GMRwings1983

Yzerman was injured most of 2003, so that wasn't the top line. It was the top line in the playoffs, but that ended in disaster. Still, I'd rather have that line. Three of my favorite players on one line.

Portland Panthers sounds kinda cool. I still prefer the Saskatoon Panthers, though.

Also the only team that will give the league ratings in the SCF.

Just for fun's sake, how many of USA's players could crack Canada's roster in terms of talent? Maybe Kane, Kessel and Parise?

Easily the best roster, but Canada doesn't do well in Olympic competitions abroad. Not to mention, it's tough to repeat as Gold Medal winners.

Here's another way to view these stats. Hockey fans know espn won't cover it, so they don't watch it.

What percent of their time is given to Lebron alone? I'm guessing at least 50% Al Jazeera > espn

Every goalie that won multiple Cups played on loaded teams. Especially goalies that have four or five Cups to their name. I don't think you can discredit original 6 goalies like Sawchuk or Plante for playing with Hall of Famers. Then you have to discredit Brodeur, Dryden, Roy, Fuhr, Smith, etc. for the same reasons. They all played for great teams. Patrick Roy probably comes the closest to carrying teams, since the two Canadiens' teams he won Cups with weren't the best teams in the league that year (although good teams nonetheless). Hasek was as good, if not better than anyone, and even he couldn't win a Cup until he joined the 2002 Red Wings roster.

