Who was a better player: Vincent Damphousse or Eric Staal?

[Cup or Bust]

Off topic but just looking at Damphousse on hockeydb, the '92 Oilers just look weird. Made it to the 4rd round lead by a25 and under core of Vincent Damphousse, Joe Murphy, Craig Simpson, Bernie Nicholls, and Dave Manson, plus 30 year old Bernie Nichols? Simpson aside none of those guys you'd associate with Edmonton from either the 80's or 90's.

That '92 team was exciting to watch, it's too bad they couldn't have kept that team intact and added to it.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

I rate them about even.

Both great players, team leaders, can take over games, etc.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

But this poll is about how good they were as hockey players in general.

Whenever anyone is comparing players close in impact, the irrational usually creeps in. In this case, Staal was a guy I wanted to punch right on the button and Vinny was guy I’d introduce my sister to. I think - lol. At least that was my perception (which may not be fair!).

 

[tarheelhockey]

Essentially, it requires you to get traded between three relatively low-scoring teams, so yes. It's quite obscure.

It also requires a team to consider you expendable despite being their leading scorer. TWICE.

There are certain players like this in the NHL, where having them as your top scorer isn’t really helping you get anywhere. It’s better than being their 3rd scorer or something, but these players are more highly regarded if they go to a better team in a support role.

 

[Albatros]

To Damphousse's credit he did win the cup in year three and one could even argue in good faith that he was the team leader among skaters, even if the margins are inevitably really narrow here.