[rmays06]

Well he had his jersey #19 retired tonight! Its official he's retired. Man it kinda sucks to see him be gone off the ice.
He is my favorite athlete ever by far.
Some of my others are:
Gretzky
Barry Sanders
Terry Bradshaw
Walter Payton
Chet Lemon

I wonder, what does everyone think his place in NHL history will be. Is he top 10? Top 20?
He's in my top 5
Greztky
Howe
Orr
Lemieux
Yzerman- you can look past his numbers but what about his heart?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by rmays06

Well he had his jersey #19 retired tonight! Its official he's retired. Man it kinda sucks to see him be gone off the ice.
He is my favorite athlete ever by far.
Some of my others are:
Gretzky
Barry Sanders
Terry Bradshaw
Walter Payton
Chet Lemon

I wonder, what does everyone think his place in NHL history will be. Is he top 10? Top 20?
He's in my top 5
Greztky
Howe
Orr
Lemieux
Yzerman- you can look past his numbers but what about his heart?

How can you drop Orr below Howe?...unless its a lifetime achievement award...I would take Orr 1st overall, he could do what Greztky could do but he was donig it while playing 40 minutes a game at defense. Yzerman is a top 10...but the lines blur after the top 4...talent wise I'd take Bobby Hull over him...and I am sure a few Canadian would take The Rocket Richard or one of thier top goalies over Yzerman.

[sho nuff]

Yzerman has been one of the most consistent players of the past 20 years. His ability to let his on-ice actions do his talking is what made him so great. For a guy to stay with one franchise for his whole career, nowadays is unheard of.

He might now have the stats to rank with the greats, but that's not really what he was known for. Dude had heart, leadership and a passion to win at any cost. I'd say Stevie Y is one of the 20 best of all-time.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by sho nuff

Yzerman has been one of the most consistent players of the past 20 years. His ability to let his on-ice actions do his talking is what made him so great. For a guy to stay with one franchise for his whole career, nowadays is unheard of.

He might now have the stats to rank with the greats, but that's not really what he was known for. Dude had heart, leadership and a passion to win at any cost. I'd say Stevie Y is one of the 20 best of all-time.

See top 20 is way different then top 5...I'd give him top 20.

[sho nuff]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

See top 20 is way different then top 5...I'd give him top 20.

That's what I'm saying. Its so hard to compare players because they play in different eras, especially if you've never seen them play. But in my lifetime, Yzerman was one of the best.

[blueandwhite]

Yeah that's the thing - they are from different eras. What about lafleur? Esposito? Lindsay? Mahovolich?
And yeah, Rocket Richard has got to be in the top three just for making hockey what it is. it wouldn't be the game it is without him showing the way. Kind of like the Beatles paving the way in music.

[rmays06]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Yeah that's the thing - they are from different eras. What about lafleur? Esposito? Lindsay? Mahovolich?
And yeah, Rocket Richard has got to be in the top three just for making hockey what it is. it wouldn't be the game it is without him showing the way. Kind of like the Beatles paving the way in music.

I wonder if the Rocket is spinning in his grave right now being compared to the Beatles?....LOL

I just wanted debate here I see that many feel the same about Yzerman great player one of the best hard to rate in history.

here is one thing tho that he did and probably no one can say that they did he changed his style in the prime of his careet to win a cup. Remeber he was scoring 150+ points a season with Probert and Gallant on his line. He didn't always have "Yankee" teams playing around him and when he did he was scoring 60 to 80 points.

[penguins87]

Y did so much for the NHL, so of course you can look past his numbers (which are still good, though).

I'd have to put him into my top 10. Maybe top 5.