24 replies to this topic

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

With this thread, I'm hoping to take advantage of the fact that LGW has a lot of fans from all over the world.

If you could put together a national team per country but had the freedom to use any player from any time in history as they are in their prime, what would those teams look like and who would get gold, silver and bronze?

-Would Lidstrom and Salming make a good defensive combination?
-Would Fedorov or Larionov (or someone else) be Russia's #1 center?
-Would Crosby make Team Canada's top six?
-Which Koivu brother, if any, would fit best with Selanne and Tikkanen as wingers?
-Which wingers would flank LaFontaine?
-Who goes where on Team Slovakia/Team Czech Republic if you went beyond the 94 Olympics?
-Etc.

Let's have some fun with this one.

[Finnish Wing]

I think the team would be pretty much filled with old CCCP players.

[GMRwings1983]

Kharlamov - Fedorov - Mikhailov
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Bure
Larionov - Bobrov - Makarov
Kovalchuk - Maltsev - Firsov


Fetisov - Zubov
Kasatanov - Ragulin
Vasiliev - Konstantinov


Tretiak
Khabibulin

[Shaman464]

I am not even sure if Crosby would be top 9, hes a center and no way hes better than Wayne or Mario.

[GMRwings1983]

Lemieux - Gretzky - Howe
Hull - Esposito - Richard
Messier - Yzerman - Morenz
Sakic - Trottier - Lafleur

Orr - Harvey
Bourque - Robinson
Potvin - Shore

Roy
Sawchuk


Of course Crosby won't make this team. Hasn't played long enough. I also notice that all these rosters will have too few wingers as compared to centers.

Edited by GMRwings1983, 28 March 2011 - 06:40 PM.

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

Kharlamov - Fedorov - Mikhailov
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Bure
Larionov - Bobrov - Makarov
Kovalchuk - Maltsev - Firsov


Fetisov - Zubov
Kasatanov - Ragulin
Vasiliev - Konstantinov


Tretiak
Khabibulin

Thanks for keeping this thread going, GMR!

I don't know about Datsyuk as the 2nd line center though. And Larionov on the wing? I'd like to know the reasoning behind that one.

And no Krutov? I thought the KLM line would be a lock for sure in people's minds but I don't really know.

Lemieux - Gretzky - Howe
Hull - Esposito - Richard
Messier - Yzerman - Morenz
Sakic - Trottier - Lafleur

Orr - Harvey
Bourque - Robinson
Potvin - Shore

Roy
Sawchuk


Of course Crosby won't make this team. Hasn't played long enough. I also notice that all these rosters will have too few wingers as compared to centers.

Yeah Crosby hasn't played long enough. He's still an extremely rare insane talent though.

[GMRwings1983]

Thanks for keeping this thread going, GMR!

I don't know about Datsyuk as the 2nd line center though. And Larionov on the wing? I'd like to know the reasoning behind that one.

And no Krutov? I thought the KLM line would be a lock for sure in people's minds but I don't really know.

I wasn't really thinking of line combos as much as I was what players to include. No way do I think Datsyuk is the 2nd best Russian center ever. I'm not even sure Fedorov would be the best. Like I said, there's too many centers and not enough wingers.

Krutov was good, but the best player from the old Soviet teams I left off the list was Petrov. Actually, I'm dead set on every forward I chose, except for Kovalchuk. I was thinking of possibly putting Mogilny on that list, but changed my mind at the last minute for Kovalchuk.

I'm hoping some of the Swedish posters will give us their Swedish rosters, and the same with the Finns. That's a little out of my league.

Edited by GMRwings1983, 28 March 2011 - 09:57 PM.

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

I wasn't really thinking of line combos as much as I was what players to include. No way do I think Datsyuk is the 2nd best Russian center ever. I'm not even sure Fedorov would be the best. Like I said, there's too many centers and not enough wingers.

Krutov was good, but the best player from the old Soviet teams I left off the list was Petrov. Actually, I'm dead set on every forward I chose, except for Kovalchuk. I was thinking of possibly putting Mogilny on that list, but changed my mind at the last minute for Kovalchuk.

I'm hoping some of the Swedish posters will give us their Swedish rosters, and the same with the Finns. That's a little out of my league.

Ah okay. Fair enough.

And yeah I can't wait for the Swedish and Finnish posters to make a reply. I know one of them will come up with at least something. I had a strange feeling the other day that the all time Swedish team would look strangely similar to the 2006 Gold medal winning team except it would include Borje Salming or something like that.

[eva unit zero]

As far as notable pre-Lillehammer players for Czechoslovakia break down, here's a few.

Stastny brothers >>> Slovakia.

Vladimir Ruzicka, Jan Suchy, Vaclav Nedomansky, Jiri Hrdina, Ivan Hlinka, Vladimir Martinec, Frantisek Kaberle, Sr. >>> Czech Republic.

[InKennyWeTrust]

I'm assuming they'd have to be on an Olympic roster to qualify...

