Two legends of the 90s, two British Columbia natives, and two Stanley Cup-winning captains are only a few sentences to describe the great Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman, and their sensational careers can only be split by a hair. Success on the ice was all these two guys knew, and as they continue to etch their legacy into the NHL history books as vital parts of management, their careers are nothing we will ever forget. But, if there was only one spot on your roster, who is taking it?
Both of their trophy cabinets hold more than they can take -- Stanley Cups, Conn Smythes,Hart Trophies -- you name it, these guys have plenty. But it isn't all silverware and points which make a player great, but what they bring to the ice, and how they left their mark on the game. Sakic, originally drafted as a Quebec Nordique, continues to bring success to the Colorado Avalanche as the president of hockey operations, while Yzerman continues his quest to bring the Red Wings back to the playoffs as general manager. As players, though, there is little to split them.
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.
Having the likes of Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lindstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Brett Hull all on one team during the 2001-02 Cup-winning season, not to forget Brendan Shanahan and Dominik Hasek, Yzerman was a key part of the success, but as a vital player, not so much. 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.
Sakic on the other hand was always the main man in Colorado. Sure, Yzerman was and is one of the most known names in the history of the NHL, and his time in the league will never be forgotten, but among the plethora of legendary Red Wings, Yzerman will always be in the thick of it with everyone else.
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
Once again, the two are so close to each other, it is hard to say who the better player is, they both have their own unique game, and both bought something individual to the table, but as far as leaders go, Sakic is you guy. We can talk about points and how Sakic may have passed Yzerman in points with a couple more years under his belt, and we can talk about Yzerman winning the Selke trophy, but as players they both brought very similar things to the table making it so hard to decide.
There will always be arguments about whether Yzerman could have been one of the top point scorers of all time if he wasnt focused on his two way game, and there will always be debates about whether Colorado go and win in 2001 without Sakic, but when choosing between the two, it is one of the hardest choices an NHL fan can make.
Yzerman and Sakic will always be two of if not the best captains of the 90s, and their impacts on and off the ice will never be forgotten, but would you prefer Sakic's leadership, killer instinct and sole accountability, or Yzerman's man management among stacked teams? Two legendary figures, and two who brought more to the game than their stats and achievements will ever show.