Phillips. Stuart and Bowie go back to 1899. And there is an undrafted who played in 1899 who debuted (I think) in 1881.
And that is just working with guys who are already drafted and off the top of my head. There are dozens of players who fill in gaps.
Like there's a big difference between 1888 and 1918.
Nobody here is drafting anyone from 1888. Paton was a marginal candidate in the oldest era HOH project.
Jack Campbell debuted in 1885- I did draft someone who was active in 1888.
