Zetterberg vs. Iginla poll

[Opie 308]

I love how people try to compare the stick work from the 80's, 90's, or Gordie's day to the players today, IF players tried half of the s*** that Messier did back in the day they would be penalized if not suspended.

This is a very different time, in a much more passive (at least in media and sports, just not Gov't) society we live in. Butt ending a guy was see as defending yourself from a hit back in the day, now we know what a concussion is and how they are incurred and how badly they can hurt you. So Butt ending is now seen as a severely heinous act.

So, yes there are things that Yzerman, Messier, and Howe did that if a player did in today's game would be viewed as unacceptable even though in 1998 they were fine and dandy, just a part of the game.

To me, butt ending a guy in the heat of a close game were you are fighting it out to the end is a very different event than slashing or butt ending a guy in the last 5 minutes of a 3-0 game.

What Crosby did after being owned by Z was bad leadership, if you get owned by a guy so be it, step up next time and own him. However it does not make him a bad leader, it means he had a lapse of judgment, same with Iginla.

Does one mistake or a couple of heat of the moment exchanges make him a bad leader, no, it just means he lost his cool. Some people are able to keep their cool no matter what, others blow up from time to time. Especially in a violent sport, where a lot of Macho guys are running around. Especially if you are a player of Iginla's ilk, what makes him a great Hockey player and leader is the way he plays the game, balls to the wall as hard as he can. However it can also be his shortcoming. But a shortcoming or two do not make him a bad leader.

[Heaton 1]

I'll take Hank any day because I hate Iginla, but in all fairness, Hank has never had to carry a team before. Iginla has always been the lone ranger in Calgary, with no offensive help around him.

Imagine if Iginla had Datsyuk to play with him.

He's had help, not elite level help but help nonetheless. Conroy, Langkow, Phaneuf, Huselius, Tanguay and now Cammalleri ect... This isn't like Rick Nash in Columbus or what Kovalchuk has now in Atlanta. If Iginla had Datsyuk to play with he would probably score a few more goals, but I'm not sure if his overall game would be better than what it is now.

[Dabura 12,232]

they are very similar skill wise players.

I don't know about that.

They're both among the best players in the game, but Hank has the definitive edge; his defensive game is much more solid than Iginla's, and his straight-up offensive prowess is, I think, at least as good as Iginla's. Iginla has certain strengths of his own, and he plays to them. But again, when you get right down to it, Hank is a more complete, valuable package.

[Opie 308]

I don't know about that.

They're both among the best players in the game, but Hank has the definitive edge; his defensive game is much more solid than Iginla's, and his straight-up offensive prowess is, I think, at least as good as Iginla's. Iginla has certain strengths of his own, and he plays to them. But again, when you get right down to it, Hank is a more complete, valuable package.

I was more refferring to the fact that they have a lot of similar traits, scoring ability(Iggy may be more of a natural scorer, but they both are very good scorers), playing defense (Z may be better but they both play very good defensively), leadership, but have play style differences like, physical play and set up ability.

However my post made it seem like I meant they had the same skill set, poor wording choice on my behalf.

[Phazon 24]

another thing Z got over Iginla is the age factor. Z is 3 years younger and are about to hit his prime now.

[xtrememachine1 795]

I can't believe something like this was written, with Hank winning the Conn Smythe still fresh in everybody's head. Iginla's a talented player, but you can't go saying he's better than Zetterberg a month after he wins the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophies. Let's get real.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I guess I just don't view that as leadership. To me the leadership quality is maintaining composure at all times, even when the game is out of hand. Getting out there and playing your hardest until the final second ticks away. I don't think that Iginla isn't a leader, don't get me wrong. I just don't like the way he handled himself against Detroit in last year's playoffs. Just because it suits the team doesn't mean it's a good thing. I respect that the guy will throw the body. I respect that the guy will drop the gloves once in awhile. But I don't respect the antics he participated in the midst of his frustration.

You probably shouldn't watch the Nashville game when the Preds beat us pretty easily and Chelios and Shanny both lost their s*** and tried to fight Adam Hall of all people and Steve Yzerman went completely bananas on the officials and promptly got himself ejected from the game.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

How did I know that your post would contain some variant of that phrase?

Wha?......me? I have never used that phrase in my entire life.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

How can you judge 2 different players?

Do they not remember in the SC when it was 5 on 3 and Zette pretty much single handedly made it seem like it was a 5on5 for pitts..

I love Iginla, He is the Ideal player IMO, a great mixture of finesse and toughness.. But by no means is Zetterberg a lesser player then Iginla. They are both great players and saying one or the either are better is just plain stupid you cant pick a winner.

If I wasn't a Wings fan I would probably pick Iggy b/c I love the type of hockey he plays. I love big hits and I love fighting and if you have a guy that can be a great leader and do that kind of stuff, I typically love those guys. Morrow, Shanahan, Neely, etc....

That being said, I really don't know how anyone can say one is better than the other when they things they are so good at are totally different. It'd be easier if they were the same type of player.

Z is clearly better defensively and all over the ice. He's clearly better at faceoffs and penalty killing. I think he has better vision.

Iggy is bigger, stronger, tougher, can throw big hits, can fight, is a better goal scorer, can carry a team on his back.

They're just so different.

[Peleshob 0]

You probably shouldn't watch the Nashville game when the Preds beat us pretty easily and Chelios and Shanny both lost their s*** and tried to fight Adam Hall of all people and Steve Yzerman went completely bananas on the officials and promptly got himself ejected from the game.

I honestly can't recall this... but I'd say that going "bananas" on an official is a lot different than butt-ending and slashing. Plus, the circumstances around it may be a bit different. I'm not going to say that I'm positive that Lidstrom jaws at players all game, but I would say that Hall would be more likely to. Chelios has always been dirty and comes from another era... just look at what he got away with Kane near the end of the season. As far as Shanahan... I'm indifferent to him. But I don't recall the game so I can't properly defend anything. What I do remember of Iginla is that he wanted stir the pot with both Schneider and Lidstrom. I also remember getting the feeling that he was just frustrated because he was being outplayed and outclassed. Just my opinion. I think the guy is a great player... great interviewer, great voice for the team... I just don't see him as a class-act leader. But to each his/her own.

[seeinred 1,488]

You probably shouldn't watch the Nashville game when the Preds beat us pretty easily and Chelios and Shanny both lost their s*** and tried to fight Adam Hall of all people and Steve Yzerman went completely bananas on the officials and promptly got himself ejected from the game.

I distinctly remember that game. Didn't Shanny fight him after he scored an empty netter or something?

Players get frustrated, it's no big deal. Unless it happens all the time.