Saw a similar thread on an NFL site, so I thought we’d have one too. After some back and forth, I decided if there ever was a Mount Rushmore for a team, the team itself would decide the players. So that’s what I went with. Basically, who the franchise would likely pick. I also decided to include GM’s or coaches where I thought appropriate. BTW, for those posters who are from overseas and may not know what Mount Rushmore is, it’s a mountain in the United States that has the faces of four US presidents carved into it, in the form of a sculpture. Hence, we’re looking for a hypothetical mountain for each NHL team, with only 4 spots available for their biggest legends. Anaheim – Selanne, Kariya, Niedermayer, Getzlaf Yeah, I omitted the guy with the giant pads. Two great playoffs, but I don’t remember him doing much else. Niedermayer, on the other hand, did a lot for them during his stint and captained them to their only Cup. Getzlaf has been the face of the Ducks for some time now. Selanne and Kariya are locks. Boston – Orr, Shore, Bourque, Esposito I think they’re the four best players in Boston history, and arguably all four are top 10 all time NHL players. The easiest original six team I had to deal with. Buffalo – Perreault, Hasek, Martin, Andreychuk Perreault and Hasek are no brainers. Andreychuk is second only to Perreault in most major offensive categories for Buffalo. Martin was a very good winger on that French Connection line. I had a hard time leaving Housley off the list. I guess he’s underrated after all. As for recent memory, I quickly dismissed Ryan Miller and Lindy Ruff, despite their longevity. Not good enough to make the mountain. Calgary – Iginla, MacInnis, Fleury­, Vernon. I put Vernon ahead of McDonald or Kiprusoff. Like Kipper, he was a mainstay, but I think Vernon is more memorable, partly because he was there for their only Cup and partly because the Flames have been terrible for many years under Kipper (not all his fault). Lanny McDonald and his stache would look great on a Mount Rushmore. He captained them to their only Cup and remains immensely popular. However, his last few years in Calgary were too underwhelming, as he played a smaller role on the team. I don’t know how you can keep Iginla, Fleury or MacInnis off the mountain. Carolina – Francis, Brind’Amour, Staal, Wesley Any arguments here? Maybe Cam Ward or Kevin Dineen? I’m content with these selections. Chicago – Mikita, Hull, Esposito, Hall Probably the four biggest names in Hawks history. Denis Savard and Pierre Pilote both have deserving arguments as well, but I had a hard time thinking any of the above wouldn’t make it. Colorado/Quebec – Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Stastny Foote’s face is too ugly to be on any monument. Besides, Stastny was a much better player than him. Other three I don’t expect anyone to argue. Columbus – Nash, Vyborny, Mason, Umberger, What do you expect? Their history has been a joke so far. Dallas/Minnesota – Modano, Broten, Ciccarelli, Goldsworthy Goldsworthy was the face of the franchise in the early days. Zubov and Hatcher I came close to including, but maybe they cancelled each other out, because I didn’t choose either. Broten and Cicarelli carried the team in the 80’s and were long mainstays. Modano is the best player in franchise history. Detroit – Howe, Yzerman, Lindsay, Lidstrom Yzerman and Howe are locks. I think Lidstrom would get in, but I can see the team omitting him over older legends. I changed Sawchuk and Lindsay three times, before finally choosing Lindsay. Sawchuk died young, while Lindsay continues to be an ambassador for the franchise. He’d likely get the nod for that reason. Delvecchio I had to snub as well, because there’s just not enough spots. Edmonton – Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Fuhr Ultimately took Fuhr over Kurri. Kurri was a much better player comparatively, but he was another great forward on a team loaded with them. Fuhr would probably get the nod popularity wise. Coffey is the best offensive defenseman behind Orr. As for Gretzky and Messier, they probably already have a Mount Rushmore somewhere in north Alberta. Florida –Jokinen, Vanbiesbrouck, Mellanby, Bure I came close to leaving Bure off, but he did take them to the playoffs “once” (which in their history is no small achievement). He had some fantastic years in Florida individually. Mellanby and Jokinen were there forever. Vanbiesbrouck carried them to their only Finals appearance and was their first real star. Luongo is the guy I can envision possibly getting there ahead of Bure or Mellanby. Unfortunately, Luongo was there for some very unmemorable years. Los Angeles – Gretzky, Dionne, Robitaille, Taylor I doubt anyone can argue the first three choices. I took Taylor over Rogie Vachon. He was there over 15 years, scored 1,000 points and was their GM for about a decade. He’s a Kings legend. Minnesota – Gaborik, Lemaire, Backstrom, Koivu I still forget that Lemaire is no longer their coach. He shaped the style that team played for so many years and what they became known for around the NHL. The other choices are all better than any alternatives I could think of. Montreal – Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur, Plante This one wasn’t as tough as you’d think. I think Howe Morenz is probably a top 10 all time NHL player, but he’s not as remembered as say a Rocket Richard. Richard and Believeau are worshipped in Montreal. So is Lafleur. I picked Plante ahead of Dryden. In this case, the four most legendary and beloved players in franchise history are also the best, and deserve to be there. Nashville – Trotz, Legwand, Weber, Timonen Trotz is their only coach, so he has to get in. Legwand is nothing special but he’s been there basically since they began. Timonen and Weber carried them during their stints. I guess you could argue either Rinne or Vokoun should be there. In a few years, Rinne will be there for sure. New Jersey – Lamoriello, Brodeur, Stevens, Elias I picked Elias ahead of John MacLean (not that guy from Die Hard). It was close as one of those two is the franchise’s all time best forward. Lamoriello is a no-brainer. He built their franchise. Don’t think anyone will argue Brodeur or Stevens. Daneyko and Niedermayer were great, but I can’t remove anyone for them. New York Islanders – Yashin, Snow, Milbury, Kvasha……...........JK…………….Real list is Trottier, Bossy, Potvin, Arbour Trottier, Bossy and Potvin are locks. Arbour coached the team for like 20 years. BTW, if anyone wants to start their own joke Mount Rushmore thread, go for it. New York Rangers – Leetch, Messier, Richter, Gilbert Realistically, guys like Cook, Howell and Bathgate should be on this monument. However, Rangers fans are so obsessed with the 1994 team (because they didn’t win squat for so long before that), that I see their Mount Rushmore being driven by recent history. Gilbert has to get in because he holds the team records for goals and points and was a great forward. Ottawa – Alfredsson, Phillips, Redden, Spezza Pretty easy selections. Phillips is nothing special but has played 1,000 games for the franchise. Redden seems like last decade’s news, but he was a very good defenseman for them for years. Spezza has been a star for a while now. Alfie is obvious. Heatley and Hossa didn’t play there long enough to get in. Phoenix/Winnipeg – Hawerchuk, Doan, Numminen, Tkachuk Thomas Steen is the only guy I feel bad for not including. It was between him and Tkachuk, but I decided Tkachuk was too good a player to leave off. Before anyone mentions Selanne, he didn’t play enough games there. Philadelphia – Clarke, Parent, Barber, Lindros First three were easy. Lindros, despite the way he left the franchise, I think would make it. There seems to be more reconciliation between him and the club in recent years. Many of us younger fans will remember him more than any other Flyer, and I suspect it’ll be that way for some time. If eva still posted on LGW, he’d put Mark Howe ahead of Lindros. Pittsburgh – Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, Malkin Certainly the four best players in franchise history. Don’t think I could rank anyone above them. San Jose – Marleau, Thornton, Nabokov, Nolan Another slam dunk for me. St Louis - Hull, Federko, Sutter, MacInnis, Confident about this one too. Hull and Federko are the best offensive players they ever had. Sutter was the heart and soul of the Blues and was a really good player. MacInnis over Pronger was an easy choice in the end. MacInnis was there longer and is more respected by Blues fans. Tampa Bay – Lecavalier, St. Louis, Richards, Stamkos Stamkos was the bubble choice, but I think he’s already earned the right to be there. He’s the current face of the Lightning. Richards has been gone a few years, but I still think he’d get in. Kubina is too ordinary a player to be ahead of any of these guys. Toronto –Armstrong, Broda, Sittler, Sundin Along with the Rangers, this was the toughest. Lot of older legends left off, like Apps and Conacher. Armstrong captained them to all those Cups in their glory days, and played more games than any Leaf. He has to be there. Broda was their goalie for about 15 years! Sittler was an offensive tour de force for them over 10 years, before Sundin broke many of his team records. Dave Keon wouldn’t likely get a spot, because there’s been a rift between him and the Leafs for several decades now. He’d refuse it. Vancouver –Naslund, Smyl, Linden, Sedin twins Naslund, Linden and Smyl I was confident about. I couldn’t decide which Sedin should get the 4th spot, until I realized………..……it’s the same freaking face on Mount Rushmore. So included them both under one spot. Also, Pavel Bure is the best player in Canucks history, but the way he left the franchise and them not retiring his number, makes me think he wouldn’t get on the mountain. Washington – Ovechkin, Hunter, Bondra, Kolzig Ovechkin and Bondra were the Caps’ star players during their eras. Hunter was the leader of the team for a long time. I admit that I snubbed Mike Gartner big time. He was a much better player than the overrated Kolzig, but Kolzig was a Capital so long that he’s “The” Capitals goalie in franchise history. I think he’ll be more remembered as a Cap, ultimately. Winnnipeg/Atlanta – Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Enstrom, Pavelec LOL. I know. I even thought of putting Eric Boulton on here.

