[Sapper]

I have my own belief and contrary to what some might think it was not a Leaf. That's all I'm going to say though, because I want to get a true consensus. Try to forget your team loyaties.

[twister]

Best forward to play in the NHL:

#99 Wayne Gretzky

Best forward to play outside NHL:

E. Bobrov ( had he played in the six team NHL he would have set the hockey world on fire 1950-60's was like Richard absolute Phenom. Kids in russia who played on the 1972 series ( he was the head coach... they all admired and respected him as much as canadian kids wanted to be Howe or Richard.

Best defenceman to play in the NHL :

#4 Bobby Orr

Best Goaltender: Terry Sawchuk until Brodeur passes him for shutouts.. but Terry had 103 in fewer games.

Outside the NHL Goaltender:
Without a doubt # 20 Vladislav Tretiak

Best Leaf of all time: #14 Dave Keon


Each one of those listed had 1 common trait.. they played the game hard and loved every minute of it.

Also each one of them ushered in a new era of players who loved them.. and in the process reinvented the position they played.

[Sapper]

twister twister:

Best forward to play in the NHL:

#99 Wayne Gretzky

Best forward to play outside NHL:

E. Bobrov ( had he played in the six team NHL he would have set the hockey world on fire 1950-60's was like Richard absolute Phenom. Kids in russia who played on the 1972 series ( he was the head coach... they all admired and respected him as much as canadian kids wanted to be Howe or Richard.

Best defenceman to play in the NHL :

#4 Bobby Orr

Best Goaltender: Terry Sawchuk until Brodeur passes him for shutouts.. but Terry had 103 in fewer games.

Outside the NHL Goaltender:
Without a doubt # 20 Vladislav Tretiak

Best Leaf of all time: #14 Dave Keon


Each one of those listed had 1 common trait.. they played the game hard and loved every minute of it.

Also each one of them ushered in a new era of players who loved them.. and in the process reinvented the position they played.

Nice knowledgeable reply but you have to choose.

[Wannabe]

Gretzky. I won't state my case, I think that burden of proof is on any other player that might be selected as the greatest.

[2Cdo]

#4 Robert Gordon Orr. Just watch Grapes tribute video to Orr with music "Nobody does it better" and skeptics would be convinced!

Orr would have ate Gretzky for lunch and shit out Mario!

[fatbasturd]

2Cdo 2Cdo:

#4 Robert Gordon Orr. Just watch Grapes tribute video to Orr with music "Nobody does it better" and skeptics would be convinced!

Orr would have ate Gretzky for lunch and shit out Mario!

Hmmm i can turn that in to a picture for you

[GunRunner]

The best player of all time, was "the ROCKET" and that's just the way it is!

Those others were pussies compared to him.... and I don't even like frenchmen.....

Wimp Wayney couldn't even fight his won fights!!! The ROCKET would have eaten him alive....

But I guess you TEENAGERS, that have only been watching hockey since it turned into a timmy sport don't know any better....

[GunRunner]

$1:

Lets see someone else post 4 200pt seasons....

I would have like to have seen #99 do this back in the 40's when he had to work in a defence plant during the day, and then play hockey at night!

[Sapper]

hmmm... keep them coming... Tister you still need to chose a player.

[Ripcat]

#4

[fatbasturd]

me to #4

[GunRunner]

WDHIII WDHIII:

GunRunner GunRunner:

$1:

Lets see someone else post 4 200pt seasons....

I would have like to have seen #99 do this back in the 40's when he had to work in a defence plant during the day, and then play hockey at night!

Nah Gretz would had Semenko work for him......

That's my point, Gretz had everyone "doing it" for him....

[twister]

Robert (Bobby) Gordon Orr #4 of the Boston Bruins was the greatest player of all time.

Bobby Orr's Stats

There were stars, superstars, and then there was Orr.
There should have been a different League for Bobby Orr.

He Shot, he scored, he could pass, he could set up, he could skate like the wind, he had chrystal vision on the ice, and he could dangle with the puck. He played 5 on 5, power play, penalty kill, blocked shots, fought and best of all everytime he was on the ice gave 110% but never showboated.. as humble a man as you could ever meet. He never embarrased or ashamed an opponent. He was a team player through and through.. though he had immence individual talent he used it to better his team.

Every young player growing up in the 60's and 70's who watched him play wanted to be him, wanted to be like him. He reinvented the position of defenceman. He made it cool to be a D man

Robert (bobby ) Orr's +/- 124 in 1970/71 will never be equalled.
He played 12 seasons in the NHL his last 3 were plagued with the knee injury that finally ended his career:

So really he only played 9 seasons total: In that Time frame Boston won the Stanley Cup twice he scored both cup winning goals ( vs St Louis and vs New York Rangers)

and Bobby won these individual awards:

Awards

1966-67 Calder Memorial Trophy Rookie of the year

8 consecutive James Norris Trophies 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73,1973-74 1974-75 Best defenceman

3 Hart Memorial Trophy 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72 Most Valuable Player

2 Art Ross Trophy 1969-70, 1974-75 Leading Scorer

1969-70 Orr became the first defenseman in history to win the NHL scoring title with a 33-goal, 120-point season

2 Conn Smythe Trophy 1969-70; 1971-72 Playoff MVP
1 Lester B. Pearson Trophy 1974-75 Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Player's Association


Bobby Orr's Career TOTALS games played: 657 Goals: 270 Assists: 645 points: 915 Penalty minutes: 953 +/- career: +597

His Career +/- alone was + 597 that being on the ice for 597 more goals scored for 5 on 5 does not take PP and PK totals into effect ( unless your power play was scored on by the oppositions PK )
He made Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk and Ken Hodge from stars to superstars.
Phil Espositos numbers from star to Superstar

Johnny Bucyks numbers

Ken Hodges number

Without question .. NOBODY DID IT BETTER!


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv0-9Wi713o[/youtube]

[QBC]

That is a very tough question to answer. It's hard to judge that because of the different era's many of these people played in. Cyclone Taylor was the best from his era, but really only played a very few games a year so his stats wouldn't support that. Gordy Howe and The Rocket from their time, but again, the stats don't support it due to the fact they only played 50 or so games a year. Orr, Gretzky, Lafleur, Bossy, Chelios, all could be argued that they are the best to ever play. Tough call if you ask me.

[Toro]

Gretzky.

Unlike most others who are considered "greatest" in hockey or any other sport, Gretzky did things that no one else ever did. Most other greats were simply better than everyone else. Lemieux is an example of this. Jordan was not as dominant in basketball as Gretzky was at hockey, nor as good.

Gretzky controlled the flow of a game and did things during the game that I never saw before and haven't since. His vision was unparrelleled. Gretzky's scoring was amazing, but what made him unbelievable was his passing.

The only other athlete I saw do who was similar was Maradona.

I never saw Orr play, so I can't comment.