The Gretzky versus Lemieux debate rages on...with a twist (please read on)?

Question

One of the more dominant themes of this forum is the debate on the greater player, Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux. It's been almost a decade since "The Great One" hung up the skates, and "Le Magnifique" is three seasons removed from a not-so-fortunate ending to his legendary career. In the arena of ownership, who is the better steward of his franchise (taking into account EVERYTHING, including team talent, arena, playoff berths, scouting, and so on)?

Answer 1

Gretzky!!!

He scored 50 goals in 39 games and 92 in 82 games.

Thats a record never to be broken

Answer 2

I like the question.

I think Mario defiantly gets more of the media headlines because it was his team, the Penguins are an east coast team and they have been an extremely popular team since the early 90's. Also the Crosby draft, I must say something just a little "fishy" was there really a chance of him landing on a west coast or sun belt team

This season for Wayne is his biggest, the Coyotes must have some success and I'm sure that I am not alone when I say they must make the playoffs. However this will not change the general public scope on #66 vs #99 off ice battle

Mario will always win out in America unless Gretzky takes the Yotes to the finals but again just making the finals like in 93 wasn't enough to push a west coast team into the hearts of the American national TV deal.

My last point is factually or not Mario saving the Penguins will always resonate with hockey fans and Wayne with Phoenix will I'm sure not too many tears would be had if the Coyotes moved to say Hamilton or back to Winnipeg

Answer 3

The problem with this daspect of this debate is that people's perceptions are skewed.

1.  Lemieux was, is, and always will be a Penguin.  He also owns a sizeable chunk of the team, and actually has some power in that sense.

2.  Gretzky is NOT a Coyote.  He is still an Edmonton Oiler who has lost his way.  His ownership in the Coyotes is less than 8%,  and he has no real say in management decisions - aside from only Motes can fire him as coach.

Team Talent goes to Pittsburgh..............as good as Turris may turn out to be, he still isn't of the same calibre as Jagr, Lemieux, Crosby, or Malkin (all of whom have played for the Penguins under Lemieux's ownership).

The Arena goes to Phoenix.  America West and Glendale are both hands over fist better arenas than the Civic Arena.

Playoff berths go to Pittsburgh.  When the original Lemieux group bought the team,  this team was still above 0.500 and making the playoffs every year (including the conference finals in Lemieux's 3rd year as owner).  Phoenix made the playoffs 4 of their 5 years,  and missed the last 5.

Scouting goes to Pittsburgh......I mean C'mon, Keith Gretzky is Phoenix's Director of amateur scouting.............and Blake Wheeler told a Boston radio station that the most disappointing day in his life was when he was drafted by Phoenix.  This past year, every Penguins 1st round draft pick from 2000 (Orpik) to 2006 (Staal) played significant roles with the team,  an d the 2007 pick was traded for Hossa.  Phoenix can't match that...........although they still have their 1995 first round pick in the lineup in Doan (although that predates Gretzky's ownership - and Phoenix).

Lemieux wins the ownership battle in a landslide.

Answer 4

Lemieux's team has reached the Stanley Cup Finals.  Gretzky's team is lucky when it even reaches the Playoffs.

Answer 5

Gretzky should have stuck to just playing.  Sorry.

Answer 6

Mario by far. he gave his blood, sweat, tears, and money to keep his beloved franchise where it is. i havent seen Gretzky do anything close to what Mario has done over the years.

Answer 7

1.   Didn't the taxpayers of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania save the Penguins franchise? ... the people earning ordinary wages who have to pick up the costs for a new arena with the extra taxes they will have to pay so that rich owners can meet their profit margins?

There's no such thing as "government money." Every cent the government spends on new arenas and stadiums to subsidize some wealthy owner's team comes out of people's pockets.

They're the ones who are coming up with the cash to keep the team in the city, not Lemieux.

Don't forget that Mario was fighting for the money that the team owed him ... about $14million ... when the team just about went under and he was given a chunk of ownership to make up for it. He was more than willing to move the team to Kansas if all else failed in order to cash out.

2. Everyone forgets Crosby, the franchise, wasn't drafted. He was won in a lottery. Scouting didn't enter into it. And if the lottery ping-pong ball had come up with a Coyotes' logo on it that day, the Penguins may have left Pittsburgh by this time and Phoenix might have been a playoff contender.

Answer 8

In regards to their post career NHL success, I'd have to say Lemieux. Overall though, I'd have to go with Gretzky. He brought home a Gold medal...

Answer 9

Mario saved hockey in Pittsburgh. Gretzky saved hockey,  'nuff said.

Answer 10

While the Coyotes haven't done much on the ice, they haven't had anything handed to them either. Can't say the same for Mario.

The previous Pen's owners owed him $14 mil. and he gets to keep the team for that. How much was Balsille going to pay him for it?

No other team has ever received 2 first overall picks for finishing last one time. That should never have happened, lock-out or not, just plain stunk for anyone not named Mario. And then there's their arena deal, and a sweet one at that. I don't hear Mario crying to move the team now.

While the question is who is the better steward, anyone would have to say the Pen's have made the biggest jump forward. So, while his methodology stinks, Mario's team has improved the most, but I have more respect for Gretzky's effort in a much more difficult market.

Answer 11

In all do Respect to you Gretzky fans. Gretzky was the better player but Lemieux had a better after career. Lemieux wins.