[Dizzy24]

OK, so you are a hockey fan right? When you take a few different factors into account, you can make the argument that Oveckins's 63 is a greater feat than Gretzky's 92.

1st you must look at the NHL in 1981-82 when Gretzky scored his 92.

* Goaltenders: Some good goalies. Nothing compared to the widespread talent in today's NHL. Their equipment could not compare with today's goalie. Much bigger, faster & athletic netminders today. The butterfly style eliminates tons of on-ice shots. The Hasek style of today's goalie with their sticks on the ice. Many of today's goalies are excellent puck handlers and eliminate countless threats. Overall, goaltending is vastly better than it was in 81-82.

* Defensemen: Take a look back at video of those days. Today's defenseman is faster, bigger, stronger, quicker & are better skaters. It's not even close really.

* Teams today employ methods to "minimize" neutral zone play which is where the skilled players thrive. Clog up the speed zone. These types of schemes were not widespread in the 81-82 era. Making big plays in the neutral zone was commonplace. Especially out west where Gretzky roamed. Man-for-man today's players are much more skilled, bigger and faster. Watch video of 81-82 if you don't agree.

If you are familiar with today's NHL and that of the 81-82 era, I think you can agree that Ovechkin scoring 63 goals is more impressive.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Been a player-fan my whole life (38 years) no way is Ovechkin's 63 even close to Gretzkys 92. Just my opinion Ovechkin is the greatest player in the league right now. He is a better all around player then Gretzky ever was I will agree with that.

 

[HABS]

They are two different players...

Ovechkin is certainly more dynamic than Gretzky was on the ice. Gretzkey was not the faster skater nor had the hardest shot, but he had tremendous vision. In addition to the 92 goals that season, he also had 120 assists (what's even more impressive is that he had 163 assists in the 1985-86 season).

 

[fish4me]

Unless you surround Ovechkin with the same talent Gretzky had when he played it's going to be difficult to break the 92 mark.

Habs you are right. Gretzky knew within 5 seconds of getting on the ice, what was going to happen.

There isn't a player in the league right now that plays the game with the enthusiasm and energy than Ovechkin does. He loves to score and the excitement is the same whether it's his 1st goal or 60th goal but I think the NHL has done a poor job marketing and promoting Ovechkin and Washington and spends way too much time promoting Crosby and Pittsburg. The NHL has also done a poor job selling Non North American (euro) players to a fan base that adores US and Canadian players.

Too bad he is in Washington. Imagine if he played in a strong market like Detroit, Chicago and NY.

 

[Musella]

The other difference is that back in the old days, clutching and grabbing was allowed.. and anyone standing in front of the net got pummelled.
Now there is always a player standing right in front of the goalie blocking his view and tipping in shots and nothing can be done.

However back in the 80s, there were 7.46 goals per game, and now there are 5.24 goals per game.. so each goal is harder to get.

I saw Gretsky play.. and I think Ovechkin is more fun to watch and is a better player.

 

[tautog1]

While I will agree that 63 in todays NHL is very impressive, Gretzky's 92 is still the most impressive (to me) single season mark in sports. I will also agree with Habs regarding Gretzky's vision, and almost supernatural ability to know where the puck was going to be 5 seconds form now. Let's not forget, he scored 92 goals in 80 games. That's 1.15 per game! In 83-84, he scored 87 goals in 74 games! That's impressive! He has more assists than any other player has points. There will never be another "Great One". As a Ranger fan, I got to watch him every night at the very end of his career, and even though it was clear that he was a shadow of his former self, he was still one of the best palyers on the ice on any given night.

Fish4me mentions the talent of those Oiler teams, and to me, that's the really scary thing. The volume of talent on those teams was amazing. I was just a kid back then, I wish I was able to see that at my age now, so I could really appreciate it.

All that being said, Ovechkin is the best in the game now. He is so well rounded, that he is a threat at all times when he is on the ice. If he played baseball, he'd be called a 5 tool player. He can skate, pass, score, hit, and play defense. It really stinks that he is in Washington. Put him on any of the origional six teams (all good hockey markets), and he would be everywhere. It's tough not to like him.

Dizzy, one thing you forgot to mention, in the early '80s, there were no "Eastern Bloc" players in the league. It was all North American and Scandinavian back then.

 

[curlyrebel]

Gretzky is the best by far.

Gretzky changed the way the game is played today.

Can you imagine Gretzky in his prime without a two line pass?

25 years ago is a looooooong time these players workout all the time.

bigger stronger faster the 4th line back in 80's was constantly exploited....everything is different very few goons in hockey now.
back then teams had numerous tough guys.You'd be lucky if team dress one tough guy now.

