<< <i>Alexander Ovechkin has more goals per-game than even Wayne Gretzky. Granted it's his young career compared to Gretzky's entire career, but interesting none-the-less. >>
Gretzsky did it with less shots on goal........ Please continue
I should add that I don' say what I do to antagonize. But the fact that he never got hit makes his title "The Great One" seem a little unfair to me.
I've always been a fan of Gretzky's, but he never had to put up with the pain involved with hockey. Lemieux and Orr got smashed every time they stepped on the ice. Ovetchkin and Crosby get it too.
<< <i>Alexander Ovechkin has more goals per-game than even Wayne Gretzky. Granted it's his young career compared to Gretzky's entire career, but interesting none-the-less. >>
Gretzsky did it with less shots on goal........ Please continue >>
I said it was interesting. It's not as though I am saying Ovechkin is better than Gretzky. I just pointed out a fact.
I was proud of the USA..............with a few exceptions we basically had a team of NHL minor-stars going against an NHL ALL-star team. The fact we won all but one game in the Olympics and defeated Canada earlier is truly remarkable to me. Yes Crosby is really good, lets not go the the Gretzky talk just yet.
The fact that Gretzky never got hit or suffered a significant injury was not a result of the way he was treated by the league or by the players but because of his talent. His ability to see the ice and predict the flow of the players and the puck kept him out of harms way.
I bleed orange and black and it killed me to see them lose 2x in the finals against the Oilers but I can say from my observations, no Flyer (or Islander or Bruin) ever gave him a break.
Gretzky was like "The Natural" when Robert DuValle's character says, "He's a natural. He can do whatever he wants. He wants a single, he hits a single. A homer..he hits a homer. Incredible. Whatever he wants." I think that had he decided to score 100 goals after setting the record at 92 that he could have.
To put things in some perspective, just imagine if Gretzky had the physcal gifts that Lemieux had? That is not meant to take anything away from Lemieux, who I consider a hair above Orr. Gretzky just had the ability to see the game. He was a great stickhandler but he never did some of the "puck on a string" stuff that Denis Savard or Peter Forsberg did. He was a good skater but he wasn't Orr or Coffey. He had a good shot but he wasn't Ovechkin or Hull (father or son).
It will be difficult for anyone to break Gretzky's records as the game has "evolved". The players, as with all sports, continue to get larger and faster. Technique and team systems have improved. As a result, time and space within the game is shrinking, which combined with larger goalies playing technically better has helped make it more difficult to score.
<< <i>I've always been a fan of Gretzky's, but he never had to put up with the pain involved with hockey. Lemieux and Orr got smashed every time they stepped on the ice. Ovetchkin and Crosby get it too. >>
Ovechkin fights and does get beat up from time to time. Crosby rarely gets into hits and/or fights.
I think the reason Gretzky never got hit is because he never hit people. I'll give you a perfect example... do you guys remember Eric Lindros? Everyone thought he was the next super hero of hockey. He might have been if he wasn't such a hammer head and play a ruff style. What he dished out he got 100 x's worse ( Scott Stevens) If you play a ruff game except a ruff game back. That's what you have third and fourth lines for.
I like Ove and Crosby but they will never play as long as Gretzky with that style of play. The body will not hold up.
One of the greatest player of all time has to be Jaromir Jagr. Might see him back in the NHL next year.
Trying to climb the 1954-55 Topps Hockey ladder for the second time.
<< <i>Ovechkin fights and does get beat up from time to time. Crosby rarely gets into hits and/or fights. >>
Much as I love Ovie's aggressiveness, he won't drop the gloves.
According to Hockey Fights Dot Com, a great site if you're into that sort of thing, Ovie's had 1 regular season fight, Crosby 4. Sid's actually acquitted himself pretty well in those scraps as well. Both players can play a physical game as they both tip the scales at a pretty solid 210-220. They hit and get hit.
Gretz was 180 lbs soaking wet. He couldn't have taken a pounding and had the kind of career he had. Different styles completely.
Expect that either or both Sid and Ovie will suffer a major injury at some point in their careers as neither has a "take it easy" switch, but I'll be happy to pay to watch them play as long as they lace 'em up.
Back to topic, the fact is, for Team USA win or lose, the euphoria or depression over winning or losing the gold medal would have been over in a week. I'm proud of the run the US lads had, and unlike most Americans, don't think a silver medal is "losing". Had Canada lost, the whole nation would have been second guessing Steve Yzerman and crew (Team Canada GM) for four years. As it is the whole country is happy and maybe it will inspire the four Sharks on the team to bring the Stanley Cup to San Jose!
