ATD 2012 - Draft Thread I

[Jafar]

ATD 2012 !!!

Now on a 12 hour clock

1). The draft will last 25 rounds. You must draft 2 goalies, 6 defensemen, 12 forwards, a coach and 4 extra picks.

2). The time windows will be tight but reasonable.

• 12 hour clock for the first two rounds, (sending a shortlist to another GM highly encouraged here)
• then 10 hour clock for rounds 3-6,
• then 8 hour clock for rounds 7-14,
• then 6 hour clock for rounds 15-20,
• then 4 hour clock for rounds 21-25

One hour time window deduction for each skipped pick (two hour deduction for missing a 12 hour clock - leave a list), with a minimum 4 hour clock guaranteed regardless of deductions.

3). Trading is to be reasonably fair and balanced and lopsided trades will need to be re-worked or dropped. This is at the discretion of the trade committee.

• Trading while on the clock is discouraged and will be penalized like a missed deadline, so if you do it, you better be sure that's what you want.
• There is no limit to the number of trades you can make.

4). Regular season rankings MUST BE VOTED ON by at least one GM (if the team is co-GM'd) per team. The penalty if not done is a lowering in the standings because we would also be ranking our own teams in our own divisions (e.g., most teams will rank their own team 1st in their own division; if a team doesn't vote they loose out on a 1st place vote opportunity and hence their team's ranking will be lower than it could have been). All teams make the playoffs. 4th & 5th seeds play a 2-game series to narrow the field to 32.

5). REGULAR SEASON AND PLAYOFF VOTING TO BE A SET RESPONSIBILITY.

6). NO MENTIONING UNDRAFTED PLAYERS!!!

DRAFT LIST:

Deductions:
Stoneberg & raleh -Halifax Mooseheads = -1 hour

Round 1

1. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones - Bobby Orr, D
2. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks - Wayne Gretzky, C
3. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers - Gordie Howe, RW
4. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers - Mario Lemieux, C
5. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs - Doug Harvey, D
6. papershoes - Kenora Thistles - Jean Beliveau, C
7. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints - Eddie Shore, D
8. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats - Raymond Bourque, D
9. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs - Bobby Hull, LW
10. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos - Denis Potvin, D
11. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK - Nicklas Lidström, D
12. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints - Maurice Richard, RW
13. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks - Stan Mikita, C
14. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France - Dominik Hašek, G
15. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets - Bryan Trottier, C
16. DaveG - Lada Togliatti - Bobby Clarke, C
17. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons - Terry Sawchuk, G
18. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montréal - Leonard ''Red'' Kelly, D/C
19. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks - Howie Morenz, C
20. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers - Guy Lafleur, RW
21. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans - Patrick Roy, G
22. Dwight - West Island Lions - Jacques Plante, G
23. papershoes - Kenora Thistles - Larry Robinson, D
24. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan - Jaromir Jagr, RW
25. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters - Slava Fetisov, D
26. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA - Phil Esposito, C
27. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers - Mike Bossy, RW
28. tony d - Garnish Cougars - Mark Messier, C/LW
29. Stoneberg & raleh -Halifax Mooseheads - Cyclone Taylor, C/D
30. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds - Chris Chelios, D
31. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils - Ted Lindsay, LW
32. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers - Joe Sakic, C

Round 2

33. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers - Paul Coffey, D
34. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils - Brad Park, D
35. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds - Steve Yzerman, C
36. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA - Pierre Pilote, D
37. tony d - Garnish Cougars - Glenn Hall, G
38. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers - Newsy Lalonde, C
39. Stoneberg & raleh - Halifax Mooseheads - Valeri Kharlamov, LW
40. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires - Milt Schmidt, C
41. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montreal - Frank Nighbor, C/LW
42. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires - Ken Dryden, G
43. Dwight - West Island Lions - Tim Horton, D
44. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans - Syl Apps Sr, C
45. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers - King Clancy, D
46. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks
47. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan
48. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons
49. DaveG - Lada Togliatti
50. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets
51. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France
52. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks
53. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints
54. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK
55. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos
56. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs
57. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats
58. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints
59. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters
60. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs
61. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers
62. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers
63. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks
64. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones

