Who was higher: Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky? A enjoyable offseason NHL debate

Have you observed that trace of chill within the late-night air just lately? Me too. Hockey season isn’t too distant. In reality, coaching camp is simply about three weeks away.

However, your questions are already in midseason kind. As such, I’m writing two mailbags this week. Part 2 is coming Tuesday.

Away we go.

Was Mario Lemieux higher than Wayne Gretzky? — @JennyPittsburgh 

I needed to begin right here. It appears hockey followers  — myself included — had been so bored this month that we engaged in rigorous, typically mean-spirited debates concerning the id of the best participant who ever lived.

High marks to @barnhockey and @106_9DaHeadvert, who’ve taken it upon themselves to tweet uncommon footage of Lemieux objectives each day, educating the plenty with an admirable relentlessness. These two guys are visionaries.

I even wrote an obnoxiously prolonged tweet concerning the topic. It may have been an article, however I used to be off that week, and executives hate it whenever you hold working whenever you’re purported to be off.

Anyway, Gretzky’s numbers stay outlandish and at all times will. I’m not right here to knock him. He was a genius, pure and easy. No one modified the sport like Bobby Orr. No one epitomized Canadian toughness and greatness like Gordie Howe. No one was better for longer than Sidney Crosby. No one performed quicker than Connor McDavid. You may choose any of these gamers, and I gained’t struggle with you except provoked.

And sure, I used to be born in Pittsburgh in 1980, so who I grew up watching. Does that make me biased? Sure.

But … nobody may do what Lemieux may do, and that’s not debatable. He is, with out query, probably the most bodily gifted participant in hockey historical past. A five-minute YouTube tutorial will verify this. Then, take into account what he overcame: he actually performed greater than half of his profession with a extreme again harm, put up 28 objectives/20 assists/48 factors in a 15-game span virtually instantly after getting back from two months of most cancers radiation therapy, and was unquestionably the perfect participant within the sport at age 35 after going practically 4 years with out enjoying. You inform me if anybody else may have achieved these issues.

I believe we all know the reply.

Who was higher? Brent Gretzky or Alain Lemieux? — @Ken_Campbell27 

This query made me chuckle. Well achieved, Ken.

Lemieux’s brother, Alain, scored 28 NHL objectives. Gretzky’s brother, Brent, scored one. Advantage Lemieux, once more.

Will the Montreal Canadiens have any jersey numbers left to put on 1,000 years from now? Should jersey numbers even be retired? Or simply “honored?” — @slf66

The Habs have 15 retired numbers, however this doesn’t trouble me, as a result of they’re the best franchise in NHL historical past. I’ll segue this to the Penguins.

Many individuals within the Penguins group don’t need them to return too many numbers particularly as a result of they don’t need the Penguins to have an outrageous variety of retired numbers, the way in which some franchises do. And I get it. But I counter that no workforce has employed extra superstars up to now 40 years than the Penguins. They ought to have fun it.

So, we all know Crosby and Evgeni Malkin may have their numbers retired. Marc-Andre Fleury is sort of a lock to have his quantity retired. Kris Letang? I’d say in all probability.

That might be it for a very long time. And that’s effective.

What is your favourite Mike Lange story that you could share that isn’t widespread information?  — @cmupensfan 

It’s not likely a narrative, per se. But one thing I believe is fairly cool is, within the closing months and years of his life, how clear it was to me that Mike’s love affair with the Penguins group was as sturdy as ever, even when his physique was not.

He was nonetheless texting me concerning the Penguins a few weeks earlier than his dying. Watching video games and listening to a few of his broadcasting proteges made him so very completely satisfied. In 2022, when the Penguins went up 3-1 on the Rangers within the playoffs, he was notably delighted. He texted me, “We’ve gotten to better goalies than this guy (Igor Shesterkin)!”

His ardour for the town, the franchise and the followers completely by no means light. I take into consideration him every single day. It was fairly a privilege to know him.

Curious to your ache rankings for these historic playoff losses: ’89 Flyers, ’93 Isles, ’96 Panthers, ’08 Wings and ’13 Bruins. Or in case you have a collection you’d add? — @vincelaboon

Those had been in my lifetime, so I’ll rank them. Old-timers will inform horror tales of the 1975 collection, when the Penguins blew a 3-0 result in the Islanders. I respect it. At the identical time, that workforce was by no means successful the Stanley Cup. Most of the groups you simply talked about may have.

1. 1993, Islanders. The Penguins had been indomitable, and Lemieux was about to beat Gretzky within the Stanley Cup Final for his or her third straight championship. Then got here maybe the most important upset in NHL historical past. Lemieux’s again went out in Game 1 of that collection, and he may barely skate the remainder of the way in which. Kevin Stevens suffered a horrible harm in Game 7. A darkish chapter in Penguins historical past.

