Among Mario Lemieux's many accomplishments, which one stands out the most?

Question

Simply put, the Pittsburgh Penguins' legend is one of the league's greatest talents. While falling just short of eclipsing Wayne Gretzky's gaudy totals, Mario Lemieux has amassed a few records and achievements on his own accord. Among those, which one stands out the most?

Answer 1

By my count, the man has single-handedly rescued Pittsburgh hockey and the Penguins specifically on 6 different occasions. That counts for as much or more than anything he actually accomplished on the ice. (which was a highlight reel a minute)

Homes-- I must admit, my hockey withdrawals kept me from mentioning all of his wonderful work with the Mario Lemieux foundation and his partnership with the Children's hospital. Kudos to you.... does anyone actually use the word 'kudos' anymore?

Answer 2

Since keeping them in Pittsburgh (and assembling a heck of a team) has been mentioned, I'll go with returning from the litany of injuries that he suffered. His back problems, the Hodgkins Disease, he was a warrior.

Answer 3

Well, I think being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and then overcoming it may be the greatest accomplishment ever. HE overcame some of the worst adversity anyone, in any sport has ever came up against. Also, he didn't skip a beat on the ice

Answer 4

him winning the cup

Answer 5

His best achievement to me is helping to save the Pens orginization from being moved to Kansas City.

Answer 6

Craig M

Paul Coffey was in on 103 of Lemieux's 199 points - and since Coffey is already in the Hall of Fame, I think that makes Coffey a HHOF calibre player

The Lemieux accomplishment that stands out the most in my mind is scoring 5 goals in a game in 5 different ways.  The chances of this happening in itself are rare (research done by myself for the NHL has shows that only 6x has the opportunity where a player had scored 4 goals in a game in 4 different ways and had a chance at scoring a 5th even occured).  

So, taking advantage of the rarity of the occasion, and performing this feat to my mind is the most impressive of his accomplishments.  Personally, I see this record last a LONG time.

Answer 7

Actually the first thing that sticks out really has nothing to do with hockey.  Mario Lemieux Foundation, persevering with a disease, opening his doors to new players in the NHL.

I must be in a girly mood today.

stagerodent, I really didn't list much of anything, but I am always down for a compliment...I think the "kids" say "props" nowadays, lol.

Answer 8

Saving the Penguins organziation from being moved.  Scoring 5 different ways in a game.  Power play, penalty kill, short handed, penalty shot, and empty net.  His presence in the playoffs in cluding back to back stanley cup wins.  His charity work.

Answer 9

Him coming back from chemo and playing only a few months after treatment has to rank up there, and being able to play when his knees were so bad that his teammates had to lift his legs over the board b/c he couldnt do it under his own strength warrants accollades as well, but I think it is the game when he scored every type of goal possible (even strength, power play, short handed, penalty shot and empty netter) As rare as a 5 goal game is nowadays, that is an untouchable record

Answer 10

The vocabulary hasn't been invented for what this God did for the game of hockey, cancer, Pittsburgh etc.

Answer 11

199 pts.....

..... with help from no one of HOF caliber (Kurri, Messier, Coffey, Anderson etc.) that Gretzky had in Edmonton.

Edit (oversight):OK minus Coffey name some more HOFers from that year not just HOFers but the caliber of teammates on the Oilers vs those Penguins teams top to bottom the Oilers teams were ALOT BETTER. Less Gretzky had to do..all he had to do was score with LOTS of help. Gretzky never played D, never laid a hit in his life...(less injury chance) had a body guard as well.

Answer 12

Well I'll argue that most of those guys in Edmonton were not nearly as good as they're given credit for, and Gretzky made them legends of a dynasty team.  Mario did the same thing for Brown and Quinn but the difference is Gretzky played with the same line for years.  Ronnie Francis and Wookie Jagr took over in Pittsburgh.  But look at what Kurri and Anderson did without Gretzky.  In both cases, that's the sign of a truly great player.

To me Mario's greatest accomplishment was contributing on over 50% of the goals that Pittsburgh scored in that 1988-89 season.  That's an incredible stat when considering they had a decent season too.

Answer 13

I would probably have to say The Mario Lemieux Foundation.

My mother passed away from Ovarian Cancer, and any time i can donate money to a cancer foundation, i'm game.

It was only 5 dollars, but when i found out that you could watch away games in the Mellon Arena during the SCFs, i bought my ticket that instant.

It's nice that he's using his fame for something good.

Answer 14

i'm with Homes.  while he's done great things for hockey and the city of pittsburgh, his accomplishments off the ice are more impressive.  he funds wings in local hospital wards for children to play in while their parent or a sibling is being treated for cancer, etc. and also for the kids getting treatment themselves to play in,  he has the foundation which provides funding for autism, lupus, cancer, and leukemia, and his annual golf tournament which raises money not only for the foundation but for  scholarships for local students.  he truly has led a very inspirational life on and off the ice.