Russia all time team

[Namba 17]

Just feelt for it. A Soviet Thread would be nice too.

Krutov - Larionov - Makarov
Kharlamov - Petrov - Mikhailov
Ovechkin - Datsuyk - Firsov
Bure - Fedorov - Mogilny

Ragulin - Konstantinov
Fetisov - Kasatonov
Vasilyev - Zubov

Tretiak

There was a topic about best on best all-time tournament about year ago. I made my USSR/Russia team and so far I like it.
This what I had:

Ovechkin - Petrov - Mikhailov
Krutov - Datsyuk - Makarov
Firsov - Fedorov - Balderis
Kharlamov - Starshinov - Kucherov
Malkin, Maltsev

Fetisov - Vasiliev
Pervoukhin - Kasatonov
Lutchenko - Sologubov
Ragulin

Tretiak
Vasilevsky

And if you need 3d goalie I'd take Bobrovsky or Shesterkin

 

[Overrated]

There was a topic about best on best all-time tournament about year ago. I made my USSR/Russia team and so far I like it.
This what I had:

Ovechkin - Petrov - Mikhailov
Krutov - Datsyuk - Makarov
Firsov - Fedorov - Balderis
Kharlamov - Starshinov - Kucherov
Malkin, Maltsev

Fetisov - Vasiliev
Pervoukhin - Kasatonov
Lutchenko - Sologubov
Ragulin

Tretiak
Vasilevsky

And if you need 3d goalie I'd take Bobrovsky or Shesterkin

Why take Kharlamov away from the guys he had such a great chemistry with? Also what is the reason behind Lutchenko? To me he always seemed like a subpar defenseman. There have been several clearly superior defensemen (Zubov, Konstantinov, Gonchar) produced by the Russian/Soviet system.

 

[Namba 17]

Why take Kharlamov away from the guys he had such a great chemistry with?

Because I wanted Ovi be in my team and wanted to find the best parnters to him. Its clear for me, that he has to play with:
1. Good defensive players. At least one
2. Good playmaker. At least one
With his volume shooting I'd like to have smbdy at least good to play in the creese.
And it will be also good if other players will forecheck to create some spase for him like his partners in real life did.
In Petrov we have perfect playmaker, probably the best playmaking C in USSR/Russia history, who was very good defensively and also big and strong physically and was great scorer himself also.
In Mikhailov we have 200ft player, easily top-10 best net presence in the history of the whole sport, great defensively, great forchecker, who played bigger that he was and had mean side to his game. I dont know any better partners for Ovi.
I also think that Kharlamov would be absolutely fantastic with such smart player as Kucherov (which is some kind of reincarnation his line with Firsov whom I consider stilistically close to Kucherov). Great defensive play of Starshinov and his ability to play physically and close to the net will fill the rest of this line needs.

Also what is the reason behind Lutchenko? To me he always seemed like a subpar defenseman. There have been several clearly superior defensemen (Zubov, Konstantinov, Gonchar) produced by the Russian/Soviet system.

Im not even start to analyze their game.
Ill just say that one of them is not like others

 

[Overrated]

I also think that Kharlamov would be absolutely fantastic with such smart player as Kucherov (which is some kind of reincarnation his line with Firsov whom I consider stilistically close to Kucherov). Great defensive play of Starshinov and his ability to play physically and close to the net will fill the rest of this line needs.

Well Kharlamov seemed to do very well with Maltsev, Firsov and Vikulov. I'd just be a little afraid of the Ovi-Petrov-Mikhailov line, especially knowing how much they benefited from a playmaker like Kharlamov. Their performances weren't the best when Kharlamov was playing with the aforementioned players in the early 1970s. Also why do you think Ovi and Malkin were never able to create great chemistry in the national team?

 

[Namba 17]

especially knowing how much they benefited from a playmaker like Kharlamov.

In this line everybody could make great pass, but it was Petrov, who was the main playmaker. If you watch games youll see it clearly.

Also why do you think Ovi and Malkin were never able to create great chemistry in the national team?

I dont think. I watched it with my own eyes.

 

[Overrated]

I dont think. I watched it with my own eyes.

I did too. I was just interested why did you think it was the case.

 

[Namba 17]

I did too. I was just interested why did you think it was the case.

Ah. Ok. I didn't understand the question then.
I don't know. Sometimes it happens.
I can suggest, that Malkin used to be the main player on his line with his LW and RW do all dirty work and created space for him. Ovi alwayes played with C that tried to find him with pass and created space for him.
Probably, they needed to play together more and it would create chemistry as they will change their roles on the ice.
But probably, there is another explanation.

 

[VanIslander]

Dmitri Yushkevich.

The greatest Russian defensive defenseman i've ever seen in the NHL.

He complained that Pat Quinn limited him to shutting down opposing star forwards when he claimed he could help the pp and offense. After injury and a return to Russia, he won an award as top defenseman in successful playoff play.

 

[Staniowski]

Dmitri Yushkevich.

The greatest Russian defensive defenseman i've ever seen in the NHL.

