Canada all time team

[Gerulaitis]

I didn’t even remember the goal in 1991, but that’s not where his impact came anyhow. He was physically dominant.

No Canadian Olympic team should be judged for anything in the era that saw amateurs bs pros, and as far as 1998 goes, Canada built a very flawed team with tunnel vision focused solely on beating the Americans.

Well, I do remember that game. Canada won either 4-0 or 4-1.

Lindros always seemed to be a little bit overrated. A talented physical center with too much hype.

Look, I couldn't even find a spot for Joe Sakic in my team Canada. And Sakic is better than Lindros. Canada produced a lot of great forwards over the last 100 years. Lindros can't crack the top 13 of them

 

[Michael Farkas]

In a real team scenario,.he could be a 4th liner mauler maybe. But not an actual top 12 of all time probably. Wasn't smart enough.

 

[The Panther]

Look, I couldn't even find a spot for Joe Sakic in my team Canada. And Sakic is better than Lindros. Canada produced a lot of great forwards over the last 100 years. Lindros can't crack the top 13 of them

Sakic is better than Lindros is the career and achievements sense, but he wasn't better than Lindros at each's best. Lindros from 1993-94 through 1998-99 was the 2nd (Lemieux) or 3rd (Jagr) best forward on earth, and that's for a six-year period (and Lemieux didn't play for three of those six seasons). I can't say that Sakic was the 2nd-best forward on earth for any six-year stretch.

That said, if I had to pick only one of them for a Team Canada (each being fully healthy), it's a hard choice. Would depend on what the team needs. Sakic's skill-set was really good for international hockey and he was one of the great clutch players.

 

[The Panther]

M. Lemieux - Gretzky - Crosby
Hull Sr. - McDavid - Lafleur
MacKinnon - Lindros - Howe
Messier - Clarke - Trottier
Keon - Bergeron

Orr - Harvey
Bourque - Pronger
Potvin - Robinson
Shore

Roy
Dryden
Brodeur

I basically like this team, but for goaltenders I would have Plante and Roy, or Plante and Brodeur.

Other than that, I like your team. Not sure I would have Keon on here, even as a sub. Cutting Beliveau seems kind of impossible, though. Is Crosby or Lafleur really better than him? I don't know. I'd like Bossy to be there, too. But it's tough.

Laughing at the Messier, Clarke, Trottier line... We'd have to hope the games weren't officiated at today's standards...

 

[MadLuke]

I can't say that Sakic was the 2nd-best forward on earth for any six-year stretch.

I think he is getting a bit underrated by time.

From 95-2001

Sakic, third in points being Jagr-Selanne, first in goals&points in the playoff, 2 Conn Smythe worthy run, 2 cups.

Not a slam dunk, Selanne, Forsberg, Jagr, Lindros, Bure, Kariya, there is a group of top forward and maybe not a clear number 2, but Sakic could be right there with an argument for that title in that window.

Sakic at his best, that 01-02, 22 points over every non Jagr player in the nhl (who played with Mario) scoring 54 goals, 118pts in the dpe, +45, Selke finalist, won the cup on a kind of top line heavy team getting all the attention by the end, MVP of 2002 Olympics.

Sometime I think that because we underrated Jagr a bit in the 90s, post Gretzky-Lemieux numbing us to goddly numbers and accomplishment, we underrated both Lindros and Sakic for staying so close to him during some stretch.

 

[The Panther]

I think he is getting a bit underrated by time.

From 95-2001

Sakic, third in points being Jagr-Selanne, first in goals&points in the playoff, 2 Conn Smythe worthy run, 2 cups.

Not a slam dunk, Selanne, Forsberg, Jagr, Lindros, Bure, Kariya, there is a group of top forward and maybe not a clear number 2, but Sakic could be right there with an argument for that title in that window.

Sakic at his best, that 01-02, 22 points over every non Jagr player in the nhl (who played with Mario) scoring 54 goals, 118pts in the dpe, +45, Selke finalist, won the cup on a kind of top line heavy team getting all the attention by the end, MVP of 2002 Olympics.

Sometime I think that because we underrated Jagr a bit in the 90s, post Gretzky-Lemieux numbing us to goddly numbers and accomplishment, we underrated both Lindros and Sakic for staying so close to him during some stretch.

Yes, Sakic's best 6-season span will be (I guess) 1995-96 through 2000-01. I was doing the comparison, though, mainly in mind of regular season results. Sakic's playoff resume is enormous, for sure.

I agree that Lindros and Sakic, at their bests, are close. It's not a huge difference, but I think Lindros at his best (speaking of things that get underrated on this forum...) is a bit better than Sakic. If we go past the 6 or 7 season limit, then Sakic dwarfs Lindros in every way, thanks to Eric's abridged career and concussions.

 

[Boxscore]

I basically like this team, but for goaltenders I would have Plante and Roy, or Plante and Brodeur.

Yeah, Plante, Fuhr, and Parent were in the mix for me. But the way I attacked it...

1 alpha = Roy (over Plante)
1 hot hand = Dryden (over Fuhr and Bernie)
1 steady Eddie = Brodeur

I wanted a goalie in each tier, which Marty being the ultimate insurance policy... could be 3rd string without his ego getting bruised, then step in at a moment's notice and prevail.

Other than that, I like your team. Not sure I would have Keon on here, even as a sub. Cutting Beliveau seems kind of impossible, though. Is Crosby or Lafleur really better than him? I don't know. I'd like Bossy to be there, too. But it's tough.

Keon is there, and Bergeron as well, for two main reasons:

1. Elite PK and shutdown.

2. If installed as an injury replacement, each can play up and down the lineup and contribute offensively while playing elite defense. That's why I took them over Gainey and Carbonneau. Henri was also a consideration.

Beliveau, Bossy, Espo, and Coffey were tough nixes but their skill sets are redundant. Mario over Beliveau every day and McDavid as well due to his speed. Lindros was also chosen over him based on his ability to dominate in multi-facets. Bossy is an elite sniper but this team will score goals in bunches and there's only 1 puck to go around.

Laughing at the Messier, Clarke, Trottier line... We'd have to hope the games weren't officiated at today's standards...

Anytime I make these ultimate International teams, the litmus test opponent is the 1987 Soviet Canada Cup squad with the Green Unit+ ... hence why I want a surplus of everything: Skill, speed, muscle, brutality, leadership, and defense. The Messier, Clarke, Trottier line will be deployed to intimidate and sway the momentum of a series... to drag the opponent into the battle.

The Lindros & Gordie line will overpower their match-up and MacKinnon's violent attacking style, shot, and speed will provide all the space they need. As much as I was tempted to put a Lindsay, Shanahan, or Neely on that wing... MacKinnon was chosen because he's a speed and tempo demon with a level of intensity 99% of world-class finesse players cannot match.