WHEELIN' WEDNESDAY OV-CAREY PRICE-BOBBY ORR-HART TROPHY!!

WHEELIN' WEDNESDAY

THE HOCKEY WORLD ACCORDING TO LIAM MAGUIRE

OV ON THE NHL'S TOP SCORING LIST

PRICE RETURNS TO MONTREAL

BOBBY ORR TURNS 70 ( YESTERDAY )

SNAPPERS

 Alex Ovechkin hit 600 last week becoming the fourth fastest in NHL history to do so which is remarkable. ( Gretzky, Lemieux, Brett Hull) He's by far the greatest goal scorer of this generation and right at or near the top all time. As much as I feel it's time to start putting Crosby in the all time greatest discussion in the number five hole - Orr, Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, Crosby it's also time to put OV right at the top of the greatest scorers in NHL history.

 I phoned in to TSN1200 last week to discuss the topic mind you the criteria the station set forth for their poll question that day was take any one you want of the games great from days gone by, put them 100% healthy at 26 years of age and they are playing in today's game so no red line, very little obstruction, a non fighting league for the most part, with all of today's nutrition, training, coaching, equipment, all equal for everybody so all are born in 1992 - who scores the most goals in that season? And the answer is easy.

It's 99 all day. I don't care where you put him, what era, he will get the most goals, the most assists and the most points. In a season, in a career, under any rules. There never was nor will there ever be another player who can generate offense like Wayne Gretzky.  The line starts after him. Now, based on that criteria only, the rest of the list would look like this;

Bobby Hull, Rocket Richard, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkiin, Brett Hull, Mike Bossy, Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur, Joe Malone. 

How does this list change if you talk career goal scorers in terms of if all start their careers at the same time, same rules, etc; and all play the same number of career games?

Gretzky, Bobby Hull, Lemieux, Ovechkin, Mike Bossy, Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur, Phil Esposito, Brett Hull, Teemu Selanne.  

Why do I not have OV at the top like some newbie broadcasters? His preponderance for power play goals and his one dimensional style compared to the few men I have a head of him are the only reasons I have him ranked fourth currently. He could move up my career list, no question. But for now he's right up there on my all time list and we'll see how it all plays out bottom line what he's done to date from a goal scoring perspective has been amazing.

CAREY PRICE RETURNS FOR THE HABS

Here's how you know a) fans don't have a clue and b) media think they've got it figured out.  Absolutely laughable anybody and everybody who thinks Carey Price should not play given he's been deemed 100% and he's raring to go. Moronic. After an abysmal season to say the least he wants to get back on the ice and see if he can salvage any type of good feelings in net. Going into last season Price was criticized for playing in the World Cup and the Canadiens for allowing it to happen. Team Canada wanted Price and he accepted, played five games, won them all, sported a 1.40 GAA and a .957 SV %. Then he rolled right into the season, a 100pts for Montreal where Carey finished 6th overall and at or near the top in all categories. He's 30 years old. He's healthy. He plays hockey as a career, he wants to play, see how his game is and what better time to do it when there is absolutely no pressure and maybe if he looks and feels okay he'd consent to going to the World Championships which would be fantastic. 

A side bar note on the Habs and Geoff Molson's endorsement of Marc Bergevin; somebody has to pay for some of the signings especially on D. I don't begrudge them for not signing Markov. It's my belief he wanted a 6M contract. No way in hell I would have paid that either. Dallas is probably going to miss the playoffs but losing Radulov was a tough one. Bergevin shows a ton of guts and moxy to bring him in. He was the best FA signing by far. And he didn't want to give him 30M but then tried to match the offer at the last second. That is on MB and internally coupled with a few other suspect signings somebody has to pay the price. Apparently not MB. The pat on the back from Geoff Molson was not a ringing endorsement for the fans. That said, if Carey is even normal next season he alone makes them a playoff contender.  How they manage the Pacioretty potential trade and use their cap space will set the table for either a huge rebound or several more years of mediocrity. Big summer for Montreal coming up. 

BOBBY ORR TURNS 70

Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player who ever lived. If you didn't see him play your comment and vote are irrelevant. Probably best to simply state, 'of the players I saw.'  For example, until his dying breath Eddie Shore maintained Howie Morenz was the greatest player he ever saw. How can I possibly argue against that so I'm in the same boat. Of those that I saw, it's Orr.

I'm piggy backing off my friends on TSN1200 for topics. Probably because some of the comments are so nonsensical. How iconic was Orr's goal, flying through the air? It was voted the number one NHL goal of the last century. And if you think why, who scored it, with Noel Picard tripping him helping him fly through the air; it was the Cup winner and their first since 1941 and it was on home ice. All fantastic and frankly the right vote for sure. In terms of hockey pictures or images, the other one that's on the same page is Henderson and Yvan Cournoyer. To dismiss it, or disregard it in any way or suggest another hockey photo is possibly superior in terms of iconic stature is hilarious. The Henderson goal was voted the number one international goal of the last century . And rightfully so. And frankly the impact of that goal, that series, had a much larger influence globally than the Orr goal.  People have to realize, if you talk all-time, you have to accept there might have been some great moments and players before you started watching the game, say in 1990.

CONDOLENCES TO THE KARLSSON'S

Once you find out you're going to have a baby it's a life waiting to join our world. It's the second greatest feeling you will experience next to the actual child birth. I remember how Liz informed me about her being pregnant with our son, Rory. I had been in St. Louis working a gig. Flew home, she met me at the airport with her step-father Vic Edwards and she had the test result tube or whatever the heck it was and I didn't know at first what it was. I quickly clued in and probably hugged her for twenty minutes. For the Karlsson's to have to go through this is beyond sad. I offer my sincere condolences. God willing, they'll be successful another time and this pain will slowly pass. 

HART TROPHY DISCUSSION

 Two players in NHL history have won the Hart Trophy on a last place team. Tommy Anderson and Al Rollins. Both were farcical and league generated wins, the first a retirement gift the second an anti-Rocket Richard acknowledgment. The last player to win it on a non-playoff team was Mario Lemieux in 1988. Does a player have to be in the playoffs to win the award? In my opinion, no,especially with fifteen teams out of the post-season dance. However it should be weighted toward somebody who was valuable to his team in helping them make the post season. Ironically winning the Art Ross is huge help. Ten times since 2000 the Art Ross winner has won the Hart. If the vote was today Nathan McKinnon win's the Hart. Taylor Hall would be second. Probably Kucherov third.

Wheelin' Wednesday appears periodically............on Wednesday's. For a short period of time it will include pictures of beautiful women because beautiful women make the world go round. Thanks to all who came by Liam's for St. Patrick's Day. Definitely one of the better March 17th's I've had. The D'aviero's, Blanchfield's, Mike Mynott, among others all played a huge roll in a fantastic day. Pictured here the gorgeous girls from Liam Maguire's, Vanessa, Shannon and Vero!! Great ladies, working hard for their respective locale..