Mario Lemieux is the Greatest NHL Player of All-Time
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- Опубліковано 4 лис 2024
- Pure Hockey is the largest hockey retailer in the USA and has the deepest selection of equipment at the cheapest prices. Get your hockey gear now! bit.ly/3YGvH2S Few would argue that Mario Lemieux is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the NHL as his career accolades speak for themselves, but if we dive deeper into his career we unlock why he is THE best!
I'm 40yrs old and Lemieux was my hockey idol growing up. He never seemed to get accolades for the craziest record that will never be broken. Get this, in his last year in the QMJHL in 1983 before going into the NHL he scored 133 goals, 149 assists, 282 points in only 70 games LOL! He broke Guy Lafleur's record...Unbelievable.....His natural soft stick handling talent for his size was remarkable. He made extremely hard plays look to easy. He also played countless games in pain while still putting up impressive numbers. He always was a humble man on & off the ice, and rescued the Penguins from bankruptcy. I can go on & on how Lemieux is the GOAT. Lemieux in French means "The Best"
We can't forget he's the only player to have 5 different goals in 1 game...Powerplay, Short handed, Penalty shot, Even strength, Empty net.
Legendary game!
HOW ABOUT HIS BUDDY JAGR STILL PLAYING IN CZECH AS OWNER PLAYER AND JUST PASSED GRETZKY FOR ALL TIME GOAL SCORER IN HISTORY
@@johnrencheck2283 but counting Czech goals is like Pele counting charity event goals...
@@jeanjacques9365 But he's almost 51 years old, and still playing elite hockey. Gotta give the man some credit. He put up damn-near 2000 points in his NHL career alone, including almost 800 goals. Jagr is a LEGEND in hockey, no doubt!
I have had a poster of him hanging in my basement since I was a kid.. I'm 43 now.. he is and always will be my favorite hockey player ever.. Le Magnifique
I’m a Bruins Fan.
But Mario was the best player. His Skills had skills.
I agree. As a Kings fan I adore Gretzky, but Mario's skill set was far superior than anyone Ive ever seen. The fact that he is so humble is amazing in itself, but he played like he was skating one step ahead of everyone else, like he could see it develop, before it did. He just did everything better. Imagine his numbers if he didnt have the cancer to deal with.
Easy answer, it’s Super Mario..
Super Mario is the reason I got into hockey. He was absolutely unbelievable
HE COULDN'T EVEN TIE HIS OWN SKATES due to his back issues. He beat cancer and STILL was the best in the league by a wide margin. For me a nobrainer.
Absolute warrior!
You guys are hilarious
No brainer....correct
That is Bobby Orr
Could do everything Lemieux could do while blocking shots, rushing the puck, make eye popping passes, having a cannon from the blue line, killing penalties, driving the power play, hitting like a train, and fighting like a tiger.
Aside from all that....sure, Lemieux is the GOAT......
Oh....and Orr did most of it on one leg.
@@davidd5407I mean Lemieux still won a scoring title while battling cancer and missing 24 games. Bobby Orr didn't do that.
Absolute GOAT.
NYET
#4 Bobby Orr
Sorry!! Don’t think so
Québecois wooooooooo it's hard for a English Canadian ben oui Lemieux yé meilleur mon homme votre anglais pus capable criss@@kenphillips2561
Gretzky is objectively better by most metrics - individual awards/accolades, team success, statistics... Lemieux was more physically dominant and arguably a better goal scorer, but Gretzky was the better player. If Lemieux had a full healthy career, he'd probably have around 1000 goals, 1500 assists, 2500 points. If Gretzky hadn't had back issues following the Gary Suter hit and other injuries in the early 90s, he'd probably have around 950-1000 goals, 2000+ assists, and 3000+ points. Lemieux was amazing but Gretzky was simply better.
I respect your opinion. @@alexanderhenry9133
Simply the best ever!!! Period!!!!!!
If Mario played today he would destroy everyone
YES TOTALY ABSOLUTLY TOTALY DESTROYING EVERYTHING AND EWERYONE HE WAS THE KING OF KINGS GOD OF GODS MARIO LEMIEUX GREATEST ISHOCKEY PLAYER IN THE HISTORY END OF THE DISCUSION ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
No.
Sorry but no.
The game is so much faster that mario and gretzky would be in a world of trouble
@@Vili-mf4wxAbsurd. Mario was big, fast, highly skilled and had the best shot I’ve ever seen in my 30+ years watching hockey. Lemieux would have no trouble in today’s game in fact, he would destroy it because he wouldn’t have 2-3 defenders hanging off him all the time, plus all the additional PP minutes he’d enjoy now vs the 80s and 90s.
@@cws480hope you are joking. He wouldn’t be able to lift Mcdavid stick up. You would blink and Mcdavid would already be in a breakaway lol. Game is much more faster, goalies are bigger and players are way more skilled.
@@ThinkSmartMoneyy A couple of your generalizations are valid. Generally, goalies are bigger and faster now (and the larger equipment doesn’t hurt either). And generally the overall speed and skill of the game is faster and better now. However, those thin, broad strokes (along with your pithy quip) only prove how little you know hockey, Mario Lemieux and hockey history. Good luck in high school.
Mario Lemieux is the Greatest NHL Player of All-Time
NYET
#4 Bobby Orr
You also made mistake in this video
Gretzky 513 points in 239 games or 2.14 ppg
Gretzky 1000 points in 424 games or 2.35 ppg
Gretzky 1000 (1000-2000) points in 433 games or 2.31 ppg
Lemieux 516 points in 292 games or 1.76 so no he didn’t get to 500 points at 2.ppg only Gretzky did
Lemieux 1000 points 513 or 1.94 points per game.
Lemieux didn’t hit 500 or 1000 at 2ppg
Will always be my favorite player EVER! can't imagine the numbers he would have put up in his prime without his health issues.
If you look at Mario's numbers when he first retired his points per games was over 2. I'm a big Mario fan watched when the pens drafted him.
Im not going to take away anything away from him, but if your looking at pure numbers look at him during his first 13 years. Those are impressive.
Watching him score goals will make your jaw drop. He liked to make other players look silly while he scored. And he did this against the best in the world. Every single game.
Yup. He sacrificed those per game stats to save the franchise.
@@srimaddukuri Gretzky sacrificed his points per game to save the league.
