Who was better: Kopitar or Bergeron?

[Dennis Bonvie]

When Bergeron hits the top 100 all-time, then you can begin comparing him to Toews.

When will Toews hit the top 100?

 

[MOGlLNY]

It’s really close and essentially preference but I’m saying Kopitar

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

A few more numbers to compare, for what they are worth:

Takeaways/giveaways plus/minus

Kopitar 754/828 +94

Bergeron 706/375 +289

Toews 841/460 +148

 

[Michael Farkas]

Sorry, this just gave me an excuse to try to make a YouTube Short...I believe I failed and now I have to go ref and I can't fix it...

Anyhow, folks already know this, but until you see it it can be quite jarring re: giveaways/takeaways

EDIT: Fixed-ish

 

[JackSlater]

Bergeron, Kopitar and Toews have been "too close to call" for a while now.

Pretty sure no one has seen a lot of each one to be able to make a more accurate assessment.

But I'd bet if there was someone who did, they'd say too close to call also.

I'd put it as Toews, then Kopitar, then Bergeron, but I do think they belong grouped together and wouldn't argue with someone arranging them in pretty much any way.

 

[Staniowski]

Kopitar is better overall, but I personally like Bergeron better. Bergeron's defensive (and overall) positioning was sublime, perhaps the best of any forward ever (Carbonneau's was also great).

 

[K Fleur]

Underrated aspect of Bergeron’s game was how well he adapted to his line mates and made his lines better.

Like I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all that Crosby’s best international performances came with Bergeron on his line.

 

[norrisnick]

Kopitar for me. He's been the Kings' Mr Everything for almost his entire career. Leading them in scoring 15 out of 18 seasons while also doing all the heavy lifting defensively for their forwards is bonkers.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Kopitar did more with less. That's the impression at least.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Kopitar. If they switched passports Kopitar would win in a landslide

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Kopitar. If they switched passports Kopitar would win in a landslide

That's a very biased statement.

Also, untrue.

 

[MadLuke]

It is an impossible to know statement (what does Kopitar have done for team Canada in that hypothetical world, Bergeron from the WJC to the adults tourney is one of the big player of his generation, in very visible tourney.... and certainly help him legacy wise.)

 

[The Macho King]

Kopitar is the best individual talent, I'd say. Bergeron is the best at a thing, and that... may have more value though?

Bergeron has an argument as the best defensive forward of all time. Is that worth more than a very good - top tier defensive forward who is better offensively?

 

[Letsdothis]

It is an impossible to know statement (what does Kopitar have done for team Canada in that hypothetical world, Bergeron from the WJC to the adults tourney is one of the big player of his generation, in very visible tourney.... and certainly help him legacy wise.)

Probably not what they meant, but you have to imagine Kopitar was working from such a disadvantage when it comes to hockey development in his younger years in Slovenia that if he has access to the Canadian hockey development infrastructure maybe he becomes a generational talent like Crosby.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

My gut says Kopitar, even though I loved Bergeron as a player. At the very least, Kopitar had the size and strength to match up well with (and often get the better of) the big western conference centres of his day - Getzlaf, Thornton, and Toews.

 

[JackSlater]

Probably not what they meant, but you have to imagine Kopitar was working from such a disadvantage when it comes to hockey development in his younger years in Slovenia that if he has access to the Canadian hockey development infrastructure maybe he becomes a generational talent like Crosby.

Kopitar's father was a professional player and then a coach for all of Kopitar's childhood. I'd have to think that his development opportunities were pretty good all things considered.

 

[Crosby2010]

You can't really go wrong either way. My gut and eyes take Bergeron, but you aren't losing sleep if you pick Kopitar either. I always felt Bergeron could play in any sort of era and play the same way and be the same sort of player.