Combined USSR/Russia all time team

[Eye of Ra]

Either how they where with the NT or in the NHL. You can make up your own rules. This is what i got.

Krutov - Larionov - Makarov
Kharlamov - Petrov - Mikhailov
Mogilny - Federov - Bure
Ovechkin - Malkin - Kucherov

Fetisov - Kasatonov
Conchar - Konstantinov
Ragulin - Zubov

Tretiak
Vasilevskiy

 

[Gerulaitis]

I would add:
Vasilyev on defence
Bobrov on offense
Puchkov in goal

 

[MadLuke]

Is Malkin-Ovechkin on the same line historically working well ? That said you do not want to break any of the other line and maybe you can make it work (all other line already have a big shooter I think).

 

[Gerulaitis]

Forgot to add:

Datsyuk must be there. Replace Petrov with Datsyuk.

A Datsyuk-Kharlamov duo would be amazing.

 

[Overrated]

Forgot to add:

Datsyuk must be there. Replace Petrov with Datsyuk.

A Datsyuk-Kharlamov duo would be amazing.

Why Petrov? Larionov is by far the weakest center there.

 

[Gerulaitis]

Why Petrov? Larionov is by far the weakest center there.

Larionov is one the best there

 

[Overrated]

Larionov is one the best there

Larionov was a great passer with a high in game IQ. He wasn't outstanding offensively nor defensively. Got outscored very badly by Makarov and Krutov.

League stats during the prime of the KPM line (68/69 --> 75/76)

Their international numbers are quite similar. If we only count the numbers up to 75/76 Kharlamov leads slightly. Petrov was significantly better defensively than Larionov as well.

League & international stats for the entire duration of the KLM line

 

[Zine]

Larionov is quite overrated despite fitting Krutov/Makarov like a glove.
Bobrov is also overrated despite being the Soviet Union’s first ‘superstar’. He was not on the level of Canada’s elite in the 1950s.

Criminally undervalued are Firsov and Ragulin.

Kharlamov-Petrov-Mikhailov
Krutov-Datsyuk-Makarov
Firsov-Fedorov-Bure
Ovechkin-Malkin-Kucherov
Maltsev

Fetisov-Kasatonov
Vasilyev-Lutchenko
Ragulin-Zubov
Konstantinov

Tretiak
Vasilevsky

 

[Overrated]

Ovechkin-Firsov-Kucherov
Mogilny-Fedorov-Bure
Kharlamov-Petrov-Mikhailov
Krutov-Datsyuk-Makarov

Yakushev
Maltsev

Gonchar-Vasiliev
Zubov-Konstantinov
Fetisov-Kasatonov

Tretiak
Vasilevsky

I feel like Ovi needs to be the main star surrounded by playmakers to make it work so I can't pair him with Malkin. I didn't leave out Mogilny because he peaked very high and just happened to have other issues like injuries etc. I left out Larionov and put in Datsyuk whom I believe would really fit the Green Line's playstyle but with superior skills to Larionov.

I'd try to pair up the first forward line with Gonchar and Vasiliev and keep them together as much as possible playing more of a modern style of hockey revolving around setting up Ovechkin. The remaining three lines would play more of a Soviet puck control style of hockey and with the two remaining defensive pairings substituting in between forward shifts. The forward lines would get equal ice time that means Gonchar Vasiliev would get the least ice time out of the defensemen as they would be pegged to the first line only.

Two subs Yakushev and Maltsev as per international rules if someone got injured.

 

[Gerulaitis]

Larionov was a great passer with a high in game IQ. He wasn't outstanding offensively nor defensively. Got outscored very badly by Makarov and Krutov.

League stats during the prime of the KPM line (68/69 --> 75/76)
View attachment 1012805

Their international numbers are quite similar. If we only count the numbers up to 75/76 Kharlamov leads slightly. Petrov was significantly better defensively than Larionov as well.

League & international stats for the entire duration of the KLM line
View attachment 1012806

View attachment 1012810

He was outstanding. He was a high scoring center with a very high IQ.

Over time, Tikhonov change his role, so Larionov reduced his offensive production.

Hockey is not all just points stats

 

[Overrated]

He was outstanding. He was a high scoring center with a very high IQ.

Over time, Tikhonov change his role, so Larionov reduced his offensive production.

Hockey is not all just points stats

He seemed to have gotten outscored all throughout his career and the disparity only increased against tougher opposition (see Canada Cups).

 

[Gerulaitis]

He seemed to have gotten outscored all throughout his career and the disparity only increased against tougher opposition (see Canada Cups).

His job wasn't "outscoring" - as mentioned before.