@@dannycarlow8204 Lmao. Dude was a ferry. Not even a hockey player. He had his own set of rules. Couldn’t check him or anything. And the league wasn’t failing. The owners simply wanted to expand and Gretzky was designated the ambassador to the sport. And he sucked at it. I’m from the NYC area and no one cared about Gretzky. Nobody talks about him. Devils fans, Rangers fans, islanders fans still talk about Lemieux.
@@srimaddukuri I wonder why those fans talk about him, oh that's right, those are the teams in the division he played. What a mystery. The league expanded into many new markets because of Gretzky. All Mario did was throw a fit because he had a penalty called against him and called the NHL a garbage league. Even Eddie Johnston the Pens coach said that players like Mario and Wayne should receive preferential treatment. Mario said he would do nothing to market the league that made him a rich man. Wayne played against older and bigger players his whole life and figured out a way to play that took out much of the physical game because he would get killed by the older guys if he didn't.Wayne was playing pro hockey against men at the same age that Mario was still playing against kids. Mario played in the pussy QMJHL which did not prepare him for the physicality of the NHL. He couldn't figure out a new way to play that took much of the physical play away from him the way Wayne did. Mario was just destined to play second fiddle to Wayne. Sorry.
@@dannycarlow8204 yeah, I mean, I guess sheep will think Gretzky was the greatest because he was a product sold to them. People who don’t even watch hockey or understand how difficult it is to play when you’re getting checked all the time and getting into fights to protect your teammates. Lemieux wasn’t a product. He was a hockey player. He just wanted to play hockey, despite his health issues. And he didn’t want to leave the city that drafted him. A working class city that helped build the U.S. economically in its early days of industrialization. Mario didn’t have the players around him for the first third of his career. He may have had a season and half of full health. Maybe he was destined to have sheep consider him second-best to a ferry like Gretzky. How many fights did Gretzky get into, for himself and on behalf of other teammates. Gretzky had great vision, but not much better than Lemieux. Anyways, Lemieux will always be considered the greatest amongst the knowledgeable hockey fans. Maybe not the New Yorkers and Hollyweird crowd. I’m just waiting for Gretzky to come out transvestite like Bruce Jenner.
Look at his numbers in only 915 games! Enough said.
Mario Lemieux was the best player in the world from 1987 to 2003. Dominated any era
An absolute pleasure to watch!
Helluva player.
In top 5. Was dominant for period of time
But not GOAT.
@@davidd5407Maybe not in term of playing alot, but in terms of talent and how long he dominated the league even with all the injuries and health problems...He is first by a mile !
That’s true Gretzky is the greatest and he has the stats to prove it.
@@benvad9010yes he the stats but only because he has the longevity and his health and was in a pack club that’s all if you are talking pure talent no one comes close to Lemieux not even gretsky sorry
Back in the day, around 35 years ago, during the 1988/89 season, Lemieux scored 85 goals in 76 games. He finished the season with 199 pts. However, Wayne Gretzky during the 1980's, recorded over 200+ pts during 4 separate seasons.
The funny thing about that season is that Wayne won the Hart and Yzerman won the Pearson. Mario got nothing.
Gretzky played on teams that were absolutely stacked as soon as he got into the league. Mario did not. Makes a difference.
@@fredericbouchardwong4596 How were the Oilers stacked as soon as Wayne came into the league exactly?
@@fredericbouchardwong4596 I know, you're definitely right. Super Mario played on a line with Mike Bullard or Dan Quinn. He had nobody to support him. It wasn't until the Pittsburgh Penguins got a great defenseman (Paul Coffey) to help Lemieux out a little. That was back in the late 80's.
But Gretzky had a lot of star players helping him. Lemieux joined one of the worst teams in the league and it took a few years to turn the team around.
Orr and Lemieux both had the potential to add a lot to their trailblazing careers but staying healthy is a huge asset that they sadly did not have.
Orr was great. Just wondering why nobody ever mentioned Orr just like Gretzky both played during massive expansion went from 6 to 12 with Orr. 120 minor league players to skate around on one of. Gretzky also played on an amazing team the best team offensive team ever with Gary bettman manipulating the rules to generate goals. Made everyone in the league understand how valuable Gretzky was to everyone in the pocket
@@patrice5976 Bettman came in in 1993, well after the Oilers era but you have some good points. It's a team sport and many great players get stuck on awful teams and it surely doesn't help their numbers or their number of cups. Era's have different challenges and scoring fluctuates but these guys did way better than anyone else in their era despite whatever advantages their era offered.
Lemieux edged Gretzky in I think one season? He had 199 pts his best season Wayne had several 200+. Combining their seasons, Wayne had 5 of the best 6, and 1, 2 and 3. Lemieux's peak barely reached over Wayne's non-peak a couple times briefly. Waynes prime was untouchable. Just look up single season and per game records. So IMO healthy Lemieux was never on pace to be better than Wayne. There were one or two years where it seemed like Mario could end up better, but Wayne's consistent domination continued.
Si c est pas le goat pour tout le monde,personne ne peut ignorer que c est le plus beau talent brute,les plus belles mains de l histoire du hockey.
Absolumet d'accord. Ce qui n'enlève rien aux Gretzky, Jagr, etc. Et à Bobby Orr, qui révolutionna le poste de défenseur dans les années 70.
@@shuyviuWayne Gretzky et Bobby Orr ont évolué durant les deux périodes les moins compétitive de la LNH. Expansion en 1967 la LNH passe de 6 à 12 équipe, 120 joueurs des league mineur qui n’auraient jamais atteint la LNH sinon. Bobby Orr se retrouve avec Boston, une des meilleurs équipe. Maudit avantage. Aurait-il été le même joueur s’il était avec Buffalo? Les big bad bruin avec les joueurs de rugby sur l’équipe qui lui ouvraient un chemin, comme moise avec la mer qui se sépare devant lui. J’aurais bien voulu voir l’extraordinaire Gilbert Perreault sur une bonne équipe.
😮Gretzky a eu la meme chance et même plus 140 joueurs des ligues mineurs, la meilleure équipe et de loin si on compare à l’époque. La ligue a tout fait pour avoir plus de buts afin d’attirer les amateurs américains pour toutes ces nouvelles équipes. La LNH avec Bettman arrivant de la NBA, aimait bien manipuler le scénario. Les règles ont changé pour avoir plus de buts. Pas touche à Gretzky, car tous étaient perdant si “the manufactured”one se blessait. 11-2 12-4 était très commun à l’époque. Lemieux n’a jamais bénéficié d’un tel avantage. What if Mario played the first 8 years of his career on a team WITH 7 hall of famers?
