Hockey Outsider
Registered User
- Jan 16, 2005
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Who is the better player, Serge Savard or Guy Lapointe? Here's my analysis.
Offense. Lapointe is clearly the better offensive player (especially goal-scoring); he was a catalyst on the Habs' powerplay and had one of the best slapshots in the league. Both had good breakout passes; Lapointe was a much better rusher. Savard scored more than 50 points in a season once (career high 60 pts); Lapointe scored more than 50 pts six times (career high 76 pts). Lapointe scored 0.70 ppg versus 0.42 ppg for Savard. Lapointe also has a higher ppg in the playoffs (though by a smaller margin).
Defense. Savard was one of the smartest positional defenders in the league. He was steady, disciplined, and seldom out of position. Savard was huge for his day; while he wasn't an aggressive hitter, he used his strength to neutralize his opponents. Lapointe wasn't quite as strong positionally but was an aggressive checker. He was a tough, fearless hitter who used a combination of sound positioning and intimidation to shut down opponents. Savard generally got a bit more ice time on the PK. Savard is 6th all-time in plus/minus, while Lapointe is 19th. In the eleven years they were teammates, Savard had the higher plus/minus 8 times and they were tied once.
Awards. Guy Lapointe was a Norris candidate six times (1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979); in 1973 he was second only to Bobby Orr. Serge Savard was a Norris candidate four times (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979). Lapointe was ranked higher in three of the four years in which they were both Norris candidates. Lapointe earned a spot on four all-star teams (1 first team, three second teams). Savard earned a spot on one all-star team (1 second team).
Playoffs. Savard is one of only seven defensemen to win the Conn Smythe; he finished 9th in scoring as the Canadiens went 12-2 to win the Cup in 1969. Savard has slightly more experience (130 games vs 123 games) and was on more Cup-winning teams (8 vs 6). Lapointe scored more playoff points and has a higher points-per-game. In the eleven years they played together, Lapointe scored 68 pts in 112 PO games while Savard scored 56 points in 103 games.
It's a tough decision. It's very hard to overlook Savard's Conn Smythe, but Lapointe is more physical, consistently did better in Norris/all-star voting, and is better offensively. I'd take Lapointe by a very small margin.
What's your opinion?
Offense. Lapointe is clearly the better offensive player (especially goal-scoring); he was a catalyst on the Habs' powerplay and had one of the best slapshots in the league. Both had good breakout passes; Lapointe was a much better rusher. Savard scored more than 50 points in a season once (career high 60 pts); Lapointe scored more than 50 pts six times (career high 76 pts). Lapointe scored 0.70 ppg versus 0.42 ppg for Savard. Lapointe also has a higher ppg in the playoffs (though by a smaller margin).
Defense. Savard was one of the smartest positional defenders in the league. He was steady, disciplined, and seldom out of position. Savard was huge for his day; while he wasn't an aggressive hitter, he used his strength to neutralize his opponents. Lapointe wasn't quite as strong positionally but was an aggressive checker. He was a tough, fearless hitter who used a combination of sound positioning and intimidation to shut down opponents. Savard generally got a bit more ice time on the PK. Savard is 6th all-time in plus/minus, while Lapointe is 19th. In the eleven years they were teammates, Savard had the higher plus/minus 8 times and they were tied once.
Awards. Guy Lapointe was a Norris candidate six times (1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979); in 1973 he was second only to Bobby Orr. Serge Savard was a Norris candidate four times (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979). Lapointe was ranked higher in three of the four years in which they were both Norris candidates. Lapointe earned a spot on four all-star teams (1 first team, three second teams). Savard earned a spot on one all-star team (1 second team).
Playoffs. Savard is one of only seven defensemen to win the Conn Smythe; he finished 9th in scoring as the Canadiens went 12-2 to win the Cup in 1969. Savard has slightly more experience (130 games vs 123 games) and was on more Cup-winning teams (8 vs 6). Lapointe scored more playoff points and has a higher points-per-game. In the eleven years they played together, Lapointe scored 68 pts in 112 PO games while Savard scored 56 points in 103 games.
It's a tough decision. It's very hard to overlook Savard's Conn Smythe, but Lapointe is more physical, consistently did better in Norris/all-star voting, and is better offensively. I'd take Lapointe by a very small margin.
What's your opinion?