34 replies to this topic

[wingfanatic4alltime]

My top 10 Wings are:
1. Lidstrom
2. Yzerman
3. Fedorov
4. Shanahan
5. Osgood
6. Datsyuk
7. Zetterberg
8. Homer
9. Konstantinov
10. Vernon

[Uncle Danny]

1. Yzerman
2. Lidstrom
3. Fedorov
4. Shannahan
5. Zetterberg
6. Osgood
7. Datsyuk
8. Larionov
9. Vernon
10. Mac

Pretty similar to some others' lists, but a few points of clarification:

- Yzerman and Lidstrom are quite obviously the top two on any sane list. I give a slight edge to Yzerman, as had he not adopted and preached (with his play) the defensive style Bowman was after, we wouldn't have seen any of the cups we did. No other player on the team could have had that large of a cultural impact in the dressing room.

- If Bowman had laced them up for even one game, I'd have given him the #2 spot.

- Shanny comes in at #4. You could make a decent argument for Dats, Ozzie or Z. I gave #14 the nod because of the mentoring he gave to Mac and Lapointe, which I don't think anyone would argue raised their overall game. The fact that he was a hall of fame scorer who willingly played the role of our only fighter for awhile also pushed up his stock in my view.

- Osgood... this was a tough one, as it's very much a love/hate relationship I have with him as a fan. You cannot argue with his success or his career numbers, though. No way, no how.

- Larionov: someone already called this out, but he was more "papa bear" than papa bear ever was (and that's no knock on Fetisov, mind you). His presence alone raised the average IQ in that dressing room by 10 pts.

- Mac gained my #10 spot for a number of reasons. He was never that talented, never an elite fighter and never put up true all star numbers. What he did, though, was cauterize that 96/97 team into world champions by avenging Draper and scoring perhaps the biggest goal of that season in OT on March 26. He was a consistently clutch player, and The Ultimate Team Guy for a long time.

IMO, this contribution goes beyond numbers, talent or simply playing a less than glamorous role very, very well for a long time (see: Draper). To my mind, his dressing room presence was almost like Yzerman's less gifted, louder, brasher, drunker younger brother -- the kind of guy you definitely want on your side.

[Barrie]

Ok I thought about it, here's my list. I went with guys who I think have had the most impact on the franchise's success, not necessary the most talented (Edit: Which explains having Draper #5).

1. Yzerman
2. Lidstrom
3. Fedorov
4. Shanahan
5. Draper
6. Zetterberg
7. Datsyuk
8. Osgood
9. Holmstrom
10. Larionov

Edited by Barrie, 31 March 2010 - 08:24 PM.

[mjlegend]

If I had to do it all again, I'd marry that cover of Sports Illustrated. One of the best hockey pictures ever taken, also a SI hockey cover (!) signifying a great albatross getting removed from the franchise.

[germanwing]

1. Yzerman
2. Lidstrom
3. Fedorov
4. Shannahan
5. Osgood
6. Datsyuk
7. Zetterberg
8. Holmstrom
9. Konstantinov
10. Draper

...
11. Krupp

Edited by germanwing, 31 March 2010 - 06:00 PM.

[mad dingo]

Since you never specified Top 10 Red Wing Players. Here is my take

1. Mike Ilitch
2. Marion Ilitch
3. Jimmy D
4. Steve Yzerman
5. Nick Lidstrom
7. Scotty Bowman
8. Ken Holland
9. Brendan Shanahan
10. Gordie Howe (Ambassador for team and NHL)

[F.Michael]

Since you never specified Top 10 Red Wing Players. Here is my take

1. Mike Ilitch
2. Marion Ilitch
3. Jimmy D
4. Steve Yzerman
5. Nick Lidstrom
7. Scotty Bowman
8. Ken Holland
9. Brendan Shanahan
10. Gordie Howe (Ambassador for team and NHL)

[Motown4013]

Since you never specified Top 10 Red Wing Players. Here is my take

1. Mike Ilitch
2. Marion Ilitch
3. Jimmy D
4. Steve Yzerman
5. Nick Lidstrom
7. Scotty Bowman
8. Ken Holland
9. Brendan Shanahan
10. Gordie Howe (Ambassador for team and NHL)

You forgot the knitting lady- she has gotta make the list as a Wings icon

[Barrie]

I'm enjoying reading everyone's list. I think this is a question that doesn't have a right or wrong answer.

[REDWINGSFTW]

you guys are joking right? Lids over Yzerman pffttt.....

[LeftWinger]

Nice lists from everyone. It's very hard to pick since we've had so many top players on our team.

1. Lidstrom
2. Fedorov
3. Yzerman
4. Shanahan
5. Larionov
6. Datsyuk
7. Zetterberg
8. Draper
9. Holmstrom
10. Doug Brown (some folks seem to forget just how good this guy was on this team.)

Honorable mention and also can be placed in the top 10, Maltby, Konstantonov and Kozlov. Cannot forget Paul Coffey, he won a Norris Trophy while playing with the Wings. Osgood, Chelios, Fetisov, Murphy, the list can go on and on. Lapointe, Hull....

Folks will argue their favorite players, either way they fill out their top 10, but no matter how you line them up, these top 5 will always be the top 5. Whether they fall in my order or a whole other order, you cannot argue with these top 5....

[titanium2]

you guys are joking right? Lids over Yzerman pffttt.....

Well why not?

[GMRwings1983]

No love for the Bruise Brothers?

[Kira]

This is way too hard for me, but there is no doubt that it would have to include Stevie Y, Shanny, Nick, Pasha, Homer...I just can't pick 10.

[chuklz]

1. Yzerman
2. Lidstrom
3. Federov
4. Shanahan
5. Osgood
6. Hasek
7. Datsyk
8. Zetterberg
9. Konstantinov
10. Draper