Former Ducks (2024-25 edition)

[mightyquack]

I love Ryan Getzlaf, but this seems like an insane take to me. Thornton not only outproduced Getzlaf significantly on a season by season basis, but he also did it for longer. And while Getzlaf's playoff production partially makes up for it, it doesn't quite get him all the way there. Thornton was just better.

From 2006 (when Getzlaf was a full time NHL player) to 2022 (when both players retired), Getzlaf had 980 points in 1,100 games (0.89 ppg) while Thornton had 993 in 1,124 games (0.88 ppg).

Obviously that cuts out some of Thornton's better years (02/03, 05/06)...but they were pretty much dead even when they were in the NHL at the same time.

Thornton has a lot more total points obviously, but he had seven more NHL seasons and Getzlaf hit the cliff early unfortunately. But they were pretty close when they were both playing in the NHL at the same time (and on a PPG basis), along with Getzlaf being significantly better in the playoffs.

I'd take Getzlaf 10 times out of 10 over Thornton as a player, but Thornton will get into the HOF first unfortunately.

 

[JAHV]

From 2006 (when Getzlaf was a full time NHL player) to 2022 (when both players retired), Getzlaf had 980 points in 1,100 games (0.89 ppg) while Thornton had 993 in 1,124 games (0.88 ppg).

Obviously that cuts out some of Thornton's better years (02/03, 05/06)...but they were pretty much dead even when they were in the NHL at the same time.

Thornton has a lot more total points obviously, but he had seven more NHL seasons and Getzlaf hit the cliff early unfortunately. But they were pretty close when they were both playing in the NHL at the same time (and on a PPG basis), along with Getzlaf being significantly better in the playoffs.

I'd take Getzlaf 10 times out of 10 over Thornton as a player, but Thornton will get into the HOF first unfortunately.

This is still crazy. If I could rephrase your argument, it's something like: "When I remove one player's MVP season plus a bunch of his other very productive seasons and ignore the fact that he played longer, they're basically the same guy, so give me the other one all day long."

Also, yes, Getzlaf was better in the playoffs, but Thornton wasn't a slouch. He still put up 134 points in 187 games, and that rate is hurt significantly by his age 39-42 seasons when Getzlaf wasn't even playing.

I love Getzlaf. He's my second favorite player of all time behind only Teemu. He was fantastic for the Ducks and I can't wait to see his number retired and I'm hopeful we'll see him inducted into the Hall. Conversely, I hated Thornton when he played. But there's no way to look at their careers and conclude Getzlaf's was better without severe Ducks bias.

 

[mightyquack]

This is still crazy. If I could rephrase your argument, it's something like: "When I remove one player's MVP season plus a bunch of his other very productive seasons and ignore the fact that he played longer, they're basically the same guy, so give me the other one all day long."

Also, yes, Getzlaf was better in the playoffs, but Thornton wasn't a slouch. He still put up 134 points in 187 games, and that rate is hurt significantly by his age 39-42 seasons when Getzlaf wasn't even playing.

I love Getzlaf. He's my second favorite player of all time behind only Teemu. He was fantastic for the Ducks and I can't wait to see his number retired and I'm hopeful we'll see him inducted into the Hall. Conversely, I hated Thornton when he played. But there's no way to look at their careers and conclude Getzlaf's was better without severe Ducks bias.

I literally said that is taking a couple of his best seasons out because Getzlaf wasn't in the NHL at the time . You can throw a comparison from Thornton's start of his career to when Getzlaf and Thornton finished their career, and their PPG is 0.90 v 0.88 in Thornton's favour. It is literally nothing between them. Obiovusly Thornton has more points as he played for seven more seasons....

Thornton's playoff rate is certainly not hurt significantly by his age 39-42 seasons, even if you want to take out his last 3 playoff campaigns. He goes from 0.72ppg in the playoffs to 0.76ppg. Still miles under Getzlaf's 0.96ppg. Heck, you take out Thornton's last 3 playoff campaigns, Getzlaf would have 3 points less with 35 less games played in the playoffs. Thornton was terrible in the playoffs (including a huge choke in the 2016 SCF) no matter how you shape it, and one of the worst playoff performers when it comes to elite players in the modern NHL.

