Hockey fans, let me pick your brain. No definite answer needed.
Goldenage
Posts: 3,278 ✭✭✭✭✭
If you were asked who were the top three NHL passers of all time, forget about the stats, forget about Assists per Game, just think about all the years you watched hockey, and who was the most consistent and creative passer you ever saw, who would be your top 3 ?
The reason I ask is because I have come up with two, but I can not come up with a third.
Remember, no stats, no advanced stats. Just from watching the game.
The two who I feel that have to be on my list are Wayne Gretzky and Adam Oates.
But when it comes to picking a third, I can't put one guy ahead of another. Is it Mario, Bobby, Forsberg, or some lesser known
guys like Middleton, Mark Howe, or Craig Janney ?
So who are your top three passers of all time ? The guys who could dish the puck like no others ?
Comments
Oates was the first name that came to mind, but I've not watched the NHL on a regular basis in many years and there may be a lot better answers.
Oates and Gretzky are the top two for sure. Not sure who would be third.
I'll throw Sergei Zubov into the discussion. He could hit a streaking right winger right on the tape from 100 feet without taking his eyes off the left winger. Just magician with the puck.
I've said this before, but even if you take away all the goals Wayne Gretzky scored in the NHL, he still is the all time leading point leader. Which means he has more assists all time than everyone else has points, or goals plus assists.
Zubov was terrific - of the the all-time forgotten outstanding players. Easily a 1000-point scorer if he played 15 years earlier (just look at what he did in 93-94). Nick Lidstrom was great. Igor Larionov was excellent as well. But I can't think of anybody on the level of Oates and Gretzky. Maybe Ron Francis? He led the league in assists twice while Gretzky was still active, finished with 1249 in his career.
I can live with Oates, Gretzky and either Lidstrom or Coffey. The Professor is a good pick as well @Tabe
Forsberg was great passer especially for a big fella..
His girl ain't bad either
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Bobby Orr without question would be one of them.
I totally agree with that assessment.
He could skate circles around all defenders and then pass to a teammate. The best all around skater I ever saw!
Scotty Bowman talks about how Orr was a dominant skater during his day the way Connor McDavid is above everyone
else today.
https://www.tsn.ca/bowman-on-the-unstoppable-greatness-of-orr-1.586976
I have not followed hockey since I moved to New Mexico 30 years ago but before that I was an avid Burins fan and attended at least 100 games from 1950's to the 80's.