GMRwings1983

Seems unfair that Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom are all on the same team.

Funny, how people forget that Gretzky was the captain in Edmonton for around a decade, before Messier inherited it from him. Why does no one mention Gretzky as the greatest captain ever? He captained many Cups, he outworked people on every shift (the most underrated thing about Wayne), and he never took nights off. You don't score over 200 points and have long consecutive games points streaks without bringing it every night. So isn't that the mark of a great captain? Leading by example, outworking everyone and not taking any games off, while leading your team to numerous Cups. Maybe there's something about him I don't know. And yes that guaranteed win was BS and is fat boy Brodeur's fault more than anyone's. Two of the goals Messier scored were softies and the last one was an empty netter. Well, he did have many good seasons there and put up some huge numbers in his early years there. His popularity is nearly unmatched amongst Rangers fans. Constant All Star game appearances and a Hart trophy there as well. I would have put him 4th or 5th.

Speaking of Messier, I'm surprised no one has called me out for leaving him off the Rangers top 3. I never expected to be called out on Bobby Clarke of all people. That eva is a sly one indeed.

But it's not just good hands in a shootout. He has good offensive awareness and has always had a lethal shot, whether it be a slapshot or a wristshot. He's got a really good backhand too. Problem is, that we see occasional flashes of brilliance from him, followed by long cold streaks where he's invisible. He's just too inconsistent for a guy with his skill set and mass. I don't expect him to be putting up close to 100 points like he did in Vancouver, but it's not too much to ask him to show up every night.

There's no excuse for a guy with those hands and that size to only score 34 goals in the last two seasons combined. And he only missed 1 game in those two seasons. That's why so many people here call him a lazy floater.

With Boogaard's passing, Steve MacIntyre gets my vote. I'd forego next month's allowance for him to sign with Detroit.

I think that Messier had a better career as an Oiler than Kurri, Jagr was a better Penguin than Crosby and Lindsay was a better Red Wing than Fedorov. And Orr is the best defenseman ever. Sure you could make arguments against all those, but the arguments for are much stronger.

I heard that Matt Cooke enjoys pushing elderly women in wheelchairs down a flight of steps.

Filppula's favorite Die Hard line......... "Shoot the Glass!"

If I'm not mistaken, with Recchi and Modano retiring, there are no players left who played in the 80's. That makes me feel old and sad.

Howe was never a serious contender for the Hart trophy throughout the 80's. There was no way he was ever going to win one. In any case, I didn't say he wasn't good. I just don't think he's a better all time Flyer than Clarke and don't believe he was as instrumental to that franchise and its history.

Except Clarke was their captain and the heart and soul of the Flyers. He captained them to consecutive Stanley Cups in an era where there were more skilled teams than Philly. He was the face of that franchise for a long time. Howe was a really good defenseman, but he hardly carried the Flyers or was considered the cornerstone of their franchise.

Longevity is a part of the game. LaFontaine did have his career end early, while Modano played on and continued to excel. That gives Modano a notch over LaFontaine in my book, whether it's partially luck related or not. Also, you have to remember that LaFontaine padded his stats somewhat from playing in the 80's, where guys scored more often. Modano in his prime in the 80's would have put up similar numbers. And Modano did have stiff competition at his position. Sure, he didn't have Gretzky or Lemieux, but he had Sakic, Fedorov, Lindros, Yzerman, Forsberg, Sundin, etc. Those are some pretty damn good centers and will all likely be in the HOF someday. You say defensive play is all he had over LaFontaine? How about skating? Modano could skate as well as any player in hockey history. He also had a cannon for a wrist shot, slap shot, one-timer and one of the best backhands in the game ever. Also, he was the face of a franchise for several decades and was usually their most feared offensive player.

Parent had more than just two good seasons. Those Cup years were his best, but you discredit his other seasons too easily. Also, I don't think Howe was as good as Coffey or Bourque, and apparently the Norris voters didn't think so either. He is somewhat overlooked, but I don't put him in the same class as those players. Also, if longevity is what you were shooting for, than Lindros didn't have as many productive seasons in Philly as Bobby Clarke. Yet you put him first ahead of his former boss. The guy I really snubbed on my Flyers list is Bill Barber. The guy scored 40+ goals five times as a Flyer. He would be my next in line.

Eva, our lists aren't that much different, but I have to argue two points. First, no way is Brad Richards better than St. Louis and Lecavalier in Lightning history. Second, your uber-fascination with Mark Howe is getting absurd. You really think he was a better Flyer than Bernie Parent (who wasn't even on your list) and Bobby Clarke? No way in hell. Thanks for taking the time to put your own list together, though. I know it takes a long ass time.

Good point. I guess I've always considered him a Canadian, because he was born there. This is despite the fact that he chose to represent the US, which I have no problem with. So he's not one of the best American born players ever, because he wasn't born in America.

His career accomplishments exceed anyone besides Chelios, imo. His talent level is ahead of all those players for that matter.

After watching this game, it's painfully obvious to me that Detroit doesn't have what it takes to compete with the upper echelon teams in the sport. And the Pens didn't even have Crosby.

We could relocate the team to the Eastern time zone.......oh wait nevermind.

Soft ******* goal. Put Ozzie in.

Who is the new babe on NHLN?

Well, those guys didn't sign with another team, if that's what you mean. I could argue that Yzerman should have quit after the lockout. It was great to still have him on the team, but hard to see him get injured so often and be a shell of his former self.

Second greatest American hockey player of all time. And whether you people like it or not, he should have retired last season and played his whole career with one franchise. He wasn't sure that he wanted to come back, and the indecision should have been enough for him to say no.

I've seen much worse. Also, there was that "Trade Datsyuk" thread that I never got around to starting.