Steve Yzerman vs Joe Sakic

[JagerMeister]

 

Im hoping this stirs up alot of conversation, since these two are universally respected in the world of hockey. So who do you think was the better player?

 

Argument for Yzerman

  Had the highest single point season of anyone not named Lemieux and Gretzky, So he definitely peaked better offensively then Sakic, aswell as having more impressive goal finishes. If not for Lemieux and Gretzky, Yzerman would have won the Art Ross and probably the hart during that year, and he would be held in much higher regard. Yzerman was also a slightly better defensive player, developing into more of a two way forward in his later years and winning the selke.

 

here are Yzerman's stats 

 

Points 
1988-89 NHL 155 (3)
1989-90 NHL 127 (3)
1990-91 NHL 108 (7)
1991-92 NHL 103 (7)
1992-93 NHL 137 (4)
1999-00 NHL 79 (10)
Career NHL 1755 (7)

 

Points Per Game 

1987-88 NHL 1.59 (4)
1988-89 NHL 1.94 (3)
1989-90 NHL 1.61 (4)
1990-91 NHL 1.35 (7)
1991-92 NHL 1.30 (9)
1992-93 NHL 1.63 (5)
1993-94 NHL 1.41 (6)
Career NHL 1.16 (18)

 

Goals 

1987-88 NHL 50 (6)
1988-89 NHL 65 (3)
1989-90 NHL 62 (2)
1990-91 NHL 51 (2)
1991-92 NHL 45 (6)
1992-93 NHL 58 (6)
Career NHL 692 (9)

 

Goals Per Game 

1987-88 NHL 0.78 (2)
1988-89 NHL 0.81 (3)
1989-90 NHL 0.78 (2)
1990-91 NHL 0.64 (5)
1991-92 NHL 0.57 (8)
1992-93 NHL 0.69 (9)
Career NHL 0.46 (46

 

Assists 

1986-87 NHL 59 (7)
1988-89 NHL 90 (3)
1989-90 NHL 65 (10)
1992-93 NHL 79 (7)
1996-97 NHL 63 (3)
Career NHL 1063 (8)

 

Assists Per Game 

1988-89 NHL 1.12 (3)
1992-93 NHL 0.94 (9)
1993-94 NHL 1.00 (4)
1996-97 NHL 0.78 (8)
2001-02 NHL 0.67 (7)
Career NHL 0.70 (24)

 

 

Argument for Sakic

  Joe was much more consistent in the offensive department than Yzerman, which is probably the reason sakic was able to catch up to Yzerman in ppg and gpg. His point finishes were more impressive, he was certainly the better playmaker than Yzerman, and probably had one of the greatest peak seasons for a two way forward (second only to Fedorov). In 2001, he was 3 points from taking the art ross from Jagr (who was barely a point per game until Lemieux's comeback) 5 goals from tying the rocket richard winner, and was 2nd in selke voting. Sakic also has a more impressive playoff resume, his best postseason he had 34 points, and has a better ppg than Yzerman in the playoffs.

 

Here are Sakic's stats

 

Points 
1989-90 NHL 102 (10)
1990-91 NHL 109 (6)
1994-95 NHL 62 (4)
1995-96 NHL 120 (3)
1998-99 NHL 96 (5)
1999-00 NHL 81 (8)
2000-01 NHL 118 (2)
2001-02 NHL 79 (5)
2003-04 NHL 87 (2)
2006-07 NHL 100 (6)
Career NHL 1641 (9)

 

Points Per Game 
1990-91 NHL 1.36 (6)
1991-92 NHL 1.36 (6)
1994-95 NHL 1.32 (5)
1995-96 NHL 1.46 (5)
1998-99 NHL 1.32 (3)
1999-00 NHL 1.35 (2)
2000-01 NHL 1.44 (3)
2003-04 NHL 1.07 (7)
2006-07 NHL 1.22 (8)
Career NHL 1.19 (13)

 

Assists 

1991-92 NHL 65 (9)
1994-95 NHL 43 (3)
1995-96 NHL 69 (8)
1998-99 NHL 55 (5)
1999-00 NHL 53 (4)
2000-01 NHL 64 (5)
2001-02 NHL 53 (3)
2003-04 NHL 54 (4)
2006-07 NHL 64 (6)
Career NHL 1016 (12)

 