Parise-Modano(A)-Hull
Amonte-Roenick-Kane
Tkachuk-Weight-Guerin
Eruzione©-LaFontaine-Backes

Chelios(A)-Rafalski
Hatcher-Leetch
Schneider-G. Suter

Miller
Craig

Stastney
J. Johnson

Brooks

Flame away! This is the result of a bottle of Absolut, so I feel no shame.

Edit- I'll include LaFontaine because, well, I have to. But really, I can't knock down Modano, the all-time US scorer or Roenick, and I love Tkachuk-Weight paired together... Guerin or Drury? I'll take Guerin, I suppose. Yeah, LaFontaine was really really good but... I dunno. I'm not getting that vibe.

Edited by InKennyWeTrust, 30 March 2011 - 01:17 AM.

[Finnish Wing]

O. Jokinen-S. Koivu-T. Selänne
T. Ruutu-M. Koivu-J. Kurri
N. Hagman-N. Kapanen-J. Lehtinen
V. Peltonen-R. Helminen-S. Kapanen
+ E. Keskinen, J. Ojanen

J. Lumme-T. Numminen
P. Nummelin-R. Ruotsalainen
K. Timonen-J. Laukkanen
+ T. Jutila

A. Niittymäki
J. Myllys
+ M. Kiprusoff

Great offensive talent, but also good two-way players. Great offensive defenseman and fantastic goaltender in Niittymäki (MVP in 2006).

The lines are more about "chemistry", so Hagman isn't necessary better than Peltonen for example.

Edited by Finnish Wing, 30 March 2011 - 06:53 AM.

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

As far as notable pre-Lillehammer players for Czechoslovakia break down, here's a few.

Stastny brothers >>> Slovakia.

Vladimir Ruzicka, Jan Suchy, Vaclav Nedomansky, Jiri Hrdina, Ivan Hlinka, Vladimir Martinec, Frantisek Kaberle, Sr. >>> Czech Republic.

Thanks for that!

I'm assuming they'd have to be on an Olympic roster to qualify...

Parise-Modano(A)-Hull
Amonte-Roenick-Kane
Tkachuk-Weight-Guerin
Eruzione©-LaFontaine-Backes

Chelios(A)-Rafalski
Hatcher-Leetch
Schneider-G. Suter

Miller
Craig

Stastney
J. Johnson

Brooks

Flame away! This is the result of a bottle of Absolut, so I feel no shame.

Edit- I'll include LaFontaine because, well, I have to. But really, I can't knock down Modano, the all-time US scorer or Roenick, and I love Tkachuk-Weight paired together... Guerin or Drury? I'll take Guerin, I suppose. Yeah, LaFontaine was really really good but... I dunno. I'm not getting that vibe.

That must have been one really damn good bottle of Absolut because I don't see how Lafontaine is not in the top six.

O. Jokinen-S. Koivu-T. Selänne
T. Ruutu-M. Koivu-J. Kurri
N. Hagman-N. Kapanen-J. Lehtinen
V. Peltonen-R. Helminen-S. Kapanen
+ E. Keskinen, J. Ojanen

J. Lumme-T. Numminen
P. Nummelin-R. Ruotsalainen
K. Timonen-J. Laukkanen
+ T. Jutila

A. Niittymäki
J. Myllys
+ M. Kiprusoff

Great offensive talent, but also good two-way players. Great offensive defenseman and fantastic goaltender in Niittymäki (MVP in 2006).

The lines are more about "chemistry", so Hagman isn't necessary better than Peltonen for example.

Thanks! Any other Finnish fans on here agree/disagree? I'd comment myself but I don't know enough.

Why no Tikkanen?

[Finnish Wing]

Why no Tikkanen?

Well, although he was on the bronze medal winning team in Nagano that was his only Olympic appearance and he played only 6 Olympic games total finishing with 2 points. I know he did far more than just score points, but still.

Now that I look at it, I don't think Kurri should be there either. I just kinda assumed he was an obvious choice, but there could be better choices - guys who never played in the NHL for example.

[GMRwings1983]

Well, although he was on the bronze medal winning team in Nagano that was his only Olympic appearance and he played only 6 Olympic games total finishing with 2 points. I know he did far more than just score points, but still.

Now that I look at it, I don't think Kurri should be there either. I just kinda assumed he was an obvious choice, but there could be better choices - guys who never played in the NHL for example.

What about Aki Berg and Sami Helenius? They should be on the list.

Also, I always thought Kurri is the best Finnish born player ever. Selanne is the only other player that comes to mind for that title. Are there guys in Finland considered better than him all time?

[GMRwings1983]

I'm assuming they'd have to be on an Olympic roster to qualify...

Parise-Modano(A)-Hull
Amonte-Roenick-Kane
Tkachuk-Weight-Guerin
Eruzione©-LaFontaine-Backes

Chelios(A)-Rafalski
Hatcher-Leetch
Schneider-G. Suter

Miller
Craig

Stastney
J. Johnson

Brooks

Flame away! This is the result of a bottle of Absolut, so I feel no shame.

Edit- I'll include LaFontaine because, well, I have to. But really, I can't knock down Modano, the all-time US scorer or Roenick, and I love Tkachuk-Weight paired together... Guerin or Drury? I'll take Guerin, I suppose. Yeah, LaFontaine was really really good but... I dunno. I'm not getting that vibe.