Instead he broke into the NHL with the WORST team in history. Can you name 3 players on that team?
If you had to pick a player for one playoff game only and could guarantee health itd be lemeuix or forsberg. Gamers
If you gave Lemieux 1000 POINTS, he would still be behind Gretzky. So no matter what anyone says, Gretzky is #1. That being said, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe are all legendary. Lemieux coming back from cancer, and his size and skill were so fun to watch. I enjoyed watching both legends of the game. Appreciate all 4 players, for all their amazing abilities. #legends
What if Mario Lemieux played most games of his career? I think he would've surpassed Gretzky at that point, although that's more of a "what-if" debate if anything else.
I think a healthy Mario Lemieux probably get 1000 goals and about 2300 points.
Him And Gretzky should be the only 2000 point scorers in NHL history
@@shadowyt69420 As a player gets older, their point production goes down and their stats suffer. Mario would have needed at least another 600 games to get close to Wayne.
@@nathanadrian7797 Lemieux already missed 761 games, and I'm sure he could've gone for another 200 or so after that
@@shadowyt69420Unfortunately he didn't. That's the problem, you can only prove what was actually done.
Pretty deceiving to say "Lemieux has achieved an unprecedented statistic" getting his first 500 points at a 2 point per game clip "a feat that is yet to be matched by any other player". That isn't unprecedented, because Gretzky did it before him. Gretzky got his first 500 points in 234 games played, Lemieux did it in 287. For fun, here are all their 500 point chunks, by number of games played.
0-500
Gretzky 234 GP
Lemieux 287 GP
500-1000
Gretzky 190 GP
Lemieux 226 GP
1000-1500
Gretzky 196 GP
Lemieux 234 GP
1500-2000
Gretzky 237 GP
2000-2500
Gretzky 308 GP
Gretzky did it in fewer games played across the board.
Mario Lemieux is the most significant player in a franchises history than any other athlete in any other sport and there is no argument. From player to owner there is nobody close to what Mario has accomplished.
thats like saying "the sky is green, no debate". Just to highlight how silly it is to deny Wayne as the clear #1, here is a slightly out of context reply I made to a comment below, but no way Im typing this out again lol.. But here ya go. If you can come up with any statistical evidence to refute these stats I'd love to see. Pretty sure they don't exist though........
----------------------------------------------------
"most of his points were assists" points are points dude. And "playing with really good guys". The fact Wayne had so many assists is WHY his teammates were good on paper. They weren't anything special, they played with Wayne, that was their specialty. You can see this when you look at seasons Wayne had the best plus minus, and all his teammates were negative. Wayne dominated despite his teammates not playing the greatest.
Also, who cares about career totals? Per game and per season stats, Wayne STILL dominated. I like how with Wayne you can just use reality to present his case.. So ok you bring up career totals, so lets look at single season records, shall we?
Most points, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 215
2. Gretzky 212
3. Gretzky 208
4. Gretzky 205
Most goals, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 92
2. Gretzky 87
Most assists, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 163
2. Gretzky 135
3. Gretzky 125
4. Gretzky 122
5. Gretzky 121
6. Gretzky 120
7. Gretzky 118
8. Gretzky 114
Highest Points-per-Game 1 season:
1. Gretzky 2.77
2. Gretzky 2.69
Most Even-Strength Points 1 season:
1. Gretzky 147
2. Gretzky 146
3. Gretzky 143
4. Gretzky 135
5. Gretzky 132
6. Gretzky 124
7. Gretzky 104
8. Lafleur 104
9. Gretzky 10
Most Even-Strength Goals 1 season:
1. Gretzky 68
2. Hull 57
3. Gretzky 55
4. Gretzky 54
(Lemieux not in the top-15)************************** important. See below.
Highest plus/minus of forwards, 1 season:
1. Gretzky +100
5. Gretzky +80
7. Gretzky +78
15. Gretzky +71
(Lemieux's best is number 40)
Most Points in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 47
2. Lemieux 44
3. Gretzky 43
4. Gretzky 40
5. Gretzky 38
Highest Points-per-Game in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 2.61
2. Gretzky 2.38
Most Even-Strength Points in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 35 (in 18 games)
These are just per season records, but yes you're right Wayne dominates even more career totals. Also... you think the above records have anything to do with Paul Coffey? Lol gimme a break. Everyone knows Wayne's points largely came from assists. Thats why his teammates are statistically better than Mario's. His teammates were great because they played with Wayne. Lemieuxs teammates had comparatively worse stats than Wayne's, because Mario was a goalscorer over playmaker. Wayne's teammates were solid, not so good that they are the reason for Waynes statistical dominance. They would probably not be noteworthy names at all had they not benefited from Wayne giving them so many opportunities with his setups.
The fact people need to come up with contrived arguments or hypotheticals to make the case for Mario, is all the proof one needs to see Wayne was better. Also there are just as many contrived arguments to make against Mario... Here's a big one....
************************* note this record even strength goals. Lemieux wasnt even in the top 15. Since Lemieux's specialty was PP goals, and his era had far more PPs than Waynes, it shows Wayne was far better at even strength and this unfairly bolstered Marios stats relatively speaking as I said his era had far more powerplays.That makes a bigger difference than Wayne's teammates, easily. Also Mario skipped mainly away games when he was unhealthy also padding his stats. No matter how you slice it Mario wasn't better, not career points, not per game stats, not per season stats. He was a slightly better goal scorer, that's about it. I will say, Mario is firmly #2 and any argument he was #3 or lower is just as bogus as saying Mario was #1.
"still just better" yeah well can you provide any statistical evidence of this? Nope. Stylistically? sure Lemieux was funner to watch but don't equate that to overall player value. Wayne was a far better producer. Look at any deep dive breakdown of their stats, and its undeniable. Google "hf boards Mario Lemieux has superior "adjusted" points and goals seasons than Gretzky without missed games" to see a great in depth debate about the two from a bunch of stat freaks. Its where I borrowed the above record stats. It pretty much shuts the debate down.
Gun to your head, you have to draft Wayne or Mario in their prime. Would you honestly take Mario? Prime Wayne, career Wayne... Was the best producer ever, by far. If you still choose Mario that's just stubbornness.
