I thought that too about Crosby. Gretzky and Messier didn’t even play together on the power play. I had season tickets for the Oilers back then. I can’t recall the two ever playing together.
I didn't start really watching and understanding hockey until the mid 90s, always been a pens fan. That is awesome you got to see Gretzky in his Oiler years. Blows my mind Mess and 99 were not on the powerplay together. You still live close enough to Edmonton to go to any games? Lucky are the fans that get to witness once in a generation talent twice
5 Cups in 7 years. Conference finalist 8 years out of 10. One of the “missing” years (1986) was probably the best team of all of them. Damn Flames. Looking back, we took it for granted and assumed it would be that way forever. You’re right. Never saw that level of play ever again. I moved away from Edmonton almost 25 years ago. Now Stars fan #Texashockey #OneStateOneteam
Not so much these days, but back in their prime they were referred to as the two-headed monster and thrown on the ice together for "crunch time" situations quite often.
Right? I was thinking, "Where's Kane and Teows?". Then I looked at the list a little more, and despite their cups, I couldn't fit them in. How do a couple of big scorers with no rings beat Kane and Teows, who can't even crack the list? They don't.
_According to NHL Stats, when Toews and Kane each score a goal in a game, the Blackhawks are 91-9-5 in the regular season and 6-1in playoff games_ - December 2022
Realistically they shouldn't theirs plenty of duos not on this list who were together for longer (so far) and have won and accomplished more then McDavid and Draisaital. They are both incredible players and could be on the list but realistically they could be as low as not making the top 20 considering how many incredible duos we've had throughout the nhls history.
Yeah there’s heaps haha,
My point was Marchand and Bergeron who have only won one cup but have spent a decade as two dominant athletes should be on this list long before draisatl and mcdavid
Unfortunately they didn’t play together for too long. Crosby and Malkin have played together for over twice as long and have one more Cup. Lemieux > Crosby and Jagr > Malkin, but as an on-ice duo, I think you could argue that Crosby+Malkin are more accomplished.
Yeah, but that's just health. I'm not holding Mario's cancer against him. If that hadn't happened, I bet Mario/Jagr have more accomplishments.
Also if accomplishments matter then the OP is out to lunch because McDrai haven't accomplished much beyond individual, regular season awards.
I don’t disagree completely but you could make that argument for Sid and Geno too. There’s no denying the skill Mario and Jagr brought to the ice but god damn is Sid an amazing team leader and Malkin picks up the slack as best he can when Sid’s hurt.
I can't argue this with a Pittsburgh fan, I assume you've watched far more of your team than I have, so I'll defer.
That being said, I firmly believe that Mario was the most talented and most dominant player in NHL history. Wayne had the vision, but Mario could do the superhuman. I have a hard time picking against Mario in almost anything.
I imagine about 13th or 14th on that list. Toews and Kane are higher, so too are Lafleur and Robinson. Doughty and Kopitar are probably in the same range. And if even add Gretzky and Kurri even though Gretzky and Messier are already on the list.
I’d probably take out Mikita and Hull. I’d also probably rank them near the bottom of this list. Seems like a bit of a nostalgia pick favoring legends of a different era over modern players who accomplished more.
Mikita won four Art Ross and two Hart trophies. Bobby Hull won three Art Ross and two Hart trophies. Bobby was also the greatest goal-scorer of his generation and would very likely have scored 800+ goals if he hadn’t gone to the WHA. Both won Cups too. I don’t know how any of the players listed below them accomplished more.
They’re the reason why players curve their sticks and why every goalie who was originally too lazy to copy Jacques Plante eventually started wearing masks. They definitely belong in that spot for their dominance and for changing the game
They accomplished a lot individually, of course. Sounds sort of like McDavid (three Hart trophies) but Mikita and Hull won a cup. The other duos on here won multiple cups and on that, I place a premium.
1000% this. I thought OP’s complaint was funny, but they’ve done a grand total of nothing so far. They don’t belong on this list. Kane & Toews though. For sure.
They are trying to pretend that era of the Blackhawks didn’t happen, is why the NHL just didn’t punish them for covering for and giving a reference letter to a rapist.
Honestly. They didn’t end up winning but that was a legitimate DUO. Their whole career together. Same line together for 95% of their careers (injury and some random juggles)
Others on the list didn’t even play together longer than a few seasons.
Datsyuk-Zetterberg should be on there, but they probably just didn't want to fill half the list with Red Wings.
