Is there a case that Jimmy Watson is actually Inglewood's 6th best defenseman? That's partly a criticism of Watson, but it's also an acknowledgement that Inglewood probably has the best bottom pairing in the draft.
That could be I guess, depending how you want to look at it. I'd definitely rather start a pairing off with Lloyd Cook than Jimmy Watson. But I think Watson's game is the perfect compliment for Boucher. There are plenty of stay-at-home defensemen out there, but I think Watson has a slightly rarer skillset in that he was quite mobile on top of being able to handle the physical game, and he played a very mistake-free style. He stayed out of the box as well, which is nice.
I'm very happy with my D this time around. I think it's strong at both ends of the ice, has great depth, and really has nobody that needs to be sheltered or hidden on a regular basis.
Does either team have a plan to stop the other team's big gun?
I think Cecil Hart and Inglewood wants to goad Pittsburgh into a run-and-gun speed game. Not only is the Watson-Gretzky-Kurri-Leetch-Johnson unit terrifying all over the ice in transition, but I think Inglewood's second line is better suited for a speed game than Pittsburgh's second line.
I think Hap Day wants Pittsburgh to slow things down a little.
Pittsburgh's second line excels in a slower paced cycling game, and Inglewood's D could be vulnerable against the cycle. I think Pittsburgh's first line could play it either way, but they will be overwhelmed if they try to trade chances with Gretzky. Is this the series that forces Bobby Orr to play more conservatively, or do you just let him go?
As always I'll be looking to match Orr's unit with my opponent's top unit. I imagine Orr will have to play it a bit safer against Gretzky, but his superlative skating should help keep him involved offensively. I'll be leaning on Richard as well to help Orr with this. For Bobby's defense being an afterthought, I feel pretty comfortable in his ability to matchup here.
Furthermore, will Gretzky be Gretzky when he's dealing with the only other player to have a peak that arguably surpasses his own? Probably, but he'll have a much harder time establishing the seemingly constant possession that negated his defensive concerns up against Bobby Orr.
To support this, I'm leaning on the numbers Overpass considered during the first round of 2009's HoH Top 100 project.
Quote:
Even-strength
Player
Years
Seasons
$ESGF
$ESGA
$ESGF/G
$ESGA/G
R-ON
R-OFF
EV+/-
AdjEV+/-
Bobby Orr
1969-75
6.61
1008
455
1.86
0.84
2.22
1.10
553
505
Wayne Gretzky
1982-88
6.71
1088
572
1.98
1.04
1.90
1.18
402
305
$ESGF - on-ice even-strength goals for, adjusted for scoring level. $ESGA - on-ice even-strength goals against, adjusted for scoring level. R-ON - on-ice goal ratio (ESGF/ESGA) R-OFF - off-ice goal ratio of player's team (ESGF/ESGA) EV+/- - even-strength plus-minus, adjusted for scoring level AdjEV+/- - even-strength plus-minus, adjusted for scoring level and team strength
While Gretzky is the greatest even-strength scorer of all time, Orr exerted a greater influence on the game. Both had an amazing seven year run, transforming good teams into all-time great teams. However, Orr has a significant edge in goal prevention. Also, Gretzky's teams were a little better without him than Orr's were without him.
Quality of Competition
I don't think the NHL was particularly strong when Orr or Gretzky starred (early 70s and early 80s), but it was certainly weaker in Orr's time, due to the WHA draining talent, the fact that Europeans hadn't come over as much, and expansion still causing the league to be imbalanced. In fact, depending on how heavily you weight this, it could give Gretzky the edge in all other categories.
Playoffs
I won't go in-depth here - most will agree that while Orr was excellent, Gretzky was probably better.
Overall I see Orr as being better in their primes at even-strength and on special teams, with the caveat that quality of competition narrows the gap. Gretzky's edge in the playoffs and in post-prime play narrows it further, but I still have Orr first - simply the greatest player ever, IMO.
As this particular post is most concerned with how Gretzky and Orr match up ES-wise, I separated Overpass's conclusions on their special teams production.
Quote:
Power Play
Top power play scorers of 1969-1975 (assists estimated using on-ice data)
Rk
Player
PPP
%Orr
1
Phil Esposito
336
117%
2
Bobby Orr
287
100%
3
Johnny Bucyk
240
84%
4
Jean Ratelle
184
64%
5
Stan Mikita
184
64%
6
Yvan Cournoyer
176
61%
6
Rod Gilbert
176
61%
The top non-Boston players of this time scored 60-65% of Orr's points on the PP. Orr was outscored by his teammate Esposito on the power play. However, I think that Orr was the more important player on the power play, and I think most would agree.
Top power play scorers of 1982-1988 (assist data from Hockey Summary Project)
Rk
Player
PPP
%Gretz
1
Wayne Gretzky
347
100%
2
Denis Savard
298
86%
3
Peter Stastny
286
82%
4
Marcel Dionne
269
78%
5
Dale Hawerchuk
265
76%
6
Paul Coffey
265
76%
7
Bernie Federko
245
71%
Gretzky was less dominant on the PP than Orr (and Lemieux), as his top contemporaries scored 70-90% of his totals on the PP.
Penalty Kill
Orr's Bruins and Gretzky's Oilers were both among the best at this, by being average to above average at goal prevention and being extremely dangerous on the counterattack. I'd put Orr ahead here also based on reputation and the few games I've seen.
In the playoffs I'm pretty confident no one surpasses Gretzky.
Me too.
Totals Per Game
Rk Player From To Tm Lg Pos GP G A PTS +/- PIM EV PP SH S S% TOI G A PTS S 1 Wayne Gretzky* 1980 1997 TOT NHL C 208 122 260 382 67 66 77 34 11 549 17.5 0.59 1.25 1.84 3.14 2 Mario Lemieux* 1989 2001 PIT NHL C/LW 107 76 96 172 20 87 40 29 7 402 18.9 443 0.71 0.90 1.61 3.76
Totals Per Game
Rk Player From To Tm Lg Pos GP G A PTS +/- PIM EV PP SH S S% TOI G A PTS S 1 Wayne Gretzky* 1980 1997 TOT NHL C 208 122 260 382 67 66 77 34 11 549 17.5 0.59 1.25 1.84 3.14 2 Mario Lemieux* 1989 2001 PIT NHL C/LW 107 76 96 172 20 87 40 29 7 402 18.9 443 0.71 0.90 1.61 3.76
Yeah in a career ATD sense, over that span of games.. Gretzky is mind-boggling.
I still think Gilmour outplayed him in their particular 93 series though.
Overall Inglewood has the better group, with a few differences going my way. The most obvious being Orr, and I also think that Hitchman is a stronger #4 than Watson. I think Moose gets an edge over Blake, and the same with Boucher over Mortson for our #3s. Overall, Inglewood's bottom pair is better than my own as well. Cook is a strong #5 and Korab certainly trails. It's difficult to compare Cameron, but I think Timmonen is pretty ideal for a #6 whereas Cameron's standing depends on how much stock you put into his era.
BBS's first run at this was remarkably similar to my first run.
Get the first overall pick, draft Bobby Orr.
Finish 2nd in the division in the regular season to a long-time GM who usually does well (in my case it was arrbez).
Beat the top seed to win the division in the playoffs. Lose in the Conference Finals.
