Best 10 Players Of The Original Six Era?

[DitchMarner]

After the Brooklyn Americans folded in 1942, reducing the NHL to six teams, the League didn't grow in size until 1967.

Who are the 10 best players from the Original six era?

Consider all players who played in the NHL between the 1942-1943 and 1966-1967 seasons, and base your list on careers rather than on what players did only during the O6 era.

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[JaymzB]

Not including Orr or Esposito, because IMO they are not O6 players, despite playing some season(s) during the time period (sorry OP).

Gordie Howe
Jean Beliveau
Bobby Hull
Doug Harvey
Maurice Richard
Jacques Plante
Terry Sawchuck
Red Kelly
Stan Mikita
Ted Lindsay

 

[tony d]

1. Howe
2. Beliveau
3. Harvey
4. Hull
5. Mikita
6. Richard
7. Kelly
8. Lindsay
9. Sawchuk
10. Plante

 

[Canadiens1958]

1.Howe
2.Harvey
3.Beliveau
4.B.Hull
5.M.Richard
6.Kelly
7.Plante
8.Kennedy
9.Sawchuk
10.H.Richard

 

[DannyGallivan]

After the Brooklyn Americans folded in 1942, reducing the NHL to six teams, the League didn't grow in size until 1967.

Who are the 10 best players from the Original six era?

Consider all players who played in the NHL between the 1942-1943 and 1966-1967 seasons, and base your list on careers rather than on what players did only during the O6 era.

I won't include goalies, because their position is far too different.

1. Gordie Howe
2. Jean Beliveau
3. Bobby Hull
4. Maurice Richard
5. Doug Harvey
6. Red Kelly
7. Ted Lindsay
8. Stan Mikita
9. Pierre Pilote
10. Elmer Lach

Runner ups: Max/Doug Bentley

 

[VanIslander]

If you have neither Bernie nor Glenn then you are out to lunch.

Jacques, Terry, Ted and Elmer before them. Make a case for one(possibly),... otherwise, ... (*headshake*).

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I won't include goalies, because their position is far too different.

1. Gordie Howe
2. Jean Beliveau
3. Bobby Hull
4. Maurice Richard
5. Doug Harvey
6. Red Kelly
7. Ted Lindsay
8. Stan Mikita
9. Pierre Pilote
10. Elmer Lach

Runner ups: Max/Doug Bentley

if you're excluding goalies then Milt Schmidt needs to be in there.

a Hart, a Ross, 3x AS-1 and thats with losing 3 prime years (age 24, 25, 26) to fighting in WW2

 

[VanIslander]

Glenn Hall vs. Bobby Hull for the O6 era is a slam dunk in the goalie's favor. Seriously, this thread asks you to look up to 1967. There is no contest.

 

[DannyGallivan]

if you're excluding goalies then Milt Schmidt needs to be in there.

a Hart, a Ross, 3x AS-1 and thats with losing 3 prime years (age 24, 25, 26) to fighting in WW2

Yes. He should be there. Somewhere. But so do the Bentleys, and I've always found Lach's legacy to be underrated. Perhaps I'd move Pilote out of the top 10.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

so far the only players listed who played significant time in the 1940s are rocket richard, teeder kennedy, elmer lach, milt schmidt if goalies aren't included, the bentleys as honourable mentions, and i guess ted lindsay. can the vast majority of the greatest O6 players really be post-1950s guys (which basically lindsay is as well)?

 

[JackSlater]

so far the only players listed who played significant time in the 1940s are rocket richard, teeder kennedy, elmer lach, milt schmidt if goalies aren't included, the bentleys as honourable mentions, and i guess ted lindsay. can the vast majority of the greatest O6 players really be post-1950s guys (which basically lindsay is as well)?

18 of the 25 O6 seasons are 1949-50 or later, and the NHL was clearly weakened during WW2. That the vast majority comes from the fifties or sixties isn't exactly outlandish.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

1. Gordie Howe
2. Jean Beliveau
3. Maurice Richard
4. Bobby Hull
5. Doug Harvey
6. Jacques Plante
7. Red Kelly
8. Stan Mikita
9. Glenn Hall
10. Terry Sawchuk

HM: Henri Richard, Ted Lindsay

 

[pappyline]

1. Gordie Howe
2.Bobby Hull
3.Rocket Richard
4.Doug Harvey
5.Jean Beliveau
6.Jacques Plante
7,Stan Mikita
8.Red Lelly
9.Terry Sawchuk
10.Glen Hall

HM:Milt Schmidt, Syl Apps, Max Bentley