Rick Nash Or Peter Bondra?

[SuperScript29]

Definitely Bondra, Nash was a good player, but overrated.

 

[tarheelhockey]

FWIW, Bondra was also a decent defensive player. Not a Selke candidate by any means, but the 90s Caps were a defensive minded team under Schoenfeld and Wilson, so it’s not like Bondra was out there cherry-picking. He played regularly on the PK.

One of the big questions in his career is whether he could have been more of an assist generator. In his early years under Terry Murray his goal:assist ratio was pretty normative and he had a 48-assist season to his name. That was when the Caps had Ciccarelli, Dmitri Kristich was at his best, and they had Hatcher/Iafrate bombing goals from the blue line. Under Schoenfeld it was pretty much just Bondra, and the assists disappeared (I haven’t checked but 34-9 probably won the Cy Young in 1995). I wonder if in an alternate timeline he becomes a better rounded scorer/playmaker like a Fedorov, who was well coached and surrounded by passing targets.

 

[GRob83]

FWIW, Bondra was also a decent defensive player. Not a Selke candidate by any means, but the 90s Caps were a defensive minded team under Schoenfeld and Wilson, so it’s not like Bondra was out there cherry-picking. He played regularly on the PK.

One of the big questions in his career is whether he could have been more of an assist generator. In his early years under Terry Murray his goal:assist ratio was pretty normative and he had a 48-assist season to his name. That was when the Caps had Ciccarelli, Dmitri Kristich was at his best, and they had Hatcher/Iafrate bombing goals from the blue line. Under Schoenfeld it was pretty much just Bondra, and the assists disappeared (I haven’t checked but 34-9 probably won the Cy Young in 1995). I wonder if in an alternate timeline he becomes a better rounded scorer/playmaker like a Fedorov, who was well coached and surrounded by passing targets.

He was the shorthanded goals leader from 94-04 (dead-puck era) as well. He would literally score 40-50 goals and the next highest scoring Capital would have around 20. On the mid-late 90's Capitals he was THE passing option. His skillset would have translated favorably to the current NHL and he would likely be among the leagues best goal scorers.

 

[Larry Hanson]

Special Agent Peter Bondra, loved that guy.

 

[Voight]

Nash was downright awful in the playoffs. Dude turned into a pumpkin.

Look no further than 2014. 10 points in 25 games is pitiful for a top line player.

Bondra in comparison scored 12 points in 17 games when the Caps made the finals.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Bondra as a goal scorer, but my memory of Bondra was that he always just a one way player, a pure goal scorer. I would let someone with a better memory of him correct me.

Nah, Bondra was pretty good in his own zone, and was a regular on the PK.

He didn't compete for selkes, but I wouldn't call him one way.

Good poll, I voted for Bondra but the two are pretty close.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Bondra, was a dominant goal scorer for a longer period (~500 career goals). Nash at his best was difficult to stop but a shorter peak, he did evolve his game over time.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Bondra easily. And I don’t meant that as a slight to Nash, who was a very good player. But Bondra was just that slight bit more of a threat.

I agree with this, Bondra had more impressive numbers, but Nash never had an Oates, Pivonka, or hell even 75% checked out Jagr towards the end. I guess he had Vyborny but...

I mean in Nash's peak.

 

[ZDH]

Forgot all about Bondra tbh.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Bondra and its not even a contest

 

[Albatros]

I agree with this, Bondra had more impressive numbers, but Nash never had an Oates, Pivonka, or hell even 75% checked out Jagr towards the end. I guess he had Vyborny but...

I mean in Nash's peak.

There were times when Nash had little to work with, but he did also play with several solid players like Huselius, Voráček, or post-prime Fedorov already in Columbus. Also Vermette was a fine player at his best, Zherdev highly talented.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

There were times when Nash had little to work with, but he did also play with several solid players like Huselius, Voráček, or post-prime Fedorov already in Columbus. Also Vermette was a fine player at his best, Zherdev highly talented.

None of those players listed (at the time relevant) are Oates/Pivonka. Huselius was close.

 

[hawksrule]

Bondra. Nash was ridiculously overrated.

 

[Albatros]

None of those players listed (at the time relevant) are Oates/Pivonka. Huselius was close.

I'm the first to say that Pivoňka is underrated but come on now, he was also no better than Vermette and Huselius in their best Columbus years. And they had a Huselius-Vermette-Nash line at that point. Bondra and Pivoňka had Keith Jones.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I'm the first to say that Pivoňka is underrated but come on now, he was also no better than Vermette and Huselius in their best Columbus years. And they had a Huselius-Vermette-Nash line at that point. Bondra and Pivoňka had Keith Jones.

Huselius' best year he finished 47th league scoring with CBJ, Pivonka finished as high as 29th and 33rd. Vermette had one year at 43rd and then dipped out back into relative serviceability.

I don't think it's as far apart, the talent gap, as I think. But, I also think you are portraying it as a relative wash which I disagree with.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

Bondra ainec

 

[Craig Button]

Rick Nash voted for Петро Bondra