True
I’d argue Michael Jordan for the bulls. Mainly bc MJ took the popularity of basketball to a much higher level, even internationally than Gretzky. Not saying he did more, but it’s definitely close and I don’t know who I would pick bt the 2
@@bradenwright2586 My comment was aimed more towards a particular athletes value/importance to a particular franchise. Had Jordan never played for the Bulls the Bulls would still exist and wherever Jordan ended up most likely would've thrived. Gretzky as well. But Lemieux literally saved a franchise 3 times from leaving. Jordan and Gretzky cannot say that. Jordan's significance transcended an entire sport. My comment was aimed at a persons value to a particular franchise.
my favourite player as a kid growing up! had his poster and his hockey cards and watched him play on tv every chance i could
I had about 20 Lemieux Rookie cards in mint condition, sold them in 1995 for $250.00 USD EACH to a American sports card dealer from Pittsburgh I met at Toronto Canada sport card expo.There was a Lotta people comparing gretz & mario at that time so his card had a premium and i could not wait to get money💰 exchanged into CAD
IT'S 'LE MANIFIQUE'! In English his nickname translates to Mario 'The Magnificent'!
If Gretzky played one on one with Lemieux, what would happen? 😂😂😂
Lemieux was clearly the greatest
when they played together and wyane jumped into marios arms like a doll lol
Well, we know how things went head to head and that doesn't exactly align with your opinion.
Le Magnifique 🐐
absolutely agree 100%
GOAT agree
No doubt!
A super young Mario dethroned the Great One as the game's best player when 99 was right smack in the prime of his career. How much better then that can you get????
Its hard to believe his teammate jagr is still playing in 2023 in czech owner of the team and has passed gretzky for all time goals check him out that dude is ripped...amazing
Jagr sadly blew all his money that he made up until the mid-2000s, as he had a bad gambling problem. I try not to speculate, but Jagr may be playing into his 50s due to financial problems.
@@wpgjets4life so who fn cares about his gambling there snowflake as a penguins fan he plays cause he loves the game first on ice last one off when he played here
czech league doesnt count
he could have played 2000 games and wouldnt have touched gretzkys numbers and he played with more tallent then anyone in history. 6 top 50 point scorers all at once. jagr, francis, recchi, trottier, coffey, murphy. after his first few years he was stacked.
I mean we know the stats.. points per game.. right? Wayne had 1.91 Lemieux had 1.88 we KNOW this. Ergo it would have taken Mario 1,519 games to achieve this.
Also, I'd like to point out when you are playing with other superstars.. your points tend to dip because you are sharing the puck and the points.. when you are a superstar on a shitty team you usually average more points per game because the talent is in one spot.
If you average out Mario's goals per game if he had played full seasons, he would have scored more than 800 goals in his first 13 seasons. He played until he was 40 and missed 5 full season, and had 5 seasons in which played less than half a season. If Mario had been healthy like Ovi, 66 would have easily scored 1200 goals.
At age 37, 99 scored 9 goals in 70 games (his last season), where as 66 at age 37 scored 28 goals in 67 games, and at age 40, his last season, 66 scored 7 goals in 26 games - compare that with 99s goals in his last season while also being healthy. Wayne has 10 more hat tricks than Mario, and again, Mario missed 5 full season and played 5 season with less than 40 game before age 37.
THIS VIDEO SPEAKS THE TRUTH..SUPER MARIO LE MAGNIFIQUE #66 battled thru cancer and debilitating back problems, playing less than 1000 in his career yet DOMINATED every time he hit the ice. If you translate that to the amount of games he COULD'VE played, SIMPLY THE BEST..something all Pens fans know well
Lemieux had a higher PPG than Gretzky when he retired in 97.
U do understand that at the same game tally he was still behind gretzky right 🤡
After 745 games - gretzy (2.38)
After lemiex first retirement in the same amount of games (2.05)
@@darryelphillip5219 yeah. But Mario played more recently and had better seasons in their combined years, in what were harder scoring years. Oh he also had the bad back and cancer. But you’re right, Gretzky was better in one era! If you don’t realize that in truth Crosby and McDavid are better than either one ever was then I guess your 🤡
I love mario But he would need five more two hundred point seasons to get close to wayne. I'm happy with number two.
When he was healthy, it can be said that Mario was the best player in the NHL, although you would get good arguments from people in the Wayne Gretzky camp. I saw both players play their entire careers, and there were times when Lemieux was the most dominant player in hockey, even with Gretzky at his best. Overall though, I would still say Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player who ever played hockey.
Not to mention that Mario scored 40 (701 of 1723 = 40.6) percent of his total points on the power play. From 84-85 to the 1990s Wayne averaged 25-31 percent of his points on the man advantage. Mario didn’t have a single season lower than 35 percent power play dependence with numerous seasons at nearly 50%. That means that even Wayne’s most power play dependant season was lower than Mario’s lowest while both playing in the same league at the same time. Mario wasn’t half the 5v5 player Wayne was in fact wayne has 10 seasons with more evp than Mario’s single best and more evp (1818) than Mario has total points. Wayne beats him in EVG, EVP, single season ppg, single season goals per game. In fact there’s not really a single stat line where Mario is #1 all time other than his open net goals per game in ratio 😂.
How many power plays from that oilers team? Also Mario was hit more times on a single shift than Wayne his whole career.
Greatzky came into played on a team with 7 hall of famers and dynasty wins a S.Cup. without #99
Mario broke into the lead with the worst team of all time. try naming 3 players on the team
Quality over quantity
@@patrice5976 what are you even talking about? Mario won his cups with Coffey, Murphy, Jagr ect he had a full roster of Hoffers on his team. He still needed the power play for 50 PERCENT of his points in 5 of his 6 best seasons. Gretzky put up 200 points 4 times with less powerplay points than Mario needed to put up 161 points. Youre right quality is better and 5v5 points are better than powerplay points. Wayne scored 68 even strength goals in his best season. Mario scored 47 even strength in his. Mario was the biggest PP merchant in the history of the nhl. Try again
You are completely gas-lighting the difference in quality of their respective teams when they came into the league. Wayne played on an All-Star team...while Mario elevated what would have been a well below average team.
