What is the greatest player rivalry in the history of hockey?

[blundluntman]

These don't really seem like rivalries, there wasn't much personal contempt between most of these players as far as I could tell. Not really sure what to judge them by.

 

[TS Quint]

DOMI Vs PROBERT and I won’t accept anything less!

 

[biturbo19]

Roberto Luongo vs Chelsea Dagger/ Dustin Byfuglien's butt.

 

[Slapshot Sultan]

Forsberg vs Lindros

I think Lindros vs Stevens might have been more of a rivalry

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Lucic and Emelin

Komisarek?

 

[Perratrooper]

Tkachuk vs Doughty in terms of an actual rivalry..?

Not sure Cros and Ovi had actual heat behind it rather just competing to me the best.

 

[swiftwin]

Crosby/Ov was/is a fan thing. Those two very rarely matched up against each other head to head because neither was good enough defensively to cover the other.

Is it really though? The Pens and Caps were huge rivals and constantly faced off against each other in the playoffs.

 

[EXTRAS]

I'd think some of the enforcer rivalries were the best ones

 

[norrisnick]

Is it really though? The Pens and Caps were huge rivals and constantly faced off against each other in the playoffs.

Yes, Pens/Caps. Huge rivalry. Sid/Ov? Not so much. Are they just going to glare at each other from the bench?

 

[LightningStorm]

This comes across as a bait attempt, there's no way you don't know Hasek is older than Roy and played in both the Worlds and Canada Cup before Roy was even an NHL player.

Forgot that Hasek is actually older (born the same year). But for my overall point, Roy had clinched the HOF by Hasek's first year as a starter, 93/94, since that was right after Roy's 1993 CS run. Though definitely not as extreme as Brady having clinched the HOF by Rodgers's first season as a starter (2008).

 

[Machinehead]

You can't name one significant game Gretzky and Lemieux played against each other.

That's a rivalry in the minds of terminally online Lemieux fans.

 

[Albatros]

 

[Golden_Jet]

I’ve never considered a goalie vs goalie a rivalry.

 

[Voight]

Crosby vs Ovi easily

Gretzky vs Lemieux sounds good in theory but it was never really a thing. Lemieux became great as Gretzky slowed down, and they rarely faced off, never in playoffs or such

Crosby vs Ovi started same year and have traded accolades their whole careers - and faced off in playoffs (on route to 4 cups) and internationally many times

+ Gretzky was on a different level.

Heck, most of these in the OP weren't "actual" rivalries.

 

[Toby91ca]

Tkachuk vs Doughty in terms of an actual rivalry..?

Not sure Cros and Ovi had actual heat behind it rather just competing to me the best.

You don't necessarily need heat for a rivalry though....agree, theirs is competitiveness, but I think you might say the same with most as well (even the fighters).

 

[Puck Dogg]

Howe told in his book that at the time he hated Richard. So that was genuine rivalry.

 

[Toby91ca]

Crosby vs Ovi started same year and have traded accolades their whole careers - and faced off in playoffs (on route to 4 cups) and internationally many times

I'm actually not sure how many times they've met internationally actually, I think only 4 real games....maybe some exhibition games. This is largely due to being in different groups....would only meet in quarters, semis or gold medal games.

2005 World Junior - 6-1 CAN win in Gold medal game
2010 Olympics - 7-3 CAN win in quarter finals
2015 World Championships - 6-1 CAN win in Gold medal game
2016 World Cup - 5-3 CAN win in semi finals

 

[tabness]

I'd think some of the enforcer rivalries were the best ones

Yup, none of the listed rivalries seemed to be a big thing for the players themselves, maybe just for fans (even Howe vs Richard should really be changed to Lindsay vs Richard), but like, Probert Domi was awesome and deserving of the media attention it got lol

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

+ Gretzky was on a different level.

Heck, most of these in the OP weren't "actual" rivalries.

Your insane if you think he was on a different level than lemieuxm he was healthier than mario.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

While Caps/Pens was a great rivalry, Ovi/Malkin was the true rivalry. Sid/Ovi was manufactured by the media.

 

[Voight]

Your insane if you think he was on a different level than lemieuxm he was healthier than mario.

The proof is in the pudding.

 

[tarheelhockey]

You can't name one significant game Gretzky and Lemieux played against each other.

That's a rivalry in the minds of terminally online Lemieux fans.

Gretzky/Lemieux and Hasek/Roy are better classified as “debates” than rivalries.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

Avery Brodeur is my favorite rivalry.

 

[Mrb1p]

The greatest rivalry in hockey is
Leafs and first round
Vs
Sens and being relevant

Close third is
Vancouver having all the best players in the league and their team success

Habs and the past is another good one

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Your insane if you think he was on a different level than lemieuxm he was healthier than mario.

Gretzky won more cups than Lemieux. After all, if you’re using that argument against McDavid, be consistent with your takes.