Comparing NHL Greats by

One of the biggest challenges in comparing the best modern-day players to those of previous eras is the changes in the the way the game is played. Season length, roster size, and schedule strength have all changed considerably since 1917, and goalies have gotten significantly better - the stats show us that. The stats also show us, for instance, that the average number of goals in a game spiked in the 80s. This all has to be factored in to get an accurate comparison of players between the years.