Best "half seasons"

[Czech Your Math]

I compiled some of the best "half seasons" in recent memory from game logs at HR.com. I did these rather quickly in my head, so there are likely mistakes or omissions. Feel free to correct such.

Some of the best 41+ game streaks from 1994-2012:

#	Player	Year	Gms	G	A	Pts	PPG
1	Lemieux	1996	41	45	64	109	2.66
2	Jagr	1996	42	36	51	87	2.07
3	Francis	1996	41	20	57	77	1.88
4	Lemieux	1997	41	31	46	77	1.88
5	Gretzky	1994	46	22	64	86	1.87
6	Jagr	2001	45	33	51	84	1.87
7	Crosby	2007	42	23	53	76	1.81
8	Jagr	2000	41	33	40	73	1.78
9	Lemieux	2001	43	35	41	76	1.77
10	Fedorov	1994	42	32	42	74	1.76
11	Lindros	1997	43	29	44	73	1.70
12	Lemieux	2003	43	20	53	73	1.70
13	Ovechkin	2010	52	42	46	88	1.69
14	Thornton	2006	44	17	57	74	1.68
15	Selanne	1999	41	31	37	68	1.66
16	Bure	1994	43	43	28	71	1.65
17	Forsberg	2003	45	20	54	74	1.64
18	Jagr	1997	44	41	31	72	1.64
19	Jagr	1999	52	27	58	85	1.63
20	Lindros	1995	42	28	40	68	1.62
21	Lindros	1996	47	36	40	76	1.62
22	Crosby	2011	41	32	34	66	1.61
23	Ovechkin	2008	41	36	30	66	1.61
24	Lindros	1999	41	25	41	66	1.61
25	Kovalchuk	2006	41	34	32	66	1.61
26	Thornton	2007	51	14	68	82	1.61
27	Alfredsson	2006	44	32	38	70	1.59
28	Neely	1994	44	50	20	70	1.59
29	Jagr	2006	44	30	40	70	1.59
30	Sakic	2001	62	44	54	98	1.58
31	Malkin	2009	42	17	49	66	1.57
32	Selanne	1996	42	22	44	66	1.57
33	Fedorov	1996	41	23	41	64	1.56
34	Kariya	1997	43	28	39	67	1.56
35	Lindros	1994	51	36	43	79	1.55
36	Malkin	2008	42	33	32	65	1.55
37	Jagr	1998	41	22	41	63	1.54
38	Malkin	2012	41	33	31	63	1.54
39	Crosby	2010	55	39	45	84	1.53
40	Alfredsson	2008	42	29	35	64	1.52
41	Selanne	1997	42	32	32	64	1.52
42	Ovechkin	2009	66	53	47	100	1.52
43	Forsberg	1996	41	16	46	62	1.51
44	Sakic	1996	41	23	39	62	1.51
45	SedinH	2010	41	13	49	62	1.51
46	Yzerman	1994	41	19	43	62	1.51
47	LeClair	1997	46	34	35	69	1.50
48	Ovechkin	2006	44	32	34	66	1.50
49	Iginla	2007	47	28	42	70	1.49
50	Oates	1994	43	19	45	64	1.49
51	Forsberg	2006	41	15	46	61	1.49
52	Gretzky	1996	41	12	49	61	1.49
53	Thornton	2003	41	26	35	61	1.49
54	St. Louis	2007	41	28	33	61	1.49
55	Jagr	1995	41	28	33	61	1.49
56	LeClair	1999	42	29	33	62	1.48
57	Forsberg	2001	41	15	45	60	1.46
58	Stamkos	2010	42	30	28	58	1.45
59	Bure	2001	41	38	21	59	1.44
60	Sakic	2000	42	22	38	60	1.43
61	Gretzky	1997	41	16	42	58	1.41
62	Bure	2000	46	40	25	65	1.41
63	Elias	2001	41	24	33	57	1.39
64	Forsberg	1998	41	16	39	55	1.34
65	Forsberg	2004	41	18	37	55	1.34
66	Forsberg	1999	44	15	43	58	1.32
67	Gretzky	1998	41	12	42	54	1.32
68	Forsberg	2001	66	27	59	86	1.30

