thegreat66 19 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Shame- kind of seems to be forgotten to a certain extent as the years go by... Do you guys think hockey was more enjoyable to watch in late 70s early 80s or now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 A Top 5 goal scorer All Time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Shame- kind of seems to be forgotten to a certain extent as the years go by... Do you guys think hockey was more enjoyable to watch in late 70s early 80s or now? Short career hurts him (10 years, but my what years they were). Unbelievably pure goal scorer (yes, I definitely miss those type of goals) who could actually play the other parts of the game too. I'd place him within the top 25 all time, though still behind some other great RWers like Howe, Richard, LaFleur... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Outsider 42 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Shame- kind of seems to be forgotten to a certain extent as the years go by... Do you guys think hockey was more enjoyable to watch in late 70s early 80s or now? He only "seems to be forgotten" by those who didn't have the supreme privilege of watching him play. To those who remember Boss, and the Trio Grande, well..... <shakes head....> Nah. Words fail to describe the beauty, skill and heart of a Player who played through EVERYTHING, the worst that every goon and cheap shot artist had to throw at him, without the benefit of the Officials and the League "protecting" him. There was no "diving" back then. There was no "protection" for Star Players. You paid the price. Every shift. Boss was brutalized out there. Hammered. And yet somehow managed to fight through everything, night after night, to dazzle and mystify. He was, quite simply..... Magical.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thegreat66 19 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 He only "seems to be forgotten" by those who didn't have the supreme privilege of watching him play. To those who remember Boss, and the Trio Grande, well..... <shakes head....> Nah. Words fail to describe the beauty, skill and heart of a Player who played through EVERYTHING, the worst that every goon and cheap shot artist had to throw at him, without the benefit of the Officials and the League "protecting" him. There was no "diving" back then. There was no "protection" for Star Players. You paid the price. Every shift. Boss was brutalized out there. Hammered. And yet somehow managed to fight through everything, night after night, to dazzle and mystify. He was, quite simply..... Magical.. As a Pens fan I remember Bossy and Trio Grande making our lives miserable many evenings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Third best RW of all-time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Third best RW of all-time. Howe, Richard and Lafleur were all right-wingers. No offense to Bossy, but I don't think he's better than Lafleur was. Bossy was a better goal scorer, however, and would probably be the all-time leading goal scorer if not for a somewhat shortened career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Howe, Richard and Lafleur were all right-wingers. No offense to Bossy, but I don't think he's better than Lafleur was. Bossy was a better goal scorer, however, and would probably be the all-time leading goal scorer if not for a somewhat shortened career. I have Richard/Bossy/Lafleur as a very tight race for second, actually. So I'm not going to lay down a huge rant about how Bossy was better than Lafleur because I consider all three of those guys virtually equal. Considering that #5, Andy Bathgate, had more than a few seasons where he was considered on par or close to the level of Howe and Richard, it's a fairly tight field at the top of the RW group. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Third best RW of all-time. This. Bossy was like Richard Prior. Under-appreciated. Brilliant. Loved to freebase. Ok, they didn't share that last one in common. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 I have Richard/Bossy/Lafleur as a very tight race for second, actually. So I'm not going to lay down a huge rant about how Bossy was better than Lafleur because I consider all three of those guys virtually equal. Considering that #5, Andy Bathgate, had more than a few seasons where he was considered on par or close to the level of Howe and Richard, it's a fairly tight field at the top of the RW group. I would put Conacher and Geoffrion in there with Bathgate, but don't you think you are underrating Jagr? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Jari Kurri and Jagr should certainly be in the discussion. Although I don't see Kurri being ahead of Bossy, I do think Jagr should probably be ahead of him as an all-around offensive force. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 I would put Conacher and Geoffrion in there with Bathgate, but don't you think you are underrating Jagr? Not when he's the #6 guy on my list... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Jari Kurri and Jagr should certainly be in the discussion. Although I don't see Kurri being ahead of Bossy, I do think Jagr should probably be ahead of him as an all-around offensive force. Jagr was sweet, but Kurri is vastly overrated... once Gretz left his inadequacies were reveled (and for some- reviled). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Not when he's the #6 guy on my list... I think Jagr is becoming one of the most underrated players nowadays -- 5 Art Rosses (top 10 6 more times) Top 5 in goals 6 times 8 time 1st Team All Star (1 2nd Team) Top 10 in assists 10 times Robbed of a 2nd Hart by Thornton Bathgate certainly can not compare to that. In fact, I'm not quite sure how strong a case Bossy has for being ahead of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Brett Hull isn't getting much love around here. Yeah he couldn't do anything else but score, but Bossy was also a pure goal-scorer. Plus, Hull put up monstrous goal numbers for many years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 I think Jagr is becoming one of the most underrated players nowadays -- 5 Art Rosses (top 10 6 more times) Top 5 in goals 6 times 8 time 1st Team All Star (1 2nd Team) Top 10 in assists 10 times Robbed of a 2nd Hart by Thornton Bathgate certainly can not compare to that. In fact, I'm not quite sure how strong a case Bossy has for being ahead of him. In the words of Kyle's mom: What what WHAT? