TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
For me, the top four are in order:
Gretzky
Lemieux
Beliveau
Morenz
I don't see a realistic argument for any of the others breaking into the top four.
Gretzky and Lemieux are obviously on a completely different level for the rest. Yes, it could be debated that Lemieux's peak was comparable to Gretzky's, but the fact that Gretzky maintained that level of offensive greatness for so long gives him the decisive victory in my opinion. Most of the anti-Gretzky arguments ("He's protected by goons", "The league won't let anyone hit him", "He only get points because of the stars on Edmonton") have been thoroughly debunked on this board several times.
Howie Morenz was considered the greatest player in hockey during his prime. Others on the list were in contention for that title during the eras, but with Morenz it was almost unanimous. A good example of this is the voting in 1950 by the Canadian Press for the greatest hockey player from 1900-1950:
Howie Morenz - 27 votes
Maurice Richard - 4 votes
Cyclone Taylor - 3 votes
Frank Nighbor - 2 votes
Winning the poll by any margin would have been impressive enough, but it was an absolute landslide.
But I still have to put Beliveau at #3. He was just so good for so long. The only player in history to be the top centre on two separate dynasties. Certainly had a better second half to his career than the rest in this vote.
7 players also received 1 vote: Syl Apps, Turk Broda, Aurel Joliat, Newsy Lalonde, Milt Schmidt, Eddie Shore, Nels Stewart
There were a total of 43 voters it looks like, and Morenz got 27 votes (63%). Landslide like you said.
Here's a link to an article about the release of the poll: http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...,2707374&dq=morenz+nighbor+shore+taylor&hl=en
Such polls always favor forwards over defensemen, but still, why does this forum have so much more respect for Eddie Shore than Howie Morenz?
With all due respect to the Canadian Press poll, comprised of many who probably saw Morenz play never or only a hand full of games ever, his myth and legend grow due to his unfortunate death.
It's only a recent phenomenon that the sports media or even home teams press has taken a critical or more subjective view on players, in past days the media room was full of free booze and food, "reporters" didn't upset the gravy train.
The poll was conducted by "sports editors and sportscasters;" I have no idea why you think they wouldn't have seen Morenz; it was only 13 years since his last hockey game. I mean, you're right that there was probably something of a sympathy vote for Morenz since he died young, but still, 27 of 43 voters?
And hard to believe Eddie Shore garnered no votes. Perhaps his sparkling personality had something to do with it?
Well, like I said above, he got 1 vote. His personality could certainly affect some votes, but a sample of 43 sportscasters and reporters? The flip to your argument is that Eddie Shore's "personification of old-time (violent) hockey" is a reason why this forum tends to hold him in higher esteem than Morenz.
I think that on an all-players list, Morenz should be ranked quite close to Shore and there is at least an argument that he should be ranked higher.
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