Round 3

65. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones
66. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks
67. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers
68. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers
69. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs
70. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters
71. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints
72. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats
73. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs
74. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos
75. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK
76. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints
77. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks
78. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France
79. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets
80. DaveG - Lada Togliatti
81. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons
82. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montréal
83. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks
84. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers
85. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans
86. Dwight - West Island Lions
87. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters
88. Stoneberg & raleh -Halifax Mooseheads
89. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires
90. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan
91. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers
92. tony d - Garnish Cougars
93. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA
94. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds
95. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils
96. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers

Round 4

97. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers
98. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils
99. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds
100. Stoneberg & raleh - Halifax Mooseheads
101. tony d - Garnish Cougars
102. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers
103. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan
104. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires
105. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA
106. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires
107. Dwight - West Island Lions
108. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans
109. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers
110. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks
111. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montréal
112. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons
113. DaveG - Lada Togliatti
114. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets
115. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France
116. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks
117. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints
118. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK
119. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos
120. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs
121. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats
122. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints
123. papershoes - Kenora Thistles
124. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs
125. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers
126. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers
127. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks
128. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones

Round 5

129. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones
130. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks
131. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers
132. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers
133. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs
134. papershoes - Kenora Thistles
135. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints
136. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats
137. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs
138. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos
139. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK
140. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints
141. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks
142. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France
143. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets
144. DaveG - Lada Togliatti
145. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons
146. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan
147. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks
148. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers
149. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans
150. Dwight - West Island Lions
151. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters
152. Stoneberg & raleh -Halifax Mooseheads
153. Mr Bugg - Kimberley Dynamiters
154. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montréal
155. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers
156. tony d - Garnish Cougars
157. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA
158. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds
159. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils
160. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers

Round 6

161. Brave Canadian - Guelph Platers
162. TheDevilMadeMe - New Jersey Swamp Devils
163. Reds4Life - Detroit Reds
164. Stoneberg & raleh - Halifax Mooseheads
165. tony d - Garnish Cougars
166. JFA87-66-99 - Pittsburgh Bankers
167. nik jr - Ak Bars Kazan
168. monster_bertuzzi - Vancouver Millionaires
169. God Made Me & hungryhungryhippy - 1893 Montreal AAA
170. papershoes - Kenora Thistles
171. Dwight - West Island Lions
172. chaosrevolver - Seattle Metropolitans
173. DoMakc - Atlanta Thrashers
174. Hawkey Town 18 - Chicago Shamrocks
175. BenchBrawl - Les Canadiens de Montréal
176. jkrx - Winnipeg Falcons
177. DaveG - Lada Togliatti
178. Modo - Dawson City Nuggets
179. EagleBelfour - L'équipe Nationale de France
180. markrander87 - Cincinnati Fireworks
181. Nalyd Psycho - Minnesota Fighting Saints
182. Dreakmur & Hobnobs - Rogle BK
183. Velociraptor - Australia Mighty Roos
184. Leaf Lander - Toronto Maple Leafs
185. Leafs Forever - Toronto St. Pats
186. Hedberg & vancityluongo - Winnipeg Saints
187. papershoes - Kenora Thistles
188. vecens24 - Hamilton Mustangs
189. MadArcand - Hartford Whalers
190. Billyshoe1721 - Philadelphia Flyers
191. arrbez - Inglewood Jacks
192. Bring Back Scuderi - Pittsburgh Keystones

Trades:

To Cincinatti: All of New Jersey's picks, starting at 13
To Ak Bars Kazan All of Cincinatti's, picks starting at 26
To New Jersey: All Ak Bars Kazan's, picks starting at 31

To Hamilton Mustangs: All of Kimberley's picks, starting at 8 (later traded to Toronto St. Pats)
To Kimberley Dynamiters: All of Hamilton's picks, starting at 13.

