All-Time Face of the Franchise

[MyDogSparty]

Help me nominate candidates. Here's a start:

Devils: Scott Stevens, Martin Brodeur
Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier
Rangers: Brian Leetch, Bill Cook
Flyers: Bobby Clarke, Mike Richards
Penguins: Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby
Bruins: Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Dit Clapper, Eddie Shore
Sabres: Dominik Hasek, Gilbert Perreault, Ryan Miller, Pat LaFontaine
Canadiens: Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Jacques Plante, Henri Richard
Senators: Daniel Alfredsson
Maple Leafs: George Armstrong, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler, Mat Sundin
Thrashers: Ilya Kovalchuk
Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour, Ron Francis
Panthers: Scott Mellanby, Olli Jokinen
Lightning: Vincent Lecalier, Martin St.Louis, Steven Stamkos
Capitals: Peter Bondra, Alex Ovechkin, Rod Langway
Blackhawks: Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita, Jonathan Toews
Blue Jackets: Rick Nash
Red Wings: Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Terry Sawchuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, Alex Delvecchio
Predators: David Legwand, Greg Johnson
Blues: Brett Hull
Flames: Jarome Iginla, Theo Fleury
Avalanche: Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy
Oilers: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey
Wild: Marian Gaborik
Canucks: Trevor Linden
Ducks: Teemu Selani, Paul Kariya
Stars: Mike Modano
Kings: Dave Taylor
Coyotes: Shane Doan
Sharks: Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau

Click to read more...

 

[WingsFan95]

Yzerman and Howe are the only contenders for face of the Wings.

I'd like to give Yzerman the edge because he never played for any other team and had more playoff success but that's subjective.

Canadiens don't have one, too many to consider.

I'd nominate Bure for the Canucks.

Lemieux for the Pens is just not debatable in my mind.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Maurice Richard is the face of the Canadiens even today.

What about Ted Kennedy as a candidate for the Maple Leafs?

 

[vancityluongo]

Devils: Scott Stevens, Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias
Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier
Rangers: Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Bill Cook
Flyers: Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent
Penguins: Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby
Bruins: Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, Eddie Shore
Sabres: Dominik Hasek, Gilbert Perreault, Ryan Miller, Pat LaFontaine
Canadiens: Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Jacques Plante, Henri Richard
Senators: Daniel Alfredsson
Maple Leafs: George Armstrong, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler, Mats Sundin, Ted Kennedy
Thrashers: Ilya Kovalchuk
Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour, Ron Francis, Eric Staal
Panthers: Scott Mellanby, Olli Jokinen, Pavel Bure, Roberto Luongo
Lightning: Vincent Lecalier, Martin St.Louis, Steven Stamkos
Capitals: Peter Bondra, Alex Ovechkin, Rod Langway
Blackhawks: Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita, Jonathan Toews
Blue Jackets: Rick Nash
Red Wings: Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Terry Sawchuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, Alex Delvecchio
Predators: David Legwand, Greg Johnson
Blues: Brett Hull, Keith Tkachuk
Flames: Jarome Iginla, Theo Fleury, Lanny MacDonald
Avalanche: Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy
Oilers: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ryan Smyth
Wild: Marian Gaborik
Canucks: Trevor Linden
Ducks: Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, JS Giguere
Stars: Mike Modano
Kings: Dave Taylor, Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky
Coyotes: Shane Doan
Sharks: Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton

My choices in bold, any HM's the OP didn't mention italicized.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Where's Messier as the face of the Rangers?
I want to send over a that you're astute enough to know what a big deal Bill Cook was, but really, I think there are very few people who you'd say "Face of the Rangers" to, who wouldn't immediately think this:

Johnny Bower sticks out to me as a figure in Leafs history, mostly because he started his career in his late fifties, and is now 260 years old (that's accurate, right?), and the Leafs have had quite a few gritty veteran teams in their best years.

Clarke is definitely head and shoulders over any Flyer, but I think of both Lindros and Hextall before Richards.

Those were good choices for the Islanders, but unfortunately, when I think of the Islanders I think of Dipietro, Milbury and Yashin. Blech.

Gretzky is still the face of the Kings, more so than Taylor, but Marcel Dionne is what I think of when I think about purple and yellow kings.

When I think about the Panthers, I think about John Vanbiesbrouk, or more specifically his mask.

The fact that Greg Johnson is mentioned for the Predators is baffling, but it's even more baffling that I find it hard to argue with.