Not bad if you were drunk off Vodka, but I'm pretty sure Backes shouldn't be there. Joe Mullen should be on the team for sure. He was the highest scoring US player for a long time. Eruzione also is a stretch to say the least, but I guess you were just joking there.

Oh and Jim Craig was not a better goalie than Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck and Tom Barrasso.

[Finnish Wing]

What about Aki Berg and Sami Helenius? They should be on the list.

Also, I always thought Kurri is the best Finnish born player ever. Selanne is the only other player that comes to mind for that title. Are there guys in Finland considered better than him all time?

There is already one overweight player in Jutila so Berg would be too much. Also, no enforcers in the international games my friend - so no Helenius either.

I've always seen Kurri as the best all time, but Selanne's performances are giving me a hard time to decide. But it's definitely between them two. Here's a little comparison.

Kurri:
+ more Stanley Cups
+ better stats overall
+ better two-way player

Selanne:
+ considering what the game was like when Kurri played and what it is now, I value Selanne's stats more
+ has been able to stay good late in his career as well, while Kurri had most of his success at a younger age
+ although Selanne had Kariya + some other good guys, Kurri still had WAY better players around him - one who need not to be even mentioned
+ MUCH better player in international games; always great in Olympics

I have to say I almost think Selanne is better. Obviously those Stanley Cups weight a lot in Kurri's cup - he even won one without Gretzky while Gretzky never won without him. But it's just so different nowadays. It's much harder to win one Cup - not to even mention about building a dynasty. Kurri had the "luxury" of being part of a dynasty, although he was big part of it himself. Selanne really hasn't had that.

[InKennyWeTrust]

Not bad if you were drunk off Vodka, but I'm pretty sure Backes shouldn't be there. Joe Mullen should be on the team for sure. He was the highest scoring US player for a long time. Eruzione also is a stretch to say the least, but I guess you were just joking there.

Oh and Jim Craig was not a better goalie than Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck and Tom Barrasso.

Yeah, Backes was a mistake. Eruzione and Craig were purely sentimental calls- I'm split on whether to do best US players or best US Olympians. No way anyone takes Eurizione sober over even Drury. I'da definitely taken Barrasso sober... but then again, it's Wednesday, so I'm back with Craigy again.

[eva unit zero]

Obviously those Stanley Cups weight a lot in Kurri's cup - he even won one without Gretzky while Gretzky never won without him.

Gretzky also never won without Messier, or Coffey. Yet they both won two Cups without Gretzky.
Gretzky must have been holding back those Edmonton teams all those years.

Joe Mullen won one with Joe Nieuwendyk, but never without. Nieuwendyk won without Mullen. Clearly we've got a passenger here.

And Yzerman? He won three Cups as a player, none without Kris Draper. But Draper won a Cup without Yzerman. I guess we know who the real key player is, right?

[InKennyWeTrust]

But it's just so different nowadays. It's much harder to win one Cup

I'm not trying to jump on you, but I really wonder if that's the case. Someone like Rick Nash who, while undeniably very talented and very big may never leave Columbus could be denied a cup while someone like Conklin, who has jumped around the league like a bad flea, has been a part of 3 outdoor games. While that's no Stanley Cup, will Columbus ever play an outdoor game?

I would argue that it is harder for greedy good players to win a cup under the salary cap, but role players are more or less interchangeable. Any player making under $2M is expected to do very little and there are less surprises as GM's spend more and more money on players with only potential (Zherdev is a prime example.)

[Finnish Wing]

Gretzky also never won without Messier, or Coffey. Yet they both won two Cups without Gretzky.
Gretzky must have been holding back those Edmonton teams all those years.

Joe Mullen won one with Joe Nieuwendyk, but never without. Nieuwendyk won without Mullen. Clearly we've got a passenger here.

And Yzerman? He won three Cups as a player, none without Kris Draper. But Draper won a Cup without Yzerman. I guess we know who the real key player is, right?

That was nothing but a fun detail. No need to take it so seriously. I don't think Kurri has much on Gretzky in terms of greatness.

I'm not trying to jump on you, but I really wonder if that's the case. Someone like Rick Nash who, while undeniably very talented and very big may never leave Columbus could be denied a cup while someone like Conklin, who has jumped around the league like a bad flea, has been a part of 3 outdoor games. While that's no Stanley Cup, will Columbus ever play an outdoor game?

I would argue that it is harder for greedy good players to win a cup under the salary cap, but role players are more or less interchangeable. Any player making under $2M is expected to do very little and there are less surprises as GM's spend more and more money on players with only potential (Zherdev is a prime example.)

Like I said, I think it's much harder to build a franchise nowadays - therefore winning Cups is also harder. There's the little thing called salary cap. You can't just take all the best players and win five consecutive Cups.

Actually the last team who've even win two consecutive Cups are us and that was - like you all know - over ten years ago. There was no cap back then. The Oilers won four cups in five years. To me that's impossible in today's NHL.