Is Gretzky the most physically underwhelming generational player?

[NDiesel]

Just proves that you dont have to be a beast of an athlete to be a good player.

Marner, while hes obv no Gtretsky, is another example of very physically underwhelming player who has elite level talent.

Gaudreau too. They are probably the only two players I would stand a chance against in a fight

 

[NDiesel]

No mate, opinions can’t be wrong. Sorry bruh mate?

In my opinion Crosby is the worst player in hockey history.

 

[Roof Daddy]

Interesting that I didn't see anyone mention one of the things Gretzky did better than anyone - selling the fake shot. I don't know if it's because of the over exaggerated wind up he used to unleash those sneaky-heavy rockets he could fire, but when he faked the slapper he almost always had everyone bite on it. Could be that his elite awareness just processed space and time so that he only used it in the right situation, but he could just freeze the opposition with those fakes.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Bruh, I don’t want to hear it, just because some lame ass Swedes like the Sedins could dominate the league for a few seasons, while being relatively weak and supah smaht, doesn’t mean that Gretzky would be worth a spot now.

True words bruh, nobody with a birthday before 92’ even knows how to skate like a pro today.

Fedorov would be toe to toe with McDavid,and McDavid can fly.

 

[Ducks in a row]

No mate, opinions can’t be wrong. Sorry bruh mate?

In my opinion your opinion about opinions can't be wrong is wrong.

So my opinion can't be wrong according to your logic.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion no matter how stupid it is and how wrong it is.

 

[sabrebuild]

Fedorov would be toe to toe with McDavid,and McDavid can fly.

Just sarcasm, for the crazy dude. I think Bure is the fastest skater with power that I have ever seen including McDavid.

Bure was an animal.

 

[4thlineduster]

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.

You can’t compare him to today’s game in that sense. Had he grown up being borderline genetically enhanced (diet plans, workout regimes, education being worked around being on the ice twice a day etc) like todays young players he would be head and shoulders above them.

Times were different back then, but what isn’t different is the amount of raw talent they possessed. Modern science has just learned how to refine it these days which makes current day players “appear” to be better than previous generations.

 

[Price is Wright]

First page mentioned his pivoting ability but I'll repeat. Gretzky could turn on a dime and lose next to no acceleration. Never seen a player come close even today. The moment he knew the play was going another way he was going the right way.

 

[TDotMassive]

Is this a Poe's Law situation or something or is it part of the bit? I can't tell anymore.

Isn't that what makes the internet so wonderful? Now, was that sarcasm? I'm not even sure, what about that last sentence? Hard to tell... damn internet! LOL!!

 

[TDotMassive]

First page mentioned his pivoting ability but I'll repeat. Gretzky could turn on a dime and lose next to no acceleration. Never seen a player come close even today. The moment he knew the play was going another way he was going the right way.

And since he was always mentally 4 steps ahead of the rest of the game, he was usually headed in the right direction long before anyone else...

 

[aborkie]

He was slight of build yes, but maybe that benefitted his overall skating. It's a game of quickness after all. He could turn on a dime and get to loose pucks.

 

[Shareefruck]

Isn't that what makes the internet so wonderful? Now, was that sarcasm? I'm not even sure, what about that last sentence? Hard to tell... damn internet! LOL!!

I was mocking PittsburghPens8771's terrible argument about Gretzky pretty much word for word as well as his use of words like "bruh". This was right after I criticized his arguments for a few pages, so I didn't think it would go over anyone's head or be taken out of context (tried to use italics to make that a little more obvious). On top of that, I guess you kind of forget when you venture into the main board that other posters aren't familiar with your actual usual persona that doesn't speak like that.

 

[Goulet17]

 

[Goulet17]

I suppose this may be more arguable, since Bird was blessed with 6'9" height

 

[JianYang]

Gretzky's raw skillset gets underrated around here. He wasn't the fastest guy but he could definitely wheel. Had good speed and was fast enough and was great on his edges like Crosby is. Great stick handler and had a bomb of a slapshot.

