GMRwings1983

It's about honoring the biggest names in the game's history. I would say all four of these players are well respected, so as to not offend teams. Personally, I wish they went back to the second option I posted. But many people have complained that those names weren't well known to people outside of hockey circles, so that's why I proposed Howe, Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr. Anything is better than the Metropolitan division.

And now they blow the whistle any time a goalie's mask comes off. Puts things in perspective.

Should have been Gretzky, Howe, Orr and Lemieux Or go back to Adams, Patrick, Smythe and Norris.

The Wings were a joke for a long time under Ilitch. It wasn't until Bowman got there and they started spending big money, that the Wings became good. He's a good owner, but an owner has to be the face of a franchise to get on a list like this. Hence, I mentioned names like Al Davis, George Steibrenner and Jerry Jones. I wouldn't put Ilitch up there with them. In any case, if you include him, you'd have to take someone off. Meaning, two of Lindsay, Lidstrom or Sawchuk wouldn't be there.

I would travel hundreds of miles to see that mountain. Nash was the only guy I included with a straight face.

He's a soft euro based on size. Birthplace is irrelevant. To me, Lilja was a tough Canadian boy born in Saskatoon.

Does eva still talk about how many post-season All stars a guy had? Mogilny would be in the same boat Selanne is in for Winnipeg. One amazing season, but not the longevity others had. Like I said, Housley is the guy that I maybe should have included for Buffalo. Mike Ilitch doesn't belong on a Mount Rushmore. This franchise was legendary before he arrived there. I don't know if any owner in hockey is that big a name, like say Al Davis or Jerry Jones in football. Ferraro is a good one. I thought of him, but he only played there two full seasons. He was important in the early days, but I would think Heatley would get in over him if we disregard longevity. Jagr on three Mount Rushmores? That must have been a joke, or else people think hockey started in 1999.

Too popular and was there too long. Never left *in his prime* to pursue a Cup elsewhere and holds many team records. Kelly was a better player than him, but I don't think he'd get the honor from the franchise over their beloved Sundin. *Nevermind. I forgot the big oaf went to Vancouver. But it was for a short time and he was past his prime. Besides, Bourque never won in Boston, but that doesn't diminish his popularity there. Winning depends on many things.

Forgot to add Kelly as one of the notable omissions. Who would you take off for him, though? Remember, he played less than 10 seasons there. The others were there longer and had their own Hall of Fame credentials. Bathgate is certainly better than any player I included for the Rangers, but sadly, they don't seem to honor their older players like other teams do. That's why I said recent players would probably get the nod.

Well, I won't argue with a Winnipeg fan on Winnipeg business. I will add that Selanne played 4 seasons in Winnipeg, and was injured for one year, and traded in another. He only played two full seasons there, one of them being the strike shortened 1995 year. The 76 goal season stands out as the only reason to include him, but I didn't think it was enough. Doug Gilmour is not close to being one of the best Leafs ever. Popular as he was, no way in hell he makes their Mount Rushmore. I left off much better players than him like Apps, Conacher, Keon and others. Hell, I think Wendel Clark was a better Leaf in his time than Gilmour. LaFontaine was great. However, he only played seven seasons for Buffalo, and was injured for about half of them. His time in New York was better, but no way he makes their Mount Rushmore over Potvin, Trottier, Bossy or Arbour. Nah, I'm spent. I did one for the Isles, so that should give you some inspiration and ideas.

Except, it's all the same franchise. For instance, Tkachuk and Numminen played for both Phoenix and Winnipeg as they were present during the move. Then again, you have a point. If there's going to be a monument in the city of Winnipeg, I doubt they'd want Kovalchuk's face on it.

Don't know. Just don't post anymore. They knew a lot about hockey history, though. More than probably anyone here.

Thanks. I just feel bad that egroen and evaunitzero aren't around anymore to set me straight. And I say that humbly.

Thanks for reading all that. I only looked at NHL teams during the NHL era. Winnipeg played in the WHA when Hull was there, and Ottawa's early successes under a different hockey association I didn't include. And has one of the greatest names in NHL history.

Like it wasn't enough when they took my boy Bykov from us in 2003. I'll never forgive Russia for that.

Meh. He never amounted to much for me in NHL 12, GM mode. Besides, we have no shortage of forward prospects his size. Only time will tell.

What? Football and baseball aren't even remotely as popular worldwide than soccer. What do you mean by bigger? I define it as popularity. Nobody outside of the USA gives a s*** about American football. Nor should they. And baseball is only relevant in the USA, Japan, and a bunch of third world Caribbean countries that suck at soccer. Soccer is by far the most popular team sport in the world. I agree with what you said about the problems facing European leagues right now, but that isn't going to remove the sport from its top status.

Yep. Their history as a soccer powerhouse is rich as well. But as a fan, I don't need to count their stars to know that.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, regardless of what haters say. That said, I'm a big soccer fan, yet I've never really cared for the stars that much. It's the knowledge of a team's history and tradition that makes them special. You don't need to wear stars to tell everyone you have a great history. Everyone knows Brazil has dominated international soccer, because they're Brazil, not because people see the stars and count them. Same with hockey. You don't need to see how many stars Montreal has to know they've dominated NHL history. You just know it as a student of the game and its history.

Nevermind. It's just for some offseason fun, not real games.

Weren't the Wings a lot more popular in Detroit in the late 90's, than they are today?

Yeah and I'm still upset when I see anyone else wearing it. Totally disrespectful towards Woolley.

That was Osgood's Conn Smythe, and would have gotten him to the Hall of Fame. But another Cup would have been one more item on Datsyuk and Zetterberg's side of the scale.

Kronwall is the hardest and most dangerous hitter on the team. Tootoo is the guy most likely to throw checks on every shift, though.

Now that I think about it, this depends on who the owners are. Maybe a new owner decades from now will decide to loosen the strict requirements for retiring Red Wings jerseys. Then, guys like Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Fedorov will get in. Look how Ilitch came in and took down Aurie's jersey. That took some gall. You never know what an owner in the future might do.