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Brett Hull isn't getting much love around here. Yeah he couldn't do anything else but score, but Bossy was also a pure goal-scorer. Plus, Hull put up monstrous goal numbers for many years. True. See, these dudes should've switched to left wing... that's a far more open category. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Jagr was sweet, but Kurri is vastly overrated... once Gretz left his inadequacies were reveled (and for some- reviled). Gretzky certainly made a lot of his high scoring years, but I don't think he is remembered enough for his defensive play. I would probably put Kurri ahead of Brett Hull, for instance -- because of Kurri's two-way play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 It is weird how weak LW is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 (edited) In the words of Kyle's mom: What what WHAT? See? People think you are crazy if you talk about him in the same breath as Bossy. Of course he is comparable to Bossy! Jagr gets no love! Bossy 1977-78 NHL 91 (6) 1978-79 NHL 126 (4) 1980-81 NHL 119 (4) 1981-82 NHL 147 (2) 1982-83 NHL 118 (4) 1983-84 NHL 118 (5) 1984-85 NHL 117 (6) 1985-86 NHL 123 (5) Jagr 1993-94 NHL 99 (9) 1994-95 NHL 70 (1) 1995-96 NHL 149 (2) 1996-97 NHL 95 (6) 1997-98 NHL 102 (1) 1998-99 NHL 127 (1) 1999-00 NHL 96 (1) 2000-01 NHL 121 (1) 2001-02 NHL 79 (5) 2005-06 NHL 123 (2) 2006-07 NHL 96 (8) I think these guys with shortened careers take on mythical proportions. See Cam Neely. Edited June 21, 2009 by egroen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 It is weird how weak LW is. I agree...I assembled a top-20 list of each position after and LW is by far the weakest. So weak it's sick. Every other position has HOFers that don't even make the list...while LW has guys like Brian Propp and Slava Kozlov actually making it in near the bottom. Granted, there are some pretty decent LWs in the league now likely to knock those two out...but still...weak position. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 Well, the Great66 just went up in my estimation with his new avatar. Ron Duguay freakin' rules! I actually got to see him play at K-Wings games! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 See? People think you are crazy if you talk about him in the same breath as Bossy. Of course he is comparable to Bossy! Jagr gets no love! Bossy 1977-78 NHL 91 (6) 1978-79 NHL 126 (4) 1980-81 NHL 119 (4) 1981-82 NHL 147 (2) 1982-83 NHL 118 (4) 1983-84 NHL 118 (5) 1984-85 NHL 117 (6) 1985-86 NHL 123 (5) Jagr 1993-94 NHL 99 (9) 1994-95 NHL 70 (1) 1995-96 NHL 149 (2) 1996-97 NHL 95 (6) 1997-98 NHL 102 (1) 1998-99 NHL 127 (1) 1999-00 NHL 96 (1) 2000-01 NHL 121 (1) 2001-02 NHL 79 (5) 2005-06 NHL 123 (2) 2006-07 NHL 96 (8) I think these guys with shortened careers take on mythical proportions. See Cam Neely. The major difference is that Bossy was solid defensively and didn't have a playmaker anywhere near the level of Ron Francis, who centered Jagr most of his Pittsburgh days. Also, in Jagr's best season, he played on a line of Lemieux/Francis/Jagr which had three of the league's top four scorers. Jagr is viewed as being "alone" in Pittsburgh after Lemieux left when he had tons of offensive help, it's the fact that the team was terrible defensively, the forwards didn't play defense, and the goaltending was horrid that caused the team to have such troubles winning. Oh, and don't try to compare Cam neely to Mike Bossy. Neely's best seasons weren't even close to Bossy's average seasons. Neely was overrated by a wide margin even before he retired. Kind of like Sheldon Souray this year...how the HELL did he manage to get Norris votes? I wouldn't even consider that piece of s*** a first pairing defenseman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 The major difference is that Bossy was solid defensively and didn't have a playmaker anywhere near the level of Ron Francis, who centered Jagr most of his Pittsburgh days. Also, in Jagr's best season, he played on a line of Lemieux/Francis/Jagr which had three of the league's top four scorers. Jagr is viewed as being "alone" in Pittsburgh after Lemieux left when he had tons of offensive help, it's the fact that the team was terrible defensively, the forwards didn't play defense, and the goaltending was horrid that caused the team to have such troubles winning. Oh, and don't try to compare Cam neely to Mike Bossy. Neely's best seasons weren't even close to Bossy's average seasons. Neely was overrated by a wide margin even before he retired. Kind of like Sheldon Souray this year...how the HELL did he manage to get Norris votes? I wouldn't even consider that piece of s*** a first pairing defenseman. I wasn't comparing Neely to Bossy, sheesh -- just that guys with shortened careers tend to get overrated, while guys with long careers sometimes gets underrated -- hell, look at Chris Chelios -- I get laughed at sometimes when I talk about how good he is (was). Uhhh, Bossy was playing with a much better team than Jagr ever was. He easily tops Bossy offensively, it just matters how great you think Bossy was defensively. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted June 21, 2009 (edited) I believe he is holds the highest career goals-per-game average of any player in the history of the NHL, for this I would say he is one of the best pure goal scorers to ever tie up the skates. Edited June 21, 2009 by BeeRYCE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
