Sakic or Crosby part 2 (hockey then versus hockey now)?

Question

Who is the better hockey player? I would have to go with mighty JOE! Simply because to compare players of todays game against the older format is pretty much a stupid thing to do. With all of the modifications of the game at the NHL level favor the quicker shooter rather than the hard hitting and grinding players of the past, including a Joe Sakic. I fel that if Sakic came into the game now as a rookie much like Crosby he too would be talked over the dinner plate or the bar stool beer. So really there, in my mind is no comparrison between the two.
How do you feel about people comparring the older players who played under the old rules to a new hockey game that is designed for the speedy players that come out?

Answer 1

NHL scouts use a scoring system to rate players, which compares players against their current counterparts.

Sakic scored in the middle his year...........and his rookie year matched that. Crosby has the 4th highest total ever (M. Lemieux, Lindros, G. Lafleur).

Joe Sakic is a great player, and a model of consistentcy similar to Steve Yzerman. Sidney Crosby is an amazing talent, and in the long run will put up great numbers.

One thing to keep in mind.........Sakic averaged 0.9PPG in a league that averaged 7.9goals per game.

Sidney Crosby averaged 1.27 PPG in a league that averaged just over 6 goals per game.

I'll take Crosby over Sakic any day in any era!

Answer 2

i'd take Sakic over Sid the Kid any time, because Sidney Crosby is exactly that A KID. Give him time to develop into what everyone is expecting of him. he's played 2 seasons in the NHL and has already been given the Captain's C. i dont think that is the way to go with a fairly young team, the team captain should be a veteran that has put in the time and work. He should be the first one to arrive for practice and the last one to leave. the captain is the one with the biggest load to carry. Sakic has everything required for the role of Captain. So far Crosby has done nothing but prosper from everyone being intimidated by the hype that surrounds him. Sakic is intimidating to opponents for the simple fact he can score a goal from anywhere, and set someone else up for a goal from anywhere so they have no idea what to expect when facing him, with Crosby everyone is expecting his team-mates to do nothing but get him the puck. But the bottom line is Crosby has 2 years in the NHL, Sakic has 18, so who is more qualified for the duties they have? When Sakic broke in everyone was still captivated by The Great One, Mark Messier, and Super Mario and how great they were at the time, Sakic was able to fly under the radar and establish himself while the Oilers and Islanders were sucking up the spotlight. But the 2 different eras make this arguement hard to debate, how would Crosby have faired in the 80's? No one knows, however, everyone knows how Sakic has done in the 80's and the 90's and so far he's not doing too bad in the modern NHL even for an older guy so everything is collectively pointing in favor of Joe Sakic over Sidney Crosby

Answer 3

I disagree with you to a certain point. Comparing the players from the 50's, 60's and 70's with some of today's players is usually unfair.

I do not mean to take anything away from Sakic, no one can argue that he one of the great players in the history of the league. I also agree that the fact that he played in the "trap" era effected his numbers. He has averaged over a point per game in the regular season in all but three seasons. The first was his rookie season, the second was 97-98 (64 games, 63 points) which was an injury season and the 01-02 season. Had he not played during this era of the game, I fully agree that he would have put up better numbers. Perhaps the biggest part of where we agree is the quicker shooter. Sakic might be best known for his quick release on his wrist shot, it may be known as one of the quickest in the history of the game. He still has the ability to shoot on the move, with his feet moving better than most have ever been able.

However, Sakic broke into the league in the late 80's prior to the defense first mentality and did not put up the numbers that Crosby has. As I stated Sakic is without question a great player, based on what Crosby has shown to this point, he has the potential to be in the elite caliber of players such as Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr and Howe, something that I don't feel that Sakic would have done in any era.

If I were drafting a dream team, I don't think that Sakic would make my team in any era. Granted, he would make the top 10 regardless of where he played, but I don't think he would ever be 1 or 2. It still remains to be seen regarding Crosby, but from what I have seen thus far, I believe he is going to move into that category.

Answer 4

Good point. But they are pretty much in the same era really. Sakic scored 100 points and he is like 37-36. Crosby scored 120 points and he is 20. They are too much the same era. Crosby has already beaten Sakics career high for a season. They are pretty much the same but I think crosby is better once he is like 23-24 he will be dominate like Joe was but players now are more athletic than players then. If it was Crosby compared to Gretzky-2 different eras, that would be an easier comparison. Bottom line we will never know who would be better when.

Answer 5

No question there. Crosby hands down is better than Sakic. In any era of the league. Comparing older players to players today is fine by me, the game has not changed that much. The 80's were offense driven, the 90's dominated by the trap system (thank you devils) and oversized goalie equipment (thank you Snow). The current NHL is somewhat in between, a bit more room than a few years ago, but no where near the scoring mad 80's. But perhaps that was largely in part to the Edmonton Oilers with Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Anderson, Coffee and co. You put that team together in any era and the result would be the same. To go back to the question, Crosby would beat Sakic handsdown, let's not forget Sakic started his career when the NHL still was run by offense.
Joe is a great player but comes nowhere near the talent level of a crosby.

Answer 6

I think you make a excellent point.

If Joe were to come into the game of hockey now (meaning is he was younger now) then i think he would be a lot better than Crosby. Crosby grew up in this newer game, players like Sakic on the other hand, grew up playing hockey a different way, and now had to change their play to fit the new NHL. But Crosby and the other young players started playing this way.


So, yes i beleive Sakic would be better than Crosby if both had come into the game at the same time.

Answer 7

I think it's too early to tell who's better, Crosby still has a whole career to play, he might get injured or something, then everyone will forget about him like they did with Lindros. Sidney Crosby is only 19, and he probably does have more talent than Sakic. But Super Joe has 4 different MVP awards, 2 Stanley Cups and he has the knack for scoring in situations when his team needs him most, he's clutch. Crosby still has a long way to go to earn all that, and to get it he will need more than just his awesome talent. As far as talent goes, Crosby is more talented. As far as who's better, we'll have to wait a while to see that. What I'm trying to say is that you don't need just talent to be a great player.

Answer 8

if sakic had come into the "new NHL" as a rookie (like crosby did) super joe would have scored about 200 points his rookie year.

another point i would like to make is that crosby will probably NEVER have the veteran leadership skills of sakic, and i doubt anyone (let alone crosby) will ever break sakics record of overtime playoff goals.

Answer 9

I dont like Crosby, i dont like Sakic much either, but i would have to go with Sakic on this one.

Crosby is too much of a whiener, he needs to suck it up and just play the game.

Answer 10

Hard one, but i would have to say Sakic. If he would have commein the NHL of todayhe would of made maybe 200 points! But I don't take anything from Crosby because he really is superbe!!