Generational Talents

[Lafleurs Guy]

Rocket Richard
Gordie Howe
Doug Harvey
Bobby Hull
Dominik Hasek
Lindros (unfulfilled)
Ovechkin
Crosby
McDavid

I think Guy Lafleur would qualify. Six year peak thats otherworldly including the playoffs. Ken Dryden has an insane shorter career.

So many are on the cusp - from the 80s onward: Bossy, Messier, Bourque, Yzerman, Sakic, Lidstrom... Yzerman was absolutely insane over a six year stretch but it’s overshadowed by Gretz/Lemieux.

 

[SladeWilson23]

Regarding the 80's it's hard to argue that Mike Bossy didn't produce ahead of the curve. Gretzky and Lemieux produced ahead to curve by bigger margins than Bossy did, but I do believe Bossy still did produce ahead of the curve.

No other player did score 50+ goals 9 straight seasons like Bossy did. That is a fact.

Bossy being the 4th fastest to 1000 can't be ignored. Bossy scoring 50 goals 9 straight seasons can't be ignored.

Remember that Gretzky, Lemieux, and Bossy weren't the only ones playing during the 80's.

Does that make Bossy generational? I guess it depends.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Regarding the 80's it's hard to argue that Mike Bossy didn't produce ahead of the curve. Gretzky and Lemieux produced ahead to curve by bigger margins than Bossy did, but I do believe Bossy still did produce ahead of the curve.

No other player did score 50+ goals 9 straight seasons like Bossy did. That is a fact.

Bossy being the 4th fastest to 1000 can't be ignored. Bossy scoring 50 goals 9 straight seasons can't be ignored.

Remember that Gretzky, Lemieux, and Bossy weren't the only ones playing during the 80's.

Does that make Bossy generational? I guess it depends.

I’d have no issue with someone who said he was. Same with Lafleur.

Messier, Yzerman, Sakic… not quite but close. Yzerman’s injury in 94 turned him from borderline generational to merely fantastic. That guy was unreal especially considering the clubs he was on. Only misses the Lafleur 6x 50/100 by a couple of goals in one of those seasons. He was spectacular.

 

[SladeWilson23]

I’d have no issue with someone who said he was. Same with Lafleur.

Messier, Yzerman, Sakic… not quite but close. Yzerman’s injury in 94 turned him from borderline generational to merely fantastic. That guy was unreal especially considering the clubs he was on. Only misses the Lafleur 6x 50/100 by a couple of goals in one of those seasons. He was spectacular.

If I remember correctly, Yzerman has the highest point total in a season for any player not named Gretzky or Lemieux.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If I remember correctly, Yzerman has the highest point total in a season for any player not named Gretzky or Lemieux.

Correct. The previous year he missed like 20 games and still managed to get 50/100+ and in 1990 he had a Hart caliber season on a terrible club. He was a phenomenal player. Was never the same after that knee injury though.

Players like Sakic and Jagr aged better as they got older but Yzerman at his peak was just one notch below Gretz/Mario. I think prime Yzerman would give McDavid a serious run for his money.