Assists Per Game 

1991-92 NHL 0.94 (6)
1994-95 NHL 0.91 (3)
1996-97 NHL 0.80 (5)
1998-99 NHL 0.75 (6)
1999-00 NHL 0.88 (1)
2000-01 NHL 0.78 (8)
2001-02 NHL 0.65 (9)
2003-04 NHL 0.67 (9)
2006-07 NHL 0.78 (8)
Career NHL 0.74 (17)

 

Goals 

1990-91 NHL 48 (6)
1995-96 NHL 51 (5)
1998-99 NHL 41 (6)
2000-01 NHL 54 (2)
2003-04 NHL 33 (10)
Career NHL 625 (15)

[ruxpin]

I liked both players. A LOT. Any choice I make would ultimately be a flip of the coin and without much hard argument.

I lean toward Yzerman but this is a close one for me.

[hf101]

I don't know  - both wore #19.  How great was that era of hockey because these two teams were so so great?

 

Sakic won MVP of the 2002 Olympics for Canada and a Hart trophy, Yzerman won 3 Stanley Cups to Sakic's 2.  

 

I think Yzerman played on the better overall team and if Forsberg were healthier Sakic's numbers would be greater than Yzermans.  Based on stats I have to give the nod to Yzerman although I liked Sakic better.

[JagerMeister]

I don't know  - both wore #19.  How great was that era of hockey because these two teams were so so great?

 

Sakic won MVP of the 2002 Olympics for Canada and a Hart trophy, Yzerman won 3 Stanley Cups to Sakic's 2.  

 

I think Yzerman played on the better overall team and if Forsberg were healthier Sakic's numbers would be greater than Yzermans.  Based on stats I have to give the nod to Yzerman although I liked Sakic better.

Based on stats, Sakic actually has the better career ppg despite Yzerman having his prime in the 80s. Also, look at Sakic's top ten point finishes compared to Yzerman. Lets not forget that Yzerman started his career in the early 80s, while Sakic started his in the late 80s. 

 

Yzerman

Points 

1988-89 NHL 155 (3)

1989-90 NHL 127 (3)

1990-91 NHL 108 (7)

1991-92 NHL 103 (7)

1992-93 NHL 137 (4)

1999-00 NHL 79 (10)

Career NHL 1755 (7)

 

Sakic

Points 

1989-90 NHL 102 (10)

1990-91 NHL 109 (6)

1994-95 NHL 62 (4)

1995-96 NHL 120 (3)

1998-99 NHL 96 (5)

1999-00 NHL 81 (8)

2000-01 NHL 118 (2)

2001-02 NHL 79 (5)

2003-04 NHL 87 (2)

2006-07 NHL 100 (6)

Career NHL 1641 (9)

[WordsOfWisdom]

Yzerman = Sakic

 

Too close to call. Both phenomenal players.

[yave1964]

I see this one a lot, Captains of two of the greatest teams of their decade, quiet, unassuming, led by example.

To me they are as close as two Pringles in a can. Someone wants to pick Sakic, well I am a Wings fan but i wont be offended by that. I went Yzerman but quite frankly there is not a whole lot that seperates the two of them. Superstar elite players. As much as I hated Foppa and Lemieux and Foote and Keane and Roy, I could never get a hate on for Sakic. Just a brilliant player who never quit.

[J0e Th0rnton]

Flip a coin folks.

 

My childhood memories want to say Yzerman. But it is damn close.

 

Yzerman was such a shifty sob on skates when he could skate. He changed to a safer more defensively oriented game and STILL scored good points for the era when his leg was buggered.

 

Sakic was a quieter type of scorer. But so damn good at it. His wrister was so deceptive and quick and he gave you no indication he was going to shoot.

 

Wish I could have seen him play with Bourque more. They were magic together.

[J0e Th0rnton]

I don't know  - both wore #19.  How great was that era of hockey because these two teams were so so great?

 

Sakic won MVP of the 2002 Olympics for Canada and a Hart trophy, Yzerman won 3 Stanley Cups to Sakic's 2.  

 

I think Yzerman played on the better overall team and if Forsberg were healthier Sakic's numbers would be greater than Yzermans.  Based on stats I have to give the nod to Yzerman although I liked Sakic better.

Take a look at Sakic's numbers the year he finally had a hall of fame two way franchise defenseman playing with him