For me it's easier to do with forwards than with Dmen as I'm pretty sure I'd take the careers and impact of guys like Bourque, Lidstrom and even Potvin ahead of OviThe History of Hockey sub-forum had him at #22 in 2018, six years ago.
1) Gretzky
2) Howe
3) Orr
4) Lemieux
5) Hull
6) Beliveau
7) Roy
8) Harvey
9) Richard
10) Bourque
11) Morenz
12) Crosby
13) Hasek
14) Shore
15) Lidstrom
16) Jagr
17) Kelly
18) Potvin
19) Plante
20) Nighbor
21) Messier
22) Ovechkin
So let's look at the players he's surpassed:
21) Messier
20) Nighbor
19) Plante
18) Potvin
17) Kelly
I think most would agree that he's passed them, putting him at 17th all time.
Now it gets harder. Is he better than:
16) Jagr
15) Lidstrom
14) Shore
13) Hasek
12) Crosby
11) Morenz
10) Bourque
9) Richard
8) Harvey
7) Roy
6) Beliveau
5) Hull
You also have to throw McDavid in the mix as well, who many project to be #5, supplanting Hull.
So how far down this list do you place Ovechkin? Higher than Jagr? Lidstrom?
Crosby has no doubt moved up the list himself, many have him also fighting for that #5 spot. Does Ovechkin join him in leapfrogging Hasek? Morenz? Bourque? Richard?
I think it's not as easy as it looks to just unilaterally place him in the top 10. I'm not against the idea, but you'll need to explain who he supplants.
This thread is about Ovechkin, not Malkin.Outside top 100
So like every hockey player.He's a hockey player. At some point he will no longer be.
Good point about separating by position. Taking out goalies and D and OV gets closer to the top 10, that’s for sure.For me it's easier to do with forwards than with Dmen as I'm pretty sure I'd take the careers and impact of guys like Bourque, Lidstrom and even Potvin ahead of Ovi
For forwards he is in the top 10, voted top 15 in the OP's question.
I will never understand the love Beliveau gets, in my opinion he doesn't deserve to be on any all time list that Lafleur isn't on. Lafleur was a better player at his peak than Beliveau.Good point about separating by position. Taking out goalies and D and OV gets closer to the top 10, that’s for sure.
Gretzky
Howe
Mario
Belliveau
Crosby
Bobby Hull
Jagr
Rocket
Morenz
McDavid
Pretty much opinion where OV (or any player) ranks when comparing across generations.
Maybe a more interesting question is if OV could have been successful, at his weight, in old time hockey with crap skates on soft ice and 2x4s for sticks?
I’d say he’d score like Espo. But struggle, like Espo, with the skating because of his weight.
I never understand this type of thinking for an all time ranking because Lafleur outside of his 6 year epak was very ordinary and if anything he gets ranked too high already as all time was he really individually better than Marcel Dionne?I will never understand the love Beliveau gets, in my opinion he doesn't deserve to be on any all time list that Lafleur isn't on. Lafleur was a better player at his peak than Beliveau.
Sure, Lafleur was a true great. He’s (imo) ahead of OV too.I will never understand the love Beliveau gets, in my opinion he doesn't deserve to be on any all time list that Lafleur isn't on. Lafleur was a better player at his peak than Beliveau.
Brett Hull lags behind his dad Bobby on all time lists.
The “improved” Brett Hull scored 86 goals one year.Sure. No arguments there. I also didnt compare Ovies career for Brett. The improved Brett Hull version was the ”washed up” Ovechkin version.