Gretzky can be compared to Lionel Messi. Another guy without the athletic look or steroid infused physique, but can still out do everyone else.
Is Gretzky the most physically underwhelming generational player?
- Thread starter Sweet Leaf
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Straight Fire
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Nathaniel
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- Oct 18, 2013
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I get a kick out of how some of these elite hockey players look, you'd never be able to pick them out of a crowd as world class athletes.
Guys like P.Kane, Kyle Turris, even guys like McDavid and Gretzky. Amazing how important raw talent is.
Guys like P.Kane, Kyle Turris, even guys like McDavid and Gretzky. Amazing how important raw talent is.
Tralfamadore
Don't Panic.
- Sep 25, 2011
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Helps that the goalies of his era were horrendous compared to today's goalie.
Gretzky was clearly at a level far beyond his peers though and his numbers speak for themself.
Gretzky was clearly at a level far beyond his peers though and his numbers speak for themself.
GlitchMarner
Warum ist die Welt so eine Bitch?
Where did I say that? I said he was fast enough when he destroying the League in the 1980s.
I'd like to see today's goalies with the same heavy minuscule equipment.
Techniques have improved, but a lot of that has to do with huge lightweight equipment where positioning cuts off 90% of the net.
And I'd like to see today's forwards using the same skates, ice, sticks, and pads as Gretzky and see how fast they are, and how great their shots are.
ottawa
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Gretzky didn't need physicality to succeed, I'm sure he knew he couldn't overpower guys. His high IQ and decent speed more than made up for his lack of strength to the point he didn't need to physically dominate the opposition.
Pair all that with the fact that he was basically untouchable because he had goons on his team ready to protect him, and that gives you the GOAT.
Pair all that with the fact that he was basically untouchable because he had goons on his team ready to protect him, and that gives you the GOAT.
Maybe I interrupted it incorrectly then.
Either way, when I watch Gretzky highlights it’s hard for me to say wow at anything he really did. I don’t think he’d be great in today’s game. Obviously, when you look at his numbers, it’s remarkable.
Tralfamadore
Don't Panic.
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All of that would be worth seeing I agree but it's the fundamentals and technique that are clearly lacking when compared to today.
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In 1998 he put up 90 points as a 37 year-old with a bad back. That put him first in assists and second in points behind Jagr and one point behind Forsberg.
He'd be great in today's game.
Mbraunm
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- Oct 19, 2016
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Quite honestly, with modern training Gretzky could easily keep up with today’s game. However, from an IQ, vision, anticipation and playmaking perspective there is currently no one in the world who comes remotely close to Gretzky.
If healthy and in his prime no one would be capable of beating him in terms of Art Ross trophies. Not even close.
If healthy and in his prime no one would be capable of beating him in terms of Art Ross trophies. Not even close.
People tried to hit Gretzky he was just very hard to hit and if you missed hitting him you were screwed. Players are in record saying they tried to hit him, just it was like trying to hit fog.
ottawa
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He was shifty and had eyes in the back of his head. Not sure why he was so hard to hit but it’s like he saw the game three steps ahead, imagine trying to hit someone like that?
ManofSteel55
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TDotMassive
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Helps to have a good team, but he dominated at every level of hockey his entire life, playing against kids much older than him... the separation between him and his peers is beyond what any athlete has ever achieved in any of the major North American sports. The GOAT of GOATS.
Exactly... It's not like the league experienced 100% turnover and was restocked with Spartan-like super athletes the moment Gretzky retired. If we did a venn diagram of players who were active in the late 90s and players who were active in the late aughts there would be significant overlap.
TDotMassive
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He knew where every skater was on the ice, and exactly where they were going... even before they knew themselves. Like a chess grandmaster, he was always several moves ahead of the play. He played in one of the most physical eras too...
Great points Lazlo. Oh wait, you didn’t make any?
You wouldn’t even know his name if he played in today’s NHL
Wrong, because if he grew up today he'd be even a better conditioned athlete. You have it backwards. There's a lot of guys today that wouldn't of been stars back in the day like Patrick Kane who is pretty much a perimeter player. I'd like to see Kane keep fighting back after getting squashed like a bug back in the day. He certainly wouldn't of had a long NHL career, that's for sure.
And Bust It Is
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Gretzky was the best transition player ever in the NHL. No player ever turned a play around faster and created more odd man rushes then Gretzky did. Not because he was the fastest, because he was the smartest. Nothing would be happening and the game would seem under control and suddenly Gretzky would have his team on a 2 on 1 or 3 on 1 sometimes multiple odd man rushes on one shift, and you would wonder how did that happen? A two goal lead would suddenly be a 1 goal deficit a few minutes later.
Kane would have lit the 80's NHL up. None of those flat footed dmen who could barely skate would have been able to lay a finger on him? But hey, we're all entitled to our own opinions
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