Filthy Dangles
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- Oct 23, 2014
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Kane obviously better careee because team accomplishments and health but who was the better player in peak/prime?
I really do believe Kariya played during the worst time possible and imo he would have been considered one of the greats if he played in any other era. Probably not as good but I think his peak would have been right up their with the Mcdavids and the Crosbys
I think this is a great question. It's difficult to compare them, because their situations are so different, but Kariya was a pretty fantastic player. He just didn't come into the league at the best time, and he certainly didn't have the same advantages of playing on a great team like Kane.
I'm inclined to say Kariya was better, because he had multiple 100 point seasons in the dead puck era. I think his totals are more impressive.
1996 and 1997 were high scoring seasosons at 3.14 and 2.92 goals per game respectively. Although in 99 in dipped a bit to 2.63. Kane's 100 point season was in a 2.71 goals per game league scoring season.
So Kane probably would have had another 100 point season or two if he played in Paul's era.
Not necessarily. Kane would have had to deal with defensemen being able to practically bear hug players to slow them down. It goes beyond just scoring totals. There is a reason the bigger and less mobile defensemen were so effective, and it wasn't because there was no speed in the NHL.
There were more powerplays and superstars played 25 minutes a night back in the DPE as well.1996 and 1997 were high scoring seasosons at 3.14 and 2.92 goals per game respectively. Although in 99 in dipped a bit to 2.63. Kane's 100 point season was in a 2.71 goals per game league scoring season.
So Kane probably would have had another 100 point season or two if he played in Paul's era.
I could agree with that. And I'm sure you could agree with the notion that Paul would've had to deal with a league with more parity and more systems/defense based approach with better goaltending and fewer minutes played for the top players.
Goes both ways. But in both cases it's impossible to say what would have happened if both players swtiched shoes so you can only do so much with the comparison.
Their adjusted numbers are pretty damn close.
I really do believe Kariya played during the worst time possible and imo he would have been considered one of the greats if he played in any other era. Probably not as good but I think his peak would have been right up their with the Mcdavids and the Crosbys
Okay maybe but I could see him being in that top 5 forward discussion year in and year out for sure, with a maybe a year or two being up for the hart discussionYeah DPE and Scott Stevens style hits tough for him. Made for the modern era. Think the McDavid and Crosby statement is a step too far tho.
Yeah DPE and Scott Stevens style hits tough for him. Made for the modern era. Think the McDavid and Crosby statement is a step too far tho.