Career Comparison: Joe Sakic vs Steve Yzerman

[@chizorama]

Both captains & both teams were exciting to watch, even as a non fan of either teams. One thing to note about Yzerman is that he completely changed the way he played when Bowman became coach. He gave up numbers to play a more defensive game, & led by this example & ultimately led to their championships. Both are such class acts & both got it done. Great players in a great era.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Absolutely, if Yzerman doesn’t make that decision to change his play style who knows if they would have ever reached the same height. A modern example of this is Crosby. The Pens back to back cups don’t happen if Crosby doesn’t do the same thing Stevie Y did

[@chizorama]

@@WhatsHappeningHockey Agree, but I don't think that Crosby was under the threat of being traded if he didn't go along with Yzerman. Bowman gave him the my way or the highway option.

[@detroitpolak9904]

I don’t know how old you guys are, but this was a great video. As someone who watched damn near every second of this rivalry (I was 23 in ‘97) this was THEE GREATEST time of my hockey watching life.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

We're in our mid-20s. Missed out on this era, but was lucky enough to see Sakic's 600th goal in Calgary. Grew up appreciating Colorado and Pittsburgh, mainly due to the legacies of Mario and Sakic. Ultimately fell in line as a Pens fan and that worked out pretty well for a while.

[@detroitpolak9904]

⁠well, for mid-20s, you guys definitely know your sh*t. I’m glad I found your channel.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

@@detroitpolak9904 thanks for watching. Much appreciated

[@csmith1298]

As a Wings fan, I'm obviously biased. Plus, I've got some numbers to back me up. In my arrogant opinion, The Captain wins out. But not by much. Sakic was a beast in his own right. Always got nervous if he had even a 3 on 2 against the Red Wings. His wrist shot was a killer. My favorite story about him was the conversation between Brett Hull and Avery. Hull was right. To me, they both deserve a massive amount of admiration, and I thank both for their past, present, and future contributions to the sport. Pretty fair to say that I never have - and probably never will - root for any team that Sakic is or will be associated with. Nevertheless, he has my never-ending respect as a most worthy opponent. And he's a class act, to boot. I wish him well - unless his team plays the Red Wings, of course . This video was well done. Cheers.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Don’t think I could put it any better myself, their contribution to the sport will only continue to grow. Who knows, maybe we will see them manage the next Canadian Olympic team together… thank you for watching, much appreciated

[@csmith1298]

@WhatsHappeningHockey A little late in responding. Hopefully not too late. You're welcome, thanks for the compliment, and - again - job well done. Subscribed. Cheers.

[@samuellaprise5582]

when the other team's whole bench respects you, that means something😅

[@johnsambo9379]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@UnquenchableHatred]

Number 19, and Number 19 I'm an Avs fan but these two captains are what a captain is all about, PURE RESPECT for Stevie Y, and Super Joe has the most dangerous wrist shot ever, I just love hockey

[@frabbak]

great video ... looking forward to more

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@Vancouverallday]

What a crazy rivalry this was. They both won the cup and they had to go through eachother to get there

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

I don’t know if the league has ever had a rivalry as legendary as that one. They HATED each other. I think the bad blood is something the current NHL could use a bit more of. Thank you for watching

[@lishamontoya5013]

Sakic is Mr Clutch , regular season M.V.P , Olympic M.V.P , Playoffs M.V.P , at one time Sakic had the most playoffs overtime Goals, a Humble Man .

[@nickgangone9541]

Not only were Stevie Y and Joe Sakic paralells, the Wings and Avs of that time were pretty evenly matched, up and down their line-ups.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Completely agree. Forsberg/Federov, Shanahan/Lemiuex come to mind. I think the only clear advantage Detroit had was on the backend while Colorado’s X-factor was Patty Roy

[@sergeontheloose]

@@WhatsHappeningHockey Colorado blue line was crazy good, too. Ozolinsh and Gusarov would be a 1st pairing in today's NFL on any team. Not to mention the gritty Adam Foote.

[@adamorichearo]

Parallel Players forever!!!

[@joelhartung3776]

This was great

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Thanks buddy. Much appreciated!

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

Even during the height of the Wings/Avs rivalry, I always had respect for Joe Sakic. He was the only guy on their team that I didn’t despise. Side note: those Quebec jerseys with the fleur-de-lis pattern on the bottom are still dope AF.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Hard to fully hate either way. Regarding the Nords’ jerseys: I completely agree.

[@raran44]

They were both on the 2002 Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey Team that won Gold!

[@busqueerwan1943]

the slap I get when I see this, what an era!!!! Captain super Joe I had his Nordic jersey. 28 years ago I was in piwie

[@go4a24]

Who would have thought back then that these guys would be two of the leagues best team builders today

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

@_SE77 Think real hard. What are their positions in the modern NHL?

[@aqn1976]

#19's I woulda loved to have either!!!

[@jamiethornton6101]

One of the greatest videos anyone should go watch who loved this rivalry is watching Darren McCarty's show talking about fight night at the Joe. He's dying laughing when all this is going down and here is two of the toughest guys in the NHL, Adam Foote and Brendan Shanahan watching it all go down together, because they would've been tossed he said had they gotten into it. So you knew what was coming in the next period. lol.

