Z, the greatest #40 in sports history?

[zetterbergfan 23]

Article- History of #40 in Sports

I have been working on this for awhile. Many publications have polled who is the greatest athlete by each number. All Agree Gale Sayers is the best #40. But he had an injury shortened career. Zetterberg now has the best stats in hockey history for a #40. Will be go down as the greatest?

I know....I have spent way too much time on this! lol

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Gale Sayers is a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest and most influential running backs ever.

I don't know if Zetterberg is a Hall of Famer when he retires, or if he'll be considered one of the best ever. I don't think so.

So, Sayers is the best #40 out of those two players.

Edited January 19, 2010 by GMRwings1983

[kook_10 1,705]

this guy has 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 4 time allstar 2 championships. i'd say he might have a slight edge on Z at this point, but Z has a lot of game left.

Edited January 19, 2010 by kook_10

[hooon 1,089]

Good article, very thorough!

Now can you do one for the worst #22s in sports history?

[titanium2 867]

I don't know if Zetterberg is a Hall of Famer when he retires, or if he'll be considered one of the best ever. I don't think so.

Yeah I'm not so sure about that either. He's going to have to really rack up the points, get some more individual awards and lead the Wings to a championship after Lidstrom retires.

Also, at this rate it looks like he'll never win a Selke, which is quite a shame kind of like how he lost out on the Calder. Thought not nearly as big of shame as that one.

[jollymania 162]

hockey>football so id say Zetts is already there

[Guest Lidstromboli]

Yeah I'm not so sure about that either. He's going to have to really rack up the points, get some more individual awards and lead the Wings to a championship after Lidstrom retires.

Also, at this rate it looks like he'll never win a Selke, which is quite a shame kind of like how he lost out on the Calder. Thought not nearly as big of shame as that one.

i think he'll win a selke before he's done.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Yeah I'm not so sure about that either. He's going to have to really rack up the points, get some more individual awards and lead the Wings to a championship after Lidstrom retires.

Also, at this rate it looks like he'll never win a Selke, which is quite a shame kind of like how he lost out on the Calder. Thought not nearly as big of shame as that one.

Yeah, I still can't believe Barret Jackass won the Calder trophy that year.

Looking back on it now, Zetteberg is one of the best forwards in hockey, while Jackass hasn't even come close to being considered an All-Star or a member of Team Canada.

Has there ever been a worse Calder Trophy winner?

[Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1]

Zetterberg is the best #40 ever. He is also the best #4 and #0 ever.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

the REAL best #0

[rage 24]

Who knew we'd be saying that Zetterberg doesn't look like a HOF'er @ this point. But I think I agree with that. But I could see it going either way.

[zetterbergfan 23]

Yeah, I still can't believe Barret Jackass won the Calder trophy that year.

Looking back on it now, Zetteberg is one of the best forwards in hockey, while Jackass hasn't even come close to being considered an All-Star or a member of Team Canada.

Has there ever been a worse Calder Trophy winner?

I doubt there has ever been a worse Calder winner than Jackman. Hank got robbed on that one. He probably also deserved one of the Selke's that Datsyuk has won, considering Z is the Babcock's go-to-guy when it comes to shutting down the other teams star player or 5-on-3 power-play.

I would hope that the Wings will win at least one more Cup before Zetterberg retires. And if he gets some consistant linemates and keeps putting up 30+ goals/ 40+ assists a year, than he should be a future HOF'r.

[Shady Ultima 40]

I just had a great laugh when they said Lalime is one of the greatest #40s of all time...

[Guest Crymson]

Holmstrom is the best 96 ever!

[zetterbergfan 23]

Holmstrom is the best 96 ever!

Cortez Kennedy is probably the greatest #96 in sports history.

And yes, as funny as it sounds, Patrick Lalime has the "best" stats for any goalie who has ever worn #40.

[Guest micah]

Z, while a pretty special player, will never come close to being the player that Gale Sayers was.

Sayers held the record for points in a single game, touchdowns in a year, and yards gained in a year (he also broke his own record in that one). Zetterberg has never and will never acomplish anything nearly as impressive.

Sayers is on many knowledgable people's "all-time top 20 NFL players regardless of position" lists - I have a hard time believing Zetterberg will ever get a sniff of a similar list of NHL players. Zetterberg might not even make some people's lists of top 20 current NHL players. There is no comparison. Gale Sayers, despite his short career, was a better professional athelete than Hank.

Sayers is on the Lidstrom level of all-time greatness, not the Zetterberg scale.

[BlakKy 58]

Yeah, I still can't believe Barret Jackass won the Calder trophy that year.

Looking back on it now, Zetteberg is one of the best forwards in hockey, while Jackass hasn't even come close to being considered an All-Star or a member of Team Canada.

Has there ever been a worse Calder Trophy winner?

Raycroft

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Raycroft

Raycroft had a better year that year and I believe he at least made the All-Star team.

Jackman has never been considered for any kind of All-Star or Olympic team. For a Calder trophy winner, he hasn't improved much at all as a defenseman. He is now what he was then.

[Tane 17]

Yeah, I still can't believe Barret Jackass won the Calder trophy that year.

Looking back on it now, Zetteberg is one of the best forwards in hockey, while Jackass hasn't even come close to being considered an All-Star or a member of Team Canada.

Has there ever been a worse Calder Trophy winner?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Regan

The Worst.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Regan

The Worst.

Wow, that's pretty bad.

[FireCaptain 563]

Z has my vote!

[Stiffy 0]

Can you believe this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_(number)

Is there one for every number or what? I don't have time to look.

[titanium2 867]

Cortez Kennedy is probably the greatest #96 in sports history.

And yes, as funny as it sounds, Patrick Lalime has the "best" stats for any goalie who has ever worn #40.

Charlie Conway.

[zetterbergfan 23]

Can you believe this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_(number)

Is there one for every number or what? I don't have time to look.

Interesting stuff... Facts about the actual #40. I am sure it is there for every number. It actually sites Pat Tillman and Gale Sayers as famous #40's in sports.

[hooon 1,089]

Charlie Conway.

Does this include his time as assistant coach? I recall him needing to forfeit his roster spot in the World Juniors to make room for Adam Banks as he was recalled off of injured reserve. I think there is a strong case to be made here...

Holmstrom is good, don't get me wrong, but Conway had a huge impact on his team as whole... leadership, triple-dekes, coaching, Bombay dating his mom, etc.