Need opinions on HOF GU PC...

[stivsolovienna]

hi,

which 10 players shouldnt be left out in a HOF GU PC? really looking forward to your input! thanks and cheers,

herbert

[marekschwarz33]

I'd go with:
Gretzky
Orr
Roy
Howe
Lemieux
Vezina
Plante
Tretiak
M.Richard
Bobby Hull

of course this list may be slightly biased towards goalies...

[DjHockey887]

I would say:

Sakic
Lemieux
Yzerman
Roy
Gretzky
Messier
Orr
Howe
Richard
Dionne

[reoddai]

Gretzky
Maurice Richard
Howe

After that you need some decision making. You probably want the best ever goalie. Do you go with Cool cucumber Vezina, or the more recent Roy or HOF lock Brodeur? Are you more of a Hasek believer? What about the goalies of the 60's & 70's like Plante, Esposito, Tretiak and Dryden just to name a few.

After that you're into grey territory. Across all the generations of players, who do you pick? Do you want a Sakic or a Beliveau? What about a Newsy Lalonde or Lemieux. How about 'Cyclone" Taylor v Bobby Orr?

Do you care about coaches, builders or reporters? Scotty Bowman? Conn Smythe? Foster Hewitt?

While the list isn't endless, there are some hard choices to make. Let us know what you decide.

Cheers,
reoddai

[LALakers23]

Gretzky
Maurice Richard
Howe

After that you need some decision making. You probably want the best ever goalie. Do you go with Cool cucumber Vezina, or the more recent Roy or HOF lock Brodeur? Are you more of a Hasek believer? What about the goalies of the 60's & 70's like Plante, Esposito, Tretiak and Dryden just to name a few.

After that you're into grey territory. Across all the generations of players, who do you pick? Do you want a Sakic or a Beliveau? What about a Newsy Lalonde or Lemieux. How about 'Cyclone" Taylor v Bobby Orr?

Do you care about coaches, builders or reporters? Scotty Bowman? Conn Smythe? Foster Hewitt?

While the list isn't endless, there are some hard choices to make. Let us know what you decide.

Cheers,
reoddai

I would 1000% put bobby orr in that first group. Its possibly just me but every time you watch him play its extremely obvious hes atleast top 3 ever. what a player.....

[RGM81]

For me, a Top Ten list would be nothing but Habs, but that's just me. With so many great options to choose from across the spectrum, you really can't go wrong. If you want the best of the best, you have to consider adding:
Gretzky
Orr
Richard
Roy
Beliveau
Howe
Plante
Vezina
Sawchuk
Lemieux

That's instantly off the top of my head - think about some of the names that aren't on that list. Good luck putting it together!

[Fred Bear]

I would agree with what's been said...

The Top 4 are easy picks... Gretzky, Howe, Richard, Orr

after that, it's really up for grabs I think. Personally, I would round out the list with...

Lemieux
Tretiak
Roy
Vezina
Yzerman
Bourque

But I'd probably change my mind each time I'm asked on at least half of those slots.

[Phil44]

Easy Top 5 for me : Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Richard, Orr

After that: Roy, Vezina, Bourque, Yzerman and Beliveau

[The Germinator]

M. Richard.
Gretzky
Lemieux
Béliveau
Orr

[ravens_creed]

I gave this way too much thought, but here is some of what I came up with:

It's been suggested that the top 4 are locks, but I would argue that Lemieux HAS to be in the top 10, and therefore the top 5 are locks.

Gretzky
Lemieux
Orr
Howe
Richard

With 5 slots left, I took some time to dwell on what made the top 5 "locks" (Gretzky and co.), and unless someone can correct me on this, I can spot 3 very important things that they have in common:

1. They could all be considered "The best player in the world" at one time or another at one point in their careers.
2. They have all been NHL MVPs in at least one season
3. They have all led the NHL in scoring for at least one season


I came up with a short list of players who could (should) be considered for the remaining 5 slots, as well as some thoughts on some of the other names that have been thrown out there so far.



The Goalies:
Keeping in mind there are only 5 remaining slots, I can still narrow the goalie list down to 4, and even that will stir debate. IMO, the only goalies who should be considered are Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante (who probably wouldn't make my own list), Patrick Roy AND (especially as a result of Roy being on the list)... Martin Brodeur. You have to ask yourself, "Who is the best goalie who has ever played the game?" and that question should bring your list down to Sawchuk, Roy, and Brodeur, who, despite being active, I think should absolutely be included in our discussions here. Plante gets consideration due to his many innovations to the game, so his importance depends on how highly you value the historical importance of his inventing the mask, going behind the net to stop the puck for his defensemen, actually passing and playing the puck, and putting his arm up to indicate icing calls. And yet, despite those many innovations, I'm not sure he would crack my own list. IMO, he wasn't a good enough goalie, all things considered. :P Here's another downer of a comment.... Tretiak should in no way make the short list. I understand why he's getting a nod here and there, but NO WAY, folks. I'd even have the Dominator in there before Tretiak (*gasp*). Total number of NHL games played: 0. That's enough to eliminate him from contention with a measly 10 slots available. Sorry to be such a hater.


Defensemen:

How many slots do you allocate for the D-men, the unsung heroes of the sport? The short list has to look like this: Doug Harvey, Ray Bourque, Nicklas Lidstrom. I can't, in good conscience, open it up to more than that, despite names like Coffey, Robinson, Potvin, Langway, Stevens and the often-forgotten Pierre Pilote coming to mind. Keep in mind that Bobby Orr is already taking a spot, so how many defensemen are going to make a top 10 list? You have to go with the very best who have played the game, and after Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey should be the next considered, and he hasn't even been mentioned yet. 9 Norris Trophies is one more than Bobby Orr's 8 (career ending early or not). That's already 2 D-men, so who are the next best defensemen of all-time? I say no player was as effective in both ends of the rink for as long as Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom were able to do it, and again, you have an active player in Lidstrom, and I think that shouldn't disqualify him at all. If we're keeping with our Norris Trophy count, then they also have the next two highest counts (6 for Nick and 5 for Ray).


Do you count coaches? If so, Scotty Bowman will be the first name on everyone's list, but Toe Blake shouldn't be forgotten either. I might even give Punch Imlach some thought, but that's starting to look like too many coaches included in a top 10. I say one spot in a top 10 max, and that leaves Scotty and Toe. Read the bios, take your vote. It's a tough call, even though Scotty is generally considered the greatest coach of all time. I'm not so sure about that... and I'm a life-long Leaf fan... that's how much I feel for Toe Blake's career.


What forwards make the remaining short list?

Mark Messier
Howie Morenz
Jean Beliveau
Phil Esposito
Guy Lafleur
Stan Mikita
Bobby Hull
Jaromir Jagr
Sidney Crosby?
Alex Ovechkin?


That would be my short list. I won't even begin breaking that down. :P Yes, I left Marcel Dionne off (intentional). Howie Morenz would be a lock-in, but good luck finding a piece of his mem. :)


I think, of the 5 remaining spots, I would personally give spots to Doug Harvey, Terry Sawchuk, and Mark Messier for sure. That leaves 2 spots left. That's a TOUGH decision!! I may have to go with the Roy/Brodeur combo, but that's just me.