Yzerman, Trottier, Sakic debated for 'NHL's Who Wore It Best?'

Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 is retired throughout the NHL not only because he is considered the greatest player in League history, but because the number and his name are synonymous.

Though there is no debate over the best player to wear that number, there are 98 other numbers with more than one worthy candidate. That is where the "NHL's Who Wore It Best?" comes in.

NHL.com writers and editors have cast their votes, each selecting his or her top three for each number, with the top vote-getter receiving five points, second place getting three points and third place one point. Candidates will be debated, and the winners revealed, in a weekly, five-part series first airing on Sportsnet, NHL.com and League platforms each Friday at 5 p.m. ET, and re-airing each Tuesday on NBCSN (5 p.m. ET) and NHL Network (6:30 p.m. ET). NHL.com will provide the list of winners each Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET following the premiere of each episode, beginning May 15.

Each Tuesday on NHL.com, selected writers will make his or her case for which player in the history of League wore a certain number best. Each Friday, in a companion piece, the debate will center on current players.

Today, the discussion is focused on the best player to wear No. 19.

RELATED: [Who Wore It Best?]

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

If it were up to Steve Yzerman, the pick probably would be Bryan Trottier. It was Trottier, after all, who inspired him to wear No. 19. But it's Yzerman because of how he evolved as a player, helped build the Detroit Red Wings into winners and finished among the greats. Yzerman finished with 155 points (65 goals, 90 assists) in 1988-89; no one other than Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux has had more in a season. But Yzerman transformed himself into a two-way player and won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward by 1999-00. The Red Wings were one of the worst teams in the NHL when Yzerman was selected No. 4 in the 1983 NHL Draft. They went through more trying times, but Yzerman stuck with it and became legendary for his leadership when the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1998 and played through a severe knee injury during Detroit's run to the Cup in 2002. He ranks seventh in NHL history with 1,755 points (692 goals, 1,063 assists). Ask anyone in Detroit to identify No. 19, and they'll say "The Captain" -- Steve Yzerman.

Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Props to Yzerman for knowing who's the best ever to wear No. 19. Trottier was unquestionably the premier two-way center of his generation, and by the time his playing days were over he'd won the Stanley Cup six times. He also won the Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons as the NHL's top rookie, the Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons (scoring champion), the Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons (MVP), the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons (leadership and humanitarian contributions). Trottier had six seasons with more than 100 points and finished with at least 20 points in each of the New York Islanders' four consecutive championship runs from 1980-83. The No. 1 center on the team that won 19 consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff series was No. 19. He's the best.

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

In the same way that Nick astutely pointed out Yzerman's pick likely would be Trottier, Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons has shown similar respect for the Red Wings legend. During the 2006 Torino Olympics, Sakic opted not to wear the available No. 19 for Canada as a tribute to Yzerman, who had decided several months earlier not to participate. The parallels between Sakic's career and that of Yzerman are very revealing. Each played his entire career with the same franchise (Sakic with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche); each was a long-serving captain and each ranks in the top 10 in all-time scoring. Sakic slots two spots behind Yzerman in ninth with 1,641 points (625 goals, 1,016 assists) and has a better points-per-game average (1.19) than Yzerman (1.16) and Trottier (1.11). He twice scored at least 50 goals in a season; eclipsed the 100-point mark six times; helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001; won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1996; and in 2001 won the Hart Trophy, Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons (sportsmanship and skill) and Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons, given to the best player as voted by his peers). One final note: Sakic was named the MVP of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics after helping Canada win gold for the first time in 50 years. One of his teammates on that squad: Yzerman.

Compton

So many terrific players have worn No. 19, to the point that stars such as Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons and Jonathan Toews didn't make our top three. But one has to stand out above the rest, right? For me, Trottier tops the list. The role he played in the Islanders dynasty is simply too hard to ignore and trumps all the wonderful accomplishments we've discussed here.

Zeisberger

Great point about the talented players who have worn No. 19. Trottier always seemed to be overshadowed by Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons and Video: Steve Yzerman was Detroit's captain for 19 seasons, but he was one of the most competitive players I've ever seen. Yzerman's career speaks for itself. I just think Sakic would have been much more in the spotlight had he played in a hockey market like Detroit or New York like Yzerman and Trottier.

Cotsonika

What separates Yzerman from this esteemed company? Let me conclude with a favorite Yzerman story: In 2002, when the Red Wings had a lineup of future Hall of Famers, they fell behind the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Yzerman, who didn't like to draw attention to himself, stood in the middle of the locker room -- specifically to draw attention to himself and away from his teammates -- when reporters entered after Game 2. He struck a calm, defiant tone. Asked if he expected the series to go the distance, he said, "Maybe not. Doesn't mean we're going to lose, either." He spoke to his teammates before practice the next day, telling them they had done good things, to relax and play. Then, despite a knee injury so severe he could barely walk, he drew a penalty and scored on the ensuing power play in Game 3, giving the Red Wings a 1-0 lead. The series didn't go the distance. The Red Wings didn't lose, either. They won in six games, and Yzerman had seven points. "He played like a lion," associate coach Barry Smith said. That's what elevates a great player into a legend.