Most perfect career in hockey?

[iBlameGriff]

Who do you think have the best career in hockey ? The most obvious answer is Gretzky, but I tried to make a top 10. Best career ≠ Best players

1. Wayne Gretzky (4 Cups, 9 MVP, 2 Playoffs MVP)
2. Sidney Crosby (3 Cups, 2 MVP, 2 Playoffs MVP)
3. Gordie Howe (4 Cups, 6 MVP, 2 Playoffs MVP)
4. Jacques Plante (6 Cups, 3 FT, 1 MVP, 3 Playoffs MVP)
5. Patrick Roy (4 Cups, 3 Vezina, 3 Playoffs MVP)
6. Mark Messier (6 Cups, 2 MVP, 1 Playoffs MVP)
7. Jean Béliveau (10 Cups, 1 MVP, 1 Playoffs MVP)
8. Nicklas Lidstrom (3 Cups, 7 Norris, 1 Playoffs MVP)
9. Maurice Richard (8 Cups, 1 MVP, 1 Playoffs MVP)
10. Howie Morenz (2 Cups, 3 MVP, 3 Playoffs MVP)

For the pre 1965 Playoffs MVP , I use the retroactive list.

For pre 1981-82 goalies , I use All-Star First Teams instead of Vezina.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Uhh Wayne Gretzky. Case closed. If you had to stretch to find a blemish it’s that the Oilers won a cup post Gretzky (plus some of their guys won in New York) while Gretzky never won a cup post Oilers.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Bryan Trottier sneak in there? 6 Cups, 1 Hart, 1 Smythe

 

[WarriorofTime]

In terms of filling up the trophy case in a short career and then feeling there’s nothing left to do, Ken Dryden is up there. Bonus is a successful post hockey career.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Thought Potvin could be in the top 10, this list looks solid though.

 

[Nathaniel]

Where is lemieux?

 

[Romang67]

Career should include international accolades as well. It's the one big blemish on Roy's career, which is otherwise close to perfect.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Bobby Orr really should be part of this conversation.

Near the top.

 

[iBlameGriff]

Where is lemieux?

Lemieux had an insane peak (#2 all time) and fantastic prime (top 5 all time), but his lack of longevity, like Orr puts a dent in his career.

As mentioned I do not think best players necessarily equates to best careers. Lemieux is top 2-3 all time with Orr , but he just doesn’t strike me as having a top 10 career of all time due to him only playing 915 games which isn’t a lot for a forward.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Ken Dryden:

Played 8 seasons
6 Stanley Cups
Calder
Smythe
5 Vezinas

Sergei Makarov:

2x Olympic Gold, 1x Silver
8x WC gold
2x WJC gold
Challenge Cup gold
11x Soviet League champion
9x Soviet League points leader
10x Soviet League all star
Calder

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Ken Dryden:

Played 8 seasons
6 Stanley Cups
Calder
Smythe
5 Vezinas

Sergei Makarov:

2x Olympic Gold, 1x Silver
8x WC gold
2x WJC gold
Challenge Cup gold
11x Soviet League champion
9x Soviet League points leader
10x Soviet League all star
Calder

On a per-season basis I don't know that Dryden can be beaten. Showed up, won the cup and the Conn Smythe, then the Calder and 5 more cups, plus 5 Vezinas, then retired.

Ridiculous efficiency.

 

[Nathaniel]

Lemieux had an insane peak (#2 all time) and fantastic prime (top 5 all time), but his lack of longevity, like Orr puts a dent in his career.

As mentioned I do not think best players necessarily equates to best careers. Lemieux is top 2-3 all time with Orr , but he just doesn’t strike me as having a top 10 career of all time due to him only playing 915 games which isn’t a lot for a forward.

6 art ross, 3 harts, 4 lindsays, 3 richards, 2 smythes, 2 cups, 5 FT AS.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Lemieux had an insane peak (#2 all time) and fantastic prime (top 5 all time), but his lack of longevity, like Orr puts a dent in his career.

As mentioned I do not think best players necessarily equates to best careers. Lemieux is top 2-3 all time with Orr , but he just doesn’t strike me as having a top 10 career of all time due to him only playing 915 games which isn’t a lot for a forward.

Well the thread mentions "perfect" careers, and then switches to "best", so an argument can be made for both Lemieux and Orr since they still managed to accomplish everything a player CAN accomplish in the NHL.

Several times each.

I just don't see how two members universally acknowledged as being part of the Mount Rushmore of NHL greats, are supposedly ineligible in this thread.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Bobby Orr, 9 seasons (not counting the 30 total games over 3 years in Chicago).

9 years
8 Norris
3 Hart
2 Ross
2 Smythe
2 Cup
1 Pearson

And the cherry on top, in 1970 he won every possible trophy he could, Hart-Ross-Norris-Smythe-Cup

 

[Grifter3511]

In terms of filling up the trophy case in a short career and then feeling there’s nothing left to do, Ken Dryden is up there. Bonus is a successful post hockey career.

6 Cups, 5 Vezinas, 1 Calder and 1 Conn Smythe in 8 years.

I'd call that a perfect career.