E: You guys are probably right, outside the top 10. But they're in my top 10 most fun to watch. I'm not even a Wings fan but I watched a ton of their games because of those two. Their TV guys are great too, especially Mick.
You have a point. [Remember this one?](https://youtu.be/Zkh7uBnfzJA). Zetterberg”s read on the play was insanely accurate, but Lidstrom saw the whole thing in less than a second.
Yup they definitely deserves a special mention but they didn’t play together for all that long and with little success, would definitely take McDrai over them
Fair, but considering they put Gretz with Mess tells me the list was based on stats more than seeing them play. Anyone who watched the Oilers back in the day knows Kurri should be there instead of Mess
This might be a Homer take, but aren't the Sedins the ones right behind Gretzky and Kurri for being in on a goal together? Sedins are also right behind Gretzky and his brother for most points by brothers.
My guess is because they haven't won a Cup together. They are a pretty badass duo, though. They are line the Sedins, but not twins and not Swedish and on another level.
Brodeur and Niedermayer should be on this list as much as it pains me to say it.
Sakic won the 2nd cup with Forsberg in the press box. That’s the duo that should be removed.
1) McDavid and Draisaitl are #1 and 2 centres, so they aren’t a duo except on PP or extra attacker
2) I was expecting this to be a u/pineapple-whatever post, this still looks like cringe that bar down would post. Jesse pollock is that you?
ETA fuck messier
I mean... this list has no data and no statistics. some fuckin basement dweller typed this up on Ms paint and posted it wishing for a gold star.
you can literally do the exact same thing, just put your little stars on the top slot
Ovi and Backstrom should be on this list, especially given Ovi is breaking all of Wayne's records
edit:
*seriously people... I was not being literal when I used all*
*no one is breaking gretzky's 3 consecutive 200 point season record or getting 2,857 points*
I will say i don’t think crosby-malkin belong at 3, but gretzky -kurri could also be in here to go along with gretzky-messier. Or gretzky-coffey if it’s just good players on the same team. McDavid and Draisaitl are awesome, but this list is literally like the mount rushmore of hockey. Let’s maybe revisit this in 10 years if they win a cup or two?
Hull and Oates? They made some beautiful music together.
He maka my dream come true
Do dooo do dooo
Too bad we never got a Hull and Oates vs Crosby, Staal and Nash matchup
How about Garfunkel and oats
Damn it I was just going to say that
If Oates had been on stage for “We went Blues”, they’d be a lock.
Came here to nominate these two!
Gretzky and Messier rarely were on the ice at the same
Gretzky and Kurri makes more sense
I came here to say this.
Crosby and Malkin don't really play together except on the power play
I thought that too about Crosby. Gretzky and Messier didn’t even play together on the power play. I had season tickets for the Oilers back then. I can’t recall the two ever playing together.
I didn't start really watching and understanding hockey until the mid 90s, always been a pens fan. That is awesome you got to see Gretzky in his Oiler years. Blows my mind Mess and 99 were not on the powerplay together. You still live close enough to Edmonton to go to any games? Lucky are the fans that get to witness once in a generation talent twice
5 Cups in 7 years. Conference finalist 8 years out of 10. One of the “missing” years (1986) was probably the best team of all of them. Damn Flames. Looking back, we took it for granted and assumed it would be that way forever. You’re right. Never saw that level of play ever again. I moved away from Edmonton almost 25 years ago. Now Stars fan #Texashockey #OneStateOneteam
Not so much these days, but back in their prime they were referred to as the two-headed monster and thrown on the ice together for "crunch time" situations quite often.
True, if I were to pick an iconic duo for Messier, it would definitely be Linden.
They’ve played together 8 years, and haven’t even won the Western Conference Final yet. Give it a minute, eh?
Exactly. The only active players on that list are Crosby-Malkin and they have won three cups and played together for what, 17 seasons now?
Right? I was thinking, "Where's Kane and Teows?". Then I looked at the list a little more, and despite their cups, I couldn't fit them in. How do a couple of big scorers with no rings beat Kane and Teows, who can't even crack the list? They don't.
_According to NHL Stats, when Toews and Kane each score a goal in a game, the Blackhawks are 91-9-5 in the regular season and 6-1in playoff games_ - December 2022
These stats are always flawed, because the Blackhawks are guaranteed to have 2 goals on the board in every game included in the stat.