[Czech Your Math]

Some of the best adjusted streaks from 1994-2012:

#	Player	Year	Gms	PPG
1	Lemieux	1996	41	2.54
2	Jagr	2001	45	2.01
3	Jagr	1996	42	1.98
4	Lemieux	1997	41	1.94
5	Jagr	2000	41	1.94
6	Lemieux	2001	43	1.90
7	Lemieux	2003	43	1.89
8	Selanne	1999	41	1.88
9	Jagr	1999	52	1.85
10	Forsberg	2003	45	1.83
11	Lindros	1999	41	1.82
12	Crosby	2007	42	1.82
13	Ovechkin	2010	52	1.80
14	Francis	1996	41	1.80
15	Lindros	1997	43	1.76
16	Jagr	1998	41	1.76
17	Ovechkin	2008	41	1.75
18	Crosby	2011	41	1.74
19	Gretzky	1994	46	1.74
20	Malkin	2012	41	1.73
21	Sakic	2001	62	1.70
22	Jagr	1997	44	1.69
23	Malkin	2008	42	1.68
24	LeClair	1999	42	1.67
25	Thornton	2003	41	1.66
26	Alfredsson	2008	42	1.65
27	Fedorov	1994	42	1.64
28	Lindros	1995	42	1.63
29	Crosby	2010	55	1.62
30	Thornton	2006	44	1.62
31	Kariya	1997	43	1.61
32	Thornton	2007	51	1.61
33	Malkin	2009	42	1.61
34	SedinH	2010	41	1.59
35	Selanne	1997	42	1.58
36	Forsberg	2001	41	1.57
37	Kovalchuk	2006	41	1.57
38	Ovechkin	2009	66	1.57
39	Bure	2001	41	1.56
40	Sakic	2000	42	1.55
41	LeClair	1997	46	1.55
42	Alfredsson	2006	44	1.55
43	Lindros	1996	47	1.55
44	Forsberg	2004	41	1.55
45	Jagr	2006	44	1.54
46	Bure	2000	46	1.54
47	Forsberg	1998	41	1.54
48	Bure	1994	43	1.53
49	St. Louis	2007	41	1.51
50	Gretzky	1998	41	1.51
51	Iginla	2007	47	1.51
52	Selanne	1996	42	1.50
53	Jagr	1995	41	1.50
54	Elias	2001	41	1.50
55	Fedorov	1996	41	1.49
56	Forsberg	1999	44	1.49
57	Neely	1994	44	1.47
58	Stamkos	2010	42	1.47
59	Gretzky	1997	41	1.47
60	Stamkos	2012	41	1.47
61	Selanne	1998	46	1.46
62	Ovechkin	2006	44	1.46
63	Forsberg	1996	41	1.45
64	Sakic	1996	41	1.45
65	Jagr	2002	41	1.44
66	Lindros	1994	51	1.44
67	Forsberg	2006	41	1.43
68	Gretzky	1996	41	1.42
69	Elias	2000	43	1.42

[Czech Your Math]

Some of the best to start the season:

Lemieux 1996 41 45 64 109 2.66
Jagr 1996 42 36 51 87 2.07
Francis 1996 41 20 57 77 1.88
Lemieux 1997 41 29 45 74 1.80
Jagr 2000 41 33 40 73 1.78
Lemieux 2001 43 35 41 76 1.77
Gretzky 1994 41 16 54 70 1.71
Ovechkin 2010 52 42 46 88 1.69
Lemieux 2003 41 20 48 68 1.66
Crosby 2007 41 23 45 68 1.66
Jagr 1997 44 41 31 72 1.64
Jagr 1999 52 27 58 85 1.63
Crosby 2011 41 32 34 66 1.61
Kovalchuk 2006 41 34 32 66 1.61
Alfredsson 2006 44 32 38 70 1.59
Neely 1994 44 50 20 70 1.59
Lindros 1995 41 25 40 65 1.59
Lindros 1996 41 29 35 64 1.56
Jagr 2006 42 27 38 65 1.55
Yzerman 1994 41 19 43 62 1.51
Oates 1994 43 19 45 64 1.49
Lindros 1997 41 22 39 61 1.49
Jagr 1995 41 28 33 61 1.49
Forsberg 2006 41 15 46 61 1.49
Selanne 1999 54 34 45 79 1.46