 

[Nathaniel]

Bobby Orr, 9 seasons (not counting the 30 total games over 3 years in Chicago).

9 years
8 Norris
3 Hart
2 Ross
2 Smythe
2 Cup
1 Pearson

And the cherry on top, in 1970 he won every possible trophy he could, Hart-Ross-Norris-Smythe-Cup

Crazy he only won one Pearson.

 

[iBlameGriff]

Well the thread mentions "perfect" careers, and then switches to "best", so an argument can be made for both Lemieux and Orr since they still managed to accomplish everything a player CAN accomplish in the NHL.

Several times each.

I just don't see how two members universally acknowledged as being part of the Mount Rushmore of NHL greats, are supposedly ineligible in this thread.

I guess I value longevity higher than you in perfect careers. Crosby being a point per game player for 20 consecutive seasons really puts a lot of value here imo.

 

[Rec T]

So we're only grading careers by hardware earned?

What about those who came, played for several years, banked enough money to live the rest of their life comfortably (perhaps even setting up future generations), & retired with their body/brains intact without the chronic health issues that many players develop.

I'd consider that a real successful career.

/a lot harder to quantify than 'x' & 'y' awards earned, I'll certainly grant that

 

[iBlameGriff]

Ken Dryden:

Played 8 seasons
6 Stanley Cups
Calder
Smythe
5 Vezinas

Sergei Makarov:

2x Olympic Gold, 1x Silver
8x WC gold
2x WJC gold
Challenge Cup gold
11x Soviet League champion
9x Soviet League points leader
10x Soviet League all star
Calder

Too short of a career imo Dryden.

Bill Durnan had a similar career to Dryden with a higher prime and a higher peak, Dryden does have more cups though.

 

[ottawa]

Ken Dryden has to be it, sure he didn't have the longest career but he had the most accomplished one on a per season basis...what matters more than a cup?

He won 6 cups in 8 years with 5 Vezinas to go along with them!

 

[Jabba11]

Isn't the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win in all major sports?

The goal of a career is to win as many championship as possible. Some of the best players in history went on their entire career without lifting the Cup.

This question has many way to approach it. It's again about individual or team awards.

There is also NHL and international career etc.

If I were a player, I would want to win as many Stanley Cups as possible. It's the Holy Grail. The memories and bonds you make going through the hardship of the series with your teammates and friends. Win it all and the celebrations that come with it.

I would take any of the Habs Legends careers over Gretzky's. Especially when Gretzky lost to the Canadiens. That's a fond memory for sure.

For me, a player like Larry Robinson had a perfect career:
1384 games played
20 seasons in the NHL
Never missed the playoffs
6 Stanley Cups as a player
3 Stanley Cups as a coach (head coach/assistant coach)
1 Stanley Cup as scout
2 Norris Trophies
1 Conn Smythe
Ended the Broad Street Bullies dynasty
Integral Part of a 4 straight Stanley Cups dynasty
10x All Star
Finished 1st in history with a +722
1st in +/- in single season with +120
2x Canada Cup winner

I would take that over Gretzky anytime. Gretzky's goal scoring record will be beaten. Then most impressive would be his points. But I would give away his points to have 2 more Stanley Cups. Players play to win the Cup.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Isn't the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win in all major sports?

Based on what criteria? That’s just a marketing thing.

 

[Breakers]

I like Niedermayer

He has the full gambit of international awards
He has the trophy case
Norris
Conn smythe

 

[iBlameGriff]

Isn't the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win in all major sports?

The goal of a career is to win as many championship as possible. Some of the best players in history went on their entire career without lifting the Cup.

This question has many way to approach it. It's again about individual or team awards.

There is also NHL and international career etc.

If I were a player, I would want to win as many Stanley Cups as possible. It's the Holy Grail. The memories and bonds you make going through the hardship of the series with your teammates and friends. Win it all and the celebrations that come with it.

I would take any of the Habs Legends careers over Gretzky's. Especially when Gretzky lost to the Canadiens. That's a fond memory for sure.

For me, a player like Larry Robinson had a perfect career:
1384 games played
20 seasons in the NHL
Never missed the playoffs
6 Stanley Cups as a player
3 Stanley Cups as a coach (head coach/assistant coach)
1 Stanley Cup as scout
2 Norris Trophies
1 Conn Smythe
Ended the Broad Street Bullies dynasty
Integral Part of a 4 straight Stanley Cups dynasty
10x All Star
Finished 1st in history with a +722
1st in +/- in single season with +120
2x Canada Cup winner

I would take that over Gretzky anytime. Gretzky's goal scoring record will be beaten. Then most impressive would be his points. But I would give away his points to have 2 more Stanley Cups. Players play to win the Cup.

The hardest championship to win in major sport is the FIFA World Cup. No teams won more than 5. Historically I’d say the Super Bowl was harder than the Stanley Cup as well. No one is even close to having 24, even though I think today the Stanley Cup is harder to win than the Super Bowl

 

[K Fleur]

I say Beliveau.

10 cup wins, was a huge part of all of them, was team captain for many of them, in a high pressure situation for basically his whole career and handles himself with nothing but grace, and he even lead the playoffs in assists in his last run at 39.