Gordie Howe was never considered the greatest natural goal scorer during the Original Six days and beyond, regardless of the raw statistics.
Maurice Richard was, which is why the trophy awarded to the league’s leading goal scorer is named the Rocket Richard Trophy.
Sometimes, even the NHL can’t mess it up, though the fact that the trophy awarded to the league’s best defenseman is named after James Norris Sr., an owner who at one time had a financial interest in all four U.S. teams in the ’50s, remains preposterous.
Alex Ovechkin poses with the puck he scored with against the Islanders to pass Gretzky as the IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The point, though, is that over the last quarter century, folks would never have identified Wayne Gretzky as the greatest natural goal scorer in NHL history.
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