66 vs 99
 

The stats don't lie, Gretzky had the better overall numbers.

Gretzky
1,487 Games Played
894 Goals
1,963 Assists
2,857 Points
1.9 Points per game.

Lemiuex
915 Games Played
690 Goals
1033 Assists
1723 Points
1.88 Points per game.

There are other factors to consider.
Health. Numerous players have had there careers cut shot or never were able to reach full potential because of injury or other health issues. Cam Neely, Bobby Orr...Mario Lemiuex.
Team mates: If Stamkos plays with someone like Gillies or Belak instead of St Louis....he doesn't get as many points. Gretzky had the superior team for a long time. Messier, Kurri, Fuhr, Coffey..etc.

So, imagine this impossible situation for conversation and debate sake.

Having Gretzky vs Lemiuex Stanley Cup finals. 7 game series. Identical teams(clones maybe?)

Who wins the series?

If you knew Lemeiux wouldn't get hurt then him hands down.

Then again, its not like Lemeiux always played with a bunch of scrubs.

Injuries are unfortunately a huge factor. I still to this day don't think Cam Neely should be in the Hall of Fame. Then again, the NHL let Clark Gillies in so I guess Neely gets in.

That being said, I can't give Lemieux the nod based on a "what if".

Lemieux had Coffey, Jagr, Francis, Stevens, Murphy, Mullen, Recchi, Cullen.

There really isn't that big of a difference. I'd argue that Pittsburgh had the better goaltender in Tom Barasso

Pens did have great teams starting in the 90's but the mid to late 80's...yikes.

I base my choice on points per game. There is no reason to think Lemiuex would have ever lost pace.

Bother players had a way of making there team mates better. Lemiuex turned Kevin Friggin Stevens into a star for a while. Even Marty Mcsorley had 30-40 point years.

It would be the battle of battles. I wouldn't be surprised or shocked to see Gretzky win it, but if I were betting money, I'd bet Lemiuex.

Gretzky by a mile......

Oh, I think Lemeiux coming back made his PPG dip, so honestly its about even.

Everybody scored during that era. Heck, Gary Leeman had a 55 goal season.

Without Gretzky, Mcsorley would have been a water boy.

of sports?

I'm not even a basketball fan, but Michael Jordan might have something to say about that.

You could make an argument for it, but you'd never have a majority vote.

Still have to go with TGO but if it hadn't been for injuries I do believe it would have been a lot closer.

Gretzky has more assists than anybody else has points. No contest.

Right...Gretzky would skate circles around Lemiuex, embarrass him...The score would be 100 to -1. :roll:

Gretzky's vision was just incredible. That's what separates him from Lemieux.

Lemuiex's height...reach...is his advantage over Gretzky.

Lemieux originally retired with over 2pts per game.

Lemieux came back out of retirement and lead the NHL in points per game in 2000-01. If only he had chosen to come out of retirement for the start of the season, rather than in December, he would have won the Art Ross and set a record as the oldest winner of the Art Ross ( I believe).