Mark Messier Versus Stan Mikita

[GlitchMarner]

Who was the better player?

RIP Mikita.

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[tony d]

Both guys are in my top 10 centres all time but this is Mikita for me.

 

[CHGoalie27]

By the accounts of all his HOF teammates, Messier was so good and influential, nevermind the 3rd all time in pts, he could get the top millionaires to hustle.

 

[Felidae]

Mikita was clearly the better point producer. Messier doesn't beat him anywhere offensively. He might have the edge on two way play, but Mikita was not lacking in that area from what i've heard. His prime is of higher quality.

Not to mention that Mikita's trophy case is better. He doesn't have questionable award wins ( At least in terms of forwards having arguments) While all of Messier's regular season awards are rather debatable. Gretzky and Lemieux outproducing him by 12 and 24 points. They might have not received as much hart consideration due to those 2 being among their weakest Art Ross wins. Then again, the fact he also had to compete with prime Gretzky for awards negates this somewhat. Remember that when looking at his point finishes.

As for playoffs. Clear edge to Messier. In both their first decades of hockey, Mikita was 2nd in Playoff points while Messier was third. Mikita drops to 7th if we go by PPG, but everyone ahead of him only played around 20-29 games besides his own teammate (Both of them having played 82 games) and Norm Ullman. Messier drops to 4, the player ahead only having played 34 games while he played 145.

In their second-decade of hockey, Messier is 12th in playoff scoring while Mikita is 21. Going by PPG, Mikita goes up one spot while Messier drops one spot. Advantage, Messier.

Overall, I'd have to go with Mikita for his offensive dominance. His point finishes are comparable to Jagr and Crosby.


Here are the stats and info

Mikita


Awards
4 Art Ross trophies
2 Hart trophies

Hart finishes: 2, 4, 5

Points

1961-62 NHL 77 (3rd)

1962-63 NHL 76 (3rd)

1963-64 NHL 89 (1st)

1964-65 NHL 87 (1st)

1965-66 NHL 78 (2nd)

1966-67 NHL 97 (1st)

1967-68 NHL 87 (1st)

1968-69 NHL 97 (4th)

1969-70 NHL 86 (3rd)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

PPG

1961-62 NHL 1.10 (3rd)

1962-63 NHL 1.17 (2nd)

1963-64 NHL 1.27 (1st)

1964-65 NHL 1.24 (1st)

1965-66 NHL 1.15 (3rd)

1966-67 NHL 1.39 (1st)

1967-68 NHL 1.21 (1st)

1968-69 NHL 1.31 (4th)

1969-70 NHL 1.13 (3rd)

1972-73 NHL 1.46 (3rd)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Goals

1962-63 NHL 31 (6th)

1963-64 NHL 39 (2nd)

1964-65 NHL 28 (4th)

1965-66 NHL 30 (5th)

1966-67 NHL 35 (2nd)

1967-68 NHL 40 (2nd)

1969-70 NHL 39 (3rd)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Assists

1961-62 NHL 52 (2nd)

1962-63 NHL 45 (5th)

1963-64 NHL 50 (2nd)

1964-65 NHL 59 (1st)

1965-66 NHL 48 (1st)

1966-67 NHL 62 (1st)

1967-68 NHL 47 (4th)

1968-69 NHL 67 (2nd)

1969-70 NHL 47 (7th)

1972-73 NHL 56 (8th)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Mark Messier

Awards
2 Harts
2 Pearsons
Conn Smythe

Hart finishes: 2, 9

Selke finishes: 8, 9, 16, 17, 28

Points

1982-83 NHL 106 (7th)

1986-87 NHL 107 (3rd)

1987-88 NHL 111 (5th)

1989-90 NHL 129 (2nd)

1991-92 NHL 107 (5th)

1994-95 NHL 53 (10th)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

PPG

1982-83 NHL 1.38 (7th)

1983-84 NHL 1.38 (10th)

1986-87 NHL 1.39 (3rd)

1987-88 NHL 1.44 (8th)

1988-89 NHL 1.31 (10th)

1989-90 NHL 1.63 (3rd)

1991-92 NHL 1.35 (7th)

1995-96 NHL 1.34 (10th)

1996-97 NHL 1.18 (7th)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Goals

1981-82 NHL 50 (8th)

1982-83 NHL 48 (9th)

1989-90 NHL 45 (9th)

1995-96 NHL 47 (9th)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Assists

1986-87 NHL 70 (3rd)

1987-88 NHL 74 (5th)

1988-89 NHL 61 (8th)

1989-90 NHL 84 (2nd)

1991-92 NHL 72 (6th)

1994-95 NHL 39 (6th)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[SillyRabbit]

Mikita was the better player, Messier benefitted from playing on better teams with better teammates.

 

[The S5]

Messier....comfortably.