[Czech Your Math]

And some of the best to start the season, simply adjusted:

Lemieux 1996 41 45 64 109 2.54
Jagr 1996 42 36 51 87 1.98
Jagr 2000 41 33 40 73 1.94
Lemieux 2001 43 35 41 76 1.90
Lemieux 1997 41 29 45 74 1.87
Jagr 1999 52 27 58 85 1.85
Lemieux 2003 41 20 48 68 1.85
Ovechkin 2010 52 42 46 88 1.80
Francis 1996 41 20 57 77 1.80
Crosby 2011 41 32 34 66 1.74
Jagr 1997 44 41 31 72 1.69
Crosby 2007 41 23 45 68 1.67
Selanne 1999 54 34 45 79 1.66
Lindros 1995 41 25 40 65 1.60
Gretzky 1994 41 16 54 70 1.59
Kovalchuk 2006 41 34 32 66 1.57
Alfredsson 2006 44 32 38 70 1.55
Lindros 1997 41 22 39 61 1.54
Jagr 2006 42 27 38 65 1.50
Jagr 1995 41 28 33 61 1.50
Lindros 1996 41 29 35 64 1.49
Neely 1994 44 50 20 70 1.47
Selanne 1998 46 37 22 59 1.46
Forsberg 2006 41 15 46 61 1.43
Yzerman 1994 41 19 43 62 1.40
Forsberg 2001 66 27 59 86 1.40
Oates 1994 43 19 45 64 1.38
Forsberg 1999 41 12 37 49 1.35
Bure 1998 41 25 22 47 1.31

[Czech Your Math]

Forgot to mention that only one streak per season per player.

[TheDevilMadeMe]

If your point is that Crosby's 2011 actually wasn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, you've done a good job. Ovechkin's 2010 was better from a pure offensive standpoint before he got suspended. Crosby's 2007 looks more impressive too.

Crosby was just "lucky" enough to get injured, so his season-long PPG looks better.

[Czech Your Math]

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

If your point is that Crosby's 2011 actually wasn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, you've done a good job. Ovechkin's 2010 was better from a pure offensive standpoint before he got suspended. Crosby's 2007 looks more impressive too.

Crosby was just "lucky" enough to get injured, so his season-long PPG looks better.

Not really my point, but did the research in response to that claim.

Actually, he has two excellent half seasons, just not quite as unusual as some seem to believe.

[crobro]

the 40 game esa tikkanen played with the canucks following reconstructive knee sergury were amazing

he plyed the power play point and ran the point on the canucks pp

averaged a point a game during very very low scoring era


might have been the best player in the nhl during that 40 game strech

[JayzinSmith]

Originally Posted by crobro

the 40 game esa tikkanen played with the canucks following reconstructive knee sergury were amazing

he plyed the power play point and ran the point on the canucks pp

averaged a point a game during very very low scoring era


might have been the best player in the nhl during that 40 game strech

1995-96 - Esa Tikkanen, 37 points in 38 games w/ VAN.

Wasn't a low-scoring season at all. Half the league averaged at least three goals a game, w/ Pittsburgh getting almost four and a half a game. Mario Lemieux had 161 points. Twelve players topped 100 points, and two more had 99. It was two years later when scoring dropped like a rock.

[bassassin]

Lecavalier 2007 42GP 28G 34A 62P 1.48PPG

[MadLuke]

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

If your point is that Crosby's 2011 actually wasn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, you've done a good job. Ovechkin's 2010 was better from a pure offensive standpoint before he got suspended. Crosby's 2007 looks more impressive too.

Crosby was just "lucky" enough to get injured, so his season-long PPG looks better.

Why ? less ppg, much less gpg, was winning less than 50% of faceoff, over 55% in 2011.

in 2011 70% of Crosby points were at even strenght, in 2007 51%.

