OK, When you surround yourself with the likes of Chris Chelios, Brendan Shanahan, Listrom and cast, plug in a goalie, you will win. Stevie Y is no doubt one of the best forwards of all time however, Mark Messier did the captains job better than anyone. 6 Stanley Cups including a momumental guarantee that "the Rangers would win tonight" at the Meadowlands down 3-2 and then the guy goes out and scores a hat trick to seal it as the Rangers marched their way to the 94 Cup. 6 Stanley Cups guys! All of this while becoming the 2nd most prolific scorer in NHL history. Gretzky was simply great, but not as a captain. After he left Messier in Edmonton how many Cups did he help land? NONE! Mark Messier is the greatest Captain in NHL History. Bar none! Shame on you all for not considering that. Being a great captain has nothing to do with scoring goals, it is all about leadership and getting your players motivated, nobody has done a better job, not Sakic, not Stevie Y, not Stevens, nobody!
2007-02-07 01:12:23 · 14 answers · asked by Craig D 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I would have to say Mark Messier. His nickname is "The Captain". Also, he guaranteed a Stanley Cup victory for the Rangers and he scored the cup winning goal for the Rangers. How many captains can guarantee victory and follow through on it? Wouldn't a captain be great if his nickname is the captain? Messier is the greatest captain ever.
2007-02-07 11:34:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
so your MAD that not many of use said Mark Messier, well yes he was good and yes he won 6 Stanley cup's well if that's what your going by and hes your favourite player well nobody will get it right, but you need to look further in the past as such greats a Jean Beliveau with 10 Stanley cup's now that was a true leader and then you have another in Syl Apps. but i guess your not going to be happy with my answer cause i didn't pick your favourite player well sorry I'm just looking at the hole picture here.
i see most of you just remember today's players and not the greats that help build this sport. Gilmour, Sundin, Wendel Clark common people give me a break they don't even compare to Apps, Beliveau, Bobby Clarke, Yzerman, Messier, and to the guy that said Hatcher common you don't know your hockey alls he did was hold the other players and get away with a penalty now you get to see how good he really is and he sucks can't skate or keep up with the other players.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2007-02-07 07:12:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
How about a little history lesson. Jean Beliveau played for the Montreal Canadiens for 18 seasons, captain 1961-1971. TEN Stanley Cups, five as captain. Scored at better than a point a game pace even in his last season, and won his TENTH Cup.
2007-02-07 01:59:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree that Mark Messier was one of the most inspirational leaders in NHL history, but I have to side with others who have said Steve Yzerman. I perhaps have a different definition of "great leader/great captain" than others but I do NOT look at success or Stanley Cups, but rather, how great a leader were these players when the team was dreadful? Steve Yzerman turned the Detroit Red Wings around from being 1980's doormats into perennial Stanley Cup contenders in the 1990's. He did it with skill, class, and for a while, alone. I agree he was later helped by Larionov, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Mike Vernon, Dominik Hasek and a slew of others but honestly - the Detroit Red Wings had almost nobody from about 1984-1994 EXCEPT Yzerman (Bob Probert had a few good years as did John Ogrodnick). Messier was an inspiration and forced his team to win and want it - no question there, but in Edmonton he had Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Andy Moog, Grant Fuhr, Kevin Lowe, and...shall I go on? I don't mean to diminish him as a captain so don't read me wrong - but Steve Smith could have been the captain of that Oilers team and still captained them to victory. Lastly, if you insist on using Stanley Cups as a statistic, remember that Mark Messier only won two as a captain (one with Edmonton in 1990, and one with the Rangers in 1994)...and as others have pointed out, Jean Beliveau, Syl Apps, George Armstrong, Denis Potvin, Scott Stevens, Steve Yzerman, Henri Richard and....(shall I continue) won more Cups as captain.
So...Steve Yzerman, with no offence meant to Mark Messier.
2007-02-07 08:46:29 · answer #4 · answered by David K (The Real One!) 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'll admit that Messier is great. But I would still choose Stevie Y over him because Yzerman stayed with his team. I can't really choose a guy just because he has a few Stanley Cups and was a good scorer. When you captain a team, guys need to know that you're sticking around no matter the odds against you and the team.
2007-02-07 01:29:46 · answer #5 · answered by trombass08 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This was a wonderful tale, and should really be published in a wildlife magazine or something, I bet there is an editor out there looking for just the thing. If I find the magaize will you submit it? I betcha it will be accepted as is, with only the smallest of adjustments....
2016-03-15 08:39:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about Ray Bourque on boston? Joe Sakic on colorado? Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr on Pittsburgh
Maybe not the greatest ever but these other guys have been pretty huge.
Mats Sundin and Doug Gilmour on Toronto
Mike Modano - Dallas/Minnesota
Pat Lafontaine
Scott Stevens - New Jersey
2007-02-07 01:56:12 · answer #7 · answered by Mike D 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Andy Bathgate could not bring a Stanley Cup to NYC. Rod Gilbert couldn't do it. Dave Maloney couldn't.
It took Mark Messier to get the job done. That alone may make him the greatest captain in the history of the NHL.
2007-02-07 09:54:52 · answer #8 · answered by nyrmetros 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
1. Stevie Y
2. Mario Lemieux
3. Wayne Gretzky
2007-02-07 05:25:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Bobby Clarke Nobody played with the heart he did. Whatever has happened with him as GM has nothing to do with the way he was as captain of the Flyers. Some of the players today could learn something about how to truly play for the love of the game instead of just playing for there wallet.
2007-02-07 01:49:58 · answer #10 · answered by Diehard Flyers Fan 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