Hart Trophy Tournament (1969-00) Round 1: 1996 Mario Lemieux vs 1997 Dominik Hasek

[blundluntman]

MATCHUP #16 (Round 1): Mario Lemieux (1996) vs Dominik Hasek (1997)

Mario Lemieux (1995-96):
70 Games Played 69 Goals 91 Assists 160 Points | 1st in Points, 1st in Assists, 1st in Goals, Art Ross, Pearson/Lindsay, 1st AST,

Dominik Hasek (1996-97):
67 Games Played 37 Wins 2.27 GAA .930 Sv%, 5 Shutouts | Vezina Trophy, Pearson/Lindsay, 1st in Sv%, 6th in Shutouts,1st in GSAA, 1st AST

Round 1 Matchups:
69 Esposito vs 99 Jagr Thread
70 Orr vs 72 Orr Thread
71 Orr vs 00 Pronger Thread
73 Clarke vs 82 Gretzky Thread
74 Esposito vs 91 Hull Thread
75 Clarke vs 98 Hasek Thread
76 Clarke vs 90 Messier Thread
77 Lafleur vs 80 Gretzky (Still Active) Thread
78 Lafleur vs 93 Lemieux Thread
79 Trottier vs 94 Fedorov Thread
81 Gretzky vs 87 Gretzky Thread
83 Gretzky vs 86 Gretzky Thread
84 Gretzky vs 85 Gretzky Thread
88 Lemieux vs 89 Gretzky Thread
92 Messier vs 95 Lindros Thread
96 Lemieux vs 97 Hasek

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[DitchMarner]

This is a good one. I have no idea how to go about comparing a great offensive season to a great goaltending season, but I look forward to analysis and comments.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Going Hasek

Lemieux was relying on the PP more in 95-96 and resting in back to backs so his season looks more impressive than it should. Even though it was still a great season.

 

[ManofSteel55]

I want to vote Hasek, but Mario's season was too good, even if he did miss games.

 

[bobholly39]

It's Mario Lemieux.

This isn't a weakened 80s season with not many big stars where Gretzky was able to lap the field by a huge amount. The 96 season was very strong on star power. Peak/prime Lindros, Sakic, Forsberg, Selanne, Kariya to name a few. And Mario still completely lapped the field, for both points and goals.

This is how everyone's scoring rates adjusts to 82 games:

Kariya - 108 points
Selanne - 112 points
Forsberg - 116 points
Sakic - 120 points
Lindros - 130 points
Lemieux - 189 points & 81 goals (next highest among this lead group is Lindros pacing for 52 goals)

He completely decimated an extremely strong field of top forwards.

Hasek 1997 is a fantastic season, and he'd rank above all 5 of those forwards in 1996 - but not by anywhere as big a gap as Lemieux.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Lemieux - 189 points & 81 goals.

Extremely generous to think he would approach those numbers. His pace is inflated vs. the field because he rested in back to backs.

 

[Albatros]

Hašek, dragged a weak team to a division title almost on his own. Took 37 out of their 40 total wins with 66 starts, while the other goalies started 16 games and won 3.

 

[dgibb10]

Hašek, dragged a weak team to a division title almost on his own. Took 37 out of their 40 total wins with 66 starts, while the other goalies started 16 games and won 3.

This Buffalo team literally won a playoff series without Hasek.

 

[Albatros]

This Buffalo team literally won a playoff series without Hasek.

Hašek took the first two wins before his injury, props to Shields for not blowing that I guess.

 

[dgibb10]

Hašek took the first two wins before his injury, props to Shields for not blowing that I guess.

Steve Shields came in and secured the win in game 3. Then won 2 more games yes.

But yes, props to his backup for coming in and posting a 0.939 to win the series while Hasek was assaulting media members.

 

[Albatros]

Shields won 3 out of 13 regular season and 3 out of 9 playoff starts that season, let's not pretend like he was anywhere near Hašek at any point in his career or indeed that the Sabres would have been anything close to a playoff team with him in goal. And he was a fine goalie.