In 2011 Crosby was +20 in 41 game, in 2007 +10 in 82 game.

I think 2011 was the first season that Crosby was obviously better than the Crosby before any injury of 2007, not just in the all-around game.

[jepjepjoo]

Selanne had 51 goals 87 points in the last 50gp in 92-93. 50 in 50 kind of

[SidGenoMario]

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

If your point is that Crosby's 2011 actually wasn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, you've done a good job. Ovechkin's 2010 was better from a pure offensive standpoint before he got suspended. Crosby's 2007 looks more impressive too.

Crosby was just "lucky" enough to get injured, so his season-long PPG looks better.

The reason Crosby's 2010 WAS that impressive is because he dominated every inch of the ice, showing a dedication to defense and better overall play that he hadn't shown yet in his career. It was the most consistently dominant I'd seen any player play in my entire life, points be damned.

[Fred Taylor]

Lemieux in 2003 is astounding. 37 years old, injury riddled, and had played only 67 games in the previous 5 and a half years... on a lottery team. I can't find a word, or words to explain that.

[Supreme King]

First 40 games of the season

Gretzky '82- 50g-58a-108p
Gretzky '83- 30g-65a-95p
Gretzky'84- 43g-74a-117p
Gretzky'85- 42g-73a-115p
Gretzky'86- 28g-75a-103p
Gretzky'87- 40g-58a-98p
Gretzky'88- 31g-62a-93p
Lemieux'89-47g-66a-113p
Lemiuex'93- 40g-64a-104p

[clefty]

Originally Posted by Fred Taylor

Lemieux in 2003 is astounding. 37 years old, injury riddled, and had played only 67 games in the previous 5 and a half years... on a lottery team. I can't find a word, or words to explain that.

Its a shame Kovalev was traded, Straka was injured and Morozov, who for the first time didn't look like an over hyped waste of space, was also injured long term. He started off playing with an outrageous powerplay that was working at over 30% pretty far long into the season (like, November-December) and a productive line, but post trades and injuries, and post Mikael Samuelsson failing miserably on his wing, Mario went down the stretch with Guillaume Lefebvre on his left wing and Eric Meloche on his right. It was a line sarcastically dubbed The French Connection.

So unfortunately, he 'only' went at about point per game his last 25 games or so, coupled with him taking games off to rest his back, and Forsberg on a career year, it was enough to drop him out of Art Ross contention after having a huge lead at one point. But his first 40 games was the last little period we ever saw of unbridled dominance we saw that hearkened back to 80s and 90s.

[overpass]

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

If your point is that Crosby's 2011 actually wasn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, you've done a good job. Ovechkin's 2010 was better from a pure offensive standpoint before he got suspended. Crosby's 2007 looks more impressive too.

Crosby was just "lucky" enough to get injured, so his season-long PPG looks better.

Crosby's first 60 games of 2007 was extremely impressive. But he was a much better and more complete player in 2011.

If the Penguins had a decent power play in 2011, and if Crosby had fewer defensive responsibilities as in 2007, his 2011 stats might have reflected his improved play.

[MadLuke]

Originally Posted by Supreme King

First 40 games of the season

Gretzky '82- 50g-58a-108p
Gretzky '83- 30g-65a-95p
Gretzky'84- 43g-74a-117p
Gretzky'85- 42g-73a-115p
Gretzky'86- 28g-75a-103p
Gretzky'87- 40g-58a-98p
Gretzky'88- 31g-62a-93p
Lemieux'89-47g-66a-113p
Lemiuex'93- 40g-64a-104p

In a world that these 2 did not have existed, pretending that it should be possible for the best hockey player to have those kind of production would be considered a joke imo, the Lafleur/Jagr/Bossy type of production would be considered the max. Ridiculous.

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Originally Posted by overpass

Crosby's first 60 games of 2007 was extremely impressive. But he was a much better and more complete player in 2011.

If the Penguins had a decent power play in 2011, and if Crosby had fewer defensive responsibilities as in 2007, his 2011 stats might have reflected his improved play.

