Mario Lemieux's under-appreciated 2002-2003 season

[Voight]

yes when the whole league was injured but ok

Oh yea the whole league was injured, especially Selanne (73 GP), Jagr (77 GP), Bure (82 GP), Forsberg (72 GP).

Sakic, Lindros and Kariya did miss significant time yes but plenty of other star players were healthy.

 

[MadLuke]

Oh yea the whole league was injured, especially Selanne (73 GP), Jagr (77 GP), Bure (82 GP), Forsberg (72 GP).

Sakic, Lindros and Kariya did miss significant time yes but plenty of other star players were healthy.

3 of the 4 named had more points making it a bit missing teeth (if we are talking about 1998).... yes those played, but had more points has well.

I think a better way to say Gretzky scored a lot and it was not an impression caused by the stars missing time is looking at the ppg ranking:


Points Per Game
1. Jaromír Jágr • PIT......1.32
2. Peter Forsberg* • COL...1.26
3. Teemu Selänne* • MDA....1.18
4. Mike Modano* • DAL......1.13
5. Pierre Turgeon* • STL...1.13
6. Eric Lindros* • PHI.....1.13
7. Pavel Bure* • VAN.......1.10
Wayne Gretzky* • NYR.......1.10
9. Brett Hull* • STL.......1.09
10. Ron Francis* • PIT.....1.07

​

Keeping up with Bure-Lindros at that age...

 

[The Panther]

Gretzky in 1997-98 is a tale of two guys. There's the suddenly washed-up looking Gretzky in the first half of the season. And then there's the rejuvenated Gretzky in the second half, who outscored everyone except a peak Jagr (and was outscored only slightly).

 

[WalterLundy]

You’re correct, I suppose my point more was just imagining what the best possible Lemieux could look like today, whether that had anything to do with his diet or not (likely far more to do with modern equipment and training) , I am just thinking of a Lemieux who is even more explosive than the 23 year old we saw with faster stickhandling and improved shooting mechanics. It would be something out of this world.

If we categorize the modern NHL as when scoring went up a bit we can get a good baseline for what Gretzky and Lemieux’s dominance would translate to over 82 full games in todays league by adjusting to these averages.

2017-18-2024-25 NHL league averages:
2.33 ESG, 0.61 PPG, 0.09 SHG

Modern peak full schedule Gretzky years:

Last 8 of 82-83 and full 83-84
82 GP: 72 G, 104 A, 176 P (2.15)
(83): 8 GP: 6 G, 14 A, 20 P
(84): 74 GP: 66 G, 90 A, 156 P

Gretzky:
Last 2 of 83-84 and full 84-85
82 GP: 59 G, 109 A, 168 P (2.05)
(84): 2 GP: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
(85): 80 GP: 57 G, 105 A, 162 P

Gretzky:
Last 2 of 84-85 and full 85-86
82 GP: 42 G, 126 A, 168 P (2.05)
(85): 2 GP: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P
(86): 80 GP: 41 G, 123 A, 164 P

Gretzky:
Last 2 of 80-81 and full 81-82
82 GP: 72 G, 94 A, 166 P (2.02)
(81): 2 GP: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
(82): 80 GP: 70 G, 90 A, 160 P

Modern peak full schedule Lemieux years:

Lemieux
Last 22 of 91-92 and full 92-93
82 GP: 71 G, 101 A, 172 P (2.10)
(92): 22 GP: 13 G, 29 A, 42 P
(93): 60 GP: 58 G, 72 A, 130 P

Lemieux
Last 6 of 87-88 and full 88-89
82 GP: 69 G, 94 A, 163 P (1.99)
(88): 6 GP: 6 G, 7 A, 13 P
(89): 76 GP: 63 G, 87 A, 150 P

In theory Gretzky and Lemieux should both be somewhere in the 160s or 170s in todays league. This is just what their stats would translate to though it’s hard to say that they’d put these up though with certainty even if they grew up in the 90s and 00s and played today. The league they dominated was still good but clearly weaker than today. They can lose another 10-20 points and still be as good as a McDavid so it’s safe to say they’d at least be up there with him.

Lemieux growing up and playing today would be crazy with the skill development. His stats would be a combination Auston Matthews goals and McDavid/Kucherov assists. His skill level on his frame today would be unreal. We can’t underestimate Wayne Gretzky though lol. He’d find a way to drop the biggest stats. His work ethic would do him wonders in today’s environment.