HFAvs Ranks: The 50 Greatest Avalanche Players - #2

[Ceremony]

Results so far:
#1 - Joe Sakic

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I've had an idea. Let's decide who the greatest players in Avalanche history are.

• You decide what "greatest" means.
• Only judge players based on their Avalanche careers. This means no extra points for Sakic's time with the Nordiques, or Ray Bourque's time with the Bruins.
• Poll will be open for a few days.
• Each time you vote, suggest a player who should be added for the next round.
• If there's no consensus on who should be added I'll just pick the next player who's played the most games.
• Here's a list of everyone: Colorado Avalanche all-time player list at hockeydb.com

Milan Hejduk (1998-2013)	Adam Foote (1995-04, 2008-11)	Gabriel Landeskog (2011-present)	Nathan MacKinnon (2013-present)	Peter Forsberg (1995-2004, 2008, 2011)	Patrick Roy (1995-2003)	Cale Makar (2018-present)
Games Played: 1020	Games played: 760	Games played: 738	Games played: 709	Games played: 544	Games played: 478	Games played: 238
Goals: 375	Goals: 48	Goals: 248	Goals: 284	Goals: 202	I forgot goalies would screw the table up	Goals: 65
Assists: 430	Assists: 173	Assists: 323	Assists: 475	Assists: 503	Wins: 262	Assists: 181
Points: 805	Points: 221	Points: 571	Points: 759	Points: 705	Shutouts: 37	Points: 246
Awards: Stanley Cup (2001), Rocket Richard Trophy (2003)	Awards: Stanley Cup (1996, 2001)	Awards: Stanley Cup (2022), Calder Trophy (2012)	Awards: Stanley Cup (2022), Calder Trophy (2014), Lady Byng Trophy (2020)	Awards: Stanley Cup (1996, 2001), Hart Trophy (2003)	Awards: Stanley Cup (1996, 2001), Conn Smythe Trophy (2001)	Awards: Stanley Cup (2022), Conn Smythe Trophy (2022), Norris Trophy (2022)

Foote is the first new name added after Sakic won the first poll. This and future polls will take place over 2 days, rather than 3.

Click to read more...

 

[henchman21]

This is where it gets interesting. You have Roy who was arguably the best goalie of all time and was key in the first 2 Cups. His high level of play allowed the first years in Colorado to really establish a fanbase and the team. Without Roy, I don't think the Avs win the first two Cup. Foppa was the much higher flash player... but was never able to stay healthy. At his peak, he's the best player to ever put on the uniform. We just rarely got to see the peak. We are about 2 years too early, but Makar will be in this conversation soon.

 

[GeoRox89]

Here comes the controversy

 

[The Abusement Park]

This is a tough one. As far as impact goes it’s pretty similar but Roy’s was more consistent than Foppas.

 

[ASmileyFace]

For me it comes down to 2001, and without Roy stealing game 6 the Avs never win that cup.

Sorry Foppa, third place is pretty good too.

 

[Perratrooper]

Went Forsberg over Roy just because anyone who thinks of Foppa thinks of Colorado, the same isn’t necessarily true for Roy.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Went Forsberg over Roy just because anyone who thinks of Foppa thinks of Colorado, the same isn’t necessarily true for Roy.

First team that comes to mind when I think of Forsberg is the Predators easily.

 

[Hasbro]

Roy #2 to match the Stanley Cups plugging his ears.

 

[pont]

I went with Forsberg as the number 2, though it was tough with Roy in the mix. I can remember being at the Pepsi Center and how the crowd would rise to its feet when Forsberg hit the ice when he was in the zone. So fun to watch.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I went with Forsberg as the number 2, though it was tough with Roy in the mix. I can remember being at the Pepsi Center and how the crowd would rise to its feet when Forsberg hit the ice and was in the zone. So fun to watch.

I'd get chills when the TV would zoom in on him during a faceoff and you could see "the look". There was something in his eyes that were just absolutely piecing on those nights he was on. Knowing what I know today, it was probably the effects of blow, but I digress.

 

[MacKaRant]

Shaping up to be a close one. I went Forsberg over Roy because Forsberg had much better stickhandling than Roy.

 

[atreyuavenged]

So tough. Could literally go either way.

 

[BoneCherry]

In a top 3 world with Sakic as #1, then Foppa/Roy are a virtual tie at #2. Good cases for either. It's hard to rank current players while they are playing. Makar is likely to be anywhere in the top 5 when he's finished playing. Same with Mack.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Went with Foppa but it is very, very close for me.