Crosby was definitely more complete in 2010-11 and a better overall player. But people talk about it being some kind of transcendent season for him, and I just don't get it - not when his offense at least didn't stand out from seasons other players had in previous years. I agree that he was quite a bit better overall during his streak than he was in 2007 or Ovechkin was in 2010, but not to the point that people claim (I don't believe in extrapolating his PPG out over the course of the season when others with similar PPGs couldn't maintain it).

Good point on wondering how much more he'd score if the Penguins had a decent PP and he had fewer defensive responsibilities - though part of the blame for the poor PP has to fall on Crosby, right?

[Unaffiliated]

I feel like all this data should be posted directly onto the main board.

[livewell68]

Originally Posted by Unaffiliated

I feel like all this data should be posted directly onto the main board.

People on the main board ignore facts like this and they will continue with their "the newer NHL is faster, stronger and better" crusade as well as "Crosby's 2010-11 season would have been one of the best ever" crusade.

On the main board Gretzky couldn't dominate today's game, Lemieux would win Art Ross trophies but he wouldn't dominate and Crosby is at Jagr's level.

[Jonsson]

Not a half season but Mario´s 160 points in 60 games is mindblowing!

[Calderon]

Originally Posted by jepjepjoo

Selanne had 51 goals 87 points in the last 50gp in 92-93. 50 in 50 kind of

TBH I hate that the official record is 50-in-50 from the start of the season.

Does anyone know if someone has come close to 50-in-39 since Gretzky, during any stretch of one regular season?

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Originally Posted by Calderon

TBH I hate that the official record is 50-in-50 from the start of the season.

Does anyone know if someone has come close to 50-in-39 since Gretzky, during any stretch of one regular season?

Neely did 50 in 44 but it wasn't the team's first 50 games so it didn't officially count

[Czech Your Math]

Originally Posted by MadLuke

When was the last even strength more dominant season than 2010 Crosby ?

Adjusted to 6.00 ESG/game and 82 games, these are some of the best ES seasons for which data is available:

PLAYER	Year	G	A	P
Gretzky	1985	55	94	150
Gretzky	1986	40	110	149
Gretzky	1982	67	78	146
Gretzky	1987	47	91	138
Gretzky	1984	56	81	137
Gretzky	1983	49	88	136
Jagr	1996	55	72	127
Jagr	1999	51	76	127
Gretzky	1991	40	84	123
H.Sedin	2010	33	86	120
Jagr	2001	56	62	117
Lemieux	1989	47	70	117
Yzerman	1989	52	64	116
Gretzky	1989	44	71	115
Ovechkin	2008	66	49	115
Forsberg	2003	33	81	114
Gretzky	1980	41	71	112
Gretzky	1981	38	72	111
Thornton	2006	27	81	109
Lemieux	1993	53	55	108
LeClair	1997	53	55	108
Gretzky	1990	29	79	108
Malkin	2012	55	53	108
Gretzky	1988	31	77	107
Jagr	2006	45	62	107
Lindros	1995	51	56	106
Lemieux	1997	43	63	105
Ovechkin	2010	53	52	105
Jagr	1995	49	56	104
Fedorov	1994	50	54	104
Crosby	2010	52	52	104
Kurri	1985	55	48	104
Selanne	1998	63	40	104
Sundin	1999	42	62	104
Trottier	1978	36	67	103
Bure	2000	64	39	103
Hull	1991	68	35	103
Malkin	2009	28	74	102
Trottier	1979	36	65	101
Thornton	2003	34	67	101
Selanne	1997	52	49	101
Malkin	2008	46	55	101
Lindros	1996	43	58	100
LeClair	1999	42	59	100
Lindros	1999	45	56	100
Sakic	2001	48	51	99
Iginla	2008	53	46	99
Jagr	1998	43	56	99
Yzerman	1993	43	55	98
Lemieux	1996	40	58	98
Iginla	2002	53	44	97
Jagr	2000	46	50	96
Coffey	1986	31	63	94
Forsberg	1996	27	67	94
Selanne	1993	59	35	94