The OG NHL thread: The Cup worth biting for

[amp316]

hollabackenny said:

amp316 said:

hollabackenny said:

amp316 said:

hollabackenny said:
One of the greatest hockey players ever retired today.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=633292

Don't you think that one of the greatest ever is pushing it?  Great player, but not one of the greatest ever.

Not at all. Please elaborate. 

A hall of famer yes, but not one of the greatest of all time.  Gretzky, Lemieux, Hull, Esposito, and Howe are guys that I think of when someone says greatest of all time.  He's not even the greatest Red Wing of all time.  Yzerman was even a better player than him.  Let me guess, your a Wings fan?

Everyone you just listed is a forward so it's obvious they'll have better stats than Lidstrom. There aren't many D-man that can post over 1,000 points in their career which Lidstrom did. So I'd say he's right up there with Orr, Chelios, Bourque etc. On top of that he's won the Norris trophy 7 times and the Conn Smythe Trophy once as well as make the all star team 12 times. And no, I'm a Minnesota Wild fan, I just know a great player when I see one. 

Sorry, but when I think greatest ever forwards usually come to mind and I guess this is unfair, but I'll just list some defensemen that I think were just as good if not better: Orr, Coffey, Bourque, Leetch, Potvin, and by all account Eddie Shore was the best of the early era.  Also, as a defense only player (not counting offense) Rod Langway was as good as anyone that I've ever seen.  

While I admit the Lidstrom is deserving of being a first ballot hall of famer, I compare him to someone like Derek Jeter.  He's a great player that was treated even greater because of the team that he was on.  I will say this, he was better than Chelios.  Now that guy was REALLY overrated.  I would know since I live in Chicago.  The Hawks had a defenseman named Doug Wilson that was better than him.