Greatest active NHL player

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:09 pm

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=190518&hubname=nhl

Joe is the best.

Sakic earns three assists in Avs victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Joe Sakic downplayed moving past Paul Coffey into 10th on the NHL's career points list, focusing instead on snapping Colorado's three-game losing streak.

The Avalanche captain had three assists Monday to increase his team lead to 44 points and push him past Coffey in Colorado's 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Sakic's 17 goals and 27 assists this season give him 1,534 points overall.

"It is obviously a lot more fun when you're on the winning end," Sakic said. "It is a special feeling, but the most important thing is winning the game. We had lost three in a row, so to get the win and get out of the loss column was good for us confidence wise. I guess at the end of your career you look back at those things, but right now I'm just concerned with winning."

Nashville coach Barry Trotz marvels at how long Sakic has been able to be a dominating force.

"Up close, when you watch Joe Sakic you realize how smart of a player he is," Trotz said. "He is dynamic in terms of his hands and how he sees the ice. He never panics. He is a true pro."

Trotz compares Sakic to Steve Yzerman in terms of his abilities and attitude.

"Steve Yzerman is a quiet leader who says the right things," Trotz said. "Joe Sakic is a quiet leader who does all of the right things. It amazes me that Joe can still skate the way that he does and how much he has done over the course of 18 years. There is no question he is one of the greatest who has ever played this game."

Also, greatest wrist shot ever.

The Slug · Post by **The Slug** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:27 pm

Shimmy,
I will second you on Sakic as the best active. Certainly the young guns (Crosby, Ovechkin, et al) will soon take over the NHL, but for consistently being Mr. Everything to his team, and a decent guy to boot, Sakic is tough to argue against.

P.S. Anyone who appreciates the beauty of his wrist shot must be a true hockey fan.

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:07 pm

Pretty hard to argue with Sakic, great player, and class act all around. The only others that pop in my head are Jagr, Hasek, Pronger, and Brodeur. No real order.
STL

flyinhigh · Post by **flyinhigh** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:00 am

sky's the limit wrote: The only others that pop in my head are Jagr, Hasek, Pronger, and Brodeur. No real order.
STL

Hasek, Pronger, and Jagr are not even in the same class as nor will they ever be in the same column of sakic/yzerman/coffey.

Brodeur is well a real class act, I myself am a goalie and growing up I always watched CUJOm, now however that I am older and actually pay attention to what is going on, Brodeur is simply amazing, plays his hardest all the time and speaks his mind(new rules for goalies, etc), If he sticks around he'll be taking roys win streaks out I think any way

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:53 am

flyinhigh....

Are you on glue this morning??? Hasek, Jagr???? Probably the best two guys in the last 10 years.... Pronger, I'll give you that one, but he does dominate.

STL

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:30 pm

Jagr? The petulant child who wouldn't play worth a damn in Washington for whatever reason his tiny mind came up with? When he wants to play he's good, but he's not in Sakic's league since he's completely lacking in heart.

On another note; watched Stevie Y's retirement ceremony the other night, now there's a class act! I've never been a Wings fan but you couldn't help but admire his grit; especially if you watched him playing in the Salt Lake Olympics, the guy could hardly walk but he stilled played as if his life depended on the outcome! Possibly the best quote from that night came from Brett Hull in an interview afterwards. "Typical Stevie, in his speech all he wanted to do was talk about everyone else, not himself." Or words to that effect.

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:58 pm

Jagr has amazing skill but otherwise is a complete disgrace to the game. Hasek just had a horseshoe up his ass for 20 years--flopping all over like a fish out of water, of course most pucks are going to hit him. Pronger is a great D-man but has a ways to go yet before becoming a great, in my opinion. I'd put Scott Niedermeyer ahead of him. Brodeur, class act, all around. Hope he takes Roy's record away.

WJflyer · Post by **WJflyer** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:09 pm

Joe Sakic is certainly one of the most classy active NHL players, along with others such as Trevor Linden, and Roberto Luongo is also a very classy and talented player as well.