Bridgestone Greatest Captain (Part 2)

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

Lidstrom needs our help this time, leading with 36%, though Crosby is closing in with 25%

I, for one don't want Crosby to win, so if you feel the same way, vote Here

[Chunkylover 26]

Done. Glad to see Stevie won for the '90's. It would be interesting to see Yzerman and Lidstrom match up in the semis. Sadly if Crosby beats Lidstrom he'll probably beat Yzerman only losing to Gretzky.

I'm actually surprised Crosby isn't already ahead of Lidstrom. Do Pens fans not know about this poll?

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

I'm actually surprised Crosby isn't already ahead of Lidstrom. Do Pens fans not know about this poll?

If they don't, lets hope it stays that way, Lidstrom deserves it more than Crosby

[RWK23 0]

The 2000s look pretty weak especially compared to the 90s (Yzerman, Messier, Stevens, Lemieux, Bourque, Sakic). I think Lidstrom is a good captain and probably the best out of this group, though I do like Shane Doan a lot, but I don't view him as one of the great all-time captains.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

37%-24% Lidstrom leading Crosby, Keep it up guys

[Guest Shoreline]

I'm voting either Koivu or Alfredsson. Both of them have actually been Captains the entire decade, and have either faced adversity and/or shown to be great consistent leaders as Captain (including points). Lids and Crosby are very new to being Captain and won't get my vote.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Shoreline

[This Is Bida 0]

Did my part. I'll keep voting on days I remember to. So far Lids is up 38% over Crosbys 24%.

What baffles me is that Crosby is that high. I mean, yea, I get it, it's Crosby! But there's some amazing captains that only have around 4-8% Sorry, but Crosby should be towards the bottom of the list. Not to knock his skill or what a great player he is, but he hasn't accomplished anything as a captain.

[Uncle Danny 155]

Couldn't agree more. He's done a great job in his short NHL tenure, and even shorter Captaincy, but how anyone could rank Sid above Iginla, Alfy, Koivu or Lidstrom is beyond me.

I took the homer route, although, honestly, Iginla, Alfy, Sundin and Joivu could all make cases. None of these guys makes it past the second round anyway.

[Uncle Danny 155]

On that note: anyone up for predictions on the finals? I'm going to guess that Gretzky wrongly takes it from Stevie in a close race. Gretzky was a (far) better player, but not a better captain... but his name is even more synonymous with hockey than Hull nowadays, which leads me to think the common vote will skew his direction.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

Okay I know he's not the captain this year, but why is Pronger not on the ballot?

But seriously, Lidstrom at least lead his team to the Stanley Cup last year. Sid hasn't done anything captain-like.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

39% to 24%

[Chunkylover 26]

Lidstrom beat Crosby and is now trailing Yzerman. The winner will face either Gretzky or Clarke. Gretzky is leading that match-up.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

No way Lidstrom should've won for 2000s, hopefully Yzerman will take this. Man they should've done final four style instead. I mean the 90s were stacked.

[Chunkylover 26]

No way Lidstrom should've won for 2000s, hopefully Yzerman will take this. Man they should've done final four style instead. I mean the 90s were stacked.

Who should have? None of the others led their team as far as Lidstrom has. Is it really that hard to believe that Nick has done more in two years than Iginla, Koivu, or Alfredsson? Koivu isn't usually the best player on that team and up until last season the Habs weren't being led anywhere great. Iginla got to the Finals once then led his team to mid-pack mediocrity with three straight first round exits. As evidenced in last season's drubbing at the hands of the Penguins it is clear how important Alfredsson is to the Senators, but again, his has been a record of mediocrity.

[eva unit zero 271]

If I were to decide on the ten nominees based on the "won a Cup" getting you nominated, and then based on the "led team to finals" filling in the gaps, followed by "great players who were considered good captains". After all, this is the logic they seem to have used, and then I were to pick one from each decade (bolded), this would be it. Players repeating across more than one decade are underlined.

70s (70-79)

Johnny Bucyk, Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito, Vic Hadfield, Dave Maloney, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler.

80s (80-89)

Denis Potvin, Wayne Gretzky, Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski, Bob Gainey, Bobby Clarke, Dave Poulin, Darryl Sutter, Steve Yzerman, Ray Bourque

90s (90-99)

Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Guy Carbonneau, Trevor Linden, Scott Stevens, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Derian Hatcher

00s (00-08)

Scott Stevens, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Dave Andreychuk, Rod Brind'Amour, Scott Niedermayer, Nicklas Lidstrom, Ron Francis, Daniel Alfredsson, Jarome Iginla

If we play this out using the tournament method being used in the actual contest, the next round is Clarke vs Potvin, while Yzerman basically gets a bye having won both the 90s and 00s. I would push Clarke ahead of Potvin narrowly, but the final goes easily to Yzerman.

If it were to be played out where the winner were decided from all the nominees, then Yzerman still wins easily, as he was the only player who was captain for long enough and did well enough to receive a nomination in three decades, although admittedly part of this had to do with the sheer dominance of the Islanders and Oilers in the 80s (notice Yzerman was not given the win in the 80s); very few captains won the cup or made the finals, which allowed for the 'filler' captains chosen based on lesser team playoff success, but strong personal resumes and leadership performances. Darryl Sutter is another such example. Several losses by his team in the Campbell Finals to the Cup winners don't make him less of a captain; just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Edited December 12, 2008 by eva unit zero

[SoDakWing 8]

from what I just saw it says that lids won and is up agianst Stevie now.

I could be wrong though

[BeeRYCE 2]

Shane Doan and/or Ethan Moreau.

[daniel1 32]

Stevie is up on Lids 88% to 12%. Wayne the Great Whiner is leading Bobby "ankle-hacker" Clarke as well. It would have been better had Yzerman been up against Lids in the final. Gretzky's on ice leadership consisted of repeating the phrase "don't touch me or Semenko will kill you", to the other team. Messier, Lowe, Coffey and Huddy were the leaders on those Cup winning Edmonton teams. The Whiney One was a great player, but not much of a leader - as evidenced by his current coaching "ability".