Yeah, he didn't stickhandle through guys, but he did have that edgework to buy him more time and space. You can argue that this is a part of stickhandling, regardless.

As for the question of whether he was the most underwhelming player physically, I think the answer has to be yes.

The oilers were a match made in heaven for him. He had a wonderful supporting cast, both in skill, and policing, that let him focus on what he does best, and that is think the game.

 

[Panda Bear]

came here to post this, Thats like the best best NHL player destroying Christiano Ronaldo in a sprint, has better aim then Floyd Mayweather, etc etc. Gretzky was simply the greatest.

When was this, 1980? Pele was 40.

 

[shazariahl]

Interesting that I didn't see anyone mention one of the things Gretzky did better than anyone - selling the fake shot. I don't know if it's because of the over exaggerated wind up he used to unleash those sneaky-heavy rockets he could fire, but when he faked the slapper he almost always had everyone bite on it. Could be that his elite awareness just processed space and time so that he only used it in the right situation, but he could just freeze the opposition with those fakes.

Excellent point.

I've said this before, but Gretzky really played the game like a stage magician performing magic. He was all sleight of hand and misdirection. He'd pass when everyone thought shoot, shoot when they thought pass, he'd skate laterally across the ice and pull the two d-men into the same territory, then pass back to the empty space that now had an open teammate in it, or just pull the Dman across the goalie's vision, use him as a screen, and shoot back against the goalie's momentum. Sometimes he'd cross the blueline, change gears, and beat the Dmen, other times he'd curl back and find a trailing teammate... he was ridiculous. Like you said, he'd fake his slapper ALL THE TIME, freeze everyone, then either pass, or just move in closer and then use the slapper, or move in and deke, he was just out-thinking everyone else all the time.

And let's not forget how crazy accurate his shot was. I'm sure there were dozens of guys who shot harder, but Gretzky had decent power combined with amazing accuracy and an ability to shoot while moving left/right which I've rarely seen anyone else do so consistently.

 

[North Cole]

Great points Lazlo. Oh wait, you didn’t make any?

You wouldn’t even know his name if he played in today’s NHL

This doesn't make any sense. He told you how many points he was scoring in the DPE...against prime Jagr who won 4 Art Ross'. The same jagr who was still scoring 60+at 40 years old in today's league.....

You can't criticize him for not making a point when you're just shooting off at the mouth and saying nothing but an unfounded opinion. You yourself have said nothing worth while.

-"You wouldn't know his name.."
-"I dont think he'd be great in today's game"

Useless platitudes. What's the evidence for these statements, besides your own fantasies? And you cant cop out with, "it's my opinion". You countered a refutation of your opinion by claiming someone made no points. Which means you must be making a point, or concede you are a hypocrite.

I'd sarcastically congratulate you on making a great point; however, not only did fail to make a point yourself, but it would have been wrong even if you hadn't.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

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

Kane wishes he was half the player Gretzky was. Why is it always Penguins fans with these absurd claims? Hmm, I wonder, but I can't seem to put my finger on it.

 

[Mbraunm]

In the book, “Facing Wayne Gretzky”, opposing defensemen and coaches discuss their experiences of playing against Gretzky.
The common theme was that he was too intelligent to shut down. The problem was that they were going up against a player with incredible speed or physical traits.
The main problem was that Gretzky played hockey like a master chess champion and on a purely cognitive level, it was a distressing experience for opposing coaches and defencemen to deal with.
He was always thinking far ahead of everyone else. Teams that devised strategies to contain him were often defeated because Gretz recognised and figured out these strategies within the first few shifts. He then proceeded to use their strategy against them they s making fools of them. Then, when opposing coaches adjusted, Wayne already anticipated these adjustments and would adjust his game accordingly-often immediately.
It was like chess professionals playing against a master champion. I have never seen such a mentally gifted player before or since.

Physically, he was underwhelming but it didn’t matter. Gretzky played the game more like chess than hockey.