2. 1996, Panthers. That one damage a ton since you form of knew it was Lemieux’s final actual likelihood to win the Cup, and the sport had gotten so unhealthy by way of the foundations not being enforced that it was arduous to observe.

3. 2013, Bruins. I do know this one nonetheless bothers Crosby and Malkin, as they thought it was their most proficient workforce.

4. 2008, Red Wings. Sure, it stung, however you knew that workforce was going to win the Cup quickly. And it did.

5. 1989, Flyers. Losing to the Flyers on residence ice in Game 7 wasn’t enjoyable, however just like the 2008 workforce, you knew this workforce was on the rise. And it was.

Who is getting traded within the ahead group? Someone has to go. It simply doesn’t make sense to usher in so many top-nine guys when you have already got your top-six wings set and a bunch of younger youngsters who want ice in varied roles. I would like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, not Andrei Kuzmenko! — @graef_carson

It’s a good query. I’m not wild concerning the Kuzmenko signing, both.

I nonetheless assume Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell can be found to different groups in a commerce, however just for a sure value, and I’m undecided buying and selling both of them whenever you’re in all probability a number of weeks away from signing Crosby makes a ton of sense. You can’t let Crosby’s preferences management the franchise. But nonetheless, let’s use some widespread sense right here.

If you’re suggesting there are too many forwards within the group proper now, as foolish as that will sound on the floor, I agree.

Hoping you reply this one. We’re not going into the season with our left protection established order, are we? Seems to be some holes. — @DanPensfan17

The extra I give it some thought, there’s an opportunity Declan Carlile may very well be an affordable substitute for Ryan Shea. My concern is extra with Sam Girard and Trevor van Riemsdyk enjoying top-four roles on the left aspect.

I like Girard greater than most, and I believe he deserves a full coaching camp earlier than being judged. He’s participant. But he nonetheless has lots to show in Pittsburgh.

And whereas TVR is a superbly respectable defenseman, I’ve three questions: Is he actually a top-four defenseman? Is he actually going to be efficient enjoying on his off aspect? And can he play with Erik Karlsson?

It simply feels shaky, however I wouldn’t count on them to usher in an enormous identify on the left aspect. (Owen Pickering remains to be round, for what it’s value.)

Doesn’t should be within the mailbag, however dos and don’ts for attending Pens/Flyers in Philly on 9/30?? — @Geer4UO

Keep your mouth shut. Don’t make eye contact. Try to benefit from the theater of all of it. God is aware of I at all times do.

In all seriousness, in the event you’re ever at a recreation in Philly and really feel uncomfortable, DM me on X. I’ll offer you my quantity and get you safety assist in the event you want it. I wouldn’t at all times belief the safety there, so I’ll get some Penguins individuals that will help you.

The press field sounds good, however how usually do you sit within the stands or go to a field for a recreation? Even if it’s only for a interval. — @pensguy33

On particular events. I bought my girlfriend tickets the evening of Crosby’s five hundredth aim in opposition to the Flyers. I left her solo for Letang’s extra time winner as a result of I nonetheless needed to do my job. But I did head down to hitch her for the second interval and witnessed some historical past with the residents, which was a enjoyable expertise.

I additionally bought tickets for my ex-wife’s son when Jaromir Jagr’s quantity was retired and sat with him. As a toddler of Nineteen Nineties Penguins hockey, I felt it was the appropriate factor to do. (That recreation in opposition to the Kings was dreadfully boring, however seeing Jagr within the crowd was time.)

What does a typical day seem like for you whereas on the highway protecting the workforce? — @XHL_Hockey

It actually is dependent upon the place I’m. If it’s someplace I don’t like? Get up, bathe, eat breakfast, go to morning skate, take a nap on the lodge, go to the sport, write concerning the recreation, return to the lodge, fall asleep. Glamorous, proper?

But if I’m in Florida or California? That afternoon downtime is an effective alternative to hit the seaside. If I’m in Denver? A fast drive by way of the mountains is the way in which to go. If I’m in Montreal or Nashville? Perhaps I’ll take a nap, however then, as an alternative of going to mattress after writing my article, I’ll be a person of the city.

Traveling to cowl the workforce is extremely priceless. You can’t correctly do the job with out it. But you additionally should study to stability your schedule. You’re not on trip and might’t act prefer it, nevertheless it’s OK to have some enjoyable, so long as you’re getting work achieved. In reality, I like to recommend it.

Thanks for the nice questions, everybody. More coming in Part 2.