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Phil Lesh

Greatest US-born NHLer of all time?

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It always bothered me that Hull played for the US. I've always wondered why he really did that. He spent a few years in Chicago as a very young child, but he was born in Canada and spent almost all of his life in Canada before going to play college hockey as a 20 year old. What I've always believed is that Canada didn't take him and he was annoyed, so went and played for Team USA simply because he could (dual citizenship due to his American mother....who hadn't lived in the US for many years). The reason I had been bothered is that I thought....if you weren't good enough to play for your country, suck it up, don't go play for a different country, that's more like playing for yourself than your country.

I also wonder if it has something to do with the messy divorce of his parents. He went and lived with his mother in Vancouver and didn't maintain a lot of contact with Bobby. I wonder if part of it is going to play for the US (for his mother) as a bit of a dig against his dad (Canadian). A bit far fetched...I know.

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Forward: Mike Modano

Defenseman: Chris Chelios

Goalie: Mike Richter

Sorry for deviating from the format. I feel like it's difficult to debate which player is better when they play different positions.

If you break apart the positions like this, I concur.

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Ya, after I responded, I realized the it was US BORN players, but left it becase he is a US player...I do believe he and Modo are on par with each other, but again, just like Kane, Hull played with much better players (not taking anything away from Hull whatsoever) and Modo pretty much carried Minnesota for his first few seasons. If Hull and Modo were switched in order, no biggie...

Chelly, Hull, Modano, Kane is agreeable when it all shakes out years from now...

Born in Canada or not the moment he was born he was an American due to his mother. An American is an American in my book and if you wear the US sweater in an international game your definitely American. I agree with your top 3 but I say its Chelly and Modano and then Hull lagging a bit behind. Hull was an amazing finisher but he really needed playmaker to be at his best. He wasnt the fastest and not the best in his own zone. Modano though wasnt as good of a pure goalscorer but his all around game (speed, scoring, passing, defensive play) was far superior. Its like comparing Ovechkin to Datsyuk.

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It always bothered me that Hull played for the US. I've always wondered why he really did that. He spent a few years in Chicago as a very young child, but he was born in Canada and spent almost all of his life in Canada before going to play college hockey as a 20 year old. What I've always believed is that Canada didn't take him and he was annoyed, so went and played for Team USA simply because he could (dual citizenship due to his American mother....who hadn't lived in the US for many years). The reason I had been bothered is that I thought....if you weren't good enough to play for your country, suck it up, don't go play for a different country, that's more like playing for yourself than your country.

I also wonder if it has something to do with the messy divorce of his parents. He went and lived with his mother in Vancouver and didn't maintain a lot of contact with Bobby. I wonder if part of it is going to play for the US (for his mother) as a bit of a dig against his dad (Canadian). A bit far fetched...I know.

The reason I heard Hull played for USA was because he would get more ice time. Don't know if that's true.

In 1986 Canada didn't select Brett Hull for the IIHF World Championship. At the time he was basically an AHLer with a booming shot. Team USA gave him a call and offered him a roster spot, which he accepted.

He credits that opportunity with Team USA to getting his NHL career on track, and has said it seemed disloyal to jump over to Team Canada after that break.

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Chelios by far. Longevity, leader, competitor to the max, and one of the top 5 defencemen of all time. There is more to the game then just goals. When Detroit lost Konstintinov and they brought Chelios in I had my doubts. But after a short while saw how great he was, and that was late in his career. Montreal made a great error when they got rid of him because he was not a French canadian.

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Chelios by far. Longevity, leader, competitor to the max, and one of the top 5 defencemen of all time. There is more to the game then just goals. When Detroit lost Konstintinov and they brought Chelios in I had my doubts. But after a short while saw how great he was, and that was late in his career. Montreal made a great error when they got rid of him because he was not a French canadian.

That's a bold claim.

I guess some would say top 5 and top 10 isn't much different, but I say it is different in this case. I have him in the top 10, but he can't be top 5. Top 5 would be Orr, Lidstrom, Harvey, Shore and Bourque, in whatever order you want them. Potvin could also sneak in there. Chelios would be somewhere around Larry Robinson's ranking, just below that top group.

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Chelios by far. Longevity, leader, competitor to the max, and one of the top 5 defencemen of all time. There is more to the game then just goals. When Detroit lost Konstintinov and they brought Chelios in I had my doubts. But after a short while saw how great he was, and that was late in his career. Montreal made a great error when they got rid of him because he was not a French canadian.

Well said, but I'd also say top 10 rather than top five.

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Chelios barely ahead of Modano. Chili's like the American version of Lidstrom; could still be playing hockey when we're all driving spaceships.

Ummm no. Not even close. He completely tarnished his career trying to break records. He was terrible after he hit 40+

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I don't agree that playing too long "tarnishes your career". Pudge Rodriguez played too long. So did Jordan. Joe Montana probably should have retired a 49er, and Joe Lewis didn't do himself any favors late in his career. What do all these things have in common? Nobody cares.

Plus, I think we can all agree that it wouldn't have killed Dale Earnhardt to quit while he was ahead... :confused:

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I don't agree that playing too long "tarnishes your career". Pudge Rodriguez played too long. So did Jordan. Joe Montana probably should have retired a 49er, and Joe Lewis didn't do himself any favors late in his career. What do all these things have in common? Nobody cares.

Plus, I think we can all agree that it wouldn't have killed Dale Earnhardt to quit while he was ahead... :confused:

(Ba dum tsssss) Edited by jimmyemeryhunter

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Chelios by far. Longevity, leader, competitor to the max, and one of the top 5 defencemen of all time. There is more to the game then just goals. When Detroit lost Konstintinov and they brought Chelios in I had my doubts. But after a short while saw how great he was, and that was late in his career. Montreal made a great error when they got rid of him because he was not a French canadian.

Wasn't it cause he was foolin around with someone's old lady? Not the French Canadian thing.

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