Joe Sakic - best modern day comparable?

[BraveCanadian]

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.

Easy now.. I love Sakic and he was pretty decent defensively once he matured as a player, but Selke caliber?.. no.. he had one +/- driven Selke nomination and the rest of his votes were the "I'm the top center on a top team" kind that Modano was also getting at the time.

 

[NyQuil]

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.

I think the problem is the growing view that the word "finesse" is somehow a bad word in hockey.

There's nothing wrong with scoring tons and tons of points without taking a penalty and putting your team shorthanded.

On HF in particular, everyone has to be a two-way, defensively responsible, offensive catalyst, first assist, even-strength goal scoring, competitive, physical, defensive zone face-off specialist, and posters spend hours and hours trying to prove it.

Just let guys succeed in the way that they know how.

 

[NyQuil]

Easy now.. I love Sakic and he was pretty decent defensively once he matured as a player, but Selke caliber?.. no.. he had one +/- driven Selke nomination and the rest of his votes were the "I'm the top center on a top team" kind that Modano was also getting at the time.

I think part of that is the fact that you tend to remember their final years as a player more clearly, and virtually every talented offensive player in the league has added some defensive acumen by the time they're in their 30s. They already have the skill level, and you just add that experience on top.

Sergei Gonchar was one of Ottawa's best defensive defencemen by the time he played there, you probably wouldn't have said that about him when he was with the Caps.

 

[86Habs]

Easy now.. I love Sakic and he was pretty decent defensively once he matured as a player, but Selke caliber?.. no.. he had one +/- driven Selke nomination and the rest of his votes were the "I'm the top center on a top team" kind that Modano was also getting at the time.

Maybe it was the coaching, system, or having Lehtinen as his winger, but I always thought Modano was a better defensive center than Sakic. Sakic backchecked hard and his IQ allowed him to be in the right position most of the team (and he was part of Colorado's PK unit in the late 90s/early 00s), but Modano just seemed more committed, more physical, and had more presence in the d-zone.

I think the problem is the growing view that the word "finesse" is somehow a bad word in hockey.

There's nothing wrong with scoring tons and tons of points without taking a penalty and putting your team shorthanded.

On HF in particular, everyone has to be a two-way, defensively responsible, offensive catalyst, first assist, even-strength goal scoring, competitive, physical, defensive zone face-off specialist, and posters spend hours and hours trying to prove it.

Just let guys succeed in the way that they know how.

Someone needs to post the video of Sakic absolutely laying out Scott Stevens in the playoffs.

 

[NyQuil]

Someone needs to post the video of Sakic absolutely laying out Scott Stevens in the playoffs.

Here's Erik Karlsson laying out Nathan Beaulieu.



Just because they are finesse players doesn't mean they've never thrown a check in their careers.

 

[86Habs]

Here's Erik Karlsson laying out Nathan Beaulieu.

My only point is that Sakic was capable of being physical when he needed to be or saw an opportunity to do so. He was also respected around the league so opponents gave him space. He was no Forsberg, but he was also no Turgeon (to use a contemporary example).

 

[NyQuil]

My only point is that Sakic was capable of being physical when he needed to be or saw an opportunity to do so. He was also respected around the league so opponents gave him space. He was no Forsberg, but he was also no Turgeon (to use a contemporary example).

Well it was a nice hit on Stevens.

I guess I'm trying to reclaim the term "finesse" player. Beliveau pretty much invented the term.

It's thrown around here like an insult.

 

[X66]

I said this earlier in his career, Matthews is like a hybrid STYLE WISE(don't shit your pants HF) to Sakic and Forsberg.

He's got that bull strength like Forsberg and the hands/coordination like Sakic.

 

[86Habs]

Well it was a nice hit on Stevens.

I guess I'm trying to reclaim the term "finesse" player. Beliveau pretty much invented the term.