 

[Pajicz]

My list:

Devils: Martin Brodeur/Scott Stevens
Islanders: Bryan Trottier/Denis Potvin
Rangers: Mark Messier
Flyers: Bobby Clarke/Eric Lindros
Penguins: Mario Lemieux
Bruins: Bobby Orr
Sabres: Dominik Hasek/Gilbert Perreault
Canadiens: Maurice Richard/Jean Beliveau
Senators: Daniel Alfredsson
Maple Leafs: Mats Sundin
Thrashers: Ilya Kovalchuk
Hurricanes: Ron Francis
Panthers: Pavel Bure
Lightning: Vincent Lecavalier
Capitals: Alex Ovechkin
Blackhawks: Bobby Hull
Blue Jackets: Rick Nash
Red Wings: Gordie Howe
Predators: David Legwand
Blues: Brett Hull
Flames: Jarome Iginla
Avalanche: Joe Sakic/Patrick Roy
Oilers: Wayne Gretzky
Wild: Marian Gaborik
Canucks: Trevor Linden
Ducks: Teemu Selanne/Paul Kariya
Stars: Mike Modano
Kings: Marcel Dionne
Coyotes: Shane Doan
Sharks: Owen Nolan

 

[KarlssonsGroin]

i think mcinnis and pronger deserve to be hm for the blues.

and the sharks face should be nabby or thornton.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I think the Blues could be Federko and Marleau could be the Sharks

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Ducks - Teemu Selanne
Kings - Wayne Gretzky
Coyotes - Keith Tkachuk
Stars - Mike Modano
Sharks - Patrick Marleau

Avalanche - Joe Sakic
Wild - Marian Gaborik*
Canucks - Trevor Linden
Flames - Jarome Iginla
Oilers - Wayne Gretzky

Red Wings - Steve Yzerman
Blues - Bernie Federko
Blackhawks - Stan Mikita
Blue Jackets - Rick Nash
Predators - Barry Trotz

Thrashers - Ilya Kovalchuk*
Hurricanes - Rod Brind' Amour
Panthers - Pavel Bure*
Lightning - Vincent Lecavalier
Capitals - Alex Ovechkin

Bruins - Bobby Orr
Sabres - Gilbert Perreault
Maple Leafs - Darryl Sittler
Senators - Daniel Alfredsson
Canadiens - Rocket Richard

Flyers - Bobby Clarke
Penguins - Mario Lemieux
Islanders - Mike Bossy
Rangers - Mark Messier
Devils - Martin Brodeur

The *'s mean I didn't want to award one, but felt obligated to.

 

[12Kerr]

a few changes I'd make:

1.) Ron Francis was the face of the Hartford Whalers not Hurricanes imho and Rod Brind'amour was the face of the Hurricanes.

2.) Bernie Federko was the face of the Blues not Brett Hull imho

3.) Brian Leetch was the Rangers not Messier

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

A lot of this could be debated relative to an era. In my generation for instance sundin was by far the face of the leafs, however in someone else it could be sittler. Another example is the penguins. Although mario lemieux is easily the franchises all time best player and face, in todays game kids not only look to crosby as the face of the penguins, but the entire nhl. You could argue even that crosby has been more marketed and "branded" than lemieux ever was for the pens.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

Mike Richards?

Hextall, Parent, Lindros, Propp, all over him.

 

[OrangeZebra]

I feel like the Wild could have Backstrom as the lesser-face of the franchise

 

[VanIslander]

North Stars: Neal Broten
Jets: Dale Hawerchuk
Nordiques: Peter Stastny
Whalers: Rick Ley
Golden Seals: Gilles Meloche

Americans: Billy Burch
Maroons: Nels Stewart
Pirates: Hib Milks
Tigers: Shorty Green
Senators: Cy Denneny

 

[Loto68]

Anyone who thinks Messier is all time face of the Rangers must not know anything about the Rangers. The guy fled to Vancouver after 97 for more money, then came back and let his ego drive the franchise into the ground. Also, considering that most people know nothing about guys like Bill Cook or Frank Boucher, the choices for all time face of the franchise come down to Leetch, Mike Ritcher, Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin.

 

[tony d]

Though his coaching stint with them was terrible, I got to say John Maclean should be the face of the New Jersey Devils franchise or a contender for it.

