Best Slovak player Of All Time #1

[Felidae]

There's been threads about this subject but never one with a poll.

I'm not only considering NHL players but have no idea about any Slovak players outside of the NHL so feel free to comment on anyone I should add in the polls.

Also, let me know if you disagree (if enough people do I may add him but for now I decided to omit Mikita. Firstly, he'd be the slam dunk answer for number 1 (Stastny and Chara competing for 1st spot is a bit more interesting imo). But more importantly, he played he played his entire hockey career in Canada and also represented them, so..

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[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Gaborik

 

[JuJu Mobb]

I hesitated between Chara and Hossa.

I get why people vote for Stastny given his impressive number of points. It's hard to compare eras tho...

I voted for Hossa for his complete game and winning pedigree.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

I think Chara and Hossa.

Both great players with a winning legacy.

Only legacy Hossa has is being a disloyal cup chaser. Similar to kevin durant, only nowhere near as elite of a player.

 

[Felidae]

A shame Stastny didn't enter the NHL until 24. I know he wasn't dominating the czechoslovakian league, but from 19-23 he was a consistent top 10-5 scorer, with virtually every player ahead of him being older.

That being said, in a comparison against Chara I suppose it doesn't matter as much. I'd say they were top players at their position for similar durations despite the 9 additional years in Chara's career.

Can't go wrong with either for this thread, but I think Stastny's competition for his position was stronger than Chara's. So that's something to consider when looking at Stastny's relatively empty award votes in comparison to Chara's

Besides Gretzky and Lemieux, he had to deal with Dionne, Trottier, Bossy, Kurri. Even Hawerchuk and Savard. (Not to mention Coffey for the scoring race)

Chara's main competition was Weber, Keith, Lidstrom, niedermayer, Doughty, Karlsson, Green, Pronger. Certainly a strong group, but not as stacked.

 

[MadArcand]

Chára pretty easily.

 

[Hanji]

Stastny.

Second to only Gretzky for most points in the 1980s.
Being a European on a small market team in the 80s really worked against him for individual awards.

 

[The Panther]

For those of us who aren't really sure who qualifies as a "Slovak" pre-1990s, could someone make a list of the significant players?

Incidentally, I think I would rate Peter Šťastný a bit above Zdeno Chára. I know the latter has his one Norris and his many top-4 All Star finishes, but I think being the best player / captain on an NHL club and being the 2nd-top scorer of an entire decade is quite a big thing. Šťastný was also responsible defensively (in an era when many top scorers weren't) and good at face-offs. Šťastný at his best was very Crosby-ish.

(I like Chára, of course, but I guess I found him a bit over-rated. I didn't think he was all that great positionally. He did use his massive size to his advantage, though, with that endless stick...)

 

[Staniowski]

For those of us who aren't really sure who qualifies as a "Slovak" pre-1990s, could someone make a list of the significant players?

Incidentally, I think I would rate Peter Šťastný a bit above Zdeno Chára. I know the latter has his one Norris and his many top-4 All Star finishes, but I think being the best player / captain on an NHL club and being the 2nd-top scorer of an entire decade is quite a big thing. Šťastný was also responsible defensively (in an era when many top scorers weren't) and good at face-offs. Šťastný at his best was very Crosby-ish.

(I like Chára, of course, but I guess I found him a bit over-rated. I didn't think he was all that great positionally. He did use his massive size to his advantage, though, with that endless stick...)

Golonka was a big star in the '60s, Dzurilla, Marian and Anton Stastny, Igor Liba, Dusan Pasek.

Later, Jozef Stumpel (who was still playing last season at age 51)....Petrovicky, Ladislav Nagy, Ciger. I'm sure there's a few I'm forgetting.

 

[VanIslander]

Chara is greatest.
Hossa is best.
Stastny the best what-if.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

A shame Stastny didn't enter the NHL until 24. I know he wasn't dominating the czechoslovakian league, but from 19-23 he was a consistent top 10-5 scorer, with virtually every player ahead of him being older.

That being said, in a comparison against Chara I suppose it doesn't matter as much. I'd say they were top players at their position for similar durations despite the 9 additional years in Chara's career.

Can't go wrong with either for this thread, but I think Stastny's competition for his position was stronger than Chara's. So that's something to consider when looking at Stastny's relatively empty award votes in comparison to Chara's

Besides Gretzky and Lemieux, he had to deal with Dionne, Trottier, Bossy, Kurri. Even Hawerchuk and Savard. (Not to mention Coffey for the scoring race)

Chara's main competition was Weber, Keith, Lidstrom, niedermayer, Doughty, Karlsson, Green, Pronger. Certainly a strong group, but not as stacked.

Besides 66 n 99. Id say the defensive list was far more stacked imo

 

[Overrated]

Stastny.

Second to only Gretzky for most points in the 1980s.
Being a European on a small market team in the 80s really worked against him for individual awards.

He was also quite impressive in the early 1990s despite being in his late 30s. He even had slightly better numbers than 20yo Satan in WC B in 1995 at 38.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Chara, Hossa, Stastny in order

 

[Dog]

Peter Stasny no questions needed he was number 2 best in 80s behind Gretzky.

 

[rmartin65]

Peter Stasny no questions needed he was number 2 best in 80s behind Gretzky.

What? Second most NHL points, sure, but you certainly don’t mean number 2 best player?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Peter Stasny no questions needed he was number 2 best in 80s behind Gretzky.

So he's 2nd in points, 9th in goals in the non-globalized decade of the 1980s, which as has been pointed out, gives an overly favorable view of him because of rounded years cutoff compared to other rolling 10 year periods. Hossa is 4th in points, 3rd in goals in the globalized 2000s, while also having a big impact defensively/analytically. And then following that particular decade, in what would be the next decade, is a 3 time Cup Champion with 1st line ice time in each of those postseasons.

I don't see how amongst Forwards alone that makes it a "no questions asked".

 

[JackSlater]

I'm thinking Stastny.

I'd be curious to hear what the general opinion of Slovakians is. I'm guessing Stastny based on past reading, but things can change. It's interesting, to me anyway, to hear European opinions on a bunch of players that played mostly in North America, some when it was not easy to follow. The Swedish views on Forsberg/Lidstrom and so on.

 

[Overrated]

So he's 2nd in points, 9th in goals in the non-globalized decade of the 1980s, which as has been pointed out, gives an overly favorable view of him because of rounded years cutoff compared to other rolling 10 year periods. Hossa is 4th in points, 3rd in goals in the globalized 2000s, while also having a big impact defensively/analytically. And then following that particular decade, in what would be the next decade, is a 3 time Cup Champion with 1st line ice time in each of those postseasons.

I don't see how amongst Forwards alone that makes it a "no questions asked".

Stastny was 24-33 and Hossa was 21-29 though...

 

[Gorskyontario]

Peter Stastny
Chara and Hossa are 2,3.


Just my opinion.


If Plaffy was 10 years older, or 10 years younger I feel he would have really lit the league up.

 

[nabby12]

Bondra was the funnest to watch, and in that mix for 4 or 5 after Stastny, Chara, Hossa.