Who was the best player on our 2002 squad?

[Guest irishock]

I know Lidstrom won the Conn Smythe but some could make an argument for Steve or Dominik aswell.

[thegerkin 189]

Dom in 2002 and Stevie Y for his whole career; no exception. I can see it being some tough choices for a lot of people around here. Everyone has there own favorites for different reasons, which is good.

[MabusIncarnate 5,344]

I'll forever be Yzerman biased, so I tick him as both my answers. I think in both cases it's well earned. Dom really was phenomenal that playoff year also.

[puckloo39 5,686]

All good choices, but you know who I voted for.

I miss all of these great players.

[Jedi 1,865]

I'm downright offended that you left off the clear cut choice for MVP and obvious best player on the team that year, Jiri Slegr. Shame on you. After all, he played one game in the playoffs. That one game just-so-happened to be the game where we won the Stanley Cup. If that doesn't scream "Most Valuable Player", then I just don't know what does...

Back to reality... So many pieces on that team clicked together perfectly. Stevie putting the whole team on his back in the first round. Dom stonewalling Colorado (who had us on the brink) in Game 6. Lidstrom leading the defense in his usual always-perfect self, winning the Conn Smythe. Larionov always making the perfect pass, and scoring the iconic triple overtime goal. McCarty with the Hat Trick on Roy in Game 1.

I had to pick Nick as the MVP, and Stevie will always be my favorite Red Wing, so that was an easy choice for me.

[55fan 5,133]

Best? Seriously couldn't decide. Ask me after each game.

Fave? My heart belongs to Mac.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I think you could easily make a case for any of those players listed for MVP. Just an unbelievable collection of talent and all of them were terrific during that playoff run. Not to take anything away from Nick because he earned it, but Stevie was the MVP for me. He played on literally one knee and rallied the team from down 0-2 in the first round.

As for favorite player, that's a slam dunk. Stevie Y wins any time his name shows up there for me.

[Rivalred 630]

#19

The one and only

[Guest irishock]

The way I look at it, Lidstrom was the MVP but Yzerman deserved it more, if you know what I mean. I think the Wings would still be a legitimate contender if Yzerman underwent his knee surgery. The team was unbelievably deep on the forwards list; You could have Shanahan-Fedorov-Holmtsrom, Devereaux-Datsyuk-Hull, Robitalle-Larionov-filler, grind line and still win the cup. However I don't think we win the cup with Fischer-Chelios, Dandenault-Duschene as top 2 D pairings. Hasek wouldn't be able to handle Colorado without Lidstrom commanding the blue line.

Favorite player? Always been Homer; his amazing deflection for the game 7 GWG basically lit a fire under the team.

[Guest The Axe]

Feds was the best player. Yzerman played the best.

[egroen 384]

Lidstrom is the only one who was right at his peak/prime that year and if you couple his regular season + playoffs was probably the best player in the world... Though Yzerman had nothing short of a heroic performance in the playoffs that year and I would not have blinked twice if he had won the Conn Smythe.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I think Lidstrom was the best player on that team, and the only one of those Hall of Famers who was truly in his prime.

Conn Smythe could have gone either way. I have no problem with Lidstrom winning it. He was consistently the best player over those 4 playoff series.

Yzerman is my favorite player on the team and of all time.

[Nev 1,085]

Are we talking just playoffs here? Tough call for best player. As someone else said, Yzerman was the most valuable player with his leadership playing on one leg, but I would have to go with Dom - he set a record for most shut-outs in the post season, out-goaltended Roy in the WCF, and hung in there when Irbe was standing on his head.

Favourite player was Feds.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Nev

[PaZel 19]

Seriously guys, no love for Freddie Olausson?!?

[egroen 384]

Uwe Krupp is being ignored as well, for some odd reason.

[hooon 1,089]

Yzerman was such a warrior that season and playoffs, it was amazing to watch.

I just remember Hull scoring about a million clutch goals in the playoffs that year.

[ElCapitan 14]

El Capitan

[FlashyG 1,799]

I voted for Lidstrom but Shanny had an unbelievable regular season and was equally deserving a that years MVP.

Yzerman was the heart of the team and a strong case can be made for him as well.

[datterberg1340 626]

Doesn't anybody remember the heroic exploits of Jason Williams during that run?

[Guest The Axe]

Doesn't anybody remember the heroic exploits of Jason Williams during that run?

Devereaux was integral, as well.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Devereaux was integral, as well.

I couldn't help myself...had to click on "like" for the Boyd Devereaux name drop. God he was awesome...or something.

[IllinoisRedWingsFan 49]

Favorite is Stevie Y.

MVP? No one because there were so many players that came thru in clutch situations e.g. Hasek, Yzerman, Lidstrom, McCarty, Homer, Olausson Hull etc.

Edited August 15, 2012 by IllinoisRedWingsFan

[Marty Barry 230]

Iggy. Always my fav.