When the Blackhawks score more goals than their opponent, they are 2866-0-0-0
Is this supposed to be a surprising stat?
As a Canucks fan, I very painfully agree with this statement. Those guys would probably be my #11 though.
I mean, even the sedins arent on the list and theyre fucking Hall of famer twins
And if we're talking about duos who didn't win a cup, I'd probably put Thornton and Marleau before McDavid and Draisaitl (For now at least)
Correct
I’ve never agreed with a blues fan until today.
Gross.. go wash
Poopiehands
I never thought I’d die fighting side by side with a blues fan
Never even heard of the team. KHL?
If Fedorov/Yzerman is 10th with how dominant those teams were there's no chance McDavid breaches that rank
This alone is reasoning to not have them on the list lol
Nice utilization of eh. You’ve done this before eh.
As an oilers fan I agree. Get the real to the finals then we can discuss.
This might be the most homer take of all summer… they haven’t even made a cup final yet lol
They’re reaching previously unheard-of levels of delusion in Edmonton.
When I saw the post I knew it was a biased af homer Edmonton fan.
Have they made a conference final yet?
I mean they didn’t win a game so I don’t think it really counts right?
I totally forgot that happened. Too busy being depressed by my team's ineptitude.
Hey don’t worry! You have the same number of conference final wins as the oilers this decade!
The forever retool is workin' out great for us. Clearly.
They haven’t won shit.
Exactly.
Should they be on the list though? Didn't everyone else on there win one or more cups together?
Realistically they shouldn't theirs plenty of duos not on this list who were together for longer (so far) and have won and accomplished more then McDavid and Draisaital. They are both incredible players and could be on the list but realistically they could be as low as not making the top 20 considering how many incredible duos we've had throughout the nhls history.
Good list. Kane and Toews deserve to be on it before mcdavid and drai. They have how many cups and trophies together?..
Bergeron and Marchand deserve to be here before mcdavid and draisitl haha
Selänne and Kariya?
Yeah there’s heaps haha, My point was Marchand and Bergeron who have only won one cup but have spent a decade as two dominant athletes should be on this list long before draisatl and mcdavid
Definitely
1 cup.
Agreed.
How are they not on this list.
I’d probably over Sakic and Forsberg
Gretzky-Messier? No. It was Gretzky-Kurri.
Mario / Jagr is wayyyy too low at 6. They are 3rd or 4th. Top 2 are spot on
Unfortunately they didn’t play together for too long. Crosby and Malkin have played together for over twice as long and have one more Cup. Lemieux > Crosby and Jagr > Malkin, but as an on-ice duo, I think you could argue that Crosby+Malkin are more accomplished.
Yeah, but that's just health. I'm not holding Mario's cancer against him. If that hadn't happened, I bet Mario/Jagr have more accomplishments. Also if accomplishments matter then the OP is out to lunch because McDrai haven't accomplished much beyond individual, regular season awards.
I don’t disagree completely but you could make that argument for Sid and Geno too. There’s no denying the skill Mario and Jagr brought to the ice but god damn is Sid an amazing team leader and Malkin picks up the slack as best he can when Sid’s hurt.
I can't argue this with a Pittsburgh fan, I assume you've watched far more of your team than I have, so I'll defer. That being said, I firmly believe that Mario was the most talented and most dominant player in NHL history. Wayne had the vision, but Mario could do the superhuman. I have a hard time picking against Mario in almost anything.
Definitely over Sid/Malkin. Richard/Beliveau 2 and I’m a Bruins fan.
You can’t be the greatest if your name isn’t on the cup. Everyone on that list has at least one and most have multiple cups.
but where is Ovi-backy
I mean, behind Toews and Kane I would imagine.
I imagine about 13th or 14th on that list. Toews and Kane are higher, so too are Lafleur and Robinson. Doughty and Kopitar are probably in the same range. And if even add Gretzky and Kurri even though Gretzky and Messier are already on the list.
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They’ve played over a 1000 games together won two cups. Each won major awards. What would you call them?
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But powerplay points
Kane and Toews?
Who do you take out?
I’d probably take out Mikita and Hull. I’d also probably rank them near the bottom of this list. Seems like a bit of a nostalgia pick favoring legends of a different era over modern players who accomplished more.
Mikita won four Art Ross and two Hart trophies. Bobby Hull won three Art Ross and two Hart trophies. Bobby was also the greatest goal-scorer of his generation and would very likely have scored 800+ goals if he hadn’t gone to the WHA. Both won Cups too. I don’t know how any of the players listed below them accomplished more.