I never said Getzlaf had a better career, though I bet Thornton would rather have a Cup then a Hart Trophy, I said I'd take Getzlaf as a player over Thornton 10 times out of 10. Thornton is a luxury player who welted as the main player when it mattered, while Getzlaf elevated his play, that's why Getzlaf was the better player.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

I take both Kopitar and Getzlaf over Thornton.
Winning the cup is the #1 goal ultimately. Its the end game. Thornton got the captaincy taken away from him because he was not a leader when it mattered. They are up 3 games to none over the Kings and they lose the series 3-4 in 2014 and then they took away him being Captain. Todd McLellan shares some of the blame as well though.

Then before that there was the Presidents Trophy Sharks in 2009 that couldn't even get out of the first round to the 8th seed Ducks. Seems like everywhere Todd McLellan goes his teams choke as it happened to him in Edmonton and LA.

 

[JAHV]

I literally said that is taking a couple of his best seasons out because Getzlaf wasn't in the NHL at the time . You can throw a comparison from Thornton's start of his career to when Getzlaf and Thornton finished their career, and their PPG is 0.90 v 0.88 in Thornton's favour. It is literally nothing between them. Obiovusly Thornton has more points as he played for seven more seasons

Right, those seven more seasons are incredibly valuable and prove that Thornton was the better player. That's like removing the best five seasons from Getzlaf's career and then saying that he's basically Steve Rucchin but Rucchin scored that OT playoff goal that one time so I'm taking Rucchin 10 out of 10 times. It's nonsense.

You can like Getzlaf better. I certainly do. We're all Duck fans. It's cool. But there is no legitimate argument that Getzlaf was a better player or is more deserving of the Hall of Fame. In order to make that argument you have to change history by removing seven seasons from a guy's career and pretend that winning a Stanley Cup is solely due to the one guy on the roster you happen to be making a case for.

 

[Terry Yake]

thornton was the better player and had the better career. don't think there's any question about that

getzlaf was the better playoff performer though

 

[Rybread86]

Heres the rub, this is the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame. You have to look beyond just their years in the NHL. International play, juniors, etc.

One of the best arguments for Getzlaf is has virtually won everything there is to win outside of individual rewards. And Crosby might be the only reason Getzlaf doesnt have a Hart.

If Getzlaf isnt a 1st ballot guy, then I kinda of hope they do what they did with Selanne and PK. Wait until Perry is eligible and induct them in the same class.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Yeah agree that Thornton was just better than Getz, Getz just never reached that level offensively, too many scoreless nights. When he was at his best, he was just as good and more effective than Joe but he wasn't really at that level for long stretches, came out more in the playoffs than in the RS.

Osgood just isn't a HOFer imo. Only has notoriety because he was on elite teams, put him on an average team and he's just another Patrick Lalime.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Head to head I’d take Getzlaf over Thornton 10 times out of 10. On the same ice it’s clear who the better player was.

Thornton had a real shiny career though.

 

[JAHV]

Getzlaf was an elite player. He was a great distributor, he was tough, he was good internationally, he was good in the playoffs, he was good defensively. He's a borderline Hall of Famer simply because he wasn't quite productive enough to be a slam dunk, but he was fantastic for a long time and I think he deserves to go in.

There is no way to look at their careers and say Getzlaf was better. That's not a slight on Getzlaf. Thornton was one of the best centers to ever play the game. He had five seasons with more points than Getzlaf's best.

 

[Terry Yake]

Getzlaf was an elite player. He was a great distributor, he was tough, he was good internationally, he was good in the playoffs, he was good defensively. He's a borderline Hall of Famer simply because he wasn't quite productive enough to be a slam dunk, but he was fantastic for a long time and I think he deserves to go in.

There is no way to look at their careers and say Getzlaf was better. That's not a slight on Getzlaf. Thornton was one of the best centers to ever play the game. He had five seasons with more points than Getzlaf's best.

agree with your points, except that i don't think there's any debate that getzlaf will get into the HOF. won't be first ballot like thornton will likely be, but he's 100% getting in

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Thornton is the best Craig Janney there ever was!