Top 5 all time favorite hockey players

1. Gordie Howe. My first ever Wings game featured a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick", though I was a little young to remember things clearly. Years later, I step on an elevator in Traverse City, MI, and Gordie was there. He shook my hand, and smiled politely as I told him what a fan I was. I'm a firm beleiver that Gordie could have played in any era, and excelled.

2. Steve Yzerman. We're about age, Steve and I...so I share a certain bond with the Captain. I shamelessly shed a tear when he hoisted Hardware. Those of us who witnessed the 70's and early 80's as fans saw Stevie lead us to the promised land...and my god what a long journey it was for us.

3. Vladimir Konstantinov. Didn't know much about him when he arrived, other than he wore # 16, the same number I wore. I wondered if he'd be as good as the previous # 16, John Chabot. He was more than better, of course, and I often wonder how his career would have played out. One of the consumate team warriors in franchise history. There is no dollar amount that could seperate me from my autographed jersey of Vladimir's.

4. John Ogrodnick. Johnny O flying up the wing with the puck was a favorite sight, and an even more exciting image when you're a kid listening to the game on the radio. For a while, he was all the biggest star on Detroit, and I wish John could have been a part of the better times that seemed to elude him in Detroit. Big Shot, Big Ego, but he played hard. Glad to see him pop up now and then on Wings related shows.

5 Bob Probert. The night he skated from the Wings bench to the St. Louis goalmouth to punch the St. Louis goaltender (who was just stoning the Wings, and taking liberties with his goal stick on Gallants crotch...can't recall if it was Riendalut (sp) or not) was classic "Slapshot" stuff. And it worked. Wings peppered the guy, and he was never the same, and the Wings rallied for a playoff series victory. Bob was a very tortured soul in his time in Detroit, but he was the perfect bodyguard for a emerging Steve Yzerman, and was hands down the heavy weight champ of the league during his Detroit years. Bob always, always stepped up for his teammates, and it was a damn shame he could not control his personal demons in Detroit. He played so hard, and when really riled up he could change a game with one devestating shift. Fans came for 2 things: An Yzerman goal, and for Probie to have that shift where he'd just flatten 3 skaters or more. Mickey Redmond (wings broadcasts) used to get nearly delerious. .

 

Nice thread...


1) Cam Neely - Probably one of the best all around players ever. Scorer, able to mix it up in the corners, and wasn't afraid to drop the gloves. When they traded Pederson for him, I thought that was a bad move... proved me wrong. I remember how he could tip shots from Ray from the point; hold his stick out, curve down and let the puck ride along the inside of the blade and beat goalies all the time. Grabbing Lemieux and slamming him into the boards was a classic. We recently went to a game and while at Legends, he was going to do a pre-game show. He was going to be late for it, but he stayed in the lobby and signed all the kids pucks, jerseys, whatever they had until all were signed. A real class act. One of the few that knows that the reason he's a fan favorite is because of the fans... not the contract.

2) Steve Vickers - Loved watching him and listening to Bill Chadwick go nuts when he was on the ice. If it weren't for a broken foot, I wouldn't have had to wait until 94.

3) Bernie Parent - 'nuff said

4) Gilbert Perreault - When he was with the French Connection, there wan't a line that could contain him.

5) Adam Graves - saving the best for last. My personal favorite. Lots of reasons why, mostly because of his attitude and what he does for the hockey community. Not just in it for himself.

Honorable mention goes to Tie Domi - just for decking Ulf whenever he got the chance.

 

maybe I'm just ignorant here.....Wayne Gretsky?

 

I meant for people to post their favorite players...not necessarily the best players

 

1) Gordie Howe: I have meet him 4 or 5 times. He sat behind me at a game in Detroit back in 1972, day after christmas. He signed my program & Gave me his ticket stubs. He was suppose to give me a tour of the bottoms of the arena but got there late. I met him in the locker room after he got there. While I was sitting in my seat someone behind me kept tapping me on the shoulder & just plain messing with my. Now I was only 10 at the time. I told my dad to turn aroung & ask the guy to stop, he turned around to ask them to stop & turned back to me & told me that if I wanted him to stop, I was going to have to tell him myself. I was scared stiff. I turned around to see Gordie, his wife & a family friend. That game was just awesome!!!!

2) Ken Dryden & Patrick Roy : A tie because when I played I played goalie & these two were the best!!!!

3) Don Beaupre: Played for Minn. North Stars & I actually played against him when we were kids in Canada!!!

4) Wayne Gretzky!!!

 

ok

Wayne

Ron Francis

Gordie

Eric Cole

Emilio Estevez

 

Well DUH!!!!!!

Ray Bourque gets all 5 of my votes.

 

Puck, you don't have to necessarily vote for guys in your age group.

 

Don't fock with PuckBunny, Sheriff!

 

fuck. How can I misspell "fuck"???