Who would you pick 1OA, Lemieux or McDavid?

[Staniowski]

Lemieux,

Modern day medicine, better research around the sport and less smoking hed have a healthier career

Lemieux didn't smoke much...he quit entirely in his very early 20s.

Very little compared to Lafleur, Bossy, Denis Savard [and many other players], who smoked liked chimneys for most or all of their careers.

 

[HarryLime]

McDavid.

People really don't understand how poorly the Oilers are run.

Compared the Penguins who went for bankruptcy within a decade of b2b cups?

McDavid has always had Drai, so I don't feel that bad for the guy

 

[Three On Zero]

Lemieux is still a clear tier above McDavid

 

[Midnight Judges]

Unless McDavid falls off a cliff or gets an early career ending injury, he's going to easily surpass Lemieux in terms of total career value.

 

[JackSlater]

I'll assume this is about them as prospects. I'd go with Lemieux. Better iq than McDavid and bigger, and with even better puck skills than McDavid has despite being elite there. McDavid is comfortably the better skater but Lemieux was fast when healthy and you can improve skating to some degree. The size and skill gap is too tempting, plus Lemieux is the smarter player.

 

[Midnight Judges]

With modern nutrition and training, no two line pass, and a very soft unphysical league, Mario would dominate even more in today's league compared to the 90s.

Part of what made Mario Mario was being arrogant enough to disregard those types of things.

The phenomena you cite would likely only reduce his separation seeing as how the rest of the league adopted it while Mario wouldn't.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Even with injuries, Mario. As great as McDavid is, has chance to finish 4th all time IMO. Mario is in that 3. The 3 that everyone knows. Him, Wayne and Orr. I wouldn't take anyone in a 1v1 poll against 1 of those 3. No disrespect to McDavid.

That's not the 3 everyone knows.

Howe over Lemieux is very common.

 

[Killswitch]

Lemieux every day, Howe on Sundays

 

[blundluntman]

Definitely Mario. McDavid is great, but Lemieux's simply a tier above

 

[HarryLime]

That's not the 3 everyone knows.

Howe over Lemieux is very common.

Cool we can be at diff tables then.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Unless McDavid falls off a cliff or gets an early career ending injury, he's going to easily surpass Lemieux in terms of total career value.

That's not the 3 everyone knows.

Howe over Lemieux is very common.

Start poll

 

[norrisnick]

Not sure there is anything less definitive than an HFB poll.

 

[nowhereman]

Lemieux without even a moment's hesitation. They are simply not the same caliber of player.

 

[wetcoast]

Is the assumption their careers are the same or that things can change? I think if Lemieux still misses the time he did and retires initially at 31 again, McDavid might make sense as I have a feeling he’s going to be far more valuable after age 27. Lemieux is the better talent though so as players coming in today at the same level they were relative to the league, I think Lemieux might stay healthier and play longer from being in better shape in a league that’s less violent/physical.

Lemieux is the better player but it’s debatable if he’s better enough that despite the missed time, he would lead to a better chance of winning

This is how I voted as well and for this type of reasoning ( the knowing what we know part).

I've said it other places but Mario is all about numbers, if one breaks down his career and does the same critique for every player historically he isn't in the Big 4 any more.

 

[Regal]

Part of what made Mario Mario was being arrogant enough to disregard those types of things.

The phenomena you cite would likely only reduce his separation seeing as how the rest of the league adopted it while Mario wouldn't.

But is that also a product of the times because he was able to do what he did without having to work as hard? He put in the work as he got older and it was necessary. It’s possible he’d be more committed to that in todays environment where even junior players take their training and nutrition pretty seriously

 

[norrisnick]

But is that also a product of the times because he was able to do what he did without having to work as hard? He put in the work as he got older and it was necessary. It’s possible he’d be more committed to that in todays environment where even junior players take their training and nutrition pretty seriously

Doesn't that just make this a case of take McDavid for how he is, but we can imagine a bunch of different scenarios for how Mario can improve?

Can we assume that either player gets drafted by better run teams than Edmonton or Pittsburgh?

 

[tabness]

Lemieux would be the #1 pick against anybody and everybody in the history of hockey.

He had it all, and he was improving greatly every year in junior (and continued to do so every year in the NHL), which is exactly what you want in a prospect.

As perfect a prospect as can be.

maybe not Lindros?

 

[Outl4w]

Peak Lemieux with today's equiptment and training would be Thanos on ice.

 

[NyQuil]

Mcdavid is extremely overrated

Not really.

There are like 4 guys in the history of hockey who you can safely argue are better players.

Lemieux just happens to be one of them.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

McDavid disappeared and disappointed in the biggest game of his career in his prime.

 

[Dan Kelly]

Imagine both are on the same draft, so..?

Ovechkin, Malkin - 1-2 in 2004. Can't go wrong with either can yuh? But yes I'd take Mario and I'm an Oilers fan !!

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Mario all day everyday and twice on Sunday

 

[Frank Drebin]

Mario, coming from a mcdavid fan

 

[KevinRedkey]

It depends if McDavid ages like Crosby or not. If he does, he may have the argument for the better career and being the better pick.

Right now though - it's Lemieux.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

@Video Nasty we need you with the quotes regarding this myth/misconception.

"Lifelong Penguins fan".

And I'm actually a Capitals fan who simply thinks Crosby is better than Ovechkin because I'm totally unbiased.