Looking Back: Doug Gilmour

[The Cheat]

Doug Gilmour played for the Blues, Flames, Maple Leafs, Devils, Blackhawks, Sabres, Canadians, and then back to the Leafs for 1 last game between 1983 through the 02-03 season.

Where would Doug stand with today's style of play? Who would he be closest to in today's NHL? Could he still be the dominant player he was back when Don Cherry declared him the "Best player in the world" back in 93? Would he still be as popular with the Toronto Maple Leafs? Which team would he fit in with, and who would be his best linemates?

Here's some stats:

Regular Season:
Games: 1474
Goals: 450
Assists: 964
Points: 1414

Playoffs:
Games: 182
Goals : 60
Assists: 128
Points: 188

Doug is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, holds the record for the fastest back to back shorthanded goals (4 seconds), twice elected to the All Star game and won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 89.

Click to read more...

 

[JackHughes86]

gilmour was one my favorite players

 

[ColdSteel2]

I think he would be just fine today. The stats may have been a little down due to the speed of the game today and skating not being his strong suit. Still though, his hockey IQ, determination and quickness in space would still be elite level and more than enough for him to pile up points. I'd say a consistent PPG player with good defense. Toews would be a good comparison.

I'd love to see him between two big bodied goal scorers like Ryan and Perry.

 

[kmad]

Gilmour today would be Jonathan Toews

 

[ponder]

I think his game would translate very well. I feel like he'd be similar to Zach Parise, but a bit more skilled, with a bit more nastiness/anger, and more of a playoff performer. I think he'd be a star, a top 10 player in the game, though not a Crosby/Malkin level player. He would be an incredibly awesome fit with the Leafs.

 

[Eisen]

He would still translate very well imho.
He was declared best player in the world by Cherry? He must love him.

 

[Big Phil]

Gilmour would be more or less the same player today. He'd have some peak seasons and would never mail it in during the playoffs. Somewhere you figure he still wins a Cup and I think he's a clear HHOFer this day and age as well

 

[tfong]

For some reason the image of Danny Brierie came to mind with a tougher edge.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Gilmour today would be Jonathan Toews

I see the similarities, but I'd say Gilmour is a better playmaker and Toews a better goal scorer.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

giroux?

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Claude Giroux!

giroux?

Beaten to it.

 

[LeBlondeDemon10]

He was closer to Bobby Clarke than he is to any player today.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Like everyone else who has commented, I think he'd be an extremely good player in today's NHL.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Patrice Bergeron with more offense. Perhaps if Bergeron hadn't had the concussion problems he could have been near Gilmours equal.

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

Claude Giroux has said that Doug Gilmour (and Steve Yzerman) was his favorite player.

When I watch Gilmour highlights I see the same tenacity and playmaking abilities that I see when I watch Giroux today.

Giroux isn't quite Selke worthy yet but he's still young and is no slouch defensively and especially on the PK. Giroux is also a huge playoff/big game performer

They are also both listed as about the same height and weight

 

[pdd]

Gilmour today would be Jonathan Toews

He was closer to Bobby Clarke than he is to any player today.

Patrice Bergeron with more offense. Perhaps if Bergeron hadn't had the concussion problems he could have been near Gilmours equal.

There's an important distinction between Toews, Clarke, and Bergeron vs. Gilmour; the first three contended for Selke in years other than outlier career seasons. Gilmour's Selke win in 1993 and subequent runner-up finish in 1994 were artifacts of his offensive performances those two years.

Realistically, Gilmour was a good but not great offensive center with a gritty, physical game, good faceoff skills, and a strong but not elite defensive game. LA seems to have the two best comparisons in Kopitar and Richards.

 

[charliolemieux]

There ain't nobody like Dougie in todays game.

 

[DisgruntledGoat*]

There's an important distinction between Toews, Clarke, and Bergeron vs. Gilmour; the first three contended for Selke in years other than outlier career seasons. Gilmour's Selke win in 1993 and subequent runner-up finish in 1994 were artifacts of his offensive performances those two years.

