whcanuck
Registered User
- May 11, 2017
- 158
- 61
In my opinion, and I think a lot of other people's opinions too, leadership is that X-Factor that turns talented teams into champions.
There have been many great leaders in hockey's incredible history, but 3 guys who've always stood out to me, at least in the last 25 to 30 years, were Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and Joe Sakic.
They've won 11 Stanley Cups between them and were captains of their teams for almost their entire careers.
Yzerman was an offensive superstar for the first half of his career and transformed his game into a two-way centre after Scotty Bowman arrived in Detroit. Yzerman had to learn to win the hard way after years of heartbreak in the playoffs, before finally breaking through with back to back Cups in '97 and '98.
Messier has been criticized for his time in Vancouver, but I believe Markus Naslund has gone on record saying that Messier's presence on the west coast helped his career immensely. Messier's impact on those Oiler and Ranger teams are undeniable. 6 Stanley Cups kind of speaks for itself.
Sakic is the quintessential quiet leader. Everyone respects the heck out of this guy and his teammates in Colorado would play their hearts out for him. He was a monster in the playoffs in both 1996 and 2001, both Colorado Cup wins. Plus the ultimate selfless move, passing the Cup to the long-suffering Ray Bourque after the team's game 7 Cup victory in 2001.
But what qualities, what specific qualities made these guys such great leaders and people who their teammates wanted to follow? I know the usual traits are passed around, respect, leads by example etc. But does anyone know any specific stories about these guys, or any other leaders, that shows why they get such respect and admiration in the hockey world?
There have been many great leaders in hockey's incredible history, but 3 guys who've always stood out to me, at least in the last 25 to 30 years, were Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and Joe Sakic.
They've won 11 Stanley Cups between them and were captains of their teams for almost their entire careers.
Yzerman was an offensive superstar for the first half of his career and transformed his game into a two-way centre after Scotty Bowman arrived in Detroit. Yzerman had to learn to win the hard way after years of heartbreak in the playoffs, before finally breaking through with back to back Cups in '97 and '98.
Messier has been criticized for his time in Vancouver, but I believe Markus Naslund has gone on record saying that Messier's presence on the west coast helped his career immensely. Messier's impact on those Oiler and Ranger teams are undeniable. 6 Stanley Cups kind of speaks for itself.
Sakic is the quintessential quiet leader. Everyone respects the heck out of this guy and his teammates in Colorado would play their hearts out for him. He was a monster in the playoffs in both 1996 and 2001, both Colorado Cup wins. Plus the ultimate selfless move, passing the Cup to the long-suffering Ray Bourque after the team's game 7 Cup victory in 2001.
But what qualities, what specific qualities made these guys such great leaders and people who their teammates wanted to follow? I know the usual traits are passed around, respect, leads by example etc. But does anyone know any specific stories about these guys, or any other leaders, that shows why they get such respect and admiration in the hockey world?