@@brad1368 gaslighting? How about we go over first round picks that Wayne had vs 1st round picks that Mario had. Wayne played on a line with Kurri who was drafted in the 4th round. Messier was drafted in the 3rd and didn’t play on his line. Lowe and Coffey (who also played with Mario) were the only 1st round producers Wayne played with.
Wayne played with Blair Macdonald (6th round pick and kurri (4th round pick), Dave semenko (an enforcer) Mike krushelnyski (6th round )Essa Tikkanen (4th round) and Marty Mcsorely undrafted.
Mario had Wayne Babych (3rd overall), Roger Belanger (1st round 16th overall), Doug Bodger (9th overall), Mike Bullard (9th overall), Bob errey (15th overall), Kevin McCarthy (1st round 17th overall) Coffey (1st round)
So Wayne had 2 1st round D men he played with and no first rounders on his line ever.
Mario had 6 first rounders. Nobody Wayne started with was considered a better prospect than what Mario had coming into the league.
@@thebullfighter6733...round picks mean nothing... absolutely nothing. Lots of high picks bust and low picks overperform.
Super Mario had a great advantage against Wayne Gretzky, and that is his size. He didn't rely on bigger players to defend him. That's why I personally think he was a better player overall to Gretzky
ok lol you just made the case for Wayne. Wayne dominated mario statistically without his size.
@@JunkBondTrader Lemieux had 2 retirements and back injuries, so less game played over the same length of time
@@arbremonde13 That's his problems - Gretzky has nothing to do with that.
Gretzky avoided the entry draft 1979 coming from the WHA, he could stay at the Oilers because he had a private contract with the owner and could cherry pick where to start his NHL career. Everything he accomplished in his career he did at the Oilers. The number 1 pick in 1979 had the Colorado Rockies, 3 years later they became the NJ Devils. From the 1984/85 until the 1996/97 season, when Lemieux and Gretzky played at the same time, Gretzky’s PPG was 1.90, Lemieux 2.05.
Gretzky PPG:
Oilers 2.40
Kings 1.70
STL 1.17
NYR 1.06
He never scored over 50 goals after 1989, his point production after he turned 35+ 1.12.
Lemieux had 1.35 PPG in his 35+ seasons, if Lemieux retired at 38 like Gretzky his PPG woluld be 1.925, Gretzky’s is 1.921. He finished at 1.88.
Now imagine Gretzky started his career at the Colorado Rockies!!!!!!!
I still say Gretzky, but Lemieux is really the only guy who has ever given me pause on that. He's the only other guy in that points-per-game league, so yeah, given more games on his career, he easily gets into the top 2 all time on points and goals. And yeah, the fighting back problems and even cancer while having that career is unbelievable.
The ppg thing is really only close because of the drop off near the end of Wayne's career. If he finished after his 12th season he would have played 925 games to Mario's 915 games. At that point Wayne was scoring at a rate of 2.31ppg. Mario was amazing but Wayne just had the ability to make his teammates better than they were more than Mario could with his guys. That's what plays a big part for me into Wayne being the best ever. If Mario would have used his teammates more, he could have put the physical play more on them and less on himself. Maybe he could have stayed a little healthier.
He did it in a more difficult time period. Gretzky scored the bulk of his points against 80's goaltending. Lemieux did it against modern goaltending AND against the trap AND without the don't hit Gretzky rule.
Point well made. Health issues stopped him from having a dynasty in Pittsburgh.
David Volek helped with that as well.
He had back issues due to carrying opponents all over the ice every night!!!! Along with getting slashed and tackled!!! Best ever!!!
@kenphillips2561 True, but he also had leukemia. Besides, guys like Messier had even more physical contact, carrying opponents all over the ice too, didn't stop him from playing 82 games a season, most of the time.
Messier was one of the dirtiest players, great yes, but he was a dirt-bag.
gretzky last 8 seasons
121
65
130
48
81
21
97
99
62 facts gretzky played hurt way more than mario did had he not the discrpency in points would have been much larger. now mario if he didnt have cancer opinion not based on stats prove me wrong with stats no opinion
You need to check your stats. Gretzky's last 8 seasons were 121, 65 (45 games),130, 48 (48 games), 102, 97, 90, 62.
I don’t think you really did much to prove that he’s better than Gretzky. You basically said that they had similar numbers per game but Lemiux played in less games. Def could have talked about that Gretzky played on the best team ever and you couldn’t touch him bc of his enforcers vs Lemiux being his own enforcer bc the Pens were dumb and wouldn’t build the team in that way. Or that bc of the back problems mentioned Lemiux was playing games when he could barely or couldn’t tie his skates.
I’m a Pens fan, so I like Lemiux more but it’s hard to not give the nod to Gretzky as the GOAT, that said I don’t think Lemiux gets enough credit bc they were neck and neck. There’s definitely good arguments to be made, most people act like it’s a closed argument
De quoi tu parles toé chose ?? Lemieux is the best ever. Period.
He was one of the greatest one on one players that dominated the league he wasn’t overly physical . He could protect the puck used his reach vision to dominate the league … he and Wayne are pretty even but Wayne’s durability puts him ahead .. Mario for me is second best all time on the NHL history
It wasn't Wayne's durability that put him ahead, he was simply better! Mario scored over 160 points 4 times, Wayne scored over 200 points 4 times! Mario scored over 180 once, Wayne scored over 180 6 times, Mario Played 17 seasons, and had 1723 points, if you limit Wayne to 17 seasons, he still has 2587 points. If you limit Wayne to 17 seasons by taking away his 4 best years, he still has 2017 points!
@@nathanadrian7797 Mario was a better player one on one and was a lot bigger … Wayne is considered the GOAT bilirubin Wayne played 1450 games Mario 915 … he won the scoring title coming off the DL with cancer … Mario lost some of his best years to his back and cancer … if not their stats would be much closer … Mario also didn’t play on a team close to as good as what Wayne did in Edmonton … I watched this play out with my own eyes 👀
@@nathanadrian7797...Wayne wasn't better one-on-one, it wasn't even close. Watch the play against Ray Bourque and many others just like it...Wayne didn't do that...ever.
@@brad1368 listen, I am a Mario fan, and I hated Wayne, but that doesn't change the facts! Wayne was better by far, you can either be good with this or not, but you can't change the facts! If you take away Wayne's 4 best years, Wayne is still 300 points ahead of Mario after losing over 800 points! It isn't close!!!!!!!
