Bobby Orr vs. Connor McDavid : Who is/was the better skater?

[jcs0218]

In my opinion, these are the two greatest skaters in NHL history.

The two players who when in full flight make everyone else on the ice look like they aren't even moving.

Now, I understand that different eras means different equipment, different training, etc.

But relative to their peers in their respective eras, these two stand out in NHL history as being the absolute best skaters.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Orr was a better skater when speed wasn't involved in the play, could fool people with his footwork, quick turns / spin-o-ramas / lateral fakes when the play was stationary, on the offensive blueline, or when facing forecheckers in the defensive zone with the puck.

 

[VanIslander]

Orr skates obviously better...

McDavid is the better stickhandler.

 

[JackSlater]

I don't know, but relative to their peers Orr stood out more. I'm sure that advancements in skate technology over the last 50 years play a big part in that, in that it is now easier for mediocre players to be closer to McDavid in terms of skating than it was when Orr played.

 

[Summer Rose]

I don't know, but relative to their peers Orr stood out more. I'm sure that advancements in skate technology over the last 50 years play a big part in that, in that it is now easier for mediocre players to be closer to McDavid in terms of skating than it was when Orr played.

Pretty much my opinion, although admittedly what I know of Orr’s skating is based on recorded footage since I’m only 39. McDavid may or may not be a better overall skater necessarily, but Orr stood out from his peers more than McDavid does.

 

[NyQuil]

Head to head I think McDavid is the better skater.

Bobby himself would probably agree. There have been a lot of developments in training since the 70s.

I think I would give the same answer for a lot of recent players vs older players.

Shifts are shorter, the average player is faster.

Relative to their peers, Orr was probably better, but that’s not what was asked specifically in the question.

 

[Mrb1p]

Clearly Orr. Pit the #2 against either and its not even close.

Mackinnon/Hughes/Makar vs McDavid ?

Orr vs Perrault/Lafleur/Cournoyer/Mahovlich

Is it close ? Maybe in straight line speed.

Without thinking of it in a vacuum, its McDavid of course, he is the best skater the league has ever seen, but remove McDavid and Mackinnon/Makar/Hughes would all have a pretty fair shot at this too.

 

[seventieslord]

Is McDavid even the best skater of this generation? The fastest, sure. But Makar has a case for the best overall, when you consider his agility.

 

[koyvoo]

Only fair comparison if McDavid wears these

 

[GlitchMarner]

Is McDavid even the best skater of this generation? The fastest, sure. But Makar has a case for the best overall, when you consider his agility.

As much as people praise McDavid's skating, his ability to stickhandle around NHL defenders and players impresses me more.

The other night, he created a quality scoring chance for himself by carrying the puck into the Panthers' zone, undressing Ekblad (and making him look silly) and driving to the net.

How often do you see that at the NHL level? I mean... sure, in pre season or in random regular season games, you see it. But in the Stanley Cup Final when his team is trailing by a goal against a good defensive team? I can't imagine Matthews ever pulling off something like that or even seriously attempting to do so.

He did something similar in last year's SCF and set up Perry for an easy goal.

 

[tabness]

As a skater Coffey is tops above Orr and McDavid

Handling the puck at top speed it's McDavid above Coffey and Orr though, in that category you got like Mogilny and maybe Bure along with McDavid

 

[JackSlater]

As much as people praise McDavid's skating, his ability to stickhandle around NHL defenders and players impresses me more.

The other night, he created a quality scoring chance for himself by carrying the puck into the Panthers' zone, undressing Ekblad (and making him look silly) and driving to the net.

How often do you see that at the NHL level? I mean... sure, in pre season or in random regular season games, you see it. But in the Stanley Cup Final when his team is trailing by a goal against a good defensive team? I can't imagine Matthews ever pulling off something like that or even seriously attempting to do so.

He did something similar in last year's SCF and set up Perry for an easy goal.

If it was a comparison of who can make plays at high speeds it is McDavid and then everyone else, maybe Bure next.

 

[PistolPete]

Orr skates obviously better...

McDavid is the better stickhandler.

