NHL fans divided after recent report claims Steve Yzerman outshines this Avalanche legend
Photo credit: Doug Pensinger / The Detroit News
There is no denying the body of work of former Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, but when we compare the two NHL legends who comes out as the superior player?
Both have had historic careers, which begs the question if can we even cut a clear winner between them?
Sakic or Yzerman? A deeper dive on two hall of famers.
Rhys Jones of Puck Prose recently broke down the two careers of these two legends and compared them side by side to see if one of them has an edge over the other.
"In terms of Cup success, Yzerman is the more successful on paper, winning three cups in '97, '98, and '02. Sakic earned two throughout his career in '96 and '01, but although Yzerman has more Stanley Cup rings on his hands, it is easy to say Sakic was more vital to his team, and Yzerman wasn't as important to the Red Wings success compared to how much Sakic did for Colorado's success." -Jones
However it is important to note how dominant those Red Wings teams were and the firepower that surrounded Yzerman compared to Sakic. You can make the argument Sakic was more important to the Avalanche than Yzerman to the Red Wings.
"Would Detroit have hoisted the Cup in '02 without Yzerman? It is hard to say, but I think yes. The goal-scoring machines, playmaking magicians, and defensive monsters that Detroit had in the 2001-02 season, it would have been a hard task to lose, and despite Yzerman being the leading point scorer in the playoffs, his numbers definitely could have been replicated.
When we think of the Colorado Avalanche, Joe Sakic is always the name that comes to mind, the guy who led the Avs to two Stanley Cups, and the guy who held the team on his shoulders throughout the toughest of times. Yes he had legends, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, and Ray Bourque, but Sakic was the man, and his all round captaincy, offensive game, discipline was everything you want on your team." -Jones
When we think of the Colorado Avalanche, Joe Sakic is always the name that comes to mind, the guy who led the Avs to two Stanley Cups, and the guy who held the team on his shoulders throughout the toughest of times. Yes he had legends, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, and Ray Bourque, but Sakic was the man, and his all round captaincy, offensive game, discipline was everything you want on your team." -Jones
When looking at point totals while Yzerman takes the edge there, if Sakic played a couple more seasons it's not hard to predict that he would have passed his counterpart. But Yzerman's two way game is nothing to scoff at, legacy is more than just point totals.
Anyway you look at it the two titans of the game are pretty neck and neck. It is quite difficult to differentiate them when looking at the accolades. But of course there are always those who lean heavily lean towards one side or the other.
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