If only Lemiux had some enforcers, and didn’t get sick he may have had a chance. That said I’m with you. You can’t be the GOAT based on hypotheticals
If I had a choice to pick the last player between Lemieux and Gretzky Lemieux for sure the Lafleur likeness he made you stand up in your seat
Wayne was great but Mario was Magnificent.
A few facts. Upon his original retirement he had over 2 points per game. Second, when chasing Gretzky's consecutive games with points he couldn't tie his skates and had to pull his legs over the boards to get on the ice with his bad back. He had surgery and missed most of the first Stanley cup season.
I would never take anything away from Gretz, but if you didn't know either player and just watched 10 random games from each guy, you'd come away saying that Mario was the better player. Obviously, Gretzky's numbers speak for themselves, but when you consider that Lemieux missed the equivalent of entire seasons right in the prime of his career, there's no telling what kind of numbers he might have put up. He was so big, so fast and so skilled that you couldn't take your eyes off him when he was on the ice.
I don't care if someone argues that Lemieux is the GOAT, or Gretzky is the GOAT or Orr is the GOAT.
But I do mind if someone tries to argue that McDavid is the GOAT.
Look at the teams Gretz had assembled around him vs Super Mario in their career beginnings, too. Give Mario some better wingmen and no question he surpasses Wayne in points. Plus Mario was french Canadian and Wayne was from Toronto (well, greater Toronto). The media coverage then was all Wayne.
Who would have been your ideal teammate for Mario?
I've never heard anyone stating there was favortism for gretzky due to him being from Ontario. We have to keep in mind that Gretzky put up insane numbers from 1981-86. Later in his career, he was a beast during playoff time, leading the Oilers to the cup in 88, putting on one of the greatest hockey clinics ever in 93 with the Kings, and nearly taking the Rangers to the Cup finals in 97.
You guys are all delusional
@@wpgjets4life
Many who are dismissing the story above. Need to explain the rationale behind giving Wayne Gretzky the Hart trophy as the MVP despite scoring) 149 points (missed 16 games)
That is 50 more points by Mario Lemieux and 100 pm mostly at the end of the season too (what a wimp)
Gretzky at 27years old NEVER OUTSCORED MARIO LEMIEUX EVER EVER EVER AGAIN. Unless Mario was hurt then it was Gretzky only hope to win the Art Ross again.
@@wpgjets4lifeAnglo Canadians never admit to anything. Never to your face. Always an ulterior motives
Mario truly is the GOAT
Tout ça avec une équipe ordinaire et sans goons pour le protéger ❤
What Mario did coming back from cancer to win the scoring title the way he did is what cements it for me that he’s the goat. That was a legit god run
Possibly the most talented player ever. But too many hypotheticals and what ifs. You can’t project what somebody might have done, you evaluate what they did. Gretzky is the GOAT but Mario isn’t far behind.
A lot of people look mainly at Gretzky's slightly greater PPG career average to determine the greatest between Gretz and Mario, but I always come back to the sheer amount of career-ending injuries, sickness, radiation/chemo treatments that he underwent, and STILL managed damn-near 2 PPG for almost a THOUSAND GAME CAREER! If he'd never been significantly injured, or hampered by cancer, Mario would have EASILY broken the 1000 goal barrier AND 2000 assists, no problem! I know it's a what-if, and a case can be made for Bobby Orr, as well, but Mario is the greatest player to ever play hockey, hands down.
Your joking right? In his best years, Mario never got 200 points, Wayne did it 4 times! Mario only sored over 180 once, Wayne did it 6 times! You could take away all the points from Wayne's 4, 200 point seasons and he would still have 2017 to Mario's 1723!!!
So basically your opinion is based on what if, what if and what if?
@@fatality1249 What if it is?
@@nathanadrian7797 That is because he never played a full season.
@@HOCKEYFILES-sf8gv Mario-199 in 76 games, Wayne-205 in 74 games. Mario was an incredible player, but Wayne was the best.
Lemieux was the most talented, Gretzky the most consistent.
Only person to score a goal in all 5 different ways in a game
What are those 5 ways?
That's just an interesting fact or coincidence. That really means nothing.
@@vincentperrault5900 even strength, power play, short handed, penalty shot and empty net
@@Mike-mc5ll I agree it only means so much but individual game stats / accolades do show a player in their prime to a degree. But yeah more of a fun fact, def a certain element of luck. I will say anytime you score 5 goals in a game you’re going off! For a more apples to apples comparison, Gretzky and Lemiux each score 5 goals in a game 4x (so it’s pretty even). Only 1 player has done it 5x, Malone but he played in like 1920.
@@bradenwright2586 thank you.
You can repeat the word "sugar" many-many times - it will not get any sweeter in your mouth 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
most dominant player ever
Great vid, but correction he only has 1 Olympic gold medal from 2002.
Lemieux only won one Olympic gold medal, but he also won a Canada Cup which you didn’t mention.
I’m sorry but Wayne is known as the great one for a reason. Even if he never scored a goal, his 1963 career assists would still put him ahead of every other player in NHL history. Including Mario. Mario was amazing, I’d argue he was best player every not named Wayne Gretzky, but he’s not the great one.
I think the images speaks by themself. MArio can do anything; and his domination with his gods hands
and size is uncomparable. It seems like a pro playing with kids!!! The only one that comes close to him is Orr, then Mcdavid in 3rd place. Wayne was the most intelligent player and the greatest pass skills but not the best; Mario is absolutely the GOAT.
If anybody wants to compare him with the great one, just think of this. Wayne had like 600 more games played with approximately 1200 more points than mario. The overwhelming majority of waynes pts came from assists playing with really good guys. Not to take anything away from wayne, but mario didnt even need team, he was the team. Yes he played with good guys, but the size, strength, the 5ft 11 stick handling on a 6 ft 6 guy. The fact that he played through chemo and back problems. Also he had a lower point per game average than wayne did at his peak years in the season when he had cancer. I have no doubt he was physically diminished to some point in many of his games throughout his career and was still just better. True Chad amoungst Chads
"most of his points were assists" points are points dude. And "playing with really good guys". The fact Wayne had so many assists is WHY his teammates were good on paper. They weren't anything special, they played with Wayne, that was their specialty. You can see this when you look at seasons Wayne had the high plus ratings, and all his teammates were negative. THat is an extremely powerful fact. It shows that Wayne was doing all the heavy lifting and was involved in nearly all of their goals. Wayne dominated despite his teammates not playing the greatest.
