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The Best Players Of All Time By Position

Created by: ReginaSask
Team: 2022-23 Custom Team
Initial Creation Date: Aug. 10, 2022
Published: Aug. 10, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
I just saw a top all time list by someone who I’m assuming is about 20 or so based on their opinion. I’m an old guy who’s here to argue for the original six era that is other not understood or just ignored as useless to some of the younger people. My list is composed of players I mostly saw play in some capacity, whether when I was just a kid or a full grown old guy. Some of these players I saw in person and others on tv. One of them I met when I was a junior hockey player a million years ago. My point here is ignoring the old guys as throw aways is pretty darn ignorant. When I was a kid I loved to hear stories of Howie Morenz and the Leafs old kid line from the old timers. I never saw them play obviously but I didn’t think they were useless old timers like kids today seem to think.

Note: All players are in their original positions. LWs are really LWs. There’s no converting a centre to a winger to cheat. Defenceman are the best of the best and that means they aren’t evenly balanced between left handlers and righties.

All time greatest coaches are the scratches
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
35$50,000,000$49,950,000$0$0$50,000
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Hull, Bobby
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Gretzky, Wayne
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Howe, Gordie
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$9,500,000$9,500,000
LW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 4
Lemieux, Mario
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Richard, Rocket
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Lindsay, Ted
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Beliveau, Jean
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Geoffrion, Bernie
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Mahovlich, Frank
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Morenz, Howie
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Jagr, Jaromir
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Moore, Dickie
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$8,700,000$8,700,000
C
NMC
UFA - 3
Bossy, Mike
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Orr, Bobby
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Shore, Eddie
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Sawchuk, Terry
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Harvey, Doug
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Kelly, Red
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Hall, Glenn
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Pilote, Pierre
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Plante, Jacques
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Lidstrom, Nik
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Horton, Tim
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Roy, Patrick
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Robinson, Larry
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Coffey, Paul
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Durnan, Bill
$1,000,000$1,000,000
Bourque, Ray
$1,000,000$1,000,000
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Bowman, Scotty
$750,000$750,000
Blake, Toe
$750,000$750,000
Imlach, Punch
$750,000$750,000
Tarasov, Anatoly
$750,000$750,000
Adams, Jack
$750,000$750,000

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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:04 p.m.
#1
Funksoljah
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Very surprised to see Hasek get snubbed.
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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:04 p.m.
#2
EklundCelebriniSmith
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I would say it’s a fair list (not giving age but 20’s) - but imo; Hasek is a GLARING omission. I’m a supporter of Brodeur but Hasek is missing if you’re making a top 5 goalie list and he ain’t there. I love the Sawchuk rep, he was one goalie I remember reading a ton about as a kid.

I honestly would say McDavid and Hasek are the only missing names or “honourable mentions” if you’d accept. McDavid is unreal and he’s the only player that would ever touch records like Gretzky’s if he played in the same era.

I also think Lindros/ Forsberg each have a spot nearby this list.
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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:10 p.m.
#3
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Quoting: Funksoljah
Very surprised to see Hasek get snubbed.


Why? He played in an era where it was considerably easier to be a goalie.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:11 p.m.
#4
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Quoting: yikes
I would say it’s a fair list (not giving age but 20’s) - but imo; Hasek is a GLARING omission. I’m a supporter of Brodeur but Hasek is missing if you’re making a top 5 goalie list and he ain’t there. I love the Sawchuk rep, he was one goalie I remember reading a ton about as a kid.

I honestly would say McDavid and Hasek are the only missing names or “honourable mentions” if you’d accept. McDavid is unreal and he’s the only player that would ever touch records like Gretzky’s if he played in the same era.

I also think Lindros/ Forsberg each have a spot nearby this list.


