The 'aura' of Boris Mikhailov

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I've been trying to find out more information lately with Boris Mikhailov. Through various interviews in different hockey documentaries, he is seemed to be dubbed the 'greatest player in the world' during the 60's and 70's.

It's really interesting to me that he is (or was) regarded as the top player during that time over others like Yakushev, Petrov and Kharlamov - and they all played with each other at some point. He seemed to a prime two-way threat, but again, not much out there

 

[VMBM]

I've been trying to find out more information lately with Boris Mikhailov. Through various interviews in different hockey documentaries, he is seemed to be dubbed the 'greatest player in the world' during the 60's and 70's.

Really? Can you name some sources.

Namely, that sounds like some Russian propaganda/rewriting of history. There is no way he was considered better than Bobby Orr, or Bobby Hull or even Phil Esposito (before 1974 or so) or Guy Lafleur at the time. And I rate Valeri Kharlamov over him. Alexander Maltsev was at least his equal too.

In my opinion, the only time Mikhailov maybe could have been called the best player in the world was during the 1978-79 season, when he played a terrific domestic season, World Championship, and, for what it's worth, led the team that beat the NHL All-Stars (including Lafleur) in the 1979 Challenge Cup.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Really? Can you name some sources.

Namely, that sounds like some Russian propaganda/rewriting of history. There is no way he was considered better than Bobby Orr, or Bobby Hull or even Phil Esposito (before 1974 or so) or Guy Lafleur at the time. And I rate Valeri Kharlamov over him. Alexander Maltsev was at least his equal too.

In my opinion, the only time Mikhailov maybe could have been called the best player in the world was during the 1978-79 season, when he played a terrific domestic season, World Championship, and, for what it's worth, led the team that beat the NHL All-Stars (including Lafleur) in the 1979 Challenge Cup.

I’m not trying to get into a political issue here with ‘Russian Propaganda’ but the three documentaries that I have seen this mentioned is the ‘Do You Believe in Miracles’ HBO special, the NBC Summit Series special, and a Canada Cup documentary that was from the Canadian point of view (can’t think of the name)

Clearly Mikhailov and his teams were superior if they were beating North American teams during that era.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Pretty sure Anatoli Firsov was considered the best player in Europe in the 1960s.

 

[Pominville Knows]

Many european sources att that time, especially russian and czechoslovak ones just excluded North American professionals when they did not take part in the world hockey championships and the olympics.
Where Mikhailov fits into this is more of a riddle though, even if he may have been the most complete russian forward and was certainly not far off of being their best.
I see that he was the soviet MVP in 77 and 78, best forward at the WHC in 79 and someone mentioned the 79 Challenge Cup so i guess at that time there could have been such european sources.

 

[VanIslander]

I could write an essay on the spot as I was a teenager during his career and constantly thought Larionov the key to the line. Bowman said Igor was coaching for him. "The Professor" owned the room and was more important to Detroit's success than fans even acknowledged. I was in the Joe in 1994. And 1995. There was no Internet then, unfortunately. I was in grad school living in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River WITHIN EYESIGHT OF JOE