Realistically, Gilmour was a good but not great offensive center with a gritty, physical game, good faceoff skills, and a strong but not elite defensive game. LA seems to have the two best comparisons in Kopitar and Richards.

Absolutely ridiculous and untrue.

Gilmour was elite defensively throughout his career.


Laughable and bias post.

 

[pdd]

Absolutely ridiculous and untrue.

Gilmour was elite defensively throughout his career.

Laughable and bias post.

1992-93 and 1993-94 were the only seasons Gilmour was a serious contender for the Selke. He showed up in voting other years with a couple of votes, but never significantly.

Toews, Bergeron, and Clarke were/are consistently challenging for that top spot. Richards is closer because his Selke nom came in an offensive peak, just like Gilmour.

 

[tony d]

Gilmour was such a great player during his time. His 1993 playoff run with Toronto was one of the best runs by any hockey player in history. I compare him to Jonathan Toews.

 

[pdd]

Gilmour was such a great player during his time. His 1993 playoff run with Toronto was one of the best runs by any hockey player in history.

No.

Just looking at the best forward from each playoff year, and not considering Gretzky in 93, Gilmour's 93 is clearly bested by Lemieux's 91 and 92, Bure in 94, and Sakic in 1996. Fedorov in 95 and 97, Yzerman in 98, and Forsberg in 99 are less clear as to who was better.

But your statement might be better as "His 1993 playoff run with Toronto was one of the best runs by any forward in the 1990s." Not nearly as dramatic or epic sounding... but far more accurate.

 

[Hardyvan123]

I think he would be just fine today. The stats may have been a little down due to the speed of the game today and skating not being his strong suit. Still though, his hockey IQ, determination and quickness in space would still be elite level and more than enough for him to pile up points. I'd say a consistent PPG player with good defense. Toews would be a good comparison.

I'd love to see him between two big bodied goal scorers like Ryan and Perry.

He would need two finishers like that to be close to PPG.

Gilmour today would be Jonathan Toews

I see the similarities, but I'd say Gilmour is a better playmaker and Toews a better goal scorer.

Toews is quite a bit better in goal scoring although Doug is the better play maker I'm not sold on his top 10 player status today.

At his peak sure but Doug had some just okay maybe top 20 seasons as well.

Comps are always a little incomplete though.

 

[BraveCanadian]

No.

Just looking at the best forward from each playoff year, and not considering Gretzky in 93, Gilmour's 93 is clearly bested by Lemieux's 91 and 92, Bure in 94, and Sakic in 1996. Fedorov in 95 and 97, Yzerman in 98, and Forsberg in 99 are less clear as to who was better.

But your statement might be better as "His 1993 playoff run with Toronto was one of the best runs by any forward in the 1990s." Not nearly as dramatic or epic sounding... but far more accurate.

No.

Gilmour in 1993 was at a Gretzky/Lemieux level of impact on games and his own team.

I haven't seen all the playoff runs of all time, but Gilmour's 1993 stacks up with any that I have seen and surpasses most.

Just finished reading your other posts, particularly the one about Gilmour's defense compared to Toews and Bergeron.. lol. Oh boy. Obviously I am wasting my time pushing back because Gilmour must have taken your lunch money or something.

 

[whatname]

Pretty hard to figure out a player with the all around game of Dougie, I'd like to say Mike Richards but still not really that close. Maybe just a bit like Datsyuk, but Pavel's offence style is different while Gilmour was more physical. He'd be a top 10 centre in today's game without a doubt.

 

[Its not your fault]

He would still translate very well imho.
He was declared best player in the world by Cherry? He must love him.

In 93. Yzerman and Roenick would have been his competition.

No.

Gilmour in 1993 was at a Gretzky/Lemieux level of impact on games and his own team.

I haven't seen all the playoff runs of all time, but Gilmour's 1993 stacks up with any that I have seen and surpasses most.

Just finished reading your other posts, particularly the one about Gilmour's defense compared to Toews and Bergeron.. lol. Oh boy. Obviously I am wasting my time pushing back because Gilmour must have taken your lunch money or something.

This is probably still true today.