Who is the best player you saw live?

[BruinLVGA]

On 10.14.1996, I was at Madison Square Garden, and I saw the NY Rangers beat the Calgary Flames 5-4. Wayne Gretzky scored a goal (and I think he got an assist, too). He’s the best of the best and I saw him live. (On that team was another … decent guy, named Mark Messier. He scored too.)

 

[FinPanda]

I've seen one NHL game live and it was Jets-Panthers game in Finland. Patrik Laine scored a hat trick on that game, maybe maybe Barkov was even more impressive. So Barkov.

 

[miscs75]

That I can remember? Probably Pavel Bure. Guy would somehow disappear and magically wind up with the puck on his stick.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

I don’t remember 99, 66, 88 and even prime 68. So I’m with 97.
But the best player I’ve seen live at arena was Patrick Kane.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Gretzky against the North Stars at the Met Center in 1984. Never saw a player skate like that before or since. McDavid is probably the closest.

 

[Rec T]

The vast majority of my (long ago) live hockey watching was at the AHL level back when Anaheim's farm team was the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

Lots of really good players passed through there/played against them (such as Getz & Perry but I don't remember if we were at any of their few games). The goalies were around longer/getting experience. So with that provision... JS Guigere & to a lesser extent Bryz.

(in the early 80s when we lived near Boston I went to a few games with dad/uncles but I couldn't even tell you who they played against let alone who was on the team/s)

 

[kevsh]

Wayne in '82.

Unfortunately, one of Edmonton's worst games, a 7-1 drubbing by the very bad Leafs in Toronto. At least 99 got a goal. He also got a penalty shot but failed to score ... on Bunny Laroque. True story.

Still, easily the most memorable game I've ever been to (5th row golds behind the Edmonton bench, 2 rows above Walter & Keith's seats) even though I was very young.

Edmonton Oilers - Toronto Maple Leafs - Jan 16, 1982 | NHL.com

NHL Gamecenter - Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Jan 16, 1982 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[TnaBuffalo]

Hasek,

 

[MooMiN]

Had the privilege to see the World Cup semifinal between Canada and Sweden in 1996 in Philadelphia. Game ended 3-2 to Canada in the last minute of the second OT period.

To name a few of the greats in that game:
Canada: Coffey, S Niedermayer, Stevens, Gretzky, Lindros, Messier, Sakic, Shanahan, Yzerman
Sweden: Lidström, Alfredsson, Forsberg, Näslund, Sundin

Later in life also some great players:
Datsyuk, Zetterberg, M Stone, MacKinnon, Rantanen, E Karlsson, Mattews, Marner

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Frank Nighbor in nineteen tickety two

 

[Man Purse]

Gordie Howe

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

McDavid or Crosby

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Mario Lemieux scored 19 points in the first 4 games I ever saw live. He absolutely wrecked the curve, even as a broken old man.

 

[brentashton]

Live

GHowe
Keon
Gretzky
Bourque
Messier
Coffey
Fuhr
Bossy
Trottier
McDavid
Yzerman
Lidstrom
Lindros
Weight
Bure

Conner Bedard (?)

In junior
Wendel Clark
Cam Neely are 2 that come to mind immediately. There were a bunch though….

 

[aylib]

Saw Ovechkin pre-NHL, Selanne in his rookie year.
Crosby, Malkin, Gaborik, Kuch

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Gilmour
Sundin
Turnbull
Salming
Sittler
Thomas
Leetch
Belfour
Cujo
Matthews
Rielly
Chelios
Suter
Kucherov

 

[mm11]

Jagr, Messier and #99 Gabe Perreault is looking like he might be the guy soon enough according to some

 

[Duffy13]

Saw a game in Boston Garden in 92

Edmonton Oilers vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: March 21, 1992 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the Edmonton Oilers vs. Boston Bruins game played on March 21, 1992 on Hockey-Reference.com

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Bourque was probable the best player for that group.

Lived in Vancouver from 98 to 02 and got to see
Jagr with the Pens Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks Box Score: October 30, 1998 | Hockey-Reference.com
The crazy good Detroit team with Yzerman, Fedorov, Shanahan, Lidstrom, Chelios Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks Box Score: November 17, 1999 | Hockey-Reference.com
Jagr again Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks Box Score: November 3, 2000 | Hockey-Reference.com

But the best player I ever saw live was Joe Sakic in the series vs the Canucks in 01 the year they won the cup. He was like that kid who should be up a league or two but isn't allowed, he was so dominant even compared to his teammates Forsberg, Bourque, and Roy, he was head and shoulders better than them in those games.

2000-01 Western Conference Quarter-Finals Game 3, Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks Box Score: April 16, 2001 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks game played on April 16, 2001 on Hockey-Reference.com

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2000-01 Western Conference Quarter-Finals Game 4, Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks Box Score: April 18, 2001 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks game played on April 18, 2001 on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

 

[boredmale]

Allan Bester

 

[lettuceAA]

If you mean player that looks better live than in person. I'd say McKenzie Weegar and Tim Stuzle. If you mean best in history I'd say Sidney Crosby or Jagr

 

[PolishPrince21]

I am leaving out Kraken/Utah/Vegas/Current Jets since the franchises are too young imo. Also leaving out folded franchises like thrashers/Nordiques/Whalers

Now i am leaving Gretzky out because i didnt start watching until 91 so by the time he left the oilers i had missed his prime so i can't say i saw him at his best.

blues-hull
ducks- selane
bruins- bourque
sabres- hasek
flames- iginla
hurricanes - brind'amour
blackhawks- kane
Avs- Sakic
Jackets- nash
stars- modano
red wings- lindstrom
oilers- mcdavid
panthers- bure
kings- robitaille
wild- koivu
habs- roy
preds-rinne
devils- brodeur
isles- turgeon
rangers- messier
sens- alfredson
flyers- lindros
pens- lemieux
sharks- marleau
lightning- lecavalier
leafs- sundin
canucks- bure
caps-ovi
jets-first time- Selane

 

[TheBeard]

Oddly it was Mats Naslund.

 

[crosbyshow]

Mario Lemieux

Believe me or not...I was there live in Québec city in 1987 when Lemieux scored his famous goal.....:

Marc Fortier hockey him 20 times on that play..and Mario dragged him..lol

 

[Phil Kessels Hot Dog]

I was at Copps Coliseum for the Russia Canada game 3 in 1987 but my answer is still Connor Mcdavid.

 

[Raistlin]

Lemieux - east
Sakic - west
most exciting - Bure