toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 If the Wings win the Cup this year, it will be the first time in the history of the league that a team captained by a European has won the Cup. I originally thought it would be the first time a non-Canadian captained team won the cup, but Dallas was captained by an American when they won recently right? Also, 7 of the 16 teams entering the playoffs have European captians. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicada 4 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 well..then 7 or the 16 teams could be making history this year! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bringback91 2 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 I thought there was a Russian born captain some time in the 70's to win it all. Swore I saw it on TV the other day, maybe not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 I thought there was a Russian born captain some time in the 70's to win it all. Swore I saw it on TV the other day, maybe not. No, there are two non-Canadian Smythe winners (Lidstrom and the player you're talking about) and one non-Canadian captain (Hatcher). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheWestWing 71 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 A 'few' years back, I would look at our team and see a bunch of Russians (epitimozied by Shanny coming out with a 'V' at the end of jersey name in the hopes Scotty would notice him - lol). But now, I really dont see it so much as a bunch of Swedes. Nor do I consciously think 'oh, he's a Euro'. Maybe its just cause they're so prevelent these days. Tho I 'see' Modonao and Cheli and Miller as Amerikans - maybe for the opposite reason - they're becoming fewer and fewer...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan75 2 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 (edited) I thought there was a Russian born captain some time in the 70's to win it all. Swore I saw it on TV the other day, maybe not. You did. They talked about it during the Wings game Saturday. It was some guy back in the 1930's. He was pretty much Canadian though but he was born in Russia. Edited April 11, 2007 by wingsfan75 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 You did. They talked about it during the Wings game Saturday. It was some guy back in the 1930's. He was pretty much Canadian though but he was born in Russia. I'm pretty sure Lidstrom is the only non-Canadian Conn Smythe winner. In terms of non-Canadian Captains winning the cup, I really only think of Hatcher, the other two are technically non-Canadian "born" captains, but they are really Canadian. Chuk Gardiner was born in Scotland, but moved to Canada at the age of 7, he won the cup in 1934 and unfortunately died 3 weeks later at the age of 29. Johnny Gottselig was born in Russia, but moved to Canada as an infant. He won the cup in the 30s as well. He was so young when he moved to Canada, a lot of resources show him as being born in Calgary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 I'm pretty sure Lidstrom is the only non-Canadian Conn Smythe winner. Brian Leetch wasn't Canadian in 1994. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 Brian Leetch wasn't Canadian in 1994. There you go, I wasn't checking recent years. Someone mentioned the 70s and I checked the late 60s to early 80s and they all appeared to be Canadian to me. Not sure why I forgot about Leetch as I was looking at his accomplishments, etc. only last week or the week before. (because of a trivia question that came up during a game I was watching). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
detroitdan 0 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 Leetch is the only American Smythe winner, Lidstrom the only European one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
datsyukismyfriend 4 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 Brian Leetch wasn't Canadian in 1994. he still isn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
