Different eras in sports are always hard to compare. Original six had less teams but also drew from a much smaller talent pool.
rattlehead42069
Lol no. The talent pool in professional sports and the NHL in particular has become way stronger than it ever has been as the years go on.
Just Gretzky was so far above people in his era. In Richard’s era half the players smoked between periods. They wouldn’t hold a candle to Gretzky’s era or today’s era of players. And as it stands now, the competition is so tight, you basically have every play on the caliber of Gretzky was in his time, so it’s way harder to stand head and shoulders above everyone else in the league.
mildlysceptical22
He had a point. There were only six teams so the talent level was the best of the best. The game was also played differently then. Wingers stayed on the wings and defensemen stayed home. The introduction of European players brought the cycle to the offense, and Mr. Orr changed the game for defensemen forever. Could today’s players play in the Original Six? I think today’s players are far greater skaters and have stick handling skills that would have earned them two handers and crosschecks from the old helmetless crew.
subway576
I don’t necessarily disagree.
imaybeacatIRl
I can’t say I agree or disagree. Kinda impossible to compare… but I will suggest that Gretzky’s pomp took place when the league wasn’t super fit/super talented, and uber talented players stood out like giants.
Serious_Reason5312
Every era incomparably different. Best stat is percentage difference from 2nd best of that year or era Everyone had tiny leather pad goalies to abuse and a expansion diluted nhl but he did it the best of that little era and got a head start on big stats because that era was higher scoring sure It all makes ovi’s consistency really impressive through lower scoring times
Katprizov
I agree with the statement that the game has changed and it’s hard to compare. Disagree mostly with the rest. Improvement in equipment, material science, nutrition and training makes every player better now. There’s a higher level of execution today than there ever was before. That goes for Gretzky’s era also. Typical statement from an old guy without humility. He does have a few records still though, and the trophy named after him. I’m here on a pocket computer and I played in high school.
GrizzlyIsland22
The way Richard puts it makes it sound like there were the same amount of people playing hockey in both eras, so when there are only 6 teams, those teams must be saturated with talent. I don’t necessarily think the talent pool was that different. The league expanded to that many teams because hockey had grown in popularity. Fewer people played hockey growing up in Richard’s era, as more people became interested in playing the sport, the talent pool grew as well.
Superb-Possibility-9
The Rocket was a proud man; but Gretzky was the Greatest
Jimmy_October
Short version: Comparing eras is hard.
The message that needs for some reason to still be delivered: Wayne Gretzky was not only the most dominant hockey player to ever play the game, he is the most dominant professional athlete of all time – so far above his contemporaries it is nearly incomprehensible.
AND he is a statesman, excellent teammate, and top tier ambassador for the game.
He is such a fuckin beauty. I am SO LUCKY to have watched him play
AintIGR8
If it was only 6 teams 3 would have moved for sure LA would need a team as would so Detroit is hockey less Chicago would have likely moved as well and you would still have a one Canadian team but not 2 the US dollar would have seen to that.
PaversPaving
McDavid would put up 350 points a season in Gretzky’s era
FatherFenix
I’ll disagree with the “fewer teams, tougher competition” notion he had. More teams, more competition, more depth of talent to compete against.
adam2696
You pick out the top players out of the original 6, all in their primes, and put them against pretty much any of today’s teams. I bet they lose 80%+. This to a lesser degree also goes for Gretzky.
Arfguy
I disagree. Nothing about Gretzky is obvious. If scoring that many goals and assists were so easy, other talented players would have done it.
No one ever did.
Gretzky was a freak. Once in history. Had nothing to do with the level of competition. Gretzky was just too special.
16 Comments
Different eras in sports are always hard to compare. Original six had less teams but also drew from a much smaller talent pool.
Lol no. The talent pool in professional sports and the NHL in particular has become way stronger than it ever has been as the years go on.
Just Gretzky was so far above people in his era. In Richard’s era half the players smoked between periods. They wouldn’t hold a candle to Gretzky’s era or today’s era of players. And as it stands now, the competition is so tight, you basically have every play on the caliber of Gretzky was in his time, so it’s way harder to stand head and shoulders above everyone else in the league.
He had a point. There were only six teams so the talent level was the best of the best. The game was also played differently then. Wingers stayed on the wings and defensemen stayed home. The introduction of European players brought the cycle to the offense, and Mr. Orr changed the game for defensemen forever. Could today’s players play in the Original Six? I think today’s players are far greater skaters and have stick handling skills that would have earned them two handers and crosschecks from the old helmetless crew.
I don’t necessarily disagree.
I can’t say I agree or disagree. Kinda impossible to compare… but I will suggest that Gretzky’s pomp took place when the league wasn’t super fit/super talented, and uber talented players stood out like giants.
Every era incomparably different. Best stat is percentage difference from 2nd best of that year or era Everyone had tiny leather pad goalies to abuse and a expansion diluted nhl but he did it the best of that little era and got a head start on big stats because that era was higher scoring sure It all makes ovi’s consistency really impressive through lower scoring times
I agree with the statement that the game has changed and it’s hard to compare. Disagree mostly with the rest. Improvement in equipment, material science, nutrition and training makes every player better now. There’s a higher level of execution today than there ever was before. That goes for Gretzky’s era also. Typical statement from an old guy without humility. He does have a few records still though, and the trophy named after him. I’m here on a pocket computer and I played in high school.
The way Richard puts it makes it sound like there were the same amount of people playing hockey in both eras, so when there are only 6 teams, those teams must be saturated with talent. I don’t necessarily think the talent pool was that different. The league expanded to that many teams because hockey had grown in popularity. Fewer people played hockey growing up in Richard’s era, as more people became interested in playing the sport, the talent pool grew as well.
The Rocket was a proud man; but Gretzky was the Greatest
Short version: Comparing eras is hard.
The message that needs for some reason to still be delivered: Wayne Gretzky was not only the most dominant hockey player to ever play the game, he is the most dominant professional athlete of all time – so far above his contemporaries it is nearly incomprehensible.
AND he is a statesman, excellent teammate, and top tier ambassador for the game.
He is such a fuckin beauty. I am SO LUCKY to have watched him play
If it was only 6 teams 3 would have moved for sure LA would need a team as would so Detroit is hockey less Chicago would have likely moved as well and you would still have a one Canadian team but not 2 the US dollar would have seen to that.
McDavid would put up 350 points a season in Gretzky’s era
I’ll disagree with the “fewer teams, tougher competition” notion he had. More teams, more competition, more depth of talent to compete against.
You pick out the top players out of the original 6, all in their primes, and put them against pretty much any of today’s teams. I bet they lose 80%+. This to a lesser degree also goes for Gretzky.
I disagree. Nothing about Gretzky is obvious. If scoring that many goals and assists were so easy, other talented players would have done it.
No one ever did.
Gretzky was a freak. Once in history. Had nothing to do with the level of competition. Gretzky was just too special.
Gretzky would skate circles around those guys.