To Hamilton Mustangs - All of picks Toronto's picks starting at 5
To Toronto St. Pats- All of Hamilton's picks starting at 8

To Ak Bars Kazan: 24 and 41
To 1893 Montreal AAA: 26 and 39

To Kenora: 23 and 170 +?
To Kimberley: 59 and 70 +?

To Vancouver Millionaires- #42, #106
To Kimberley Dynamiters- #25, #153

To 1893 Montreal AAA - 36, 93, and 157
To Halifax - 39, 88, 152

To 1893 Montreal AAA - 36, 93, and 157
To Halifax - 39, 88, 152

to Montreal: 41, 154, 218
to Kazan: 47, 146, 210

[Jafar]

Originally Posted by vecens24

What time do we want to say the first selection can take place?

Midnight EST tonight? SOmething along those lines?

anytime , already pmed him.I don't see any point in waiting if he wishes to pick.

[Jafar]

somewhere somehow , deep in the darkest side of saskatoon , seventieslord is already regretting his decision

[Bring Back Scuderi]

I know the initial preference was for me to wait until midnight or even later to pick, but it seems like it was resolved in the two pages of this thread. Of course the clock won't start until Monday and I'll PM Arrbez so I'm not sure what harm there could possibly be anyways. I mean he has the same starting time we announced, just won't have to wait on me now. With that said let's kick this draft off and with the first pick the Pittsburgh Keystones select...

D Bobby Orr

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I can't wait until someone has the cojones to draft someone other than Orr first. It's going to take either a ballsy vet or a noob who doesn't know what he's doing (neither of which applies to BBS, a rookie to the main draft but definitely not a noob).

In my ATD, I also had the #1 overall pick and went the safe route.

[Bring Back Scuderi]

I know I felt pretty lame picking Orr honestly, but there's never gonna more than 1 or 2 teams with a shot to pick him so I didn't wanna miss my chance. Plus I have a bit of a bias towards defenders so having a shot at the best one ever didn't help.

[Jafar]

Originally Posted by TheDevilMadeMe

I can't wait until someone has the cojones to draft someone other than Orr first. It's going to take either a ballsy vet or a noob who doesn't know what he's doing (neither of which applies to BBS, a rookie to the main draft but definitely not a noob).

In my ATD, I also had the #1 overall pick and went the safe route.

for what it's worth , if I ever have the 1st overall , I won't pick Orr. ( even if I think he is the greatest of all-time )

[Hawkman]

This confirmed trade from the trade thread is not showing in the draft list. I now have 26 and 39 and nik jr has 24 and 41.

Originally Posted by nik jr

that is 24 and 41 for 26 and 39.

i confirm.

[nik jr]

i would pick orr 1st.



OP does not show the trade between 1893 montreal AAA and kazan (24 and 41 for 26 and 39).

i have already traded 52 picks. that must be a record.

[TheDevilMadeMe]

The OP should be up to date now.

[EagleBelfour]

- Even though the draft thread was created, the clock start only on the 23rd ... just like last year

- Even if you swap picks, you stay in the same division ... just like last year.

I read 30 posts of discussion thinking to myself ''... just like last year!''. Anyway, seems everything is resolve.

Originally Posted by BenchBrawl

somewhere somehow , deep in the darkest side of saskatoon , seventieslord is already regretting his decision

I'm definitely with you on this one. I'm sure he is.


Bobby Orr #1: Classic! It's difficult not to go with him with the first selection considering how the game his played (Unless you value longevity very high, and a point can very be made). Let's not get into this discussion right now, but after the next few picks we could.

[nik jr]

wow!!!

GMM and i had the same post at the same time.