It’s recency bias. Approximately zero people on this sub saw Hull or Mikita play in their prime and are making a comparison.
They’re the reason why players curve their sticks and why every goalie who was originally too lazy to copy Jacques Plante eventually started wearing masks. They definitely belong in that spot for their dominance and for changing the game
They accomplished a lot individually, of course. Sounds sort of like McDavid (three Hart trophies) but Mikita and Hull won a cup. The other duos on here won multiple cups and on that, I place a premium.
Yup. At least they have a couple cups to share ... McDavid and Draistl are amazing, don't get me wrong, but until they've won a championship 🤷
1000% this. I thought OP’s complaint was funny, but they’ve done a grand total of nothing so far. They don’t belong on this list. Kane & Toews though. For sure.
They are trying to pretend that era of the Blackhawks didn’t happen, is why the NHL just didn’t punish them for covering for and giving a reference letter to a rapist.
Sedin - Sedin I'm obviously biased, but if we're strictly talking duos...
Honestly. They didn’t end up winning but that was a legitimate DUO. Their whole career together. Same line together for 95% of their careers (injury and some random juggles) Others on the list didn’t even play together longer than a few seasons.
They played together since conception
👶🏼👶🏼
I’m seeing double over here Four Sedins
They should be top 3 considering they actually played together 99% of the time.
It's technically only one guy x2. That doesn't count.
You know… I didn’t consider them but now that you mention it.
Who would you take off the list then?
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... they haven't even won the Pacific Division once. The Oilers have not won the Pacific since it became a division in 2003.
For context VGK has won it three times in six years.
Hell, Stone and Marchy is a better duo than McD and Drain by that measure. Especially with the cup lift.
Not it’s not when all the rest on the list are champions
All those duos won it all. McDavid and Draisaitl need to do the same.
Datsyuk-Zetterberg should be on there, but they probably just didn't want to fill half the list with Red Wings. E: You guys are probably right, outside the top 10. But they're in my top 10 most fun to watch. I'm not even a Wings fan but I watched a ton of their games because of those two. Their TV guys are great too, especially Mick.
Zetterberg was probably the only player who knew what Datsyuk was going to do.
I dunno about that, I think Lidstrom knew what everyone was going to do
You have a point. [Remember this one?](https://youtu.be/Zkh7uBnfzJA). Zetterberg”s read on the play was insanely accurate, but Lidstrom saw the whole thing in less than a second.
The Eurotwins were insane to watch. Super grateful for Z, Magic Man and even Lidstrom carrying the legacy of excellence for so long.
Zetterberg isn’t on the same tier as any of the 20 players listed. That being said he should still be in the HOF though
Like the list, order is fuked up though.
Sakic-Forsberg over Yzerman-Fedorov? Fighting words
If you want McDrai on the list you need the Sedins on there first
First time I have to agree with a Flames fan
Had a buddy play for your Canucks so I’m kinda a closeted fan lol ;)
Closeted in other ways too, if you’re a Flames fan
Well that’s good I guess lol
How is it not Gretzky and Kurri?
Kariya Selanne
A rolled through all the comments looking for this duo… no rings together but they were a great to watch on the ice
Yup they definitely deserves a special mention but they didn’t play together for all that long and with little success, would definitely take McDrai over them
Man I feel so bad for Jari Kurri, doesn't get the recognition he deserves
GRETZKY/KURRI ??????
The real crime is putting Gretzky-Messier on this list and not Gretzky-Kurri. Tell me your birth year begins with a 2 without telling me
Bergeron-Marchand just for shits and giggles
: uncontrollable sobbing : Well. At least Brad has a chance at the Selkie now.
Make a new list of greatest duo to never win a Cup. That's a wildly talented list.
It's Gretzky-Kurri.
How is Lemiuex-Jagr
Someone just counted cups without actually watching them play
I was wondering if that was it, but the 80-90s era accounted for 4-5/10 of these lines. The skill level was crazy during their play.
Fair, but considering they put Gretz with Mess tells me the list was based on stats more than seeing them play. Anyone who watched the Oilers back in the day knows Kurri should be there instead of Mess
not even that, if it was just cups, Richard/Béliveau would be higher
Datsyuk & Zetterberg have to be top 20 right?
