Maybe one day Kucherov Stamkos?I loved both of them and I don't think there's been a duo quite as fun since.
[mod] but Kariya was a better player than Selanne. He is being humble and thanking his best friend. Like anyone with a good heart would.
I am certain most people who talk crap about Kariya did not even follow him while he was playing in the 90s. He made a terrible Ducks team enjoyable to watch for a long time. It reminded me of how Joe Sakic did that in Quebec for a couple years. In the 90s, aside from Selanne's rookie season, it was clear that Kariya was a notch above Selanne talent wise. A lot of people were talking about him as a budding Gretzky (which was a little too much, but it shows how admired he was). His career was derailed by bad luck: concussions that proved to be severe. He still managed to end his career at 1ppg. If not for those head injuries he would have had over 1ppg and finished his time in the NHL among the top 30 points getters.
I am very happy that Paul made it to the HHoF. Whatever he says, he deserved to be there on his own merit.
P.S.: Selanne was great too, of course. But for the guy who mentioned him winning a cup... well yea, he did with a MUCH better Ducks team than Kariya ever had.
Silly premise for this thread.
In his prime before the concussions Kariya was astounding and every bit as good if not better then selanne(personally i think he was more talented all around offensively then Teemu)kariya was Jon Gaudreau before Jon Gaudreau, I think he was a touch better then him too.
Such a shame what happened, one of the funnest guys to watch I ever saw in his heyday.
But great players and both helped each other, Selanne never carried Kariya nor vice versa.
Yep, superior top end speed to Gaudreau.He was Gaudreau but faster and with a much better shot.
Yep, superior top end speed to Gaudreau.
I think Gaudreaus shot measures up well to his though aside from the better Kariya slap shot.
I love Gaudreaus game but I think Kariya was even better, can you imagine him playing now with the way they are calling the game today?
He would be a nightmare for opposing teams out there.
Kariya wrist shot was something Johnny could dream about, much better.
Teemu was a complete player and Kariya was 1 dimensional.
Exciting but 1 dimensional.
Geez, man. He just got into tho HOF. What’s your vandetta? Did he kick your dog or something?Many here on HF Boards seem to think that Paul Kariya was super elite and that he was on par with Teemu Selanne. Some have even tried to push the false narrative that he's superior to Selanne. Personally I've always been of the opinion that Kariya was Robin and Selanne was Batman. Or if we put it in hockey terms, Kariya was Marleau and Selanne was Thonton.
But now that Kariya made the hall of fame he finally admits in his speech that he wouldn't have made it without Selanne: Highlights from Hockey Hall of Fame speeches
Kariya said the following about Selanne: "And Teemu, I simply would not be standing here tonight if I didn't get the chance to play with you."
Truer Words have never been spoken.
Selanne of course thanked Kariya too but he never said he wouldn't have made the hall without him.
This is the most idiotic hot take I've read today. So, congrats.Many here on HF Boards seem to think that Paul Kariya was super elite and that he was on par with Teemu Selanne. Some have even tried to push the false narrative that he's superior to Selanne. Personally I've always been of the opinion that Kariya was Robin and Selanne was Batman. Or if we put it in hockey terms, Kariya was Marleau and Selanne was Thonton.
But now that Kariya made the hall of fame he finally admits in his speech that he wouldn't have made it without Selanne: Highlights from Hockey Hall of Fame speeches
Kariya said the following about Selanne: "And Teemu, I simply would not be standing here tonight if I didn't get the chance to play with you."
Truer Words have never been spoken.
Selanne of course thanked Kariya too but he never said he wouldn't have made the hall without him.
Teemu was a complete player and Kariya was 1 dimensional.
Exciting but 1 dimensional.
The dates I put include only their seasons together. Except I made the mistake of including the full 95-96 season for Kariya, but Selanne only got there for the last 20-something games of the season.
Either way, their stats together are pretty much identical.
He joined during his sophomore year and scored at a lesser pace than he did in Winnipeg that season, and had nearly the same stats as Kariya during their time together in Anaheim. Also did you not watch them play? Did one stand out to you or look like they were carrying the other? Part of what made them such a great duo was not only their great chemistry but how equal they were to one another in speed, skill and hockey IQ. Similar to what we've seen with Stamkos/St. Louis and now Stamkos/Kucherov.
Selanne was overrated.