Rank these 5 players from best to worst
- Thread starter Hawktime
- Start date
Crosby
Ovechkin
Sakic
Yzerman
Kane
Ovechkin
Sakic
Yzerman
Kane
GlitchMarner
There was a Glitch and my username was switched
Agreed. I don't see a huge gap between Crosby and Ovechkin (career-wise) or between Sakic and Yzerman, but this is how I'd rank the first four.
Kane is last by far.
Bear of Bad News
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The Panther
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(Haven't seen anyone else's responses yet.)
It's a good question, as this is a tough one. Ranking them as I usually do --- based on each guy at his best level --- I would go like this:
1. Crosby
2. Ovechkin
3a. Yzerman
3b. Sakic
3c. Kane
I know my ranking of Kane at 3(c) might rankle some people, and if you go by Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies, etc., then Kane has a strong argument to be 2 or 3 on this list. But I just don't feel that Kane, even at his best (which was great), was ever more than a really good, clutch one-dimensional player. I don't mean that as a diss of him; just that, the other four all brought extra aspects besides offense.
Michael Farkas
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Yeah, taking the question as I did, this is how I'd have it to.
I think there's some gap between Crosby and #2. I think 2, 3, and 4 are super tight. Kane is probably underrated on HoH, but seems to be a comfortable 5. That's probably the biggest gap on the board, between 4 and 5, I'd think.
JackSlater
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Moose Head
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The Panther
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We're all being kind of hard on Patty Kane, aren't we? I mean, I had him fifth also (sort of), but only by small degrees. Is he really a consensus last place here?
Just for fun, I'll make some points in Kane's defence:
-- won the Art Ross (Sakic &, Yzerman never did this)
-- For ten year period 2012-13 to 2021-22 he's 1st in NHL scoring
-- For four year-period 2015-16 to 2018-19 he's 1st in NHL scoring
-- For seven year-period 2015-16 to 2021-22 he's 2nd in NHL scoring (to McDavid at 1st)
-- Playoff stud with three 20+ point playoffs (incl. Conn Smythe in '13 and being 1st in scoring in '15)
I mean... you could make an argument for him over Sakic and Yzerman, but it's tough.
Just for fun, I'll make some points in Kane's defence:
-- won the Art Ross (Sakic &, Yzerman never did this)
-- For ten year period 2012-13 to 2021-22 he's 1st in NHL scoring
-- For four year-period 2015-16 to 2018-19 he's 1st in NHL scoring
-- For seven year-period 2015-16 to 2021-22 he's 2nd in NHL scoring (to McDavid at 1st)
-- Playoff stud with three 20+ point playoffs (incl. Conn Smythe in '13 and being 1st in scoring in '15)
I mean... you could make an argument for him over Sakic and Yzerman, but it's tough.
MadLuke
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Sakic is a Jagr away to be all that has well (he was first in the playoff from 96-02, second to Jagr in scoring for the 10 seasons window of 91-00, 92-01, 93-02, 94-03, 95-04,, 96-06, 97-07 and 98 to 08).
He was doing that while playing 2 minutes of PK a night, above average on the face off circle. And stayed elite a bit longer (10 top 10 versus 7 for Kane)
The gap is maybe not that big but clear enough that I do not see an argument for Kane > Sakic. If he got going into that elite level prime a bit earlier maybe he would have had an argument.
He was doing that while playing 2 minutes of PK a night, above average on the face off circle. And stayed elite a bit longer (10 top 10 versus 7 for Kane)
The gap is maybe not that big but clear enough that I do not see an argument for Kane > Sakic. If he got going into that elite level prime a bit earlier maybe he would have had an argument.
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This is exactly how I would have it.
Ovechkin is a great player but there's no way a one-dimensional winger carried more value than an elite two-way C producing roughly the same point totals.
MarkusNaslund19
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Poor Kane. He was excellent and an absolute monster on the big rink though likely not better than anyone on the list.
JackSlater
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It's not being hard on Kane that he just happens to be the obvious worst player listed. If there are five players, someone has to be fifth. If anything people are being somewhat hard on Ovechkin, at least by how I measure players.
Sentinel
Registered User
There is a difference between "best" and "greatest." Pound for pound, for "best", I'd go: Yzerman, Sakic, Crosby, Ovechkin, Kane.
But for "greatest" (based on their record of achievement), it's Ovechkin, Crosby, Yzerman, Sakic, Kane.
MadLuke
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So now there is a difference between what they could have done, when they play on the ice (best) and what they actually did (achievement) 
Everyone one else in the list is Top 11 all-time in points scored here
I think no one ridiculing his presence and taking time to put him on the list was in a way a nice honor, he was so good and a such a great career that it was not ridiculous to be in that type of list, but being below Steve Yzerman is not some insult.
Everyone one else in the list is Top 11 all-time in points scored here
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Michael Farkas
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One-dimensional as in:
Defense <-------> Offense spectrum. He is as far right as any player ever.
One-dimensional as in:
Passing/Playmaking <-----------> Shooting/Scoring. He is really, really pushing to the right here as well.
That is typically what is being referenced in terms of dimension. If folks want to garnish that with physicality, that's fine. Traditionally, that isn't really on the "dimension" spectrum. But it's a noteworthy thing that he did do...sure.
Defense <-------> Offense spectrum. He is as far right as any player ever.
One-dimensional as in:
Passing/Playmaking <-----------> Shooting/Scoring. He is really, really pushing to the right here as well.
That is typically what is being referenced in terms of dimension. If folks want to garnish that with physicality, that's fine. Traditionally, that isn't really on the "dimension" spectrum. But it's a noteworthy thing that he did do...sure.
Beliveau
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FerrisRox
"Wanna go, Prettyboy?"
1) Crosby
2) Ovechkin
3) Joe Sakic
4) Steve Yzerman
5) Patrick Kane
2) Ovechkin
3) Joe Sakic
4) Steve Yzerman
5) Patrick Kane
