As with the NBA, there is one given here: Gretzky. There's probably no real debate about Gordie Howe, either. You could make a case for him as #1, actually, though I think Gretzky's records are just too comprehensive to ignore.
Bobby Orr is pretty nailed down as #3. You have to have a defender on a Mount Rushmore, in my opinion, and in any event Orr was a uniquely talented player who is widely considered the best ever at his position...so he's in.
That leave the fourth spot, and here it gets tricky. Do you need a goalie? There are so many candidates to pick from, from Jacques Plante to Patrick Roy to Martin Brodeur. The Dominator was a unique and, well, dominating player. It's so hard to pick as between the goalies. Roy has four cups, 3 Conn Smythes, three Vezinas. Going to be hard to argue against him.
But that also leaves out legends of the game, many from Montreal (Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, et al.). Mario Lemieux may be the most talented player in NHL history. Messier may be the best leader in NHL history. Ovechkin/Crosby would be your modern day choices, though in my eyes it's premature to have either on the mountain top.
Thoughts? I've got Gretzky, Howe, Orr and Lemieux...but Roy is a super-close 5th.
Bobby Orr is pretty nailed down as #3. You have to have a defender on a Mount Rushmore, in my opinion, and in any event Orr was a uniquely talented player who is widely considered the best ever at his position...so he's in.
That leave the fourth spot, and here it gets tricky. Do you need a goalie? There are so many candidates to pick from, from Jacques Plante to Patrick Roy to Martin Brodeur. The Dominator was a unique and, well, dominating player. It's so hard to pick as between the goalies. Roy has four cups, 3 Conn Smythes, three Vezinas. Going to be hard to argue against him.
But that also leaves out legends of the game, many from Montreal (Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, et al.). Mario Lemieux may be the most talented player in NHL history. Messier may be the best leader in NHL history. Ovechkin/Crosby would be your modern day choices, though in my eyes it's premature to have either on the mountain top.
Thoughts? I've got Gretzky, Howe, Orr and Lemieux...but Roy is a super-close 5th.
