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

[Golden_Jet]

Crosby and zetterberg was a big one

When I think of a Crosby rivalry, I always think , cross state and Giroux.

 

[Hockeyholic]

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

Or Roberto 7uongo vs Boston

 

[jigglysquishy]

When I think of a Crosby rivalry, I always think , cross state and Giroux.

Crosby's biggest on ice rivalry was Giroux.

Ovi was competition. Giroux was the enemy.

 

[Voight]

Did he though? In terms of raw point totals yes, but when I'm thinking of the greatest playoff runs it's hard to think of Gretzky. He didn't really have another gear for the playoffs unlike some others.

Not even sure how to respond.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

His playoff production was 10-20 % below his regular season production, that's by no means uncommon but there are also players whose production went up significantly in the playoffs.

Regular season PPG: 1.92
Playoff PPG: 1.84

That's a 4% drop, not "10-20%". Not sure if you didn't check the numbers or you just don't know math. Or you might be referring to Lemieux whose PPG dropped by 14% from regular season to the playoffs.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Gretzky has the biggest PPG in the playoffs for anyone who played over 10 games. So it's a weird criticism.

He lead the playoffs in scoring 6 times. Every time his team made it to the Cup Finals he lead playoffs in scoring.

 

[Albatros]

Regular season PPG: 1.92
Playoff PPG: 1.84

That's a 4% drop, not "10-20%". Not sure if you didn't check the numbers or you just don't know math. Or you might be referring to Lemieux whose PPG dropped by 14% from regular season to the playoffs.

Comparing career averages is nonsensical unless the player(s) made the playoffs every single year. In Gretzky's case he frequently missed the playoffs in his later years.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Comparing career averages is nonsensical unless the player(s) made the playoffs every single year. In Gretzky's case he frequently missed the playoffs in his later years.

You can look at the last year he made the playoffs. 20 points in 15 games including 9 in 5 in the Conference Finals. Next closest Ranger had 12 points in 15 games.

He had a higher PPG in the 1997 playoffs than the 1996-97 regular season.

Neither Gretzky or Lemieux played on a contender after 1996.

 

[Albatros]

You can look at the last year he made the playoffs. 20 points in 15 games including 9 in 5 in the Conference Finals. Next closest Ranger had 12 points in 15 games.

He had a higher PPG in the 1997 playoffs than the 1996-97 regular season.

Neither Gretzky or Lemieux played on a contender after 1996.

...that Ranger being the other elder statesman Esa Tikkanen (30 points in the regular season) who together with Gretzky scored more than half of all Rangers goals in the entire playoffs. Consequently they lost the Conference Finals in five to no one's surprise.

 

[jigglysquishy]

The 1997 Rangers were not a good team.

In those Conference Finals Gretzky put the team on his back with 9 points in 5 games.

Messier was supposed to be a leader on the team, but only had 4 points in 5 games. Only 1 point in his last 3.

I would argue the last great team Gretzky played on was the 1993 Kings.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Comparing career averages is nonsensical unless the player(s) made the playoffs every single year. In Gretzky's case he frequently missed the playoffs in his later years.

That's great. You said his playoff PPG dropped by "10-20%". Facts show that is not true. I didn't talk about anything else.

 

[Bramskii]

Stevens vs Lindros

 

[Albatros]

That's great. You said his playoff PPG dropped by "10-20%". Facts show that is not true. I didn't talk about anything else.

You'll need to compare individual regular season and playoffs of the same year.

 

[Video Nasty]

Crosby vs Ovechkin was as manufactured as it gets. I’m surprised to see that it is the overwhelming favorite. Guess the league successfully hoodwinked a majority of the fans.

 

[Voight]

Gretzky has the biggest PPG in the playoffs for anyone who played over 10 games. So it's a weird criticism.

He lead the playoffs in scoring 6 times. Every time his team made it to the Cup Finals he lead playoffs in scoring.

Not to mention during his & Edmontons peak run (83-88), out of the five finals runs his "worst" performance was 34 points in 87. Two of those runs he scored 40+.

& as mentioned, he was still dominant in 93.... 40 points in 24 playoff games post back injury. A point total only he and Lemieux ever bested.

 

[Lshap]

Crosby vs Ovechkin was as manufactured as it gets. I’m surprised to see that it is the overwhelming favorite. Guess the league successfully hoodwinked a majority of the fans.

'Hoodwinked' is overstating, but I agree with you. Fans have been seeing Crosby/Ovechkin comparisons in the media for so long they believe it represents a rivalry between the players themselves. Except, of course, infographics aren't a rivalry.

Real rivalries were personal. There are very few personal hatreds in the modern era like there were between Richard, Lindsay, Howe, etc. Those dudes didn't train together in the summer or play together on Team Canada. Their rivalries were pure, undiluted, and intense.

 

[Toene]

Crosby vs Ovechkin AINEC. Havent even heard of half the other guys lol

Yikes.