Gretzky or Orr?

2005

For eight seasons overlapping the '60s and '70s, Bobby Orr was completely unique, the best player in hockey at both ends of the ice. There have been many imitators, but Orr was the original, the master.

The most popular of all of Boston's performers revolutionized his game, bringing defensemen into the attacking zone, finishing plays with a dramatic flourish. Unfortunately, his full-throttle style of play coupled with the limits of medicine in his time forced Orr out of uniform years too soon. Like Sandy Koufax, Gale Sayers and Bill Walton, dazzling comets in other arenas, Bobby had roughly half a career. But what a time it was, while it lasted.

For one game, for one series, for one season, Orr is the man I'd take over all others.

It was my good fortune to watch him play the last great hockey of his life, in the 1976 Canada Cup in Montreal. At maybe three-quarters speed, Orr clearly was the world's best player.

In his prime, Bobby was more valuable to his team and had a more profound impact on his game than anyone else. Yet, in the final analysis, No. 4 lands at No. 2.

Soon after Orr had retired to quieter pursuits, along came another Ontario native to take hockey to exciting new places. The Great One was the greatest one.

1. Wayne Gretzky. Like Babe Ruth and Wilt Chamberlain, No. 99 made the record book his private property. His standards - goals (92) and points (215) in a season, career goals (885) and points (2,795) - will survive his lifespan, unless they decide permanently to remove the goalie.

Canada's favorite son led four Stanley Cup champions in Edmonton before a 1988 trade left his homeland in tears. His numbers declined somewhat in L.A., but his popularity soared. The league's expansion into the sunbelt is Wayne's legacy; roughly one-fourth of the league exists because of No. 99.

Some crusty insiders dispute Gretzky's ranking as a performer, but none challenge his matchless impact as an ambassador.

2. Bobby Orr. Pure genius, with guts.

3. Gordie Howe. Old-timers argue there was no one to compare with the great, enduring No. 9. Detroit's dynamo could punch you out one shift and outskate you the next. Gretzky's hero joins Wayne on the all-time line. The other winger slides over from center, a transition Super Mario makes gracefully.

4. Mario Lemieux. A bigger Gretzky, exceeded only by Gretzky as a scorer, he acquired leadership skills in driving Pittsburgh to greatness.

5. Maurice Richard. Montreal's Rocket was decades ahead of his time.

6. Jean Beliveau. Hockey's DiMaggio.

7. Mark Messier. Much more than Wayne's sidekick, a fierce two-way force.

8. Bobby Hull. Father of Brett, the "Golden Jet" was more exciting, more dangerous with his wicked shot, simply more talented than his kid.

9. Dominik Hasek. Czech acrobat does things no goalie ever did.

10. Doug Harvey. Greatest pure defenseman.

11. Eddie Shore. Old-time defenseman extraordinaire.

12. Denis Potvin. Backbone of four-time champion Islanders.

13. Terry Sawchuk. Widely viewed as the best in goal before the Dominator.

14. Jacques Plante. Maybe as good as Sawchuk.

15. Jaromir Jagr. Gretzky's heir.

16. Ray Bourque. Orr's iron-man descendant in Beantown.

17. Guy Lafleur. Beautiful to watch, that blond mane flying.

18. Marcel Dionne. Guy's rival, magical with puck but undervalued because he played on inferior teams.

19. Bobby Clarke. Leader of the dreaded Broad Street Bullies.

20. Phil Esposito. Brother, could he score.

21. Glenn Hall. Flawless technician in goal.

22. Howie Morenz. First great center man.

23. Larry Robinson. Huge, smart, champion's heart.

24. Ken Dryden. Robinson's teammate wrote as beautifully as he tended goal for Montreal's '70s champs.

25. Stan Mikita. Chicago's passing master.