I heard Ted Lindsay once say that "Gordie Howe was the greatest hockey player he ever saw, but Steve Yzerman was the greatest Red Wing."
Of course. much of that is due to Lindsay's falling out with Howe over the players union battles Terrible Ted had with the league and Jack Adams. Howe sided with Adams over Lindsay, which resulted in Lindsay being traded to the Blackhawks with Wings' backup goalie Glenn Hall in 1957.
IMO, the case could be made that Yzerman is the best Red Wing ever, but I'm not going to lose sleep over that considering what Howe accomplished.
It's like asking Chicago Bears' fans who their greatest halfback is, Walter Payton and Gale Sayers?
1. Howe
2. Yzerman
3. Sawchuck (tragic figure, great goaltender)
4. Lidstrom
5. Red Kelly (just throwing that name out for ****s and giggles)
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"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are." - H.L. Mencken