I guess the USA will just have to wait for Baseball in the 2014 Summer Olympics to exact its revenge..... or, maybe not. Softball? Ok, no.... how about Football! Right.... Umm, Basketball! That's it! Wait, that was invented by a Canadian. Hmmm...
<< <i>I guess the USA will just have to wait for Baseball in the 2014 Summer Olympics to exact its revenge..... or, maybe not. Softball? Ok, no.... how about Football! Right.... Umm, Basketball! That's it! Wait, that was invented by a Canadian. Hmmm... >>
Canada only beat them by one goal in over time. Plus USA did beat them. I take nothing away from Canada, a great team. More and more hockey rinks are being built in the USA. We will win.
USA did win the World Juniors this year. It's only a matter of time until Don Cherry moves out of Canada in disgust
Trying to climb the 1954-55 Topps Hockey ladder for the second time.
USA did win the World Juniors this year. It's only a matter of time until Don Cherry moves out of Canada in disgust
we've been even better than that...
* Gold Medal in the U-20 World Junior Championships, defeating Canada in the Gold Medal game and Sweden in the semi-finals. * Gold Medal in the U-18 World Championships, defeating Russia in the Gold Medal game and Canada in the semi-finals. * Gold Medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, beating Team Ontario in the Gold Medal game and Sweden in the semi-finals. * 2nd place at the U-18 Six Nations tournament. * The Women’s program has fared well too, winning the last 2 World Championships, 3 of the last 4 and ranked first coming into the Olympics.
<< <i>I guess the USA will just have to wait for Baseball in the 2014 Summer Olympics to exact its revenge..... or, maybe not. Softball? Ok, no.... how about Football! Right.... Umm, Basketball! That's it! Wait, that was invented by a Canadian. Hmmm... >>
You have us in hockey, but we have closed the gap and you can have curling.
<< <i>The fact that Gretzky never got hit or suffered a significant injury was not a result of the way he was treated by the league or by the players but because of his talent. His ability to see the ice and predict the flow of the players and the puck kept him out of harms way. >>
No, you're mistaken. I've been to dozens of Gretzky games and I watched dozens of guys let him off the hook, time and time again. He was protected by the league because he was selling tickets at a time when hockey was in a major slump. So maybe I should take back what I said about "The Great One" title. But he still got a hit free ride to all those points.
Ask Bill McCreary what he thinks. He never stepped back on the NHL ice once after his hit on Gretzky (a clean hit by the way). No even during the game they were playing.
Comments
<< <i>Alexander Ovechkin has more goals per-game than even Wayne Gretzky. Granted it's his young career compared to Gretzky's entire career, but interesting none-the-less. >>
Gretzsky did it with less shots on goal........ Please continue
<< <i>, but Gretzky was and is special. >>
I guess that's why he was protected by the league. Hit him and you're gone.
Name one other player special as that.
<< <i>
<< <i>, but Gretzky was and is special. >>
I guess that's why he was protected by the league. Hit him and you're gone.
Name one other player special as that. >>
Gretzky played in an era where the game most of the time policed itself.
I've always been a fan of Gretzky's, but he never had to put up with the pain involved with hockey. Lemieux and Orr got smashed every time they stepped on the ice. Ovetchkin and Crosby get it too.
<< <i>
<< <i>Alexander Ovechkin has more goals per-game than even Wayne Gretzky. Granted it's his young career compared to Gretzky's entire career, but interesting none-the-less. >>
Gretzsky did it with less shots on goal........ Please continue >>
I said it was interesting. It's not as though I am saying Ovechkin is better than Gretzky. I just pointed out a fact.
I bleed orange and black and it killed me to see them lose 2x in the finals against the Oilers but I can say from my observations, no Flyer (or Islander or Bruin) ever gave him a break.
Gretzky was like "The Natural" when Robert DuValle's character says, "He's a natural. He can do whatever he wants. He wants a single, he hits a single. A homer..he hits a homer. Incredible. Whatever he wants." I think that had he decided to score 100 goals after setting the record at 92 that he could have.
