Some of the comments Im hearing on here making me shake my head. Gretzky DID have a peer at his level and of course that was Mario.
Gretzky was better than anyone today..Altho I think Crosby could have been close to Mario and Wayne IF he didnt have the concussion issues.
Crosby is still great but he is damaged goods.
I have to remember that even 30 yr olds on here didnt see Gretzy in his prime. He was s smarter player than anyone else. By far. The guy weighed about 165 soaking wet and his speed wasnt great. So what. He had an eery ability to know exactly where the puck was going to be.
Gretzky,Orr,Howe,Lemieux,Hull,Crosby on Mt Rushmore as far as non goalies go. Im not old enough to have seen Geoffrion or some of the older guys.
Perrault should have been up there but he wasnt as driven as these guys. He had the talent.
People in Buffalo over 30 are fortunate enough to have seen one of the top 3 goalies of all time on an every day basis. He was supernaturally good. Kinda like Gretzky was. And he was a stick as well at about 165 LBs.
playfair was a very scary guy. so was Korab.
note --Mike Peca---a smallish guy at 180 LBs --was one of the toughest players I have ever seen.