Also, who cares about career totals? Per game and per season stats, Wayne STILL dominated. I like how with Wayne you can just use reality to present his case.. So ok you bring up career totals, so lets look at single season records, shall we?
Most points, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 215
2. Gretzky 212
3. Gretzky 208
4. Gretzky 205
Most goals, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 92
2. Gretzky 87
Most assists, 1 season:
1. Gretzky 163
2. Gretzky 135
3. Gretzky 125
4. Gretzky 122
5. Gretzky 121
6. Gretzky 120
7. Gretzky 118
8. Gretzky 114
Highest Points-per-Game 1 season:
1. Gretzky 2.77
2. Gretzky 2.69
Most Even-Strength Points 1 season:
1. Gretzky 147
2. Gretzky 146
3. Gretzky 143
4. Gretzky 135
5. Gretzky 132
6. Gretzky 124
7. Gretzky 104
8. Lafleur 104
9. Gretzky 10
Most Even-Strength Goals 1 season:
1. Gretzky 68
2. Hull 57
3. Gretzky 55
4. Gretzky 54
(Lemieux not in the top-15)**************************** important. See below.
Highest plus/minus of forwards, 1 season:
1. Gretzky +100
5. Gretzky +80
7. Gretzky +78
15. Gretzky +71
(Lemieux's best is number 40 and you say "he WAS the team" ok buddy)
Most Points in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 47
2. Lemieux 44
3. Gretzky 43
4. Gretzky 40
5. Gretzky 38
Highest Points-per-Game in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 2.61
2. Gretzky 2.38
Most Even-Strength Points in 1 Playoff Season:
1. Gretzky 35 (in 18 games)
These are just per season records, but yes you're right Wayne dominates even more career totals. Also... you think the above records have anything to do with Paul Coffey? Lol gimme a break. Everyone knows Wayne's points largely came from assists. Thats why his teammates are statistically better than Mario's. His teammates were great because they played with Wayne. Lemieuxs teammates had comparatively worse stats than Wayne's, because Mario was a goalscorer over playmaker. Wayne's teammates were solid, not so good that they are the reason for Waynes statistical dominance. They would probably not be noteworthy names at all had they not benefited from Wayne giving them so many opportunities with his setups.
The fact people need to come up with contrived arguments or hypotheticals to make the case for Mario, is all the proof one needs to see Wayne was better. Also there are just as many contrived arguments to make against Mario... Here's a big one....
*************************** note this record even strength goals. Lemieux wasnt even in the top 15. Since Lemieux's specialty was PP goals, and his era had far more PPs than Waynes, it shows Wayne was far better at even strength and this unfairly bolstered Marios stats relatively speaking as I said his era had far more powerplays.That makes a bigger difference than Wayne's teammates, easily. Also Mario skipped mainly away games when he was unhealthy also padding his stats. No matter how you slice it Mario wasn't better, not career points, not per game stats, not per season stats. He was a slightly better goal scorer, that's about it. I will say, Mario is firmly #2 and any argument he was #3 or lower is just as bogus as saying Mario was #1.
"still just better" yeah well can you provide any statistical evidence of this? Nope. Stylistically? sure Lemieux was funner to watch but don't equate that to overall player value. Wayne was a far better producer. Look at any deep dive breakdown of their stats, and its undeniable. Google "hf boards Mario Lemieux has superior "adjusted" points and goals seasons than Gretzky without missed games" to see a great in depth debate about the two from a bunch of stat freaks. Its where I borrowed the above record stats. It pretty much shuts the debate down.
Gun to your head, you have to draft Wayne or Mario in their prime. Would you honestly take Mario? Prime Wayne, career Wayne... Was the best producer ever, by far. If you still choose Mario that's just stubbornness.
Yup, Lemieux was the best. Not greasy Gretzky, or Howe. Lemieux was the Jordan of hockey. He did things Gretzky could only dream of doing. Period. Lemieux has limited help for the guest third of his career. Gretzky had incredible support from day one.
One more thing. His points/game led everyone else by a margin before his initial retirement. He sacrificed that record to keep the franchise in Pittsburgh. He suited up again but of course was never the same, and those few years of shit production (post-2000) lowered all of his per game records. Gretzky was a joke. The clown would just hang out by the net for the pass. Never got checked bc of the Gretzky rules.
Better than Gretzky for sure. Not Better than Orr
I think a lot of players would have been better than Gretzky if other players were not allowed to hit them either
His 1993 season was the greatest achievement in professional sports.
How do you figure? It's not even close to winning 8 straight league MVPs in the first 8 seasons of a career. Secretariat has a greater achievement in pro sports than Mario does.
@@dannycarlow8204 secretariat didn’t get cancer in the middle of the triple crown
@@ZeusMcCormick Mario didn't have laminitis like Secretariat.What's your point? All 3 of Secretariat's triple crown records still stand 50 years later. If we took a vote of the greatest achievement in sports, Secretariat would kill Mario's 93 season. I'm not saying you would pick Secretariat, but you definitely would not pick Mario's season of all the great achievements. That's just ridiculous.
@@dannycarlow8204 it’s also ridiculous comparing a horse to a human. But agree to disagree.
@@ZeusMcCormick We were talking about achievement in professional sports. Horseracing is a professional sport. Is it not? Nobody said anything about only certain sport's achievements. Does it have to be another white athlete's achievements or can it be a black athlete's achievements that can be compared. Let me know so I can tell you a greater achievement than the one you think is the greatest because there are so many others that are so far greater than your choice. Your original comment has been there for over a month with not one person agreeing with you. lol. Apparently it's not as great of an achievement as you think. I've looked at some top 50 and top 100 lists, guess what, Secretariat is listed as 21 out of 50 and 13 out of 100. Mario does not show up on any list for anything he's done. There are even 2 other horses in the SI top 100. I guess Mario's season only makes your list. I have to know, just for a laugh, what's second on your list?
Number 2. I’m sorry but there will be no other. Gretzky is the greatest athlete in North American sports history
NYET
#4 Bobby Orr
Tell yourself that. Did you see Wayne play? How old are you?
He's certainly number 2 and possibly 1b but we just don't know how he would've slowed down his pace if he'd played more games.
Toss up between Gretz, Lemieux and Bobby Orr.
Greatest player in the history of the league, period.
