One thing for sure...hockey is lucky. So much character, grit, heart and leadership in this sport. You could name a couple guys on every team that should win a leadership award.
Meh, the media has created the entire thing. I watched Messier play hockey every week for twenty years. He was just a captain. Did no more than dozens and dozens of players have done in this league. I am not trying to detract from what he has done, my point is that it is overblown.
If there was no Mark Messier leadership award, no one would be saying, "There should be a leadership award named after Messier." It was something that happened when the guy was retiring, in that period when everyone gets all dramatic and OMG - he was the GREATEST!
Bobby Clarke, Denis Potvin, Yzerman, Lidstrom, Alfie, Sundin, Gretzky, Neidermayer, Bourque, Linden, Sakic... and many more prior to the 70's when I started watching. To place Messier above their contributions, their work as a captain, I think that's clearly overrating Messier. It's hard to debate these sorts of things without breaking down the guy, I'm not saying Mess wasn't a great captain, he's just no more than those guys and the media and fired this and created some sort of mystique and magic here and as a guy who has been there for every step of Messier's career - he was my favourite player during the 80's - I have to stop and go, "what?"
If there was no Mark Messier leadership award, no one would be saying, "There should be a leadership award named after Messier." It was something that happened when the guy was retiring, in that period when everyone gets all dramatic and OMG - he was the GREATEST!
He was being referred to as a great leader in Edmonton. It was not just when he was retiring.
Personally however, I think that the entire concept of a "Leadership Award" is stupid, regardless of who it's named after.
Both guys are regional so their work goes unappreciated elsewhere, but I think Alfie and Linden were actually better captains. That's personal opinin and not something you can quantify, of course. Neidermayer is also forgotten, even though he had all the successes a guy like Messier was able to enjoy. I think Neidermayer did more to raise the play of those around him, to create a team wherever he was, to lead and impact the line-up with his character and calm. Great captain.
Canucks fans were upset that his points totals slipped, and that he was being overpaid for what he was producing on the ice.
His leadership was fine, IMO. Mike Keenan wrecked that Canucks team. People blaming Messier clearly have their targets set on the wrong guy.
... Just my opinion as someone who doesn't have a dog in the race (I'm not a huge Messier OR Canucks fan by any means).
I have read a few threads with Canuck fans criticizing Messier for having the number 11 un-retired as well as being the reason why Linden was traded because he wanted to be captain.
I don't know how much truth there is in either of those claims because like you, I don't have a dog in the race.
