This is probably the first time ever I’ve heard Messier as one of the glaring omissions from the 1998 Olympics, and there have probably been a hundred threads on that topic since Canadians love to pick apart that roster and that loss for all eternity. Zamuner was there over a bunch of great scorers due to being propped up as a superb grinder (despite the season in particular not being a great one for him) and having put in time with Team Canada in the world championships, Bourque was picked for the shootout, Gretzky didn’t make the shootout, Canadians were unfamiliar and unprepared for a shootout, Lindros was made captain over Gretzky, they had too many good centers so a few played out of position, Sakic and Kariya were out with injuries, Crawford was a crap coach, Clarke was a crap GM, etc, etc, think I’ve heard every explanation for Canada’s disappointing 1998 tournament, but no Messier I believe was a first.
Lemieux having retired disqualifies the Czech win as a best-on-best accomplishment?
Has any team ever won a true best-on-best by your logic, doesn’t the Canadians for instance always leave a few players who’d make any other national team at home, due to being stacked at center?
When was there ever a true best-on-best win in your opinion? The 1972 Summit Series lacked Orr and Firsov, Lemieux was out for the 1991 Canada Cup, Forsberg was out for the 2002 Olympics, and Patrick Roy declined participation because he wasn’t guaranteed to start, Nylander was snubbed and Näslund injured in 2006, but Finland on the other hand saw Kiprusoff who was the best goaltender in the world at the time withdrawing due to injury. At any rate, can you take 2006 seriously when Team Canada was so incompetently constructed and snubbed Crosby who was already playing like a top 5 forward?
2014, Sweden snubbed Hedman, brought on Tallinder, and had none of their top three centers playing the finals. For my money, there’s never been a best-on-best played, and every notion of a top team ever is pure speculation.
I don’t know if you deserved me putting this many words in responding to your dense post, as I’m pretty sure you’re just trying really hard to be a dick.