 

[Blades of Glory]

Anyone who thinks Messier is all time face of the Rangers must not know anything about the Rangers. The guy fled to Vancouver after 97 for more money, then came back and let his ego drive the franchise into the ground. Also, considering that most people know nothing about guys like Bill Cook or Frank Boucher, the choices for all time face of the franchise come down to Leetch, Mike Ritcher, Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin.

If you do not know why Messier is the face of the Rangers franchise, you probably don't know much about New York. He is one of the most beloved athletes in the history of that city. It is irrelevant how his career ended. After 1994, Messier was catapulted to the very top of New York sports and he never will never lose his spot. Leetch and Richter were immensely popular, but Messier became a cultural icon after that Stanley Cup victory. He was a polarizing figure that captivated the city and ended 54 years of frustration for a team that played in the very heart of Manhattan. He is widely considered one of the top five New York athletes in the last 50 years. Few hockey players have ever left such an indelible legacy on the big stage as Messier did in New York. I have a hard time believing too many Rangers fans believe Rod Gilbert or Ed Giacomin to be more of a "face" of the franchise than Messier.

The term "face" of the franchise does not always mean the player that spent the most time with the team. When most people think of the Rangers, they think of Messier holding the Stanley Cup.

 

[Bexlyspeed]

a few changes I'd make:

1.) Ron Francis was the face of the Hartford Whalers not Hurricanes imho and Rod Brind'amour was the face of the Hurricanes.

2.) Bernie Federko was the face of the Blues not Brett Hull imho

3.) Brian Leetch was the Rangers not Messier

Ron Fracis is Great Choice for the Whalers/Hurricanes, but i think Kevin Dineen is a better one

 

[Warfunkel]

Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Paul Kariya
Atlanta Thrasher - Mark Chipman (This one was bound to be a joke.)
Boston Bruins - Bobby Orr
Buffalo Sabres - Gilbert Perreault
Calgary Flames - Jerome Iginla
Carolina Hurricanes - Rod Brind'Amour
Chicago Blackhawks - Bobby Hull
Colorado Avalanche - Joe Sakic
Columbus Blue Jackets - Rick Nash
Dallas Stars - Mike Modano
Detroit Red Wings - Gordie Howe
Edmonton Oilers - Wayne Gretzky
Florida Panthers - John Vanbiesbrouck
L.A. Kings - Wayne Gretzky
Minnesota Wild - Marian Gaborik
Montreal Canadiens - Maurice Richard
Nashville Predators - David Legwand
New Jersey Devils - Martin Broduer
N.Y. Islanders - Bryan Trottier
N.Y. Rangers - Mark Messier
Ottawa Senators - Daniel Alfredsson
Philadelphia Flyers - Bobby Clarke
Phoenix Coyotes -Shane Doan
Pittsburg Penguins - Mario Lemieux
San Jose Sharks - Patrick Marleau
St. Louis - Blues - Bernie Federko
Tampa Bay Lightning - Vincent Lecavelier
Toronto Maple Leafs - George Armstrong
Vancouver Canucks - Trevor Linden
Washington Capitals - Peter Bondra

Atlanta Flames - Tom Lysiak
California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons - Al MacAdam
Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts - Wilf Paiement
Hartford Whalers - Ron Francis
Minnesota North Stars - Dino Ciccarelli
Quebec Nordiques - Peter Stastny
Winnipeg Jets - Bobby Hull

 

[Phil Parent]

Devils: Brodeur
Islanders: Bossy
Rangers: Messier
Flyers: Clarke
Penguins: Lemieux
Bruins: Orr
Sabres: Perreault
Canadiens: Richard
Senators: Alfredsson
Maple Leafs: Sittler
Thrashers: Kovalchuk
Hurricanes: Brind'Amour
Panthers: Collectively, the 1996 team
Lightning: Lecavalier
Capitals: Ovechkin
Blackhawks: Savard
Blue Jackets: Nash
Red Wings: Howe
Predators: Trotz
Blues: Hull
Flames: Fleury
Avalanche: Sakic
Oilers: Gretzky
Wild: Gaborik
Canucks: Linden
Ducks: Selanne
Stars: Modano
Kings: Gretzky
Coyotes: Doan
Sharks: Marleau

Nordiques: Bergeron
North Stars: Broten
Jets: Steen
Whalers: Francis

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Saw a few people that did not put Bobby Hull for the Blackhawks. Even though he left the franchise and other players have played more games and/or scored more points, Hull has the heart of Blackhawk nation. He always gets the biggest ovations and is clearly the most popular player.