To put things in some perspective, just imagine if Gretzky had the physcal gifts that Lemieux had? That is not meant to take anything away from Lemieux, who I consider a hair above Orr. Gretzky just had the ability to see the game. He was a great stickhandler but he never did some of the "puck on a string" stuff that Denis Savard or Peter Forsberg did. He was a good skater but he wasn't Orr or Coffey. He had a good shot but he wasn't Ovechkin or Hull (father or son).
It will be difficult for anyone to break Gretzky's records as the game has "evolved". The players, as with all sports, continue to get larger and faster. Technique and team systems have improved. As a result, time and space within the game is shrinking, which combined with larger goalies playing technically better has helped make it more difficult to score.
<< <i>I've always been a fan of Gretzky's, but he never had to put up with the pain involved with hockey. Lemieux and Orr got smashed every time they stepped on the ice. Ovetchkin and Crosby get it too. >>
Ovechkin fights and does get beat up from time to time. Crosby rarely gets into hits and/or fights.
I like Ove and Crosby but they will never play as long as Gretzky with that style of play. The body will not hold up.
One of the greatest player of all time has to be Jaromir Jagr. Might see him back in the NHL next year.
<< <i>Ovechkin fights and does get beat up from time to time. Crosby rarely gets into hits and/or fights. >>
Much as I love Ovie's aggressiveness, he won't drop the gloves.
According to Hockey Fights Dot Com, a great site if you're into that sort of thing, Ovie's had 1 regular season fight, Crosby 4. Sid's actually acquitted himself pretty well in those scraps as well. Both players can play a physical game as they both tip the scales at a pretty solid 210-220. They hit and get hit.
Gretz was 180 lbs soaking wet. He couldn't have taken a pounding and had the kind of career he had. Different styles completely.
Expect that either or both Sid and Ovie will suffer a major injury at some point in their careers as neither has a "take it easy" switch, but I'll be happy to pay to watch them play as long as they lace 'em up.
Back to topic, the fact is, for Team USA win or lose, the euphoria or depression over winning or losing the gold medal would have been over in a week. I'm proud of the run the US lads had, and unlike most Americans, don't think a silver medal is "losing". Had Canada lost, the whole nation would have been second guessing Steve Yzerman and crew (Team Canada GM) for four years. As it is the whole country is happy and maybe it will inspire the four Sharks on the team to bring the Stanley Cup to San Jose!
Ovechkin pushes fan
that was true last year...this year not so much
1. Ovechkin - 283
4. Crosby - 226
<< <i>I guess the USA will just have to wait for Baseball in the 2014 Summer Olympics to exact its revenge..... or, maybe not. Softball? Ok, no.... how about Football! Right.... Umm, Basketball! That's it! Wait, that was invented by a Canadian. Hmmm... >>
Canada only beat them by one goal in over time. Plus USA did beat them. I take nothing away from Canada, a great team. More and more hockey rinks are being built in the USA. We will win.
USA did win the World Juniors this year. It's only a matter of time until Don Cherry moves out of Canada in disgust
we've been even better than that...
* Gold Medal in the U-20 World Junior Championships, defeating Canada in the Gold Medal game and Sweden in the semi-finals.
* Gold Medal in the U-18 World Championships, defeating Russia in the Gold Medal game and Canada in the semi-finals.
* Gold Medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, beating Team Ontario in the Gold Medal game and Sweden in the semi-finals.
* 2nd place at the U-18 Six Nations tournament.
* The Women’s program has fared well too, winning the last 2 World Championships, 3 of the last 4 and ranked first coming into the Olympics.
<< <i>I guess the USA will just have to wait for Baseball in the 2014 Summer Olympics to exact its revenge..... or, maybe not. Softball? Ok, no.... how about Football! Right.... Umm, Basketball! That's it! Wait, that was invented by a Canadian. Hmmm... >>
You have us in hockey, but we have closed the gap and you can have curling.
<< <i>The fact that Gretzky never got hit or suffered a significant injury was not a result of the way he was treated by the league or by the players but because of his talent. His ability to see the ice and predict the flow of the players and the puck kept him out of harms way. >>
No, you're mistaken. I've been to dozens of Gretzky games and I watched dozens of guys let him off the hook, time and time again. He was protected by the league because he was selling tickets at a time when hockey was in a major slump. So maybe I should take back what I said about "The Great One" title. But he still got a hit free ride to all those points.
Ask Bill McCreary what he thinks. He never stepped back on the NHL ice once after his hit on Gretzky (a clean hit by the way). No even during the game they were playing.