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Originally Posted by nik jr

wow!!!

GMM and i had the same post at the same time.

This will blow your mind extra: I was already in the process of editing the post and when I was done editing saw your two posts.

[nik jr]

[vecens24]

Had I had first this time I would have traded it because I have a very specific idea in mind for my team, however I do hope someone someday doesn't take Orr first and we see how they justify it!

[VanIslander]

Originally Posted by vecens24

I do hope someone someday doesn't take Orr first and we see how they justify it!

xxxxxxx and xxxx have gone 1st overall in ATDs before, multiple times, just not recently.

[Jafar]

Originally Posted by VanIslander

xxx and xxx have gone 1st overall in ATDs before, multiple times, just not recently.

UNDRAFTED

[monster_bertuzzi]

Theres a guy I would draft over Orr without breaking a sweat if I was building a certain type of team. And there would be no ''embaressment'' trying to explain it...

[Leafs Forever]

There's certainly nothing wrong with not picking Orr first ifyou want to build your team differently.

[arrbez]

With the second overall pick in the draft, Inglewood selects a true legend of the game.

Ruiner of SNL skits, rocker of feathered mullets, nailer of mediocre actresses.

A man who somehow retains a sterling reputation despite being affiliated with such debacles as the 2006 gambling scandal, the 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies, and the Phoenix Coyotes. He once fought his way out of the belly of a shark WITH HIS BARE HANDS (and the help of Bo Jackson). It's said he can shoot down airplanes by pointing his finger and saying "bang" <citation needed>.

Also holds virtually every offensive record in NHL history.

He is often referred to as the Wayne Gretzky of his era:


Wayne Gretzky



All aboard the Wayne Train.




"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky"
-Michael Scott

[arrbez]

BillyShoe has been notified

[monster_bertuzzi]

Originally Posted by arrbez

With the second overall pick in the draft, Inglewood selects a true legend of the game.

Ruiner of SNL skits, rocker of feathered mullets, nailer of mediocre actresses.

A man who somehow retains a sterling reputation despite being affiliated with such debacles as the 2006 gambling scandal, the 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies, and the Phoenix Coyotes. He once fought his way out of the belly of a shark WITH HIS BARE HANDS (and the help of Bo Jackson). It's said he can shoot down airplanes by pointing his finger and saying "bang" <citation needed>.

Also holds virtually every offensive record in NHL history.

He is often referred to as the Wayne Gretzky of his era:


Wayne Gretzky



All aboard the Wayne Train.




"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky"
-Michael Scott

And theres the guy I take #1 a lot of the time. Good work.

[BillyShoe1721]

The Flyers select a player that personifies the style that we plan to build our team around, RW Gordie Howe



23x NHL All Star Game Participant
6x Art Ross Trophy Winner
6x Hart Trophy Winner
1x Gordie Howe Trophy Winner(WHA MVP)
12x NHL 1st Team All Star
9x NHL 2nd Team All Star
2x WHA 1st Team All Star
4x Stanley Cup Champion
2x WHA Champion
19x Top 8 Goals NHL(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8)
22x Top 9 Assists NHL(1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9)
21x Top 10 Points NHL(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 9)
11x Top 9 Goals NHL Playoffs(1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9)
13x Top 8 Assists NHL Playoffs(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 7, 7, 8)
13x Top 9 Points NHL Playoffs(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 9)
4x Top 7 WHA Assists(2, 6, 7, 7)
4x Top 9 WHA Points(3, 8, 9, 9)
Total Hart Trophy Voting Record: (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7)
Total All Star Voting Record: (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5)

Why Gordie Howe - And Not Wayne Gretzky - Is The Greatest Player Of All Time By Stan Fischler

Who was the greatest hockey player of all time?

Contemporary experts would have you believe that Wayne Gretzky holds that distinction. However, those experts would be wrong.

Gordie Howe, who launched his NHL career in 1946-47 and concluded it in 1979-80, is the greatest player of all time for a very simple reason: he could do more things better in a hockey game than anyone who ever laced on a pair of skates.

