General Forum

All but about 10 of my 65 years of life have been spent in the southern half and hottest parts of Texas. I say that to establish the dearth of my hockey knowledge in regard to players, not the sport as I believe I have a grasp of most rules.

Only recently have I begun to seriously collect a few hockey sets that caught my eye as I've been inventorying my Trade List. A significant portion of 15K bought for $10.00 back at a shop in NJ has become part of my collection. And I've been actively trading (and purchasing) to complete those sets.

But not being a fan, I liken my knowledge of hockey players to that of my wife's when it comes to sports. She'll refer to Biggio or Bagwell, for example, as "the baseball men". I know general things about players like the Howe family played together in the WHA here in Houston for about a year after I moved here and then the league folded, or merged with the NHL. I know Gretzky's known as The Great One. Growing up I recall hearing of Bobby Orr, Jaques Lemair, and a few others, but that's the extent of it. The Miracle on Ice? I frankly didn't watch it, but I read all about it the next day! I'm one of the millions who attended Woodstock when there were only a fraction of that actually in attendance.

Okay, enough of all the background. Here's what I need help with simply to make my trading a bit more intelligent and not come across as an ignoramus and upset potential partners. I have looked up HOFers that are part of these sets I'm seeking so i'm beginning to at least recognize players from that lower basic knowledge level, and that's where I'm looking for an education:

Would you place any HOFer compared to say, baseball, where Mays/Mantle are the elite and then Baines at the bottom and several in-between in three tiers for me?

So, something like this:

• Tier 1
  • Willie Mays
  • Mickey Mantle
  • Babe Ruth
• Tier 2
  • Jim Rice
  • Eddie Murray
• Tier 3
  • Harold Baines

...except for hockey and in a sort of Bell Curve where the majority will be Tier 2 and a balance on the extreme top and bottom. Thanks.

I'll give it a shot and let others discuss/debate:

Tier 1
Jean Beliveau
Mike Bossy
Martin Brodeur
Wayne Gretzky
Gordie Howe
Bobby Hull
Guy Lafleur
Mario Lemieux
Mark Messier
Stan Mikita
Bobby Orr
Maurice "Rocket" Richard

Tier 2
Ray Bourque
Bobby Clarke
Doug Harvey
Dominik Hasek
Nicklas Lidstrom
Howie Morenz
Patrick Roy
Terry Sawchuk
Eddie Shore
Steve Yzerman

Tier 3
Pavel Bure
Phil Esposito
Sergei Fedorov
Peter Forsberg
Brett Hull
Eric Lindros
Mike Modano
Denis Potvin
Teemu Selanne
Georges Vezina

And as most things sports go, it's debatable,

Top Tier would be

Bobby Orr 

Wayne Gretzky

Connor Mcdavid 

Mario Lemieux

Slightly lower or maybe higher

Jagr 

Ovechkin

Lafleur 

Richard 

Beliveau

Hull 

Howe

Brodeur 

Roy

Yzerman

Lindros was very hot for a long while but the lack of a Cup took a lot of luster off his hobby glow

A Beckett from the early 90's would be a good reference and show you the top guys from that era 

Before then 80's and before, it's a lot of Canadiens players(blech) because they won the cup too often.

You have active players on your list. HOF only. And you left Crosby off? I hate the guy but he's a HOF after he retires

Also I overlooked the collector side of things when making my tiers. If you browse through the inserts of Major Release sets in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, you'll get a decent idea of who the major names are with collectors. Gretzky, Lemieux, Jagr, etc. Most of the 21st century has been Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid, all still active.

ThoughI think Josh what was driving at for Tier 3 is those that are in the Hall that shouldn't be.

49 years old Jaromir Jagr is still an active player. He plays in Kladno in the Czech league.

Him and many others,the actives i mentioned are almost 100% locks to get in.

Unless they pull a Pete Rose or his hockey equal Evander Kane

This sums it up well. And some great active players as Ovechkin, (or however you spell it,) Crosby, are both getting great odds to get in as a HoFer, I mean Ovi is on pace by the time his 5 year deal ends with Washington to beat Gretzky's goal record.

I'm obviously a Brodeur fan but i would add Hasek and Roy to Tier 1  along with a few other old time goalies.    Hasek was fantastic and didn't have the defense in front of him that Brodeur did.