Ya think?

I don't know....some of the highlight clips of Orr where he's making pylons of his opponents are quite something..

 

[TrKB PAM]

Everyone is receiving elite hockey training from a young age now; it's doubtful anybody will lap their peers like we saw in the past. Orr would probably look like McDavid relative to the league, if he was playing today.

 

[authentic]

Orr was a better skater when speed wasn't involved in the play, could fool people with his footwork, quick turns / spin-o-ramas / lateral fakes when the play was stationary, on the offensive blueline, or when facing forecheckers in the defensive zone with the puck.

Orr skates obviously better...

McDavid is the better stickhandler.

I’m not so sure about this, McDavid’s lateral movement at top speed with the puck is easily the greatest of all-time, but of course Orr stood out more from his peers, many of whom appeared to be skating in cement.

 

[PistolPete]

I’m not so sure about this, McDavid’s lateral movement at top speed with the puck is easily the greatest of all-time, but of course Orr stood out more from his peers, many of whom appeared to be skating in cement.

Yeah. Many players were around who had questionable skating ability as teams tried to go for toughness all the time

 

[authentic]

Clearly Orr. Pit the #2 against either and its not even close.

Mackinnon/Hughes/Makar vs McDavid ?

Orr vs Perrault/Lafleur/Cournoyer/Mahovlich

Is it close ? Maybe in straight line speed.

Without thinking of it in a vacuum, its McDavid of course, he is the best skater the league has ever seen, but remove McDavid and Mackinnon/Makar/Hughes would all have a pretty fair shot at this too.

I don’t know, now that you mention it those guys were damn good skaters, Perrault actually very reminiscent of McDavid. Then there was Bobby Hull who came before who looked like he was shot out of a cannon.

Compared to your average skater though those guys were light years beyond a random 2nd/3rd or even 1st line player whereas today even 4th liners can fly.

 

[authentic]

As a skater Coffey is tops above Orr and McDavid

Handling the puck at top speed it's McDavid above Coffey and Orr though, in that category you got like Mogilny and maybe Bure along with McDavid

Yeah people forget about Coffey here, him just gliding would surpass 99% of the league in full flight. Straight up I don’t even think Orr was a better skater, but Orr before his knee injuries stood out from everyone else in a way we’ll never see again.

 

[tabness]

Yeah people forget about Coffey here, him just gliding would surpass 99% of the league in full flight. Straight up I don’t even think Orr was a better skater, but Orr before his knee injuries stood out from everyone else in a way we’ll never see again.

It was sort of a given that Coffey was even a better skater when Coffey was playing, both Orr but more importantly Orr's dad said so themselves lol (how you gonna do that to your kid?)

But Coffey's true greatness was contested, even was during his career, he doesn't get all his due. Orr is a mythologized part of the "big four" as it's termed on HF, seems to get larger than life the longer you go

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

McDavid is noticeably the best skater of his era, but Orr made the entire league look like they were stuck in mud. he would literally skate around and play keep away with the puck

 

[authentic]

Is McDavid even the best skater of this generation? The fastest, sure. But Makar has a case for the best overall, when you consider his agility.

 

[lextune]

Relative to the rest of the league, (the only way to compare eras), Orr was "better".

Coffey and Fedorov stood out the in the same way thaat McDavid does. None of them made the game look like Orr did.

 

[PistolPete]

It was sort of a given that Coffey was even a better skater when Coffey was playing, both Orr but more importantly Orr's dad said so themselves lol (how you gonna do that to your kid?)

But Coffey's true greatness was contested, even was during his career, he doesn't get all his due. Orr is a mythologized part of the "big four" as it's termed on HF, seems to get larger than life the longer you go

Isn't that baffling?

Dude set goal record and was a point off points record, had an amazing run from '82 to 86, but lost out on the Norris to Langway twice!

Was his defense so/so? Probably. But he was the rear engine of the greatest offensive team in history. Lemueux took off upon his arrival in Pittsburgh too. Coincidence? Maybe. But perhaps he pumped up those numbers even more for Lemieux