He shot better. He hit harder. He checked better and he could pass with Gretzky on the best playmaking day Wayne ever had.

Not to mention the intimidation factor. Take Mark Messier in his prime, multiply him by ten, and you begin to understand why Howe was so feared.

...former New York Rangers right winger Aldo Guidolin once summed up the prevailing opinion on Gordie's stickhandling: "Howe plays the 'funny kind of game' - he doesn't let anyone touch the puck." One reason for that was Gordie's ambidextrous shooting ability. By switching hands, he could fire equally as well from either side. No other superstar could make that statement.

"If Gordie had played in the (watered-down) NHL the way it is today," said Storey, "he'd have 1000 goals, instead of 801, and Gretzky never would have caught him. Howe was a marvel playing after he was 50. He and (Canadiens defenseman) Doug Harvey were the best natural athletes I've known."

The Howe vs. Gretzky debate really isn't one because Gordie was the quintessential multi-dimensional player. Why, Gordie could even be a defenseman.

..."Everything you can think of in hockey, Howe is"...

Behind Howe's cache of talent was muscle on top of muscle. In the frontier-era in which he played - also known as old time hockey - superstars were expected to fight their own battles and, remarkably, they did.

During that century of stickhandling, there never has been a superstar who could fight as well as Howe.

Hollett: "Gordie is the greatest player I ever saw and that includes all the greats including xxx, xxx and xxx. Howe was the only man who could switch hands when he was right in on goal. And if they had put him back on defense, he could have been an All Star."

http://books.google.com/books?id=68q...wo-way&f=false

He isn't called Mister Hockey for nothing. Gordie Howe has been called a lot of other things as well. Like the greatest all-around hockey player who ever lived.

Howe was a right wing possessed of extraordinary strength in a body measuring six feet one inch, and 200 pounds, at a time when that was considered huge by league standards. Howe's armament was the most formidable the game had known. "His shot was uncanny," said goalie xxx, a Hall of Famer, "because it would come at the net in so many different ways."

...would deliver a remarkably accurate shot with so fluid a motion that goalies frequently fail to see the puck leave Gordie's stick.

in 1960, Richard was the first to allow that Howe was the best of them all. "Gordie," said Richard, "could do everything."

No matter where Gordie skated, his trademark - effortless excellence - made an impression on critics. "Gordie had the ability and the knack for making the difficult plays look easy, routine,"...

He was an incredibly gifted forward, an accomplished defensive player, reserved as a team man and the only player to have dominated three eras- the postwar NHL, the Golden Era of the 1960s and the expansion era.

http://books.google.com/books?id=68q...20howe&f=false

"He was not only the greatest hockey player I've ever seen," said former teammate Bill Gadsby, "but also the greatest athlete."

The goals began to come in bunches, and Howe mesmerized both enemy and teammate alike. His stickhandling was so uncanny, Captain Sid Abel felt moved to reprimand young Gordie. "I don't mind this great stickhandling of yours," said Abel, "but why stickhandle around the same player three times?"

http://books.google.com/books?id=wpb...20howe&f=false

A tough, physical player, Howe distinguished himself with his deft scoring touch, his powerful fists, and his unprecedented longevity.

http://books.google.com/books?id=9KO...20howe&f=false

. He quickly established himself as a great goal scorer and a gifted playmaker with a willingness to fight. In fact, Howe fought so often in his rookie season that coach Jack Adams told him, "I know you can fight. Now can you show me you can play hockey?"

During this time Howe and his linemates, Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, were known collectively as "The Production Line", both for their scoring and as an allusion to Detroit auto factories. The trio dominated the league in such a fashion that in 1949–50, they finished one-two-three in league scoring. Howe had been in his prime during a defensive era, the 1940s and 1950s, when scoring was difficult and checking was tight.