McDavid is only 25. He has a long way to go yet. And as I said about goalies today, all of them have a much easier job that Sawchuk and Hall had
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:11 p.m.
#5
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im surprised geofrion made your list to be honest. hell of a good player but top 5 of all time is surprising. but its ok if thats how you feel.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:13 p.m.
#6
Lifelong Leafs Fan
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Johnny Bower and Ed Belfour should be among the goalies, King Clancy and probably Charlie Conacher and Hap Day should be among the skaters. If you did a management version of this, Hap Day and Conn Smythe should be among them.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:13 p.m.
#7
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Quoting: drambui
im surprised geofrion made your list to be honest. hell of a good player but top 5 of all time is surprising. but its ok if thats how you feel.


Top 5 RW. I’m not saying he’s better all time than Crosby just that he’s a top 5 RW
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:14 p.m.
#8
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Quoting: LeafsForLife
Johnny Bower and Ed Belfour should be among the goalies.


Bower was fantastic. He was just shy of those other goalies. Belfour never did much for me
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:19 p.m.
#9
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Quoting: ReginaSask
Bower was fantastic. He was just shy of those other goalies. Belfour never did much for me


Really? I thought he could probably displace Glenn Hall and/or Bill Durnan, however that's just because I know a lot more about Bower and the other 3 goalies listed than Hall and Durnan.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:22 p.m.
#10
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Habs fan?
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:23 p.m.
#11
Funksoljah
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Quoting: ReginaSask
Why? He played in an era where it was considerably easier to be a goalie.


Really?
93-94 the league average save % was .895, Hasek had a .930
94-95 the league average save % was .901, Hasek had a .930
95-96 the league average save % was .898, Hasek had a .920
96-97 the league average save % was .905, Hasek had a .930


Glenn Hall as one of your top 5,
55-56 league average .919, Hall had a .925
56-57 league average .911, Hall had a .928
57-58 league average .909, Hall had a .906
58-59 league average .905, Hall had a .897
59-60 league average .908, Hall had a .918

In fact the league average save % throughout Halls career was on par or higher than during Haseks era. Yet Hasek had greater separation from those averages. The top years of the actual dead puck era the highest average save % was .911 and the only time it was ever higher than .910 during that era. The league average surpased .910 multiple times during Halls era.
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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:23 p.m.
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Quoting: LeafsForLife
Really? I thought he could probably displace Glenn Hall and/or Bill Durnan, however that's just because I know a lot more about Bower and the other 3 goalies listed than Hall and Durnan.


Durnan was before my time but old timers absolutely loved him and couldn’t stop raving about him. You read about him and see he was the dominant goalie of the pre war era. He was ambidextrous which just blows my mind. It’s also my favourite Gordon Howe fact too.

As for Hall he is the real inventor of the Butterfly. He was so good that as an old goalie in that first post expansion season when the Blues just got the hell kicked out of them in the final, he still won the Conn Smythe as a losing goalie! Imagine facing all those great Montreal players on an expansion team and having them just tee off on you while you’re standing there with barely anything to protect you… there’s a reason goalie was a brutal job back then
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:24 p.m.
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Quoting: Cardiac
Habs fan?


Me? No way Leafs fan with a strong love for the Howe era Wings as well
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:25 p.m.
#14
EklundCelebriniSmith
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Quoting: ReginaSask
McDavid is only 25. He has a long way to go yet. And as I said about goalies today, all of them have a much easier job that Sawchuk and Hall had


I would say that’s a very subjective point. I think factually it can be argued goalies today have it harder but that’s a conversation for a different day as it’s clearly a way more complicated situation. The argument for Hasek is that there’s arguably never been a goalie like him and he had a HOF career. Hasek not only provided elite positional player and statistics but also played in a style that we really haven’t seen ever; and still haven’t seen again.

