one two center duo in History
- Thread starter Phil68
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Idk if this is a top 25 combo. Point and Stamkos or Point and Cirelli clear them bit and I wouldn’t put either in the top 25 really. At their peak idk if Backstrom and Kuzy were even the best center combo in the East lol
Shhhh....not too loud....don't want to bring out the Leafs fans...
RussianBum86
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I havent seen McDavid or Draistil take a shot in eye to help his team win the cup yet. Stamkos had to learn how to play defense first to win a cup.
No.
He didn't win a Cup because he learned defense.
He won a Cup because of Vasilevsky, Kucherov, Sergachev, Point, Hedman.....
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RussianBum86
Registered User
I guess you didn't watch Stamkos out there blocking shots even strength, using his body in the corners to win battle, he started back checking every shift, and playing PK on the cup wins. When was the last time you saw McDavid or Draistil slide head first to block a shot in a tight game to protect the lead and sacrifice their body risking injury to set the tone and lead by example. Even came off the bench injured to score a goal to motivate his team and give his prescence. Part of Tampa's problem this year was there is no true leader. Hedman isn't a leader like Stamkos was. A few of the guys on my beer league team work for the lightning and coach some of the lightning's players kids for travel and they have stated his locker room prescence is missed by them. Losing Perry, Maroon, and Stamkos were the true leaders of the lockeroom hurt more than people realize.
One.Player.Doesn't.Win.Championships.
Even if he was the glue for the team, he was a single piece of a machine that had several moving parts.
No player wins a championship by himself. And this is the kind of rhetoric that makes me change the channel when talking beads come on tv. As someone else stated, it's a rhetoric that looks st a result and then loads up on superlatives- really just cliches. Just not a very meaningful analysis.
Dionne and Nicholls were solid for about three or 4 years too. Combing for 80 to 90 goals a year
MVP of West Hollywd
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I agree with Lemieux/Francis and Crosby/Malkin as 2nd and 3rd, though hard to pick between them.
McDrai is not quite complimentary enough, McDavid and Barkov would arguably be a preferable combination for example. McDrai special power is hitting teams with the same line minutes whenever they want.
McDrai is not quite complimentary enough, McDavid and Barkov would arguably be a preferable combination for example. McDrai special power is hitting teams with the same line minutes whenever they want.
RussianBum86
Registered User
I understand that, but If McDrai and was out there giving his all blocking shots, back checking 100%, and sacrificing their bodies blocking shots the other players in theory would start buying in doing the same. My opinion is the Oilers with a healthy Hyman win the sereis because his game adds a major element they lacked. Just my two cents and always enjoy reading other takes.
And if I was handsomer I may have convinced Salma Hayek and Kat Dennings to share me.
All guesses at the end of the day.
If Stolarz doesn't get injured, maybe the Leafs win.
If the Oilers acquired Ullmark for a 1st round draft pick, maybe they win the Cup.
RussianBum86
Registered User
touche
When is the last time you seen a cup win that the winning team wasn't playing team defense and their captains leading the way? I think going all the way back to the 80s.
So you're actually making the argument that Tampa won cups because of Stamkos' defense? If you're not saying that, the comment you're responding to makes it feel like you are.
You guys had one of the deepest teams in the history of the NHL. Give your boys some credit, this is INSANE.
McDavid wasn't the issue on defense this playoffs that people think either. He wasn't the reason they lost.
MVP of West Hollywd
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It's just picking hairs for the difference between being a top 5-7 center combination of all time and being top 3, McDrai has slightly more holes skillset wise than Crosby/Malkin to me, less defense from center position and less ability to generate grinder goals.
You're going off in a different direction here.touche
When is the last time you seen a cup win that the winning team wasn't playing team defense and their captains leading the way? I think going all the way back to the 80s.
I am pointing out that teams win championships, not individuals. I am not attempting to debate what it takes specifically to win it all. But your question does show that you agree with this because it recognizes that the whole team needs to be on the same page- that teams win Cups.
I will indulgens bit though and point out thwt Gretzky nor Lemieux were considered defensive dynamos. They didn't have to be- they were the firepower, that was their role.
McDavid has a 42 goals per 82 games average.
Crosby has a 39 goals per game season average.
Does it matter in the end whether those goals are "grinder goals" or not?
Your descriptor does beg the question as to what exactly is a "grinder" goal. McDavid has to fight checking to score his goals, it's not as if they're all penalty shots.
MVP of West Hollywd
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I felt like Oilers in finals were desperate to create some traffic and get tip in/deflection/rebound type goals. Of course, not all of that is McDavid's fault, especially with Hyman injured. But Crosby's game was especially good fit to set up grinder wingers.
Overall though the defensive aspect would probably mean more to my point to Crosby/Malkin being more balanced than McDavid/Drai (and again, it's a bit unfair to the latter without counting that they're a good combo playing together).
