Ohh. Goltending...idk why but I thought you meant the guys who keep track of goal totals.
And as for play back then compared to now, it's all relative.

people say goaltending is better now but tell me which goalie in the league you would take over brodeur, roy, belfour, hasek, beezer, cujo, felix the cat, or richter?

lol

I’m not going to google all those guys…I wasn’t into hockey just yet…but out of the one I know, Brodeur, was hitting his peak as Gretzky was getting out, even some time after Gretzky retiring.

What I’m trying to say is that goalkeeping started getting much better after Gretzky’s time and only started to improve. No doubt there were talented goalkeepers and tons of talent in the league at all positions during Gretzky’s time….with that being said, it has all improved since.

I agree with an above comment where someone said, it’s all relative…sure…but Gretzky could have played in today’s league and been a difference maker. I think if the goal keepers of the past generation played with todays generation, well it would be lopsided against those goal keepers.



Get out of here Bruin lol

he spent more than half his career playing against a league full of the best goalies we've ever seen I would say that's quite valid

just because brodeur peaked in the 2000s doesn't mean he wasn't in the league through the 90s - gretzky would've had to play 8 or 9 seasons against him

Roy and hasek have more skill than this entire league combined

not to mention the defense could literally lay someone out cold and there was no suspension

way different game then to compare to what we have now





*i'm just talking about the goalie point though

i'm in no way taking anything away from what ovi is doing, guy is a legend

This post was edited by Bruin on Feb 6 2025 11:40am

I agree with the defense and the game being more physical.
I also do not take anything away from Gretzky…he and a good amount of players during that time were and still are considered some of the best to ever play.

Also not taking anything away from the goalkeepers, but I think because of improved equipment and even more improved data/analytics, goaltending improved as a whole.

That being said, goal sniping as you show above, also due to equipment improvement and improved data/analytics, has clearly improved as well.

Do I believe Gretzky would have scored more if he played in today’s league? Maybe, it’s hard to say. I think he would have scored as much, potentially less.

With the exception of the amazing goal keepers you’ve mentioned, I think across the league as a whole, goalkeeping around the league was far worse. So like 25 average keepers, 5 stars.
Today, all keepers are pretty much above average, with star potential. I believe it to be more of a feat to score in today’s game.

Do I think Ovi would have more goals if he played during Gretzky’s time? Absolutely.

But this is all speculation/my opinion

who knows, could someone have beat the greatest player ever, in their own era, maybe

lemiuex was a better goal scorer than ovi but to play in a league like that was hard and injury wrecked him, maybe ovie could've lasted

maybe he would've got scott stevens'd and only played half his career like others

MAGA Gretzky deserves to lose a few records

This is hockey brother, please keep maga in pard

Totally agree with this take…it’s all speculation. I’m very grateful for caps games and being able to watch Ovi score…from the same spot, for so long…brings a tear to my eyes as I type lol

Tell that to Gretz