Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux?

[Brewski_CanuckNut]

Who do you guys think was better? Career stats wise Wayne Gretzky is way ahead of Mario but we all know Mario had to deal with cancer, horrible back problems, and now his hip problem that has caused him to miss out on half of his NHL career. I honestly feel that if he had been completely healthy his entire career he would've easily surpassed all of Wayne Gretzky's current records (Points, Goals, Assists).

All of this is even more amazing that he basically played for a really crappy Pittsburgh team in the early 90's and almost single handedly won the cup twice for the Penguins. If you look at the Oilers almost any hockey player would flourish and score many points with that kind of roster... Messier, Kurri, bah i'm not bothering with the other hall of famers.

Gretzky is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in hockey history, and in terms of durability and performance he takes the cake. But in terms of pure hockey skill and impact in the game I'd have to give it to Mario and say in his prime he was the greatest hockey player to ever play the game, in the NHL.

[kovalev27]

lemieux is an amazing player and his stats are great. And yes he did carry a huge load of the team during the two cups runs however Mario had pretty good players around him like Paul Coffey, Mark Recchi, Jagr, Kevin stevens, larry murphy, ron francis, trottier (he was like 34) also barrasso in net. I know that the edmonton team was very good, but although gretzky had a good team around him, he still put up great numbers while in LA. If lemieux played every game of his career including the three years he missed and averaged 1.9 pts per game (which is his carreer average) he would have 2960 career pts. However that is if he played EVERY single game of his career which is impossible because everyone misses a decent amount of games during their careers. Its impossible to tell if lemieux could have passed gretzky because of all his injuries. you can't really justify who is better. Stat wise gretzky is better. I'd have to take gretzky over lemieux

[ut_jazz]

gretzky = the greatest hockey player ever

[NJFAN30]

I would like to respond to this but I cant, cuz Im some dumb 10 year old that doesn't know anything about hockey. Yeah maybe what I said about yagr wasnt thought out completely and I say things that I dont know jack about. But Im sorry Im not like most selfcentered, superego, wanna be hockey players.

[Brewski_CanuckNut]

yagr? Who the hell is yagr?

[Prowler24x]

gretsky was the best by far, it was amazing watching him sometimes in his prime

[gnoleb]

Who is better overall is a tough question.

I think Gretzky is the better over all offensive player because he changed the way the game is played by expanding the game's scoring opportunities (his office). He ran an offense like nobody else ever has, in my opinion.

However...nobody...and I mean _nobody_...could score like Mario Lemieux. Mario has pulled some of the sickest moves and shots I've ever seen in highlight reels...the man is a highlight reel. Bad angle? No such term with Mario. Mid air puck pokes, jukes and dekes, wristers from nowhere...Mario had it all.

As far as defense...well neither were really strong there :) I think Mario had a tad edge on the defense, however, as he was a bit more physical in his prime (The Great One was never physical- he had Marty McSorely for that!).

So it is tough...I would say Mario is the more skilled scorer just by what I have seen...but Gretzky was a better passer and creator of scoring opportunities for the offense.

[Go Pens]

THis is tough, having grown up in Pittsburgh...so naturally I would say Mario. AS far as the comment about Mario having a great team aroudn him, someone may want to check the rosters in Edmonton during Gretzkys era..that team was hell on wheels.

IMO Gretzky is a Legend and no one will ever compare to him, in any sport!

I think the comparison is a draw *wink, wink*

[Snoug]

Most Definately Gretsky, i dont think Mario is great at all. I think hes average.

[nux19]

Mario just average? I don't really think people called him Super Mario and compare him to Gretzky if he is just another average Joe.

[Brewski_CanuckNut]

lol average... hahaha.

[Snoug]

Im no moron. Lemieux is nothing special.

[Warden]

Brewski_CanuckNut, please refrein from flaming on these boards.

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[Brewski_CanuckNut]

Oh and Snoug, when a player averages roughly 2 points a game throughout his career (equal to Wayne Gretzky) even though he's battled through cancer and serious back problems and you dont think he is special, then you just dont know hockey.

[SuppaMan]

its def a toss up between those two..however i wonder what a way more healthy peter forsberg would be like especially if he freaking shot the puck more. And while both greztky and lemuiex were great offensively there all around game sucked big time. Gretzky had mcsorely and others to protect him all the time and lemuiex had stevens(lol to how many times hes been arrested for ***e possesion)and others protecting him. Neither would hardly ever think about fighting or playing physical whatsoever. So offensively there two of the best players ever...all around you'd prolly have to knock them down a few spots from their respective #1 and #2 spots(im not saying kick em outa the top ten or even maybe 5 but there def not the #1 and #2 all around players for all of nhl history)

[MeanJoeGreene]

Mario was the most talented hockey player of all time.

Even Wanye himself agrees with that.

Nobody has ever had the pure talent that Mario had. And we may never see one like him again. :cry:

If Mario had been able to play in as many games as Gretzky , Mario would own every record in the NHL.

Mario had to battle cancer during the 1990's, Gretzky did not have to deal with anything like that in his life.

[SuppaMan]

ugh i hate partial people i agree mario was good but your obviously a pens fan since ur pic is off the steelers(another pit team)

[DfromthaB]

Gretzky, there was something about Mario that just bored the hell outta me, I donno what it was

[MeanJoeGreene]

Boring? :lol:

That is one thing that Mario has never been.

Anybody who has ever seen one of his goals knows he brings fans to edge of their seat everytime he touchs the puck.

[DfromthaB]

I never really got to watch Mario too aften. He had unreal hands and skill, but I donno, I think it is cause he is big and slow, thats why I always thought he was boring, also he never really had a personality

[MeanJoeGreene]

Slow?

Mario was not slow.

You said that you have not seen Mario play very often. Maybe you should buy a video or dvd about him.

Just do a search and you will find alot of videos and dvds about him.

Mario has a great personality. Thats why he is so beloved by Pittsburgh fans as their greatest sports hero of all time. Thats saying alot, being in a football town with many heros, as well as many Pirate baseball legends.

If you are looking for jerks with no personality have a look at Barry Bonds. Some people say Jagr has a bad personality, but I still have a soft spot in my heart for the great 68.