4 Nations Team Canada 1990

[Crosby2010]

Mike Zeisberger, writer at NHL.com cobbled together what he thought his team Canada might look like had there been a tournament in February of 1990. Scary team to say the least, I don't think that is the final roster per se, but that is a seriously stacked team.

Lemieux-Gretzky-Messier
Robitaille-Yzerman-Neely
Larmer-Savard-Sakic
Hawerchuk-Nieuwendyk-Tocchet
Nicholls

Coffey-Bourque
Wilson-MacInnis
Stevens-Murphy
Patrick

Roy
Vernon
Ranford

A bit to unpack here, but I think there are a couple things to consider. First of all, 18 HHOFers on one team. Incredible. But there are a couple of players that I don't think fit on there. Sakic would have a year and a half in the NHL. Despite him putting up a 102 point season in 1990, this team is picked in February. And he's on the worst team in the NHL. Also, he's on the right wing. That doesn't make sense. He is way out of position here. So is Messier. I can see Lemieux on the left wing as a trigger man, but Messier doesn't belong on the right wing. He's out of place there. Also, Nieuwendyk isn't on the team, and neither is Nicholls despite the 150 point season the year before. I just don't know where you put him. The iron is hot with him but he's not better than the other centres. Also, Larmer on the left wing is off. He's a RWer.

On defense no arguments here really. Patrick is a good choice for a 7th d-man. I might pick a stay at home guy in place of him. Brad McCrimmon would be a good bet here too. Fresh off a Cup in 1989, led the NHL in plus/minus in 1988. Had finished 6th in Norris voting in 1989. Steve Duchesne comes to mind as well, although he's more of a rover and they already have mobility.

Roy and Vernon are good picks. This is before the Flames' collapses. I don't know about Ranford. He was a starter in Edmonton for the first time, but he isn't a Conn Smythe winner yet. Liut or Moog would be good solid #3 picks.

So I might have the team look like this:

Robitaille-Gretzky-Neely
Messier-Lemieux-Yzerman
Hawerchuk-Savard-Larmer
Sutter-Gilmour-Carbonneau
Tocchet

Stevens-Bourque
Coffey-MacInnis
Wilson-Murphy
Patrick/McCrimmon

Roy
Vernon
Moog

No way does Sutter no make this team. He made three Canada Cups in a row. Carbonneau is the reigning Selke winner. This team obliterates the competition.

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[The Panther]

Lemieux-Gretzky-Messier

I don't really see this line working (I mean, relative to potential). Lemieux and Gretzky need a tough guy to do the corner muscling (like Messier) but also it has to be a guy who's a one-touch sniper (not like Messier). I would suggest Dirk Graham or Steve Larmer at one wing. (But really, shouldn't Gretzky and Lemieux be on different lines?)

Robitaille-Yzerman-Neely

I could see this being a really good line!