Wayne Gretzky is often mentioned as the greatest hockey player of all time. But according to the one and only Mario Lemieux, there was one player in hockey history who topped The Great One.
Gretzky’s records and numbers speak for themselves. He’s still—at least for a couple more weeks—the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. He also holds the record for the most assists and, naturally, the most points. In fact, he still owns nearly 60 NHL records, and there’s not much debate about who the greatest player of all time really is.
However, some argue that Mario Lemieux was better when he was injury-free and at full health. But he didn’t have Gretzky’s longevity. The same could be said for Bobby Orr, widely regarded as the greatest defenseman of all time. Yet, according to some all-time greats, none of these legends is the true GOAT of hockey.
Mario Lemieux names the greatest ever
A few years ago, Lemieux spoke about Detroit Red Wings franchise legend Gordie Howe, who made his NHL debut in 1946 and initially retired in 1971. He later returned to the ice, becoming the oldest player to ever play in an NHL game at 52 years and 10 days. And in Lemieux’s mind, no one has ever been better than Howe.
“I think his work ethic, first of all—just like Wayne when he played—he’s the hardest-working guy out there,” Lemieux said during the NHL’s All-Star Weekend in January 2017, via ESPN. “Whether it’s a practice or a 3-on-3 game at practice, he wants to win, he wants to be the best.”
Gordie Howe, nicknamed “Mr. Hockey” for his love and passion for the sport, passed away at 88 in June 2016. He even has a milestone named after him: the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick,” a feat that consists of scoring a goal, recording an assist—and getting into a fight—all in a single game.
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