Bobby Orr: Gordie Howe 'the best to ever play the game'

On the eve of the NHL's unveiling of the top 100 players of all time, a man who ranks among them has cast his ballot.

Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr spoke to reporters prior to Friday's event, stating that no one was better than Gordie Howe.

"Gordie in my mind is the best to ever play the game," Orr said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

Of course, a few other greats agreed.

Gretzky, Orr and Lemieux agreeinh Gordie Howe was the best player of all time

- Michael Russo (@Russostrib) January 28, 2017

Mario Lemieux, above all, marveled at Howe's ability to play until he was 51 years old.

"That's pretty rare these days," Lemieux said, according to Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski. "Well, except for my buddy (Jaromir) Jagr."

Howe was named among the initial 33 names of the NHL's 100 greatest players ahead of the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1.

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