Drop Lindros to tier below and put Crosby up.
He’s absolutely generational. Without a doubt.
Ovechkin’s dominance over time should also be considered. That kind of longevity isn’t going to be seen for a long time.
Agree with Ovechkin and probably Jagr too as well as Howe Richard Hull and Beliveau as these guys were game changers for a long long time that revolutionized hockey.
Broduer in the goalie class is close but i always struggle with how much that team was built for him to succeed vs how much better he was. Roy was pretty special too and changed how the game was played and created a wave of French Canadian goalies looking to emulate him. That cannot be overlooked through his volatility.
Hasek from 96 to 2002 was as impactful as almost anyone ever. His 97/98 and 98/99 seasons are both top 5 all time seasons ever by a player. Even internationally he was untouchable as he posted a .961 sv% and won the Czechs Olympic Gold. I guess the only reason i dont include him as generational is because he took awhile to get going and played in the dead puck era but if any 2 players knock on that door to join 4-99-66-87 and 97 it's Hasek and Ovechkin and i still struggle with McDavid just because he hasn't won and has fell flat so many times in playoff hockey.
Peter Forsberg had the worst luck of any player starting his career in 94 just as the dead puck era emerged in full swing. I like to bet if he was born 10yrs earlier he would be mentioned more amongst the greatest players or even if he played today.
Even though there was rule changes the 05-2017 seasons didnt really see an uptick in scoring league wide which between the Neuro issues marginalized Crosby's scoring. If he was a healthy prime aged player today he would be right with McDavid and MacKinnon scoring wise and bettering them head to head. The head to head series between a young Crosby and Ovechkin had to be the most dominated by 2 skaters i ever remember.
Anyway Crosby is easily in for me. More countries and players, better goalies, better trained with better defensive systems to stop players like him in a low scoring era until 2018 when he was 31 and he just cleaned up on everyone. Mem Cup Triple Gold Club 3 Stanley Cups 3 MVPs 2 Conn Smythe's and he missed 3 seasons 23 24 and 25 that would have likely been amongst his best individually.