Crosby top 5 of all time?

[Canucks_fan18]

I think he cracks it for me...

1.) Wayne Gretzky
2.) Bobby Orr
3.) Mario Lemieux
4.) Sidney Crosby
5.) Gordie Howe

[JagrBomb]

Yea for sure.

By the end of his career I'd probably rank him ahead of Lemieux too just because of the injuries.

[One87]

Yea for sure.

By the end of his career I'd probably rank him ahead of Lemieux too just because of the injuries.

😖

I think that's a bit much. But we all have an opinion.

[Godin]

I think he cracks it for me...

1.) Wayne Gretzky
2.) Bobby Orr
3.) Mario Lemieux
4.) Sidney Crosby
5.) Gordie Howe

Not bad. Hard to argue with even after what Howe did.

[agentzero]

That looks about right, if we are talking skaters. Yes. Also speaking in terms of relativity to era and peers.

[StuntMan12]

Always thought he was top 5 but don't think he will ever enter or surpass any of the elite 3 (Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux)

[agentzero]

Always thought he was top 5 but don't think he will ever enter or surpass any of the elite 3 (Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux)

I don't think it's possible to surpass Gretzky or Lemieux, no. They were just so, so much better than their peers during the prime of their careers (and even a little afterwards too). I don't think we'll see that kind of separation again.

However, Karlsson looks like he has the tools to make it close with Orr. If he has the longevity, he could show that he was consistently that much better than his peers for pretty well his whole career. There is a lot of separation between him and the next best defenceman. Burns had a year for the ages, but Karlsson has become otherworldly. I could see a case made there.

With his injury history and the way the game is played now, I just don't see the same longevity in Crosby as Gretzky and his ability to separate from his peers is still very good, just not on the same level. Also plays a completely different brand of hockey than Gretzky and Lemieux did. He's like a super Jeremy Roenick, Ron Francis, Pat Lafontaine all mixed together. What a player. Joy to watch.

[ericdaoust]

It'll depend on personal preference but probably top 10 on anyone's list.

[agentzero]

It'll depend on personal preference but probably top 10 on anyone's list.

Definitely, especially if you add goalies. I don't know if I can name 5 skaters better than Crosby, all-time.

[Canucks_fan18]

I don't think it's possible to surpass Gretzky or Lemieux, no. They were just so, so much better than their peers during the prime of their careers (and even a little afterwards too). I don't think we'll see that kind of separation again.

However, Karlsson looks like he has the tools to make it close with Orr. If he has the longevity, he could show that he was consistently that much better than his peers for pretty well his whole career. There is a lot of separation between him and the next best defenceman. Burns had a year for the ages, but Karlsson has become otherworldly. I could see a case made there.

With his injury history and the way the game is played now, I just don't see the same longevity in Crosby as Gretzky and his ability to separate from his peers is still very good, just not on the same level. Also plays a completely different brand of hockey than Gretzky and Lemieux did. He's like a super Jeremy Roenick, Ron Francis, Pat Lafontaine all mixed together. What a player. Joy to watch.

As far as defencemen go I will just leave Nicklas Lidstrom's name here...

[rataylor22]

Yea for sure he is

[2014olympicgold]

It’s crazy to think Crosby has played about half the amount of games Gretzky has. Gretzky 21 seasons, 1,487GP, Crosby 12seasons, 782GP.

It’s hard to put a top 5 together because to me it seems the 5^th spot kinda fluctuates on how one feels that particular day. Like, right now I’m thinking the obvious 4 (Gretzky, Orr, Mario, Howe) as the top 4, and the 5^th being Jagr. So does Crosby leapfrog Jagr to be 5^th, or even leapfrog Howe? It’s tough. He’s 100% top 10 ever. Top 5 he can be in some peoples, but in others maybe not. That’s what the back half of his career will determine.

If he wins another cup, and scores PPG for the next few yrs, he’s a top 5.

[Bass56]

Feels weird to see him bump those big names out of that list (Messier, Jagr, Howe, ...) and even to consider him moving up closer to Gretzky (bumping Lemieux and maybe Orr) is mind-blowing. Those names are legendary but when you look back at what Crosby has done in today's game, he makes his case to be mentioned in the same light as those other greats. I think when he retires, his legacy will be one that will be hard to match as he already deserves his spot among the best for his accomplishments to date; what's scary is that he's not even 30 yet!

[newper114]

I know this is about Crosby but thinking big picture now can't wait to see what our talk looks like in a few years with where mcdavid will fall on this list!

As for Crosby yes top 5 such an explosive player. Every time he is on the ice something happens and I'm not even a pit fan

[PenguinHunter]

I know he did not play during our generation... but does 'The Rocket' not garner some consideration for top 5?

Also, should Martin Brodeur not be considered?

I would go:

1) Gretzky
2) Orr
3) Lemieux
4) Howe
5) Richard
6) Brodeur

Crosby is somewhere in the next three, probably. might be able to even push him out of top 10 if we consider other generational talents of their generation... Eddie Shore?