He complained that Pat Quinn limited him to shutting down opposing star forwards when he claimed he could help the pp and offense. After injury and a return to Russia, he won an award as top defenseman in successful playoff play.

Yushkevich was really, really good. A player that's gonna be completely forgotten by people who didn't see him play, and even by many who did see him play.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Yushkevich was really, really good. A player that's gonna be completely forgotten by people who didn't see him play, and even by many who did see him play.

By any chance, do you remember seeing much of him before he hooked up with Markov on the rejuvenated 1998-99 time? I don't think he made much of an impression on 11-year old me in 1996, and then the next two seasons are where I paid the least amount of attention to the Leafs I ever have (even though they have been worse than that at times since). He has some unfortunate numbers* in that time, for all that's worth, and then right after that, he's playing obviously excellent hockey to anyone watching, and I'm wondering if I missed something about him before that.

*the thing that jumps out to me as interesting and fluky is that 3 defenseman on the 1998 Leafs, including Yushkevich played over half the schedule and had zero goals. This doesn't sound like much for a poor offensive team, but I've looked around and it almost never happens. Weak team offense doesn't stop players from sneaking in a crappy point shot once every few months, but it wasn't happening for Yushkevich, Macoun or Zettler that year.

 

[boompuffboom]

i miss the Russians, not even joking.
i love Russian hockey and its history.

 

[Staniowski]

By any chance, do you remember seeing much of him before he hooked up with Markov on the rejuvenated 1998-99 time? I don't think he made much of an impression on 11-year old me in 1996, and then the next two seasons are where I paid the least amount of attention to the Leafs I ever have (even though they have been worse than that at times since). He has some unfortunate numbers* in that time, for all that's worth, and then right after that, he's playing obviously excellent hockey to anyone watching, and I'm wondering if I missed something about him before that.

*the thing that jumps out to me as interesting and fluky is that 3 defenseman on the 1998 Leafs, including Yushkevich played over half the schedule and had zero goals. This doesn't sound like much for a poor offensive team, but I've looked around and it almost never happens. Weak team offense doesn't stop players from sneaking in a crappy point shot once every few months, but it wasn't happening for Yushkevich, Macoun or Zettler that year.

Yeah, he had some low scoring numbers his first few years on the Leafs. I don't remember, in particular, what was going on there.

I remember first seeing him at the World Juniors, where he played three years, same three years as Bure. I attended the '91 WJC in Saskatoon, Yushkevich was one of the best players in the tournament, and one of my favorites.

The thing I really liked about Yushkevich was that he was good at so many things. Strong defensively, assertive and aggressive, rough and tough and tenacious. He hit and fought. His defensive aggressiveness was kind of like Langway (although they didn't look anything alike, really).

I believe Yushkevich is one of the long line of good defensemen who grew up playing forward.

 

[Staniowski]

i miss the Russians, not even joking.
i love Russian hockey and its history.

I love Russian hockey too, always have. They shouldn't have ever been suspended from international hockey. The foolishness should be over soon.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Yeah, he had some low scoring numbers his first few years on the Leafs. I don't remember, in particular, what was going on there.

I remember first seeing him at the World Juniors, where he played three years, same three years as Bure. I attended the '91 WJC in Saskatoon, Yushkevich was one of the best players in the tournament, and one of my favorites.

The thing I really liked about Yushkevich was that he was good at so many things. Strong defensively, assertive and aggressive, rough and tough and tenacious. He hit and fought. His defensive aggressiveness was kind of like Langway (although they didn't look anything alike, really).

I believe Yushkevich is one of the long line of good defensemen who grew up playing forward.

Low scoring yes, but also there's a minus-24 the year before that which, yeah, that's a team effects thing, but it undoubtably makes a honking sound when you look at it.

I think the "where did this guy come from" aspect has more to do with the fact that I don't remember anyone, whether it was me, my friends, my dad, broadcasters, etc, singling him out as a bright spot on a team that was dismantling the Ellett/Macoun/Gill core from the fun years (and in the process of booing Larry Murphy out of town). It was never "they should get rid of Murphy and play that Yooshka guy more" or anything like that. And then of course you look at the stats page of the sports section and he doesn't make any more of a case for himself there, that's all. And then all of a sudden there's a new coach, a new partner (who I had already seen in St. John's), a new goalie, and he's just killing it, visibly the third most valuable guy on the team. There's a lesson there for sure.

Regarding the zero goals thing, I wonder if @pnep can tell us how many teams have had 3 skaters play the majority of an 80+ game schedule and not score. The 19-20 Wings had Daley, Biega, and forward Abdelkader play 43, 49 and 49 respectively. Not quite as frustrating as the 72, 67 and 59 that the 3 guys on the 98 Leafs played, but they qualify for those parameters. The McTank Sabres only had 2, same with the expansion Senators, Zettler (again) is the only guy on the Sharks team that was chasing them. Neither of the Penguins' dive for a superstar seasons have a guy. I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs trio played the most cuumulative games of any trio that meets that specification. Again, pretty fluky all round.

Edit: incorrect about the Sabres
Edit again: hold up pnep, I've done some manual looking and have a thread to post later on.