Yzerman or Messier?

Question

Often considered the two greatest Captains of all time. Who would you choose to captain your team?

Memorable Messier - '94 when he guarunteed victory, then came out with a hat trick, and led the Rangers to their first Cup in 54 years.

Memorable Yzerman - '02 playoffs when he led the Wings to a Stanley Cup on one knee, and led the Wings in playoff scoring.

Answer 1

since so many biased answers seem to be on here ...



whether i agree or disagree w/ the opinions on here, some of the reasons supporting the answers are weak.



it's very close. like comparing apples w/ oranges. 2 different styles of leadership.



however, i'd point this out as the bottom line and the final discriminator ...



Messier was around greatness when he amassed his stats, then he went to the rangers, and they already had some good leadership. sure he helped. and letting his play speak in game 7 of the ECF was awesome. yzerman didn't guarantee anything. he was too smart for that. and too humble. but he also wasn't around a guy named Gretzky, and didn't have Kurri w/ him either.



personally, i think Yzerman had the harder job, w/ more expectations and burden on his shoulders, and was able to get Detroit 3 cups. Messier had an easier job and brought NY to 1 cup. the Edmonton years don't really reflect on his leadership that much, cuz of all the other talent on that team.



add - furthermore, yzerman didn't have many mentors. he was given the captaincy at age 21 to resurrect a team that was struggling. simply put, i think he got the job done. during his tenure, the wings were very successful. what happened to NY.



finally, i cannot BELIEVE the comment about Francis being a better leader. Francis had the LUXURY of being around a guy named Lemieux and Jagr, and so he helps Carolina get on the map. good for him, but please don't trivialize Yzerman's years of sacrifice and steep learning curve by saying that Francis is a better leader.



take off the blinders

Answer 2

This will irritate the Detroit Red Wings fans, but I would have to go with Mark Messier by a mile. Yzerman was nothing more than a Detroit phenomenon (especially when the Pistons, Tigers, and Lions were going through a horrible dry spell as far as being contenders). Messier had the look that scared people to fall in line. Messier played hurt. Messier was more than a role player on the Oilers teams (he was the captain on the 1990 championship team people, and he did win the Conn Smythe in 1984)! Comment all you want about 2002, the three cups, yada, yada, yada. Yzerman represented an era in Detroit when the Red Wings WERE the entire sports scene in a downtrodden city, hence the fuzzy memories. Messier elevated the downtrodden Rangers in a city where they took a backseat to a rising Yankees team, a soon-to-rise Mets team (a few bumps on the way, of course), a dominant Knicks team, and decent Giants and Jets teams. Because of Messier, the Rangers became the lick in New York. Because of Messier, the Oilers didn't die after Wayne Gretzky (although they died when Messier left). Because of Messier, the Vancouver Canucks slowly became contenders (narrowing missing out of the playoffs during his last season in the Orca). While Messier couldn't bail out the Rangers upon his return to the Big Apple (blame management for that one), the team nevertheless played their hearts out.



Simply put, Mark Messier is the greatest leader not just in hockey, but in sports history. In hockey history, Ron Francis is second only to Messier, and Yzerman (even as overrated a captain as he is, and if he played in Toronto, he would be a God) falls to third.



Addendum:



I'm not belittling Yzerman's impact as a player...he's one of the most underrated players of all-time hands down (definitely in my top ten, along with Mario, Wayne, Patrick Roy, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Jacques Plante, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey). I'm not saying he was a horrible captain, either. He was a great captain, to be sure. Just not as great as Ron Francis and Mark Messier.

Answer 3

Yzerman!!!!! he was a True TEAM leader!!! he was overall really good.... Don't get me wrong so is Messier, But Yzerman did more for his team and played as a team member who used his players 2 go all the way!!!! Messier just used his own talent.. Go RED WINGS!!!!

Answer 4

Stevie Y by far. He was the Captain of a team who frequently won the cup. Messier was the captain of the Rangers and a role player on the Oilers.

Answer 5

Yzerman but I'm biased. Nothing against Messier.

Answer 6

Yzerman without hesitation.. Not just because I live in vancouver and hate messier, but yzerman was a quiet exemplary leader, he didnt have to score goals to be a captain, he was a leader to be a captain

Answer 7

yzerman... displays all the traits of great leadership. would sacrifice for the team either by adjusting style of play or re doing his contract or as mentioned playing on one leg and being the best on the ice. and main reason why if u ask him he would say messier, true humility.



noah who would u pick then dont just say neither

Answer 8

Messier

Answer 9

I guess it would depend on what year you're looking back on ,as you noted they both had their moments in hockey... but I find myself leaning more towards Stevie Y.

He exuded a quiet confidence and it made all his team mates better.

Messier was more intimidating, but Stevie Y was always ready to sacrifice himself for the team , and that, by extension, is what hockey is about.

Answer 10

Yzerman, without a doubt. He doesn't get enough credit.

Answer 11

Yzerman. I'm a wings fan. lol

Answer 12

I would choose Messier as captain. He almost played for a canadian team. Not as all these players who stole the Cup with american teams . When will this cup back in Canada. (sorry for bad english, I'm french speaking)

Answer 13

Mike Gartner

Answer 14

I DONT THINK THERE IS A WRONG ANSWER. BOTH WERE GREAT AND BOTH AMONG THE TOP TEN OF ALL TIME. I WILL GIVE THE EDGE TO MARK. BUT LIKE I SAY THAT IS A OPINON AND IF ANYBODY DISAGREE I DONT BLAME THAT I DONT THINK YOU COULD NAME TWO PLAYER TO DECIDE ON THAT WOULD BE MORE MATCHED UP.

Answer 15

snoop....overrated? Then underrated?

Ah...I see you're confused. We meant to say Yzerman or Messier......Hockey.....

not football, baseball, basketball.......

Answer 16

stevie wonder is better. go wings. i'll miss u yzerman!!

Answer 17

messier is the Messiah

Answer 18

i agree Messierhes brought way more cups to his city, he was alsome in his prime and flat out good!

Answer 19

yzerman!

Answer 20

Neither.