Fair enough. When I think of a finesse player, I think of Turgeon, or Mike Ribeiro, or Alex Kovalev. Not so many guys around like that anymore.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Sidney Crosby

 

[NyQuil]

I said this earlier in his career, Matthews is like a hybrid STYLE WISE(don't shit your pants HF) to Sakic and Forsberg.

He's got that bull strength like Forsberg and the hands/coordination like Sakic.

I think Matthews is one hell of a player but I don't see a lot of similarity with Forsberg.

Forsberg wasn't just strong on the puck like Jaromir Jagr, he would initiate contact and scrap like a devil around the net.

Auston has Sakic's shot for sure.

I think a Jagr/Sakic hybrid makes more sense if you're trying to combine HHoF players.

 

[X66]

I think Matthews is one hell of a player but I don't see a lot of similarity with Forsberg.

He has Sakic's shot for sure.

Not the Forsberg play-making, but the ability to to have players glued to him and either bouncing off of him, or not impacting his stick handling at all.

And that sneaky corner play, Forsberg would always win those corner 1 on 1 battles, I feel Matthews has that too.

 

[NyQuil]

Not the Forsberg play-making, but the ability to to have players glued to him and either bouncing off of him, or not impacting his stick handling at all.

And that sneaky corner play, Forsberg would always win those corner 1 on 1 battles, I feel Matthews has that too.

Yeah I edited my post - Jagr makes more sense than Forsberg.

Forsberg would hit people.

In a game against the Sens, I saw him knock two guys down behind the net, take the puck and score with it.

At his peak, Forsberg was like a power forward with elite hands.

 

[X66]

Yeah I edited my post - Jagr makes more sense than Forsberg.

Forsberg would hit people. In a game against the Sens, I saw him knock two guys down behind the net, take the puck and score with it.

I'll take it! lol

 

[Newusername]

I said this earlier in his career, Matthews is like a hybrid STYLE WISE(don't shit your pants HF) to Sakic and Forsberg.

He's got that bull strength like Forsberg and the hands/coordination like Sakic.

You think matthews has the same bull strength as forsberg??? Jeez what’s in the water in toronto

 

[the_fan]

Sidney Crosby

Yup I said Crosby also. Similar style, size, two way game, both have 50 goal season or two, similar career numbers overall.

He's the only one that's close to Sakic

 

[Bubbles]

I've read this whole thread, it's pretty clear most people didn't watch Sakic at all.

Not many people mentioned his Lady Byng, or the way he played on the ice.

Currently playing, I would say Sebastian Aho.

In recent memory, it would have been Brad Richards.

 

[amigo]

Favorite Joe goal, stanley cup final gm 7 no less

 

[howboutahug]

Brayden Point? But honestly nobody has ever been quite like Sakic. Best wrist shot of all-time.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Matthews is similar in that he is also a centre who scores goals. That's about it.

 

[NyQuil]

Matthews is similar in that he is also a centre who scores goals. That's about it.

He also has a pretty wicked shot like Sakic does.

That's more similarity than someone saying that Joe Sakic is like Brad Marchand (?!?!?) which is in this very thread.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Yeah I edited my post - Jagr makes more sense than Forsberg.

Forsberg would hit people.

In a game against the Sens, I saw him knock two guys down behind the net, take the puck and score with it.

At his peak, Forsberg was like a power forward with elite hands.

He did this every game he played. He didn't score everytime but every game he dropped someone to create a scoring chance.

Back on topic I don't see a comparable in terms of style to Joe Sakic right now. Sidney Crosby is the closest thing minus the release. Sid has a good shot but its not Sakic level. Both guys have tremendous back hands.

 

[thegr8one66]

Scheifele.

 

[apocalypse]

Oddly enough I think MacKinnon, but MacKinnon is more like a train. I think a Byfield comparison is in order here. I can see the same qualities in both players. They both can fly, handle the puck, great shot. Yeah.

 

[3074326]

Favorite Joe goal, stanley cup final gm 7 no less

Man those ESPN broadcasts were so good.