Penguins Update: How Would Yesterday’s Stars Fare in Today’s Game (and Vice Versa)?

I was working at Wright’s Gym the other day, tending to business, when fellow PP writer Caleb Di’Natale walked in. We began to talk hockey and one subject led to another when, out of the blue, Caleb made a rather provocative and thought-provoking statement. I’m paraphrasing, but something to the effect of, “Provided they train like today’s players, I think stars from the past would be just as dominant today.”

Caleb went on to state that, while they might not get 200 points like back in the day, supernovas Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky would score like Connor McDavid.

“I could see them getting 170 points,” he asserted.

I admit, at first I was skeptical. I pointed out the game was much slower then (Caleb readily agreed). Nor did the former greats face the incessant back pressure that today’s players do. Too, I noted that goalies of that era were generally smaller than today’s behemoths, played a stand-up style, and wore skinny brown pads. (Actually their equipment had already begun to evolve.) Unlike today, there was an awful lot of net to shoot at.

I was also reminded of a quote from Mario himself, uttered back in 2010-11 when Sidney Crosby was in the midst of running up a 25-game points streak.

“I think it’s much tougher to dominate the league now, the way it’s set up,” Lemieux said. “For him to go out there and do the things he does every night, every shift, it’s incredible. His toughness is unbelievable, his training, his shooting ability has gotten better the past couple years…what he’s doing now is much more impressive than what I did years ago.”

Still, Caleb was adamant that the old-timers would adjust. He pointed out that an aging, 37-year-old Mario proved he could thrive in today’s game by tallying 91 points in 67 games for a poor Pens team in ’02-03. A 111-point pace for a full 82-game season.

I happened to mention our conversation to Other Rick yesterday. He was just as insistent that Lemieux and Gretzky and other stars from the past would dominate in today’s game. (Again, I’ll paraphrase to get the gist of his comments.)

“Today’s players don’t have to deal with the red line,” he said. “Can you imagine how many assists Mario and Paul Coffey would’ve had if they were allowed to make two-line passes? And they used wooden sticks.”

He was particularly reverent of Lemieux (rightfully so), pointing out how effortlessly No. 66 shifted gears and the power he displayed when driving to the net.

“Even (Bruins great) Ray Bourque couldn’t defend him!”

Other Rick was right. It also brought to mind a slew of quotes about what it was like to play against Mario, including one by Bourque himself.

“He just holds the puck out there on his forehand and dares to you to commit yourself,” said the Hall-of-Fame defenseman. “If you do, he slips it past you, and if you don’t, he controls the blue line and has time to make the play.”

“Guys had no idea how to defend him,” said Bill Torrey, architect of the great Islanders dynasty of the early ‘80s. “I don’t know of anyone who has frozen players like Mario. He could beat you with his stick handling, with his shot, or just by holding on to the puck. Defensemen would drop down thinking he was going to shoot. Goalies would commit before he did. On breakaways, he was the best I’ve ever seen.”

If it sounds like Mario was a superman on the ice, it’s because he was. Gulliver among the Lilliputians. A man among boys.

Other Rick flipped the question around. “It shouldn’t be about how players from that era would fare in today’s game, but the other way around.” He pointed out, quite accurately, that McDavid doesn’t have guys draped all over him the way Mario did.

Indeed, obstruction was an accepted part of the game during Mario’s time. I can think of at least two defensemen, Brad Marsh and Kjell Samuelsson, who owed their careers to it. There were lots more.

There’s no doubt in my mind the abuse Mario absorbed, which referees of the day freely allowed, led to his chronic back issues and detracted from his greatness to a degree. I’ve often wondered what his career arc would’ve looked like had he been allowed to skate freely and unfettered like today’s stars. Would 250 points have been out of the question?

I digress.

Then there was the rampant and over-the-top physicality of his day. A while back I watched a replay of the Pens’ 8-0 Cup-clinching victory over the North Stars in ’91…and frankly was appalled.

For starters, former Pens defenseman Jim Johnson purposely and maliciously drove Mark Recchi head-first into the end boards. I mean, just drilled him. It’s truly a wonder Recchi didn’t suffer a broken neck.

Today Johnson would’ve been banished from the game and suspended for at least 10 games. Back then? The refs turned a blind eye.

It wasn’t an isolated incident. JJ’s teammates Mark Tinordi, Basil McRae and Shane Churla…tough guys all…took turns whacking, hacking and bludgeoning our Pens. And the North Stars weren’t especially physical for the day.

You want mean? The Flyers of that era were absolutely savage, boasting a murderer’s row of Tim Kerr, Rick Tocchet, Scott Mellanby, Terry Carkner, Jay Wells, Jeff Chychrun, Dave Brown and Craig Berube, not to mention maniacal, head-hunting goalie Ron Hextall. In those days, you were truly lucky to get out of Philly alive.

Again, I digress.

Back to the original question. Would yesterday’s stars be able to thrive in today’s game?

I think Caleb and Other Rick are right. What do you think?