I would circle back to disagreeing that goalies today have it easier unless you are directly referencing the “difficulty” factor in terms of these dudes played with zero equipment compared to the equipment of today. If that is the main theme to your point that I think you’re 100% right. But to say the position hasn’t gotten harder is a bland point seeing as the game is insanely difficult and the speed and ability of shooters has evolved drastically and the only way goalies can keep up is by too evolving and becoming more talented as we see know goaltending is the arguably the most important position and the talent level in net has had to increase tremendously to be noticeable.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:26 p.m.
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Quoting: ReginaSask
Me? No way Leafs fan with a strong love for the Howe era Wings as well


I respect it. It’s typical to see beliveau that high in a habs fans ranking. Tbh after Mario and Wayne it’s an open book and so many players have a case for three.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:26 p.m.
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Quoting: Funksoljah
Really?
93-94 the league average save % was .895, Hasek had a .930
94-95 the league average save % was .901, Hasek had a .930
95-96 the league average save % was .898, Hasek had a .920
96-97 the league average save % was .905, Hasek had a .930


Glenn Hall as one of your top 5,
55-56 league average .919, Hall had a .925
56-57 league average .911, Hall had a .928
57-58 league average .909, Hall had a .906
58-59 league average .905, Hall had a .897
59-60 league average .908, Hall had a .918

In fact the league average save % throughout Halls career was on par or higher than during Haseks era. Yet Hasek had greater separation from those averages.


Hall invented the playing style Hasek used. He played in his without a mask on while facing the early slap shots. Hasek like every modern goalie plays with bigger pads and a sweater twice the size of any player. It’s just an easier job. Would you stand in the crease and face a slap shot without all that padding and no mask?
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:28 p.m.
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Quoting: Cardiac
I respect it. It’s typical to see beliveau that high in a habs fans ranking. Tbh after Mario and Wayne it’s an open book and so many players have a case for three.


Jean Beliveau is Mario’s predecessor. Mario just took it a bit further from a pure talent perspective
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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:37 p.m.
#18
Pop Pop
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I get your logic but Hasek has to be on this list
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:39 p.m.
#19
Funksoljah
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Quoting: ReginaSask
Hall invented the playing style Hasek used. He played in his without a mask on while facing the early slap shots. Hasek like every modern goalie plays with bigger pads and a sweater twice the size of any player. It’s just an easier job. Would you stand in the crease and face a slap shot without all that padding and no mask?


Hall didn't invent the modern butterfly. He was the first one to start dropping to his knees to make saves, but the modern butterfly has evolved over time. Hall was the catalyst for it for sure, but it wasn't until Esposito that it really started to become more refined. Even then Haseks style was probably closer to controlled chaos than anything else I've seen.

Regardless, most people consider Hasek in the top 5, if you don't that's your opinion.
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Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:44 p.m.
#20
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"back in my day"
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:50 p.m.
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Quoting: Jfstompers
I get your logic but Hasek has to be on this list


I expected this but honestly expected to hear more about Brodeur being left off
Aug. 10, 2022 at 4:52 p.m.
#22
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Quoting: Funksoljah
Hall didn't invent the modern butterfly. He was the first one to start dropping to his knees to make saves, but the modern butterfly has evolved over time. Hall was the catalyst for it for sure, but it wasn't until Esposito that it really started to become more refined. Even then Haseks style was probably closer to controlled chaos than anything else I've seen.

Regardless, most people consider Hasek in the top 5, if you don't that's your opinion.


Everything evolved overtime. That’s like saying Alexander Graham Bell didn’t invent the telephone but it sure did evolve over time. Hall was playing that style before it had a name. Esposito adopted it from Hall not the other way around. Then it kind of went into the wilderness until after we saw Tretiak and the Soviets. After that it of course came into the modern form with Roy and Hasek
Aug. 10, 2022 at 5:17 p.m.
#23
Darkblade
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Maybe Makar, McDavid and Mackinnon would be on that list someday.
Aug. 10, 2022 at 6:48 p.m.
#24
MK458
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Hasek has to be on this list. Other than that I like it
Aug. 10, 2022 at 9:12 p.m.
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Quoting: AlakHul
Maybe Makar, McDavid and Mackinnon would be on that list someday.


McDavid likely will, Makar maybe, Mackinnon doubtful
 
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