[@colincampbell7879]

Both Gold medalists on the 2002 Team Canada!!

[@johnsambo9379]

No one cares!

[@CowboysDezBryant]

Such Amazing memories from that 2002 gold medal team!

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Something we definitely could’ve included in this video. Slipped our minds at the time.

[@templetonbob]

Easily the most similar hockey careers I've ever seen.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Thanks for watching, Bob!

[@mrconfusion87]

And now BOTH are GMs! The rivalry is eternal! 🤣🤣🤣

[@demianseale501]

Very professional radio voices.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Thanks for watching, brother. Much appreciated.

[@UnquenchableHatred]

2006 Team Canada, Steve Yzerman misses chance to play and Joe Sakic refused to wear number 19 (the number both he and Yzerman wore on their NHL teams) out of respect and to honor Yzerman, Joe Sakic is a special person, and he knew that Yzerman was to, those two are what a captain and a good man looks like, as an Avs fan I love Yzerman as I despise the rest of the team, that's passed now since about 30 years have passed, now I just love the sport no matter what team, Avs always first though

[@Dhelmise29]

Well done fella. Super Joe for the win!

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

@@Dhelmise29 Thanks for watching!

[@MetalDetroit]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@goose916]

I never knew that (not a wings fan), but that makes his accomplishments all that more amazing.

[@Hereinthe605]

As a Redwings fan, I hated the bastard but, in the same breath, had mad respect for him. It truly was a great rivalry.

[@UnquenchableHatred]

honestly bro when Draper got hit, Sakic intentionally grabbed the boards to not fall on top of him, and grabbed the attention of the refs, he really deserves no hatred, I'm just being real, hate the team but dude Sakic is a good dude, now if you mean you hate him for his skill than I get it, I'm an Avs fan and I always liked Yzerman, he's just like Sakic

[@Hereinthe605]

@@UnquenchableHatred I will admit my opinion of Captain Joe has changed. I have nothing but mad respect for him. I have heard nothing but great things about him.

[@mrconfusion87]

Imagine an Avs vs Wings SCF with BOTH of them GMing their respective teams! 😂😂😂

[@alphadog1961]

PEPE Lemeuix was such a coward throughout his career,a backstabbing turtle.But todays NHL awards Backstabbers with contract extensions...ask anouncer Ron MacLean,the definition of the phrase.

[@MainOffenderKZ]

when i was about 10years old, my father told me joe sakic was the best player in the world, since then, he has been my favourite player :D

[@mattwebb8234]

I'll take Sakic.

[@MetalDetroit]

I’ll take Yzerman any day. Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@mattwebb8234]

@@MetalDetroit Yzerman was fantastic. I felt that as a blues fan. We were on the unfortunate end of many games against his team.

[@maitrehg]

Sakic performed well from his very beginnings in the NHL. No adjustment period needed even though he was playing for the worst team in the league. Sakic has a better points per game average in regular seasons AND in the playoffs even though he had his prime in the dead puck era. He won the Hart and the Conn Smythe. He holds the record for the most overtime goals in the playoffs. He holds the record for the longest span of time between his first 100-point season and his last 100-point season. Best player of the 2002 Olympics, especially in the grand final.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Maybe it’s because Yzerman was on an original 6 team, but I’m surprised it feels so lopsided for people preferring him over Sakic. I think the argument you’ve laid out definitely paints things in a different light

[@maitrehg]

@@WhatsHappeningHockey I don't want to denigrate Yzerman who was an excellent player and captain. But Sakic was simply better.

[@natashaa5179]

At least Sakic beat Yzerman for that last cup.

[@nevenmacleod7210]

Yzerman got another in 2002

[@detroitpolak9904]

Aahhh, Sakic’s last Cup was 2001. Yzerman beat Colorado to go on to win the Cup over Carolina in 2002. You don’t know hockey, do you?

[@xellotecky]

Sakic's last cup was in 2022 as GM, Yzerman left the lightning in 2019 and failed to bring home a cup and has been trying to play GM ever since. Looks like you're the idiot and don't know hockey @@detroitpolak9904

[@salianni16]

@@detroitpolak9904 Sakic has also already won a Cup as a GM and might do so again this year. Yzerman never will!!

[@MetalDetroit]

@@salianni16. Bullshit. The Wings are listed as second in the NHL for prospect talent. This team is loaded.

[@КонстантинКопылов-ч4э]

They won Olympic gold together😊

[@RobertBrockett-y8q]

I’d take SY!!!!

[@MetalDetroit]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@johnsambo9379]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@templetonbob]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@johnsambo9379]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@johnsambo9379]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@salianni16]

OK, We get it already. Stop copying your work! It's annoying! (Just like the Red Wings were.)

[@johnsambo9379]

Yzerman was the toughest pro athlete I ever saw. 80% of his career he played with a cadaver’s ACL. Only pro athlete to undergo an osteotomy (sawing femur in half and repositioning to take pressure off his knee). doctors said it would take him a year to learn to walk again. Same year he won the Stanley Cup. Had 3 vertebrae in his neck fused together and could barely turn his head.

[@WhatsHappeningHockey]

Thank you for bringing that up, that wasn’t something I was aware of. What a tough SOB