Topper wrote:Orr is on a plateau far above the rest.
Tim Horton there with Harvey and Lidstrom, Big Bird and Savard far above the likes of Coffey, Stevens, Murphy and Bourque.
While there is no questioning Orr's talent, do you think we would have seen the same end-to-end rushes and point totals if he had played today?
It's the same old argument anyone makes when comparing players from different era's. Sport science wasn't what it is now back when Orr was playing. The greats from the past were great because they were the most dedicated and gifted in a time where pure talent and decent conditioning set you apart from the pack. With the athletic conditioning you see today, and the level of coaching/training that every player has received when they get to the NHL level, I think that those great players would still be great, but they wouldn't be waist, head, and shoulders, above the pack the way they were back then.
The rules have also changed.....or rather the way they are enforced has, I think that would have a huge impact as well.