VMBM
Hansel?!
Makarov wasn't great?
Well, he got me fooled then.
And yes, I do think Mikhailov was great too. I can understand that if one puts great emphasis on individual skills [when judging players], Mikhailov isn't among the first choices, but c'mon now; His numbers are 2nd to none, and he had one of the best - if not the best - careers of any Soviet player ever. In fact, I think he beats Kharlamov on both. I like to compare him with Bobby Clarke; both were leaders and hugely competitive, and both were hell to play against (ask Phil Esposito about Mikhailov, he is still wearing the scars!). Mikhailov was also one of the very few Soviet players who seemed to get better with age. Only around Lake Placid [as a 35-year old] did he seem to slow down considerably.
Well, he got me fooled then.
And yes, I do think Mikhailov was great too. I can understand that if one puts great emphasis on individual skills [when judging players], Mikhailov isn't among the first choices, but c'mon now; His numbers are 2nd to none, and he had one of the best - if not the best - careers of any Soviet player ever. In fact, I think he beats Kharlamov on both. I like to compare him with Bobby Clarke; both were leaders and hugely competitive, and both were hell to play against (ask Phil Esposito about Mikhailov, he is still wearing the scars!). Mikhailov was also one of the very few Soviet players who seemed to get better with age. Only around Lake Placid [as a 35-year old] did he seem to slow down considerably.