As Howe emerged as one of the game's superstars, he was frequently compared to the Montreal Canadiens' Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Both were right wingers who wore the same sweater number (9), were frequently contenders for the league scoring title, and could also play rough if needed. During their first encounter in the Montreal Forum, when Howe was a rookie, he knocked Richard out cold with a punch after being shoved

Of the list, Orr was quoted as regarding Howe as the greatest player.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordie_Howe#Playing_career

Gordie Howe is referred to as simply "Mr. Hockey". World War II had just ended when he first entered the National Hockey League, and when he played his final NHL season 33 years later, Wayne Gretzky was playing his first. Over those five decades, Howe didn't just survive, he was dominant - on the scoring lists, in battles in the corners, on game-winning goals and when the year-end awards were handed out. He was a big man, though by modern standards no behemoth, but what set him apart was his incredible strength.

Though other superstars could be deemed somewhat better scorers, tougher fighters or faster skaters, no player has approached Gordie Howe's sustained level of excellence. Incredibly, Gordie finished in the top 5 in NHL scoring for 20 straight seasons. To endure and excel, Howe needed a unique set of qualities, both physical and mental, and the foundations for his astonishing career were laid in him from an early age.

Howe was put on a line with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay and over the next three years the troika and the Detroit team became the league's best. Howe more than doubled his scoring in his third year and played in his first All-Star Game in 1948. True to his nature in his early years, he spent five minutes of the All-Star showcase in the penalty box for fighting. The Howe-Lindsay-Abel line was named "the Production Line" for its scoring proficiency in 1948-49 when Lindsay and Abel placed third and fourth in league scoring. Lindsay was the truculent and tough left winger who also had the skills to make and finish plays. Abel, the center, was a smooth skater and an accurate passer, and at seven years their senior the veteran of the line. Howe could do it all, and his scoring improved as he spent less time in the penalty box.

Apart from his forbidding temperament, Howe's athletic and savvy playing style also contributed to his longevity. He never wasted energy if he didn't need to, especially after he cut down on the number of fights he'd take part in early in his career. He was economical with his movements, anticipating when and where the play would intersect with his effortless progress around the ice. He often played 45 minutes of a game when the average total was 25. Observers noticed that when his exhausted line returned to the bench, Howe was the first to recover and raise his head, ready for another shift.

In all, Howe was selected to 21 NHL All-Star squads, 12 times to the First Team. Six times he led the NHL in scoring to capture the Art Ross Trophy and six times he won the Hart as the league's most valuable player. His Detroit teams won the Stanley Cup four times.

Howe had been in his prime during a defensive era, the 1940s and 1950s, when scoring was difficult and checking was tight. When he was 40, in 1967, the league expanded from six to 12 teams and the number of offensive opportunities grew with it. Howe played the 1968-69 season on a line with Alex Delvecchio and Frank Mahovlich, the mercurial but talented star who had moved to Detroit from Toronto. Mahovlich was big, fast and skilled and Delvecchio was a gifted playmaker. The three were dubbed "the Production Line 3" and Howe's scoring returned to the levels of his youth and then beyond. He topped 100 points for the first time, scoring 44 goals and adding a career-high 59 assists.

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Legen...page=bio&list=

The right winger was a giant in his time at 6'1" and 205 lbs. He had the build of a heavyweight boxing champion. And he knew how to fight.

Part of the legend of Gordie Howe is his unmatchable toughness. He had "windshield wiper elbows" and like to give "close shaves" to anyone who dared to challenge. Ask any hockey experts who they'd choose as the toughest NHLer ever, and most would put their money on Gordie Howe against anyone else.

Those who knew Gordie away from the rink would never believe his on ice instincts.

"Despite an even temperament and a real distaste for combat, there is a part of Howe that is calculatingly and primitively savage," Mark Kram wrote in Sports Illustrated in 1964. "He is a punishing artist with a hockey stick, slashing, spearing, tripping and high-sticking his way to a comparative degree of solitude on the ice."