Nah. Gilmour was a good player and was very popular in Toronto, but too many people overrate him, because they don't realize how many great players the Leafs had in their heyday. He's nowhere close on the mountain for me, especially if Leafs fans of all ages were choosing. We just remember Gilmour as one of the best Leafs we've seen, because we haven't seen too many. (I'm assuming you're under 60). Wendel Clark is in the same boat.

But Howe, Lindsay, Sawchuk, Delvecchio, Abel and others wouldn't point to Ilitch as being responsible for their successes. The Red Wings aren't the Dallas Mavericks. The franchise was legendary before Ilitch got there. No way he trumps a Ted Lindsay off the mountain.

Didn't you predict team USA's 2014 roster the day after they lost the Gold Medal game in 2010?

He wants to play for every team Penguins fans hate. Islanders are next.

I'm just disappointed you didn't argue with me for omitting Grimson from the mountain. Damn. Another guy you and I scared away.

Doc Holliday had good photoshop skills. Would take way too long to conjure him, though.

Nah. It's an interesting topic no matter which sport one is discussing.

LOL. You guys are way too easy.

People will never get it.

Contract the two Florida teams.

Very confusing. I'd prefer a BCS type format instead. One "Stanley Cup Finals" series between the two highest computer ranked teams. And three other series, called the "Gretzky Series", "Howe Series" and "Orr series" (sorry Mario). These three series would be for pride only, between the 6 highest ranked teams after the two that get to play in the Finals. Once again, computer rankings would decide. Makes sense?

Indeed. Even better than putting Manon Rheaume out there for Tampa.

Anyone remember how Lilja ended up Lidstrom's partner in the 2006 playoffs? I don't think Schneider was injured. I just know Lidstrom held Lilja back and that pairing was a disaster in the postseason.

Seems like there's been backlash about the "Metropolitan" thing from hockey fans around the league. Maybe the league will change it due to unrest? Maybe? As for the Florida teams, the league should think about moving one to Quebec and the other to Saskatoon. Tampa becomes the Quebec Nordiques and Florida becomes the Saskatoon Panthers. Obviously, this would take several seasons to happen.

Good question. Probably because the four guys I chose would have made it on Carolina merit alone, regardless of what some of them accomplished in Hartford. I guess you could say that about Jersey too, which is why I didn't list Kansas City/Colorado together with New Jersey. Then again, Hartford is a more memorable NHL franchise than the Scouts or Rockies were.

If you look at how few games he played there in his 7 seasons, you'll understand why I didn't include him. He did have a remarkable 1993 season, though, like so many guys that year. And he was immensely popular and a better player than Andreychuk. I can see the argument.