Dennis

 

[hauler]

Tough one.

Considering the Great one's surrounding cast I give Ovechkin the edge.
Considering the rule changes, I give Gretsky the edge.

That's a 29 goal difference which is a good amount of goals for any player these days.

By an edge Gretsky's 92.

With that said, I never saw anybody have the impact Mario Lemiux had when healthy althought OV comes closer to that level.

Tautog: Good point but remember the Statsney Brothers were on the Nordiques. Their may have been a handful of other Czechs in the game.



This post edited by hauler 10:38 AM 04/02/2008

 

[OFFTHEHOOK]

You can't alway have the best players in the big markets. Look at baseball. 3/4 of the teams will never be good. This guy is bringing excitement to Washington. He is the most dynamic player in the NHL. I think if he was back in Gretzky's prime he would have scored more than 92. I am not sure about matching assist totals, but definately goals. 63 goals in today's hockey is a feat, cosidering these goalies today are as good as they have ever been. The Caps are tied with Carolina, but the Canes have more wins. Hopefully they will make it in and we could see more of this guy. GO CAPS!

 

[Makoman16]

The way the NHL hands out assists is a joke. Those stats are pathetic. What's next ~ everyone on the ice at the time gets one?

They should make it like lacrosse:
To get an assist, you need to make a direct pass to the player that scores. That player cannot make an individual move before he scores; simply shoot the ball that was given to him. Once the player makes a move to better his position to score, the goal is unassisted. Period. End of story.

 

[likeitreallyis]

No, Gretzky's 92 was quite an accomplishment.. Enjoyed watching the Islanders SWEEP Gretzky, Messier and Co. for thier 4th Stanley Cup though

Hope the Caps make it in

 

[chinacat]

Gretzky's accomplishment is worth more. Ovechkin may a great player by todays standards but with the way the average NHL game is reffed, the current rules promote scoring and you can barely touch, tap, or interfere with anybody anymore. If Gretzky could play with todays 2 ref system nobody could touch him and he'd probabaly score over a 100!!

 

[Flukinicehole]

Lets forget the 92 what about the 50 in 39 games

.

 

[Savvy18]

Got in on this late...

Nobody will ever see the game the way Gretzky did. The only player that came close was Lemieux. Gretzky had eyes behind his head. Never saw anyone make passes like him before, during or since. He was uncanny. No, Gretzky was not the most gifted skater, shooter or physical specimen. BUT, for some reason, the guy remained extremely healthy over the course of his career which is a real testimony to his greatness.

Ovechkin is a dynamo. The kid can do it all...and do it all at top speed. He hits. He skates like the wind. Handles the puck like it's stuck on his blade. He has one of the hardest shots I've ever seen. But, most importantly, he loves the game. He loves to score and ya know what else? He loves to run into people. What more could you say about the guy? He is a dream player for any organization.

I do see the point that Dizzy was trying to make. Today's league has a completely different set of obstacles. To be honest, the players are bigger, faster, smarter and just plain more talented than they were 20 years ago. There is no denying that. What Ovechkin faces every night is completely different than what Gretzky played against. And like some of you mentioned, the cast of talented players on those Oiler teams was impressive to say the least.

If you ask me who the better "sniper" is, I say hands down, Ovechkin. If you ask me who the better hockey player is, I say nobody will ever compare to Wayne Gretzky.

 

[OFFTHEHOOK]

Looks like the Caps might do it. A Philly and Carolina loss tonight and a Caps win tomorrow will do it. Vancouver got knocked out last night. So much for you Luongo fans. Go Caps!

 

[RunninAmok]

Ovechkins goal total this season is quite an accomplishment. No question about it...but for as many reasons as there are to show it is harder to score goals in the "New NHL" there are just as many reasons it was just as hard back then. Namely all the hooking, clutch and grabbing, holding etc.

For the comparision on an individual level. Ovechkin is arguably the best player in the game this season...THIS SEASON! With players like Joe Thornton, Vinny Lacavalier, Jerome Iginla, and Sidney Corsby all a close second. It can be argued that all of the aforementioed are every bit of the player that Ovechkin is...but in Gretzky's time he was bar non the best player in the game. Nobody even came close untill Mario some years later. But even then, those two players IMO dominated the game like none other.

 

[HABS]

Don't forget to include Malkin (Penguins) and Kovalchuk (Thrashers). Both are worth the price of admission to see. Even Kovalev has found new life this season...

This post edited by HABS 04:09 PM 04/04/2008