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

[dalewood12]

Curious to read your thoughts.

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[DitchMarner]

I think Staal was considered a bit more of a true star. If we're comparing them to active players, he would be equivalent to someone like Hughes (although I think Hughes is better) whereas Damphousse would be more like a Larkin, I guess.

I think statistically Staal wins, but I wasn't a big fan of his. He seemed to mail it in quite often after a strong four or five year run after the Lockout.

When you factor in compete, intangibles, clutch factor, all-around play etc, I might be inclined to take Damphousse. But when he was on, Staal was better.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

Vinny all day long.

Name me another player to lead his team in scoring three consecutive years on three different teams. His IQ and class made Stall look like a sod farmer….

 

[Albatros]

Vinny all day long.

Name me another player to lead his team in scoring three consecutive years on three different teams. His IQ and class made Stall look like a sod farmer….

While true, his best placement in league scoring even those three years was 18th. Staal was anyhow 6th and 7th.

 

[ijuka]

Vinny all day long.

Name me another player to lead his team in scoring three consecutive years on three different teams. His IQ and class made Stall look like a sod farmer….

When you need to use such obscure arguments, the point you're making is likely not very strong.

For this comparison, Eric Staal likely suffers simply because he played during a lower-scoring era.

 

[tarheelhockey]

lead his team in scoring three consecutive years on three different teams.

Bit of a backhanded compliment to be that guy.

 

[Hennessy]

No knock on Damphousse, who gets overlooked a lot, imo, but Staal takes this.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Staal but I think it’s close.

Damphousse was a very good player and I really liked him as a young guy on the Leafs.. but he didn’t top out as high as Staal offensively and, personally, I find his later career defensive reputation a bit made up. It is just the usual wily vet narrative.

 

[biturbo19]

I voted Damphousse mostly out of nostalgia. The answer is probably actually Staal though. It's just so hard to vote for him, because he's like the most boring, unimpressive "star" of his entire era.

 

[authentic]

Yeah Staal was comfortably the better player in each of their primes

 

[Cup or Bust]

At their best, Staal is the better player. I Loved the Nicholls, Damphouse, and Murphy line in 1992 on the Oilers though.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Staal had the better peak.

 

[the valiant effort]

Vinny was a solid contributor right till the end, whereas Staal hung on 6+ years too long. Most of us asked for his retirement papers in 2016.

 

[biturbo19]

I think it's also understated, just how much of an advantage a Jofa helmet is in a poll like this.

 

[Albatros]

I think it's also understated, just how much of an advantage a Jofa helmet is in a poll like this.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

I only remember Damphousse as an old timer on the Sharks. Staal showed flashes of brilliance and was one of the better centres during his prime.