I remember reading on the history board I think, that Bobby Clarke once played a full season while being on the ice for only about 15-20 even strength goals against.
If this has any truth whatsoever, I believe it should be among the all-time greatest accomplishments, up there with Gretzky's 100 assists seasons.
Could anybody deny or confirm this?
Also, do you have other interesting, sometimes overlooked statistics to share that you can hardly believe to this day?
I remember reading on the history board I think, that Bobby Clarke once played a full season while being on the ice for only about 15-20 even strength goals against.
If this has any truth whatsoever, I believe it should be among the all-time greatest accomplishments, up there with Gretzky's 100 assists seasons.
Could anybody deny or confirm this?
Also, do you have other interesting, sometimes overlooked statistics to share that you can hardly believe to this day?
The whole idea that a player (Gretzky) could have more assists than anyone else had points. It's one of those things that nobody could've imagined in their wildest dreams before.
I remember a game in the mid-70s where Buffalo scored more goals (14) than the Capitals had shots (11). I'm pretty sure it really happened.
On the negative side, the game where the WHA's New Jersey Knights had a crowd of 60.
Single event stats on a long period of evens are hard to be jaw-droping to me (they must be really out of norms).
The most Jaw dropping are Gretzky regular season stats followed by Gretzky playoff stats I would think. Imagine having followed the nhl for a long long time in a certain vaccum without knowing about Gretzky or an incident that made your forget him (and only him) and reading is wikipedia page right now, what other nhl stat could be more jaw dropping than that ?
THE most jaw-dropping statistic in sports history:
Getting 100 assists in an NHL season is almost impossible. Only 3 people have done it. Arguably the 3 best players ever. Bobby Orr did it once. Mario Lemieux did it once. Wayne Gretzky did it 13 times.
Ridiculous on first glance, explainable once you look at it, but then ridiculous again when you consider the happenstance required for that number to ever come up.
this would be my answer too. truly the most unbreakable record in north american pro sports.
It would take a rare combination of talent, determination and good luck for someone to break Glenn Hall's record. I think the last goalie to play the entire schedule for even one season was Ed Johnston circa 1964.
THE most jaw-dropping statistic in sports history:
Getting 100 assists in an NHL season is almost impossible. Only 3 people have done it. Arguably the 3 best players ever. Bobby Orr did it once. Mario Lemieux did it once. Wayne Gretzky did it 13 times.
I don't know if it's the most jaw dropping stat in SPORTS history. A lot of Wilt Chamberlain stats come to mind. Despite being such a force in the paint (the guy pulled in 55 rebounds in a single game!) he never, not once in his entire career, fouled out. That blows my mind. And while most players struggle to hit 60 points in a single game, Chamberlain did it over 30 times! He scored 50 points in a game more than 100 times.
In boxing, George Chuvalo was never knocked down in a fight. That alone is impressive, moreso when you consider he fought over 90 professional matches and went up against the likes of Ali (twice), Frazier and George Foreman. For those who don't quite follow boxing, Frazier and Foreman were the only fighters to ever stop Chuvalo (IE the ref called the fight before the end), but they couldn't knock him down. During the Foreman fight when the ref called an end to it, Chuvalo, enraged, exclaimed to the ref "What are you, nuts?". That a boxer could fight that many bouts and never get dropped is just mind-boggling.
My word, I forgot what this thread was about! I should contribute something...
Ken Dryden jumps to mind, though a lot of his accolades might be credited to his team. Played 397 games, won 258 and then just... left.
It would take a rare combination of talent, determination and good luck for someone to break Glenn Hall's record. I think the last goalie to play the entire schedule for even one season was Ed Johnston circa 1964.
And to have the balls to do the majority of it WITHOUT a mask...
Also, because it has never been repeated -- winning the Art Ross as a defenseman, while also playing a lights out in the defensive zone -- Bobby Orr.
I remember reading on the history board I think, that Bobby Clarke once played a full season while being on the ice for only about 15-20 even strength goals against.
If this has any truth whatsoever, I believe it should be among the all-time greatest accomplishments, up there with Gretzky's 100 assists seasons.
Could anybody deny or confirm this?
Also, do you have other interesting, sometimes overlooked statistics to share that you can hardly believe to this day?
It was 19 and Reggie Leach was on for 22 against in 75.
76 was Clarke's 2nd best year in the ESGA at 22.
While Clarke was the best defensive forward in the league that year it was a bit of a perfect storm situation with the broad street bullies, Calrke's excellence and having the Rifle to help in that category as well.
* 163 assists in a season in 85-86. It's more POINTS than anyone besides Lemieux has ever scored. It beats any other player by 49 assists (Lemieux). And Gretzky still scored 52 goals that year. Ridiculous.
* 153 points in 51 straight games in 83-84. Exactly 3 PPG. #99 was on pace for 240 points before his shoulder injury. I believe he would have come close, making for the most ridiculously offensive season of all time.
* Eleven straight 100 assist seasons, when no one else had more than one in their entire career.
* Eighth worst assist season is tied for the best of any other player (Lemieux).
* 50 goals in 39 games in 81-82 as a 20 year old.
* Fastest to 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 goals, and only one to 802 goals or more (894). Take them all away, and he is still the all time NHL scoring leader with his assists alone. Ridiculous.
* 47 points in only 18 games in 84-85 playoffs. Ridiculous as well.
Ridiculous on first glance, explainable once you look at it, but then ridiculous again when you consider the happenstance required for that number to ever come up.
what's even more crazy is they had to round his 39 seconds of ice time up to a minute to get him that 120 GAA. otherwise, it would be much higher.
THE most jaw-dropping statistic in sports history:
Getting 100 assists in an NHL season is almost impossible. Only 3 people have done it. Arguably the 3 best players ever. Bobby Orr did it once. Mario Lemieux did it once. Wayne Gretzky did it 13 times.
Even adjusted Wayne has 5 of the 14 best (100 or more) season in assists. All of the others were from 1926-31 were assists were handed out in a much different fashion than the last 50 years.
Wayne's consistency of excellence statistically is what makes him the best player of all time.
regular season or playoffs,
best on best,
counting stats or adjusted,
goals or assists, his name just dominates at the top of all of these lists.
I don't know if it's the most jaw dropping stat in SPORTS history. A lot of Wilt Chamberlain stats come to mind. Despite being such a force in the paint (the guy pulled in 55 rebounds in a single game!) he never, not once in his entire career, fouled out. That blows my mind. And while most players struggle to hit 60 points in a single game, Chamberlain did it over 30 times! He scored 50 points in a game more than 100 times.
Chamberlain's WTF record was during 1961-62 but it isn't the 50 points average it's the 48.5 minutes per game. Every minute of every game including OT. That is the one thing above every other incredible thing Wilt did that I would wager the fate of humanity on never ever being touched. In fact, Chamberlain has the top 7 MPG seasons in the history of the league.
184.62, to be exact. One hundredth of that would be an awesome GAA.
thanks. i didn't feel like doing he math. you could take 180 goals off that GAA and it would still be one of the ten worst averages of any goalie that season.
this would be my answer too. truly the most unbreakable record in north american pro sports.
I dunno, baseball has got a couple like that too. Like Cy Young's 511 wins. Of pitchers who played in the last 47 years, the next highest is Greg Maddux at 355... of pitchers who've played since 1930 the highest is 363. Unbreakable without a rule change.
For hockey... I'll agree with the other posters that Gretzky's numbers are the most jaw dropping.
To add something new, I'll go with Probert and Williams managing 62 points in a season while accumulating 398 and 343 PIM, respectively. Probably will never happen again either.