While few in the game were tougher than "Mr. Hockey," even fewer were more talented. In his prime in the 1950s and 1960s he was routinely described by coaches as the smartest player, the finest passer, the best playmaker and the most unstoppable puck carrier in the game. Aldo Guidolin, an opponent of Howe back in the early days, understatedly remarked "Gordie plays a funny kind of game; he doesn't let anyone else touch the puck!"

Gordie Howe not only outperformed everybody, but outlasted everybody. Gordie played from 1946 until 1980. In his last season he was a 51 year old grandfather playing with and against players the were old enough to be his son! Howe played 33 seasons in the pros. One with Omaha of the USHL, 26 in the NHL (25 with Detroit) and 6 with the WHA.

While Wayne Gretzky has since dwarfed all of his statistical achievements, Howe dominated the game over many different eras.

His credentials speak for him. He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1963. He led the NHL in scoring in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957 and 1963. He finished in the top 5 of NHL scoring in 20 consecutive seasons. He was a 21 time All Star.

Howe did not set the league on fire right away. Howe spent more time establishing his physical reputation in that time, scoring a total of only 35 goals but dropping the gloves with any and all comers. The Red Wings were able to convince him that he would be better served to stay out of the penalty box, the ambidextrous shooter scored 35 goals in 1949-50, second in the NHL to Rocket Richard's 43.

His 1951-52 MVP season was even sweeter. After leading the NHL in scoring (86 points) and goals (47), he led Detroit to an 8-0 record in the playoffs in its sweep to the Stanley Cup.

In 1952-53, Howe became the first player to score at least 90 points, notching 95, with a career-high 49 goals. The Red Wings, who were upset by Boston in the first round of the playoffs that season, rebounded by winning the Cup in 1954 and 1955, giving them four championships in six years. The Wings enjoyed one of hockey's greatest dynasties, but it proved to be Howe's last Stanley Cup.

Over a period of 32 years (combining NHL and WHA totals) Gordie Howe scored 1071 goals 1518 assists and 2589 points. Only Wayne Gretzky's career totals are better. Howe was a gifted power forward, an accomplished defensive player, a feared giant and the only player to have dominated three different eras - postwar NHL, the Golden Era of the 1960s and the Expansion Era.

http://redwingslegends.blogspot.com/...rdie-howe.html

An in-depth statistical analysis of Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, and Howe(credit to FissionFire):

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...3&postcount=48

"Howe is the best player in hockey, great on defense and scores goals when we need them the most," added Abel, a former star skater for Detroit. Abel played on the same line with Howe for several seasons.

The Wings coach made his comments in rebuttal to Richard's charges that Howe lacks enthusiasm, should hustle more and is used as a defensive penalty killer (when Detroit is shorthanded).

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...l+around&hl=en

"Gordie is so much better than most of the players that he could slow down 50 percent and still be one of the best in the National Hockey League..."

"He's a great competitor and always was easy to handle...I remember early in his career that he had five fights in a row and won all of them. They respected him after that."

"But as an all around player, no one in the history of the game compares to Howe."

-Jack Adams

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...l+around&hl=en

"He's the strongest player I've ever seen," said Kings general manager Larry Regan. "He once carried me and the puck half the length of the ice and scored the goal. There are hundreds of stories like that in hockey. You don't take a shot at Howe and not expect retaliation. It won't be anything crude, either, just something subtle-and effective."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...l+around&hl=en

[Jafar]

Originally Posted by BillyShoe1721

The Flyers select a player that personifies the style that we plan to build our team around, RW Gordie Howe

this would be my 1st overall , I think he's the easiest to built around with Orr , but he particularly has 0 weakness in a debate while Orr has a small one with the short career , he's also soo good at everything that you basically have free choice of the 2 forwards on his line while you can only have 1 free choice with orr on his pairing.

( free choice chemistry wise )

[Hobnobs]

Originally Posted by BillyShoe1721

The Flyers select a player that personifies the style that we plan to build our team around, RW Gordie Howe

This would have been my #1. The best hockey player to ever lace up his skates!