I'm going to have to change one of my opening comments. Olli Jokinen and Eric Vail are not comprable - Jokinen is much superior. At the start of this draft, I wanted Vail, but I'm glad I didn't take him, because I really over-rated him.
Olli Jokinen vs. Eric Vail
Eric Vail
Points – 17th(1979), 28th(1977)
Goals – 11th(1975), 17th(1979), 20th(1977)
Points % - *68(1977), 64(1979), *50(1975)
Goals % - 74(1975), 67(1977), 59(1979), 50(1980)
Olli Jokinen
Points – 14th(2007), 15th(2006)
Goals – 11th(2007), 12th(2003), 15th(2006), 16th(2008), 28th(2004)
Points % - *84(2006), 80(2007), 67(2004), 67(2008), 63(2003), 55(2011), 52(2009)
Goals % - 78(2007), 75(2003), 70(2006), 65(2008), 63(2004), 63(2009)
The gap in offensive production is significant. Unless you're are punishing Jokinen by an absolultely rediculous amount, he is a better winger than Vail.
Vincent Lukac vs. Mud Bruneteau
Vincent Lukac
Czech League Scoring: 1st(1980), 1st(1983), 2nd(1977), 3rd(1984), 4th(1978), 4th(1979), 5th(1979), 10th(1985)
Mud Bruneteau
Points – 11th(1945), 18th(1943), 18th(1944)
Goals – 5th(1944), 10th(1945), 11th(1943)
Points % - 69(1944), 64(1941), 64(1945), 63(1942), 63(1943), 56(1940)
Goals % - 97(1944), 77(1943), 72(1945), 58(1942)
I was actually surprised to see how good Bruneteau's percentages are. I was explecting to be able to call him a terrible offensive player, but I can't
. Depending on how much you value war year scoring, he might actually be a decent 1st line winger. He still isn't on Lukac's level, who is one of the best offensive players in the draft, but the gap isn't as huge as I thought it was.
Geoff Sanderson vs. Petr Sykora
Geoff Sanderson
Goals – 14th(1997), 15th(1994), 18th(1993), 18th(2003), 30th(1996)
Points % - 64(2003), 61(1997), 60(1993), *58(2001), 56(1994), *54(1996)
Goals % - 72(1994), 71(1997), 71(2003), *62(1996), 61(1993), 56(1995), 56(2001)
Petr Sykora
Points – 18th(2001) 20th(1999), 30th(2000)
Goals – 18th(2003), 19th(2001), 29th(1999)
Points % - 84(2001), 72(2000), 68(1999), 60(2004), 59(2008), 57(2004), 53(2002)
Goals % - 71(2003), 66(1999), 65(2001), 57(2000), 56(2004), 54(2008), 54(2009), 51(2002)
I was surprised how both of these guys did in their percentages. They were both more impressive than I thought. In overall offense, it looks like Sykora has the edge. In goal-scoring, Sanderson has the edge. Both of these guys are primarily goal-scorers, so I think that matters more.
Also, keep in mind, like Spezza, Sykora was almost always the 3rd best player on his line, so his totals are inflated. Sanderson was often his line's best offensive player.
Alesander Kozhevnikov vs. Carl Liscombe
Aleksander Kozhevnikov
Points – 2nd(1982), 2nd(1983), 5th(1984), 6th(1988)
Goals – 1st(1982), 2nd(1983), 3rd(1984), 4th(1988)
Assists – 6th(1982), 6th(1983), 8th(1988)
Carl Liscombe
Points – 4th(1944)
Goals – 2nd(1944), 10th(1945), 17th(1943), 20th(1938)
Points % - 95(1944), 58(1943), 56(1942)
Goals % - 100(1944), 72(1945), 63(1943) 61(1938), 54(1942)
I always had Liscombe ahead of Bruneteau, but I guess I was wrong there.
Both Liscombe and Kozhevniov have relatively short peaks, Kozhevniov's is definately higher. There's a legitimate argument to be made that he was the best Soviet player from 1982 to 1984. He put up huge offensive numbers, that compared very favourably with top CSKA players, and he was carrying weaker teams. Kozhevnikov also brings a physical style that makes him more valuable than just a goal-scorer.
Liscombe is great in the play-offs, so that closes the gap in this series.