 

[Bonzai12]

Add Blake

 

[GeoRox89]

Shout out to the person who picked Foote. Genuinely curious to hear the reasoning for that assuming they really do have him ahead of Foppa & Roy

Agreed on adding Blake to the next round that almost certainly will see whichever of Foppa and Roy doesn’t win this round win that one in a (near) clean sweep

 

[dahrougem2]

Went with Forsberg, could be swayed on Roy.

Surprised at the lack of votes for MacKinnon, though. He's been IMO a top-5 player in the NHL for the last 6 seasons now, was integral to the Avs winning the Stanley Cup and has the statistics to warrant consideration - though PPG Forsberg is better.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Voted Roy. Not sure who the add should be. Drury? Blake? Ozo?

 

[The Abusement Park]

Went with Forsberg, could be swayed on Roy.

Surprised at the lack of votes for MacKinnon, though. He's been IMO a top-5 player in the NHL for the last 6 seasons now, was integral to the Avs winning the Stanley Cup and has the statistics to warrant consideration - though PPG Forsberg is better.

He’s still behind Foppa and Roy for me. They were best in the league players at their best(potentially best ever in their position in Roy’s case). I think there’s a pretty good argument for Makar over Mack as well, or at least there will be in a couple seasons time at the latest.

 

[henchman21]

Makar over MacK... Makar is arguably the major factor of getting this team over the hump. He's also won the bigger awards (Smythe and Norris), he's higher up the food chain at his position, and is in the debate for top 3 player in the world. MacK has some longevity over Makar with 6 extra seasons, but only 2 of those were at a high level.

 

[Ceremony]

I have two questions

Since it's obvious Roy and Forsberg are going to be #2 and #3, is it worth making a poll for #3 or should I go straight to #4?

Are the people suggesting Blake be added next assuming Rantanen is on the poll already, or forgetting he exists? To me the current core has achieved enough and been successful long enough that they eclipse the non-core players from 95-04. I also think MacKinnon and Makar will be easily ahead of Forsberg and Roy by the end of their careers, even if they don't win another cup and assuming they're both here another ~5 years at least.

 

[BoneCherry]

I have two questions

Since it's obvious Roy and Forsberg are going to be #2 and #3, is it worth making a poll for #3 or should I go straight to #4?

Are the people suggesting Blake be added next assuming Rantanen is on the poll already, or forgetting he exists? To me the current core has achieved enough and been successful long enough that they eclipse the non-core players from 95-04. I also think MacKinnon and Makar will be easily ahead of Forsberg and Roy by the end of their careers, even if they don't win another cup and assuming they're both here another ~5 years at least.

The #3 poll will add continuity. I'd say go for it even if we can guess the winner.

I think Blake is a decent add starting at #3, and the reason for that is where the falloff point is on great players. I personally probably wouldn't put Blake at #4, but I can see considering him. We will soon run into Blake, Deadmarsh, Lemieux, and Yelle, too. (Did anyone block shots better than Yelle?)

I expect it will be a joy to watch Mack/Makar achieve their ascension in Avalanche history, but they must do it and so we must wait.

 

[dahrougem2]

Makar over MacK... Makar is arguably the major factor of getting this team over the hump. He's also won the bigger awards (Smythe and Norris), he's higher up the food chain at his position, and is in the debate for top 3 player in the world. MacK has some longevity over Makar with 6 extra seasons, but only 2 of those were at a high level.

MacKinnon has been a top-5 player in the game longer than Makar has, and honestly the only reason MacKinnon doesn't have a Hart to his name already is because Connor McDavid exists. Cale Makar doesn't have to deal with that guy when going for the Norris.

Makar probably has the better career if he hits his high trajectory, but as of now it's MacKinnon.

 

[henchman21]

MacKinnon has been a top-5 player in the game longer than Makar has, and honestly the only reason MacKinnon doesn't have a Hart to his name already is because Connor McDavid exists. Cale Makar doesn't have to deal with that guy when going for the Norris.

Makar probably has the better career if he hits his high trajectory, but as of now it's MacKinnon.

McDavid isn't the reason MacK doesn't have a Hart... Hall is. MacK has finished 2nd in the voting twice, neither time he lost to McDavid.

To me, Makar has more hardware to his name already, just as much playoff success, never had a legit down year, and is debatably the better player over the last 3 seasons.

 

[GeoRox89]

Keep poll 3

I did not notice Rantanen wasn’t already there. While clearly the order will be different for different people, seems like the overwhelming majority will have Sakic/Foppa/Roy/Mack/Makar as the top 5. As long as Rantanen and Blake are in for poll 6 not sure it really matters which order they’re added in