Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Sorry if this has been done before but I'm new here... SO BACK OFF!!! Inspired by the Fedorov or Datsyuk thread, I'd like to compare the Russians to the Swedes. ---The Russian Five--- Fedorov/Larionov/Kozlov (Imagine Datsyuk instead of Kozlov... holy Jesus) Fetisov/Konstantinov I was never on the edge of my seat more. The puck movement was phenomenal. They slid into the zone like butter. ---The Swedish Five--- Holmstrom/Zetterberg/Franzen (you gotta suspend reality for just a tick...) Lidstrom/Kronwall Dominate through strength and sheer will. Seem to be more defensive minded than the Russian Five but capable of ridiculous offense. I pick the Russian Five. Konstantinov was the best open ice hitter I had ever seen. Larionov and Fetisov were class all the way. (I met Fetisov in an elevator at the Toronto Westin... super nice dude) Edited January 23, 2009 by Broken 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Sammy f***s it up for the Swedes. Have to go with the Russians based on that, even though Lidstrom is better than either Fetisov or Konstantinov. Also, you have to remember that Fetisov and Larionov never played in their prime in the NHL. Even so, I still have to go with the Russian five. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Sammy f***s it up for the Swedes. Have to go with the Russians based on that, even though Lidstrom is better than either Fetisov or Konstantinov. Also, you have to remember that Fetisov and Larionov never played in their prime in the NHL. Even so, I still have to go with the Russian five. I don't know... I kinda see Sammy and Kozlov canceling each other out. Edited January 23, 2009 by Broken 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norrisnick 1 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I don't know... I kinda see Sammy and Kozlov canceling each other out. Slava is and was exponentially better than Sammy. He still holds our franchise record for playoff game-winning goals as well as OT goals. MFer was clutch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Statts 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I was young when the Russian five came into the league, but I remember those guys could control the puck like nothing I've seen before (same could probably be said about their opposition). Passing was just tape to tape and seemed like they knew what each other was going to do. Made the other team look like they were standing still. Much like Feds I would love to see the five play in the new NHL... it would be glorious! Edited January 23, 2009 by Statts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Slava is and was exponentially better than Sammy. Yeah, it's kind of sad how people are quickly forgetting that Kozlov was a very good player in Detroit, especially in the playoffs. Compare the way he shoots the puck to the way Sammy shoots and you have a complete laugher. Don't know how anyone could say that they cancel each other out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Yeah, it's kind of sad how people are quickly forgetting that Kozlov was a very good player in Detroit, especially in the playoffs. Compare the way he shoots the puck to the way Sammy shoots and you have a complete laugher. Don't know how anyone could say that they cancel each other out. I totally agree. File this away GMR- I'm still gunnin' for you!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Slava is and was exponentially better than Sammy. He still holds our franchise record for playoff game-winning goals as well as OT goals. MFer was clutch. True Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I totally agree. File this away GMR- I'm still gunnin' for you!!! Actually, what I meant to say is that Kozlov was a soft, Russian euro and that Kocur and McCarty were the real stars of those teams. Without them there would have been no Cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Actually, what I meant to say is that Kozlov was a soft, Russian euro and that Kocur and McCarty were the real stars of those teams. Without them there would have been no Cup. Ha. I was actually writting a response about how Sammy is actually physical and Slava wasn't blah blah blah and realized I was player hating. GMR- I don't hate da playa. I hate da game. Edited January 23, 2009 by thedisappearer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I'm not sure if I'm missing something here but why no Holmstrom? Why Sammy instead of Homer? With Z and Mule, you have enough shooters on one line. Homer's passing and stickhandling ability looks awkward, but it's effective and underrated when all the attention goes to Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the Swedish five wins 3-2. I think the Swedish Five are more solid defensively (yes, even with Kronwall). Fedorov in his prime was magic at its finest. At the same time, we've seen guys like Steve Rucchin shut him down. Z's main assignment would be to limit Sergei and I think he'd do well. I think with Z and Mule constantly in his face his effectiveness would limited well enough to grind out the win. Could you imagine a scrap between Homer and Vladdy after every stoppage? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Copenhagen848 58 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The Russians.....easily. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Ha. I was actually writting a response about how Sammy is actually physical and Slava wasn't blah blah blah and realized I was player hating. GMR- I don't hate da playa. I hate da game. I saw Slava slam Adam Foote's face against the glass hard enough to make him bleed like a stuffed pig. Thats physical enough for me. Edited January 23, 2009 by Broken 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I'm not sure if I'm missing something here but why no Holmstrom? Why Sammy instead of Homer? With Z and Mule, you have enough shooters on one line. Homer's passing and stickhandling ability looks awkward, but it's effective and underrated when all the attention goes to Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the Swedish five wins 3-2. I think the Swedish Five are more solid defensively (yes, even with Kronwall). Fedorov in his prime was magic at its finest. At the same time, we've seen guys like Steve Rucchin shut him down. Z's main assignment would be to limit Sergei and I think he'd do well. I think with Z and Mule constantly in his face his effectiveness would limited well enough to grind out the win. Could you imagine a scrap between Homer and Vladdy after every stoppage? That's a good point. There's too many damn Swedes on this team to keep track of. With Homer everything changes. I have to give it to the Swedes then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I saw Slava slam Adam Foote's face against the glass hard enough to make him bleed like a stuffed pig. Thats physical enough for me. Sorry I didn't consider cheap shots. My bad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I'm not sure if I'm missing something here but why no Holmstrom? Why Sammy instead of Homer? [/ Cuz I'm a drunk ass... fixed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 That's a good point. There's too many damn Swedes on this team to keep track of. With Homer everything changes. I have to give it to the Swedes then. Ha! I know, right. Hakan Andersson is the man. You have, and I'm guessing, 5 out every 10 hockey players growing up in Sweden who have the Red Wings as their favorite team and thus want to play for them. I hope it continues for a long, long time. Right now you got Mule-Z-Homer and then an up and coming generation of Nyquist-Andersson-Ritola who seem likely to make it and then after that Ryno-Samuelsson-Axelsson who are less likely to make it but still have a chance. I wonder why they don't scout all that much in Russia anymore. I guess after Grigorenko kind of halted their efforts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The new Russian five that's growing in Washington. What the hell are they laughing at? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Statts 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The new Russian five that's growing in Washington. What the hell are they laughing at? Bahh There's only four of them...maybe they could start a band. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maltbymaniac 13 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 im glad to have had both.....good times,good times Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsyerberger 279 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 One thing you've gotta remember with the Russian 5, besides their amazing skating and smooth play, is that Russians were still new to the league, and all 5 linemates could babble russian at eachother and hardly anyone else would have any idea what the f*** they were talking about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stactum 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The Russian Five. Mainly because of what they brought to the Detroit and NHL in general. Red Wings sort of adopted that puck possession style of play because of that and stick to that style no matter what. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Russian 5, we saw them all play together and their sum was clearly better than their parts -- A Swedish 5 we have not really seen on the ice. I'll take the Russian 5 that we knew was able to play together and dominate both ends of the ice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I love Swedish people, and their accents! Why does Sammy get so much hate around here, for what he gets paid, yall should be much more forgiving!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
