Who is the best face-off man in NHL history?

[Vancouver Blazers]

Off the top of my head, I'd give it to Yanic Perreault, but this isn't something I've thought about much.

[Hammer79]

I'm not sure about all time, but the best two this year are Steckel and Malhotra.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.h...fPercentageAll

[luiginb]

Brind'Amour needs to get a nod here.

[EagleBelfour]

I also think Perreault is the best face-off man of All-Time.

Ted Kennedy is probably #2 on my list.

[Rhiessan71]

Yanic was the best and more importantly the most consistent I have seen or heard of.

[justsomeguy]

Seem to remember Doug Jarvis was close to unbeatable on the faceoff.

[John Flyers Fan]

I'll take Clarke to win a face-off if my life depended on it.

The Lindros/Brindamour/Otto trio the Flyers had in the late 90's was the most dominant I've seen.

We certainly could use one of them now.

[gifted88]

Yanic Perreault hands down. wasn't he close to 60% on his career?

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Seem to remember Doug Jarvis was close to unbeatable on the faceoff.

That's my choice. It's a big reason the Habs of the late 70's were always able to clear the defensive zone so efficienty. He was so damn good in those all important late close game and defensive zone draws.

[brianscot]

Joe Nieuwendyk and Adam Oates were also excellent.

[vikash1987]

I don't know about all-time, but ever since I started following hockey (late '90s), I'd say Yanic Perreault.

[Caballo Blanco]

Eric Lindros
Randy Gilhen

[seventieslord]

You have to go with Yanic Perreault because he was the most dominant of this era, and this is the era in which faceoff dominance can actually be quantified.

Other guys who deserve a mention from past eras: Mark Messier, Joel Otto.

[TheDevilMadeMe]

"Best at faceoffs" from the coach's polls (runners up in paranthesis)

1971: Derek Sanderson (Stan Mikita)
1974: Stan Mikita (Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito)
1976: Bobby Clarke (Stan Mikita, Doug Jarvis)
1979: Bobby Clarke (Doug Jarvis, Stan Mikita)
1984: Bryan Trottier (Doug Jarvis, Barry Pederson, Bobby Clarke)

Full voting results for the 1990s:

1993: Joel Otto (4), Peter Stastny (3), Ron Francis (3), Doug Gilmour (2), Adam Oates (2), Peter Zezel (1), Mark Messier (1), Mario Lemieux (1), Steve Yzerman (1), Jari Kurri (1), Dale Hunter (1), Brent Sutter (1)
1994: Ron Francis (10), Joel Otto (7), Doug Gilmour (1), Ron Sutter (1), Adam Oates (1)

[BM67]

In a couple of books by/about linesmen and refs, Stan Mikita gets named by a few as the best they ever saw.

[mbhhofr]

Hall of Fame Linesman, Ray Scapinello, who was in the NHL for 33 years, says that Mikita was the best.

[njdevils1982]

Originally Posted by luiginb

Brind'Amour needs to get a nod here.

yes, high percentage but when you stand sideways in the faceoff you could have an advantage.


also, ask horcoff.

[TheShoe82]

Shocked Adam Oates is not mentioned more in this thread.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I always recall Joel Otto being considered one of the best on the draw along with Rod Brind'Amour. Another player who was considered a faceoff specialist was Pat Conacher.

[CaseyPierroZabotel17]

Mike Zigomanis

[lextune]

Names that jumped to mind:
Clarke
Oates
Brind'Amour
MacTavish
Perreault

[Hackett]

Perreault was so one dimensional on draws, thats what makes his effectiveness so mind boggling. It had nothing to do with cheating or using the body. He was just so quick and it was all finesse.

Now having said that, I dont think he was used much for crucial defensive zone draws, just because it was the only good defensive attribute that he had.

[Hoser]

The best I have personally ever seen was Joel Otto.

Others I'd put forward for consideration, in addition to those already mentioned: Guy Carbonneau, Kris Draper, Mike Sillinger, Dave Andreychuk and Tim Taylor.

[tony d]

Yanic Perrault

[CHGoalie72]

Jozef Stumpel, one of the smartest players I have seen.