And I perfectly remember 2 important goals by Larionov's in the Canada Cup final 1981. Against one of the toughest opposition ever - Gretzky, Lafleur and Co.

 

[Stephen]

I'd throw a hot take in there and say Vasilevskiy starts ahead of Tretiak.

 

[Staniowski]

His job wasn't "outscoring" - as mentioned before.

And I perfectly remember 2 important goals by Larionov's in the Canada Cup final 1981. Against one of the toughest opposition ever - Gretzky, Lafleur and Co.

I think Larionov is in tough to make the team. He's versatile, and can play, but it's very questionable.

 

[Staniowski]

Ovechkin-Firsov-Kucherov
Mogilny-Fedorov-Bure
Kharlamov-Petrov-Mikhailov
Krutov-Datsyuk-Makarov

Yakushev
Maltsev

Gonchar-Vasiliev
Zubov-Konstantinov
Fetisov-Kasatonov

Tretiak
Vasilevsky

I feel like Ovi needs to be the main star surrounded by playmakers to make it work so I can't pair him with Malkin. I didn't leave out Mogilny because he peaked very high and just happened to have other issues like injuries etc. I left out Larionov and put in Datsyuk whom I believe would really fit the Green Line's playstyle but with superior skills to Larionov.

I'd try to pair up the first forward line with Gonchar and Vasiliev and keep them together as much as possible playing more of a modern style of hockey revolving around setting up Ovechkin. The remaining three lines would play more of a Soviet puck control style of hockey and with the two remaining defensive pairings substituting in between forward shifts. The forward lines would get equal ice time that means Gonchar Vasiliev would get the least ice time out of the defensemen as they would be pegged to the first line only.

Two subs Yakushev and Maltsev as per international rules if someone got injured.

I know it would be unthinkable (and completely unacceptable), but the team might be better without Ovechkin.

 

[Overrated]

I know it would be unthinkable (and completely unacceptable), but the team might be better without Ovechkin.

I think it could also be to the team's benefit to be able to switch it up with a more modern approach to hockey.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Ovechkin is such an easy player to throw into a best-on-best lineup. He doesn't need the puck on his stick to be successful, is one of the best powerplay players of all time, can be effective off the first line, and his big skillset gels perfectly with Soviet-style passing.

An Ovechkin-Fedorov-Kucherov pairing is money if you want to keep them away from the pure Soviets.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Forgot to add:

Datsyuk must be there. Replace Petrov with Datsyuk.

A Datsyuk-Kharlamov duo would be amazing.

And what of Alexander Yakushev the player Harold Cheap A-hole Ballard wanted to give the Soviets a Million dollars in 1972 to ferrie him out and sign with the Malpe Laughs

 

[Zine]

And what of Alexander Yakushev the player Harold Cheap A-hole Ballard wanted to give the Soviets a Million dollars in 1972 to ferrie him out and sign with the Malpe Laughs

Who would Yakushev replace? He's almost universally ranked behind Kharlamov, Firsov, Krutov and Ovechkin at LW. I suppose you could shift Firsov to C, but then one of Petrov, Maltsev, Datsyuk, Fedorov or Malkin would need to be dropped.

 

[Gerulaitis]

I know it would be unthinkable (and completely unacceptable), but the team might be better without Ovechkin.

And Canada would be better without Lemieux, right?

 

[Gerulaitis]

And what of Alexander Yakushev the player Harold Cheap A-hole Ballard wanted to give the Soviets a Million dollars in 1972 to ferrie him out and sign with the Malpe Laughs

It's a tough choice.
I would keep them all

 

[GMR]

Who would Yakushev replace? He's almost universally ranked behind Kharlamov, Firsov, Krutov and Ovechkin at LW. I suppose you could shift Firsov to C, but then one of Petrov, Maltsev, Datsyuk, Fedorov or Malkin would need to be dropped.

Yakushev and Vasiliev bring some needed size or attitude.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Who would Yakushev replace? He's almost universally ranked behind Kharlamov, Firsov, Krutov and Ovechkin at LW. I suppose you could shift Firsov to C, but then one of Petrov, Maltsev, Datsyuk, Fedorov or Malkin would need to be dropped.

The Soviets/Russia like Canada have produced a lot of the best players in the World practically at any position

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Ovechkin is such an easy player to throw into a best-on-best lineup. He doesn't need the puck on his stick to be successful, is one of the best powerplay players of all time, can be effective off the first line, and his big skillset gels perfectly with Soviet-style passing.

An Ovechkin-Fedorov-Kucherov pairing is money if you want to keep them away from the pure Soviets.

I think you keep Federov with Bure and Mogilny...like the KLM line if you could keep Krutov from eating his face off...so Ovi with Kucherov and...Yakushev with KHARMALOV ...