| | The Matchup: Mike Peca vs. Eric Lindros
The Question: Who is the better pound-for-pound player?
Mike Peca
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Eric Lindros
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No slight (to) Peca, Lindros makes the weight
Even as pound-for-pound players, it's difficult to compare Eric Lindros and Michael Peca. Do you pare down the heavyweight (Lindros) and take away his power? No, because that's one of Lindros' biggest assets. Do you make the middleweight (Peca) bigger and put him in the heavyweight's shoes? That's probably a closer match and the safer way to compare the two.
Still, the argument slightly favors Lindros, who has quite a reputation in all facets of his game -- size, skills and intelligence. Lindros proves every night that, as a big man, he knows how to use his size.
Many big men fail to use their size as well as Lindros. The NHL is full of players between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-8 who are as heavy as Lindros, if not heavier, but they don't consistently pound and devastate people like Lindros. Hundreds of players over the years have lacked the physical style to match their size. Coaches don't say that about Lindros.
Lindros (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) is huge and uses his power to make life difficult for all players of any size. Not only is Lindros as strong as an ox, but he also possesses intelligence and skills. If there is a crack in the door, he kicks it open. Then you are in big trouble.
Obviously, Peca (5-11, 181) is not in Lindros' big-player class. But I give him a lot of credit for being a top-level player who is a leader on and off the ice. The way he performs on the ice certainly inspires the rest of his team. He epitomizes the Sabres.
Peca is strong, smart and definitely tough for his size. He hits hard and uses his energy level and speed. He punishes people by hitting them on the fly. He has to generate momentum to crush people, while Lindros can use his 235-pound body to just lean on people and hurt them, or -- if he's on the move -- hit them like a rolling tractor-trailer.
Peca will hurt people because he knows how to hit, especially in the open ice. If a player has his head down, Peca will level him. His drive compensates for his lack of size. But, even playing against players smaller than Lindros, like at 210 pounds, Peca must have his wits about him and must use everything he has in order to be effective. He does it by grit and determination.
In the end, you have to pick Lindros, the bigger and more skilled player. And I don't think Peca would feel slighted in the least.
Brian Engblom is a color commentator and analyst for ESPN's NHL coverage. He played 11 seasons in the NHL. | |
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