How Great Would Gretzky Be If He Played In The Modern Era? (post-lockout)

[umma gumma]

I was thinking the same thing. There are some advantages he had that he wouldn't today.

1. He had McSorley watching his back, who would knock you the f*** out if you sneezed on him. Elite players today don't have that protection anymore. My guess is that he gets run a few times with clean hits and he tightens up on that stick.

2. Complete lack of defensive systems. It was shinny hockey back then compared to what's played today. As mentioned, he could afford to take his time behind the net. He tried that today he'd be ass-over-teakettle in a heartbeat.

3. The game is so much faster today. Yes, he had tremendous hockey IQ, but it helped that the game was much slower. I wonder how effective he would have been if he had less time to allow plays to develop. The players are in better shape (when he started out, players used to smoke in the locker rooms) and better prepared. Sure, he would have the advantages of better nutrition and better training, etc., but I think that would lead to the mean would catch up to him more than he pull away.

4. Goaltenders have improved exponentially. Be it the development of the butterfly, or the MASSIVE difference in equipment size, it's not as easy to score anymore. Back then you could see the net behind them, with ample space to shoot for. Now they block out the sun. Sure, skaters have had some developments, like modern composite sticks vs. wooden sticks. He had an accurate shot, but nit a string one. I don't think he benefits as much from the change.


He was head and shoulders above his peers (at least until Mario arrived). Where would he be today? Near the top no doubt, but I'm not sure he'd be as elite as he was.

1. Hilarious. McSorely was there because it was a vicious league. Today's stars don't need it because the game is much tamer. Wayne shared the ice with Lindros, Stephens, Shanahan, Tkachuck, Roberts, Probert, Domi, Potvin, etc... who were afraid of no one...why couldn't they run him? Easier said than done when the player already knows what you're thinking. Advantage Gretzky.

2. Don't kid yourself, its not like the league is filled with teams that play suffocating defense. There are plenty of defensive pairings to exploit. You could also get away with far more hooking and slashing in Wayne's day. They also had to deal with two-line off-side. The stretch pass is a big part of today's game; how would today's stars fair with two-line off side? I think their points would suffer. Removing the redline is advantage Gretzky.

3. He played in the 90s you know, with lots of talented Russians, Europeans, and Americans, and was still considered the best player along with Mario.

4. Some of goalies he played against were just as good if not better than what we have now; Hasek, Brodeur, Roy, Belfour, etc...If he could score against them he could do it no problem against the Korpisalos and Talbots of today's league, especially with today's sticks.

He would win Art Ross every year. By how much is anyone's guess, but he would not come under threat of losing it.

 

[tfwnogf]

Didn't Gretz smoke cigarettes during intermissions? Imagine chickpea pasta Gretzky - that dude would torch the league.

 

[pdavemoney]

Let's just look at the 97-98 season (1 or 2 years prior to retirement) when he was MAYBE half the player he was in his early 20s during the 80s.. He was essentially a Mitch Marner (25, 72) level scorer in a NHL that was harder to score in than todays NHL, while being a shell of his glory days. Jagr put up nearly 100 points in 60 something games. He was nowhere near prime Gretz levels. Kariya put up McDavid numbers, 99 points in 69 games. Kariya wouldn't even be able to hold Gretz jockstrap if the Great One has been 22 years old instead of 37. These players would admit this themselves. And we know all those players can hang with the best players of today, based on their play against others coming up after them. It's not even guess work. Wayne would be the best player in today's NHL.