Joe Sakic - best modern day comparable?

[Raistlin]

Jack Hughes skating with pre wrist injury Pettersson skills.

 

[Lemonlimey]

Crosby.

Sakic was more clutch in the most important games.

Best answer.

 

[Lemonlimey]

This is well said. While everyone knows Sakic had a hard and accurate wrist shot, I always found he had an uncanny ability to create enough space for himself to get it off quickly, and to effectively use screens and timing to catch goaltenders off-guard. Velocity + accuracy + release + deception. His power play goal against New Jersey in game 7 of the 2001 Cup finals, when he came off the boards, faked a slapper, paused, went through Stevens' legs and top corner on Brodeur was one of my favourite goals of all-time and basically demonstrates what Sakic was all about.

It is my favorite goal of all time. can remember everything about that moment like few memories

 

[Lemonlimey]

Crosby is a superior playmaker, more powerful skater, and much better possession player than Sakic. I don't find them to be very similar, honestly.

similar “lead by example” style perhaps, and both would become a selke nominee as well later in their career

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Jack Hughes skating with pre wrist injury Pettersson skills.

Jack Hughes had a muffin shot predraft imo. I'm sure it's improved now but unless you have an elite shot, you can't be compare with the greatest wrister in NHL history.

 

[Kranix]

Jack Hughes had a muffin shot predraft imo. I'm sure it's improved now but unless you have an elite shot, you can't be compare with the greatest wrister in NHL history.

Did you just read "Jack Hughes-", start hyperventilating and typing and sledgehammering that post button?

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Patrice Bergeron. Quiet but stoic leadership along with a will to win by doing all the little things to the best of his ability. Also as clutch in big games as there is. League-wide respect for the class and cleanliness of his game as well.

View attachment 502121

AST: 3-0
Top 10 hart: 6-1
Top 10 goals: 5-0
Top 10 assists: 9-0
Top 10 pts: 10-0

Very comparable.

 

[NyQuil]

Sakic was largely a finesse player.

I don't get all these tough, scrappy descriptions of him.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Did you just read "Jack Hughes-", start hyperventilating and typing and sledgehammering that post button?

Why are you so sensitive? It's a poor comparison.

 

[Kranix]

Why are you so sensitive? It's a poor comparison.

He said Hughes' skating with pettersson's skill

 

[YippieKaey]

Crosby is a superior playmaker, more powerful skater, and much better possession player than Sakic. I don't find them to be very similar, honestly.

Also a lot worse defensively and nowhere near as good a goalscorer

 

[YippieKaey]

I might have missed something but how about Mackinnon? Great skater, great wristshot with both playmaking and goalscoring prowess? Mackinnon is a bit more bully in his skating but they are both very fast

 

[hirawl]

Tavares with a significantly better shot.

 

[Lemonlimey]

Sakic just has such a fascinating life story also. I know alot of players do, but between being a first generation Canadian family from Croatia, and the horrors that went on while he was captain of the Swift Current Broncos, he really had to grow up fast.

 

[Lemonlimey]

Sakic was largely a finesse player.

I don't get all these tough, scrappy descriptions of him.

how do you like them apples!

 

[not a troll]

It's like none of you Gen Z kids ever watched Sakic play.

 

[Alwalys]

What the hell are some of these comparisons? Sakic was a small dude in an era of giants, quick, elite vision, puck skills, and shot. Selke-caliber defensive skill and clutch AF.
Barkov is way too big to be a comparable, Kucherov checks most of the boxes except he's not a center. Crosby is close in terms of all-around greatness but I think Sid is more physical.
I dunno, there's no one really like him currently. TBH a guy who reminded me of him in recent memory was Duchene, if he had continued an upward trajectory, but then he kind of became meh.
If Joe Pavelski had above average speed he might resemble Sakic except I don't think Sakic deflected many pucks.

 

[86Habs]

similar “lead by example” style perhaps, and both would become a selke nominee as well later in their career

That's true. I will say that Sid came into the league less mature than did Sakic, in my opinion. Sakic had been through a lot of s**t in Swift Current, and entered the NHL as a 19-year old and I don't remember him complaining to the refs as much as Crosby did very early in his career (not a knock against Crosby, a lot of players do it, but Sakic was very quiet on/off the ice).

Also a lot worse defensively and nowhere near as good a goalscorer

Hyperbole. Not much separation between them defensively, and Crosby has 2 Richard trophies to his name. Sakic had a better shot and was a shoot-first center, which is somewhat rare nowadays, but Crosby was a very good goal scorer in his own right. Not as much distance between them as you seem to believe.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I might have missed something but how about Mackinnon? Great skater, great wristshot with both playmaking and goalscoring prowess? Mackinnon is a bit more bully in his skating but they are both very fast

Sakic was a lot more cerebral in his approach than MacKinnon is, and as you pointed out, MacKinnon is more confrontational/bullish in his approach.

 

[FACTORY]

what about Stamkos?

 

[the_fan]

Crosby would be the closest comparison to Sakic

Crosby slightly better career PPG player but there are some similarities in their game. Both clutch players, good two way centers.

 

[Lemonlimey]

The answer sort of still is Yzerman, since they are both now in simultaneous second acts as GMs of the franchise for which they’re the icon. It’s a shame Detroit and Colorado aren’t in division anymore to continue their 1 on 1 (respectful) rivalry from the boardroom. Yzerman used to draw a line in how far his side’s goonery could go against Joe since he was such a class act. (Forsberg was a different story and sought out such conflict). Sakic would refuse to wear #19 at the Salt Lake Olympics in honor of Yzerman’s injury keeping him off the squad (iirc)

 

[authentic]

Patrice Bergeron. Quiet but stoic leadership along with a will to win by doing all the little things to the best of his ability. Also as clutch in big games as there is. League-wide respect for the class and cleanliness of his game as well.

View attachment 502121

Stylistically the way they play the game couldn't be any different.

 

[NyQuil]

how do you like them apples!

Doug Gimour was like 5'6.

I met him like 10 years ago at a pub in Kingston and I towered over him.

I was worried that I might step on him.

Here's another tough customer:

 

[Lemonlimey]

Doug Gimour was like 5'6.

I met him like 10 years ago at a pub in Kingston and I towered over him.

I was worried that I might step on him.

It’s Joe’s only career fight, and there weren’t many punches. The funny part is how overexcited the announcer got. Gilmour was different, legend is he said something about Sakic’s mother right after he’d scored the goal.

While he won multiple lady byngs, I wouldn’t call Joe a “finesse” player (though it’s the standout part of his game) because of the connotations. The only fiercer competitors were Roy and Forsberg.