Reader Drew Curlett said this in an email today:
"How do you define greatness? Career Achievements? Stats? Skill? Revolutionized The Game? Or all of the above?
Defining greatness is a very individual quest. As Wikipedia suggests, "Greatness is a concept that is heavily dependent on a person's perspective and biases."
So very true. Which is why I have yet to see anyone completely agree with anyone else on a list of 36. These lists, these opinions are as individual as snowflakes.
But in order for me to properly define the top 36 players in hockey history, I think I have to come up with a more concrete definition of greatness, at least I see it.
Which is where I need your help. Email me or post in the comments below what should be the factors of hockey greatness. What weight would you give those factors?
Right now I'm leaning towards career achievements as the biggest factor, with what I term legacy as the second largest. Stats and skills, something I think could be combined and termed ability, don't weigh as high for me, but could be a tie breaker. Ability should be taken for granted when were talking about the best 36 players out of a pool of 10,000 or more. I also think there is something to be said for longevity.
I will be doing a little camping this week. I'm packing up several hockey books and will be contemplating the definition of greatness and the top 36 hockey players of all time. I will be online everyday, so feel free to share your thoughts!
2 comments:
Those are still rather vague terms. What do you count as achievements? Are these just statistical measures or awards received? Does team legacy mean championships? After all, there have been some great players who never won a championship.
I'm not suggesting I have a ready definition.
If it ends up being subjective anyway, why not embrace that and be subjective?
I was shocked to find Luc Robitaille completely absent from every list on here. Hell he isn't even on the Greatest players of all times on the Kings. Top Scoring left winger of all time........ yes all time. Not to mention he couldn't skate much and still put up amazing numbers. Here are a few other facts.
86-87 as a rookie....Calder,2nd all-star team,rookie alstar team.
Continued to make the all-star team every year until 93. Then the Kings owner decided to get in trouble with the law and the Kings were almost history.
Mad the all-star team 2 more times and won a stanley cup in Detroit.
Averaged over a point per game his entire career until his last season.
Shouldn't the highest scoring left wing of all time at least be on the site somewhere.
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