[Certain]

I've always preferred to talk about what people accomplished rather than how good they were in their primes, though. The latter is purely opinion. I could make a legitimate argument that for that brief run two or three years ago before he got hurt, Sidney Crosby absolutely was on the top-tier level. Eric Lindros looks pretty great if you only take into account his best.

But Gordie Howe was incredible because of his longevity and dominance. He definitely accomplished more in hockey than Bobby Orr. He trails only Wayne Gretzky in terms of what he actually did on the ice over his entire career.