Throwdowns > Closed

BM. said 11/17, 02:28 PM
Time to man up. You've always wanted to do a real TD against me, and here is your chance.

So who is the greatest all-around NHL player to ever play the game?

I'm going with Bobby Orr.



Bobby Orr was the most dominant player in the history of the game. He could do it all. He was more unstoppable than anyone that ever stepped foot on the ice.

He racked up 8 straight Norris Trophies, 3 Harts, 2 Conn Smythes and a Calder. However, most amazing was his 2 Art Ross Trophies.

Yes, I said TWO Art Ross Trophies. What is the significance of this? Oh yeah, he was a defenseman. He is the only defenseman to ever win this award, and he did it TWICE.

Had his career not been cut short by several knee injuries, he would be among the top scorers of all time in the NHL. And let me re-iterate what I said earlier. He was a DEFENSEMAN.

He is also the only player ever to win the Norris Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy, and Conn Smythe Trophy in one season.

He was amazing. Better than Lemieux and Gretzky.

Man up TD wh0re.

BRING THE PAIN!!!

BM. said 11/17, 05:57 PM
Gretzky is absolutely NOT the most dominant player in NHL history. He is the best scorer in NHL history (arguably, Lemieux could win that argument), but that's where it stops.

The Great One was one-dimensional. He was an average defender, avoided contact, and was only involved in 4 fights in his ENTIRE career.

Having said that, nobody could score like him. Nobody.

But Orr is EASILY the more complete player, and as the TD reads, we are talking about the best all-around player in the NHL.

Orr's skating was second to none, past or present. He skated circles around the other team. He could skate around the ice with the puck for his entire shift without losing it.

He could fight, and was a physical force on the ice. He was involved in 43 fights in his 657 NHL games, compared to Gretzky being in 4 fights in 1,487 games. Orr also racked up nearly double the penalty minutes that Gretzky had in less than half as many games played.

He also holds the record for highest +/- in a season, with +124. +124 for god sakes!.

Orr was the best, and it's scary to think of what may have happened had his career not been derailed by injuries.

SCARY.

BM. said 11/18, 09:57 AM
This TD is proving how many people actually know hockey. There are 10 at this point.

Everyone seems to be misunderstanding this TD. It's about the best all-around player of all time. Meaning a guy that can do everything at a high level. Gretzky was the best scorer of all time. That's a fact. But he was not the best all-around player of all time. He is not even in the discussion as the best all-around player of all time.

He did not play defense. He didn't hit. He didn't fight. He just scored points. That's it. Being an all-around great player means he has to do ALL of those things at a high level. He did only ONE of them at a high level.

Orr played unbelievable defense. He was a physical presence. He was a good fighter. He did things that no other NHL player could dream of doing.

DJ, you haven't said one word about any other facet of Gretzky's game besides offense. A guy that is solely a scorer is not a good all-around player. What aren't you understanding?

You bring up stats at the end (shockingly). You fail to realize that Orr was a DEFENSEMAN. They aren't supposed to score as much as offensive players. That's what makes Orr so incredible.