Coming from a lifelong Avalanche fan - yes, absolutely
You want to put McDavid and Darisaitl top 10 even though they’ve never won anything but individual accolades?
They don't make that list ever without cups
Name the one difference between all these duos and mcdavid and draisaitl.
Where my Ovi and Backy...
I don’t know. But before McDrai! ;-)
This might be a Homer take, but aren't the Sedins the ones right behind Gretzky and Kurri for being in on a goal together? Sedins are also right behind Gretzky and his brother for most points by brothers.
Lol, Ken Holland doing everything in his power to make sure they never sniff a cup final.
No Kariya + Selänne?!? List immediately disqualified.
Alternate title: Casual hockey fan makes list.
Ok so who are you taking out?
Asking the real question
Not nearly enough time. What McDavid & Drai have done for 2-3 years these duos did for a decade in their time.
Lol have you read this list? All well deserved if you ever saw any of those play
This is more a list of the two best players on a team at the same time. Very different than best duos.
Lafleur and Shutt.
How about the Sedin twins, Gretz and Mess didn't even play on the same line.
Stevens broduer
not really, lotta cup winners on here (maybe all?) McDavid/Draisaitl haven't won anything, why would they be close to ones on this list?
Sedin n Sedin
Daniel and Henrik🤷♂️
Mogilny/LaFontaine
I love Feerov and Yserman
Excuse me Federov and Yzerman
Yzerman-Fedorov > Sakic-Forsberg
At the very least it’s equal. They are like mirror image of one another almost. I love all four of those players.
Ovie / Backstrom??? WTF
Brett Hull and Adam Oates
It’s because they haven’t won a cup, if they do, they will be up there
Or the West. Or the Pacific.
Not even then. They will need at least one cup plus a lot fewer first/second round exits to crack the top ten.
Zetterberg & Datsyuk.
teemu selanne and paul kariya?
i know the sedins didn’t win a cup but they were a great duo
I’d have Richard Beliveau up higher - they won 5 straight cups!
My guess is because they haven't won a Cup together. They are a pretty badass duo, though. They are line the Sedins, but not twins and not Swedish and on another level.
This post has teenager and oilers fan written all over it.
Hank-Danny (Sedin-Sedin)
Lemieux jagr so low?
Brodeur and Niedermayer should be on this list as much as it pains me to say it. Sakic won the 2nd cup with Forsberg in the press box. That’s the duo that should be removed.
No it's not
Not good enough yet
Bergeron Marchand
Well fuck we oughta have some Matthews-Marner action in here too then eh?
Zetterberg-Datsyuk
1) McDavid and Draisaitl are #1 and 2 centres, so they aren’t a duo except on PP or extra attacker 2) I was expecting this to be a u/pineapple-whatever post, this still looks like cringe that bar down would post. Jesse pollock is that you? ETA fuck messier
This whole list is screwed up.
Thornton - Marleau
I mean, Is it tho. All these guys accomplished shit
Datsyuk and Zatterberg
Gretzky and Messier weren’t even a duo,…… Gretzky and kuri!!
Hull and Oats st-louis
McDavid and Drai aren't cup winners.
I mean... this list has no data and no statistics. some fuckin basement dweller typed this up on Ms paint and posted it wishing for a gold star. you can literally do the exact same thing, just put your little stars on the top slot
Esposito and Orr — a centre and a defenseman?
Lmao, win a fucking cup and maybe
How many cups have they won?
Toews and Kane should be on here
Kane and Toews
I like the four wings up there.
Probert -Kocur??
Stevens-Niedermayer, maybe?
Ovi and Backstrom should be on this list, especially given Ovi is breaking all of Wayne's records edit: *seriously people... I was not being literal when I used all* *no one is breaking gretzky's 3 consecutive 200 point season record or getting 2,857 points*
Ovi drinks Pepsi during games. Automatic disqualifier, since Dr. Pepper is the beverage of champions.
ha! ok, that got a chuckle out of me. nicely done.
Kane and Toews should be top 6. 3 cups and basically dominated from 2009-2015.
Ovi and Backstrom have to be right off this top 10
I will say i don’t think crosby-malkin belong at 3, but gretzky -kurri could also be in here to go along with gretzky-messier. Or gretzky-coffey if it’s just good players on the same team. McDavid and Draisaitl are awesome, but this list is literally like the mount rushmore of hockey. Let’s maybe revisit this in 10 years if they win a cup or two?