Lemieux vs. The Great One

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by canuck2

Yea but how much more room did it give him.? It's not like Semenko was on the ice all the time either. He made his appearances.

So if Lemieux had McSorely or Semenko on his line, would that get him more points, or less?

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Originally Posted by pens33

A team full of Lemieux's would be sick.

No pun intended of course

[canuck2]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

So if Lemieux had McSorely or Semenko on his line, would that get him more points, or less?

Good point. Not sure. Mabe it would have prevented guys from jumping on Mario's back.

[mike56]

claude in a landslide.

[dumby]

Originally Posted by mike56

claude in a landslide.

:d:d:d

[fightingfan]

Originally Posted by fansince65

Does Wayne have more Stanley Cup's then Messier ? NOPE !!!

Could he deliver the CUP after he was traded away from the power-house Oiler's ? NOPE !!

Did Messier ?? HE** YES !!!!

Give me a team of Mark Messier type of players and I will beat your Wayne Gretzky type of team any day of the week !!!!!!

were yalking about player not team. the great one was the best. when we are talking about a single player its what hye has done.
stanley cup? yes
leader scorer of all time? yes

there you go he is the best he has done it all.

[flex_buff_chest]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Who's had more talent then Gretzky? Mario and Orr are the only ones i can think of.

I guess, Physically, there have been lots of more talented guys.

Bure, Federov, Ovechkin, Lafleur, Coffee,

Gretzky finished last in his team workouts in strength, vison, speed etc....

Conditioning wise he was near the top and like Canuck2 said, he had AMAZING vision.

[flex_buff_chest]

Originally Posted by canuck2

No actually Wayne had incredible talent. He saw the ice better then anyone in the history of hockey. He just happened, like a guy like Jordan, to work just as hard. But not many guys had his talent.

Gretzky did not have the physical gifts that many other players have had. He did have a gifted brain though...tat is my point.

[illukka]

Originally Posted by canuck2

Mario was a better player then Wayne but due to injury, cancer and at times indifferent play due to his attitude he didnt have the career he could have. He did have the single greatest performance I have ever seen in 1987 when Canada beat Russia 2 games to 1 and every game was won 6-5. He was sick in this series.

this. if mario was playing with gretzky's attitude ( give it all every night ) the NHL record book would look so diffrent
btw who was marios linemate in the critical moments of those 87 games?

[flex_buff_chest]

Originally Posted by illukka

this. if mario was playing with gretzky's attitude ( give it all every night ) the NHL record book would look so diffrent
btw who was marios linemate in the critical moments of those 87 games?

I disagree. Wayne had different tools then Mario.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Who's had more talent then Gretzky? Mario and Orr are the only ones i can think of.

Killah I think you can put Mike Bossy in that group also , more of a pure goal scorer then any of the players you mentioned ...

[Killah_punk]

Originally Posted by fansince65

Killah I think you can put Mike Bossy in that group also , more of a pure goal scorer then any of the players you mentioned ...

Good call i forgot about the Boss.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Good call i forgot about the Boss.

Killah I think their is a lot of players that had more pure talent then Gretzky , Peter Statsny / Pavel Bure . Sergei Fedorov . Guy La Fleur / Jean Beliveau all had more natural talent , but none of them could see the ice like Gretzky or pass the puck the way he could or anticipate were the puck was going to be , he just had that uncanny hockey sense that no other player ever had or ever will , just like Orr's ability to control the pace of the game , we will never see such players again , they only come along once in a life time , like Jim Brown in football , Wilt Chamberlain in basketball , Willie Mays in baseball , We will never see the likes of Orr/Gretzky/Lemieux again , we have been blessed with the opportunity of seeing the greatest of all time play in their respective sport ...

[canuck2]

Originally Posted by illukka

this. if mario was playing with gretzky's attitude ( give it all every night ) the NHL record book would look so diffrent
btw who was marios linemate in the critical moments of those 87 games?

Mario played in the clutch and grab era. He was a big guy so their was a lot to clutch and grab. Hence his frustration. I think Mario started the movement towards getting the game called tighter.

Mario played with Wayne and Dale Hawerchuck in that 87 canada cup. But if I remember correctly Keenan was coaching it. He always mixed up his lines. But Mario was a one man wrecking crew. His one on one skills were at full demonstration. Probably the greatest I have ever seen.

[canuck2]

Originally Posted by flex_buff_chest

Gretzky did not have the physical gifts that many other players have had. He did have a gifted brain though...tat is my point.

Well the vision is considered a talent. Wayne used his brain more then any other player. Anticipation? Best ever.