The way I look at it is this: If Lemieux we’re in todays NHL would he put up the same output he did in the 90’s? For me the answer is yes.
Could Gretzky put up the same, or half even, in todays NHL? I say no? Why, goalies are better. Go look at his highlights, half of his goals were shots that, in todays league, would be stopped by quality goaltending!
Mario le Magnifique 🎉
99 и 66 🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Bobby Orr "Nuff Said"
Mario was my idol since i 1st saw him play on tv back in 1988 when i was 6.
Hes the greatest player ive ever seen with my own 2 eyes.
His season wherr he got Cancer and came back is the most dominated player of all time
1. Mario
2. Gretzky
As for best goal scorer.........Pavel Bure!!!
Lemieux played overall in a weaker team compare to Gretzky... That shows how unbelievably gifted he was...
Mario was the greatest.
I just watched NHL video on Mario and you have used the same footage essentially copying it
No argument here. I have been saying that for years.
There will ALWAYS ONLY going to be a #1 of all time...and that's BOBBY ORR.
Another person who never saw Bobby Orr play
Lol
Saying that preposterous statement in the title is like saying the TigerBelly podcast is THE biggest/most successful podcast ever created…
It’s like saying Garfunkel was the TRUE talent and brains of the duo… Like saying The Monkeys were the biggest English pop group of the 60’s….
ALL of these examples are equally as ridiculous as your title, and ALL leave one VERY OBVIOUS, clear-cut answer behind…
Not in any universe is Lemieux the GOAT! Number 2 maybe, number 3 most likely!
the thing that held Mario back was durability
he missed way too many games
You can say whatever you want, but he's the second one.
Your conclusion that Mario Lemieux was the best player of all time is based on merit. Let’s compare Lemieux’s numbers to Gretzky’s then:
Art Ross Trophies (most points): ML 6 WG 10
Hart Trophy (MVP): ML 3 WG 9
Conn Smythe: (MVP in playoffs): ML 2 WG 2
Stanley Cups: ML 2 WG 4
Points per game: ML 1.89 WG 1.92
He was an exceptional player but based on the same criteria you used, Gretzky is clearly the better player.
The talent he showed,he shorts everybody..even the refs😅
Lemieux is the Jordan of NHL
Love Mario, but it’s Gretzky all day.
99 has all the titles
Its Bobby Orr
not the greatest of all time but the greatest natural born talent in nhl history Mr hockey was the greatest thats not even a debate
Facts
His feats have featers or however they say it
He won two Olympic medals?
He won 2 Olympic gold medals??
Lemieux was better than Gretzky…sorry. The only stat relevant is games played. Look what he did in the amount of games he played.
Here’s games played for you: Lemieux played 915 games. Gretzky had the better GPG average (0.83 vs 0.76) AND the better PPG average (2.33 vs 1.88) after the same 915 games.
Gretzky was never injured in any of his prime years. Lemieux had cancer and won a scoring title in the same season. Alright don’t care about that?? Watch a highlight reel of both players and tell me Mario wasn’t better. No jarry kurri no mark messier no Esa Tikkanen. No he had rod buskas and Bob Errey. Look what he did to ray borque on the greatest stage in Borques house. Mario was better. Sorry. He just was. He’s the goat.
Gretzky was never injured in any of his prime years. Lemieux had cancer and won a scoring title in the same season. Alright don’t care about that?? Watch a highlight reel of both players and tell me Mario wasn’t better. No jarry kurri no mark messier no Esa Tikkanen. No he had rod buskas and Bob Errey. Look what he did to ray borque on the greatest stage in Borques house. Mario was better. Sorry. He just was. He’s the goat.
Gretzky was never injured in any of his prime years. Lemieux had cancer and won a scoring title in the same season. Alright don’t care about that?? Watch a highlight reel of both players and tell me Mario wasn’t better. No jarry kurri no mark messier no Esa Tikkanen. No he had rod buskas and Bob Errey. Look what he did to ray borque on the greatest stage in Borques house. Mario was better. Sorry. He just was. He’s the goat.
Gretzky was never injured in any of his prime years. Lemieux had cancer and won a scoring title in the same season. Alright don’t care about that?? Watch a highlight reel of both players and tell me Mario wasn’t better. No jarry kurri no mark messier no Esa Tikkanen. No he had rod buskas and Bob Errey. Look what he did to ray borque on the greatest stage in Borques house. Mario was better. Sorry. He just was. He’s the goat.
MARIO NO 1 BOBBY ORR NO2
Power forward is too reductive.
No player in any sport has ever meant more to a single franchise than Mario Lemieux. If he had stayed healthy he might have hit 1,000 goals. There's a reason Gretzky told him to stop deferring to him in the '87 Canada Cup.
His points per game was actually higher than Gretzky when he retired the first time. The average came down a little after his return, partly due to the dead puck era and partly due to playing on some horrendous teams. There were times in his prime when he couldn't even lace his skates up because of his back but he still played and still dominated.
LMAO! Gretzky got to 1000 points much faster, had a higher peak too.. more goals, more assists, better longevity as well and won more Stanley Cups. Lemieux fans are oppressed by Gretzky.. always have been.
Why NHL never retired #66?
Probably since he stayed in Pittsburg
Why would they?
@@dannycarlow8204 And just ban #88 because Lindros was the worst player ever.
Yes, they should have retired #66, because Lemieux was in the same class as Gretzky. No, don't retire #88, because Lindros was a spoiled brat who refused to play for Quebec.
@@bmoshareholderappleshareho855 So the only reason the league should retire #66 is because it's your opinion that he was in the same class as Gretzky? Gretzky retired as the all time leader in goals, assists and points and holder of 61 NHL records. Mario singlehandedly holds 7 NHL records and not one of them is a major category. The biggest records he holds is the most shorthanded goals in one season, by 1, and highest career playoff gpg. His power play points record only proves that he relied a lot on the extra man, he wasn't nearly as productive five on five as Wayne was.Not exactly worthy of the league retiring his number. I'm pretty sure they would retire #9 before #66 and they haven't done that. They aren't going to retire #8 either when Ovi leaves. I'm still baffled as to why someone brought Lindros into this. No matter what Mario did that was great, Wayne just always seemed to do that thing a little better. That's why nobody gets to wear the #99 again. Mario can take solace in the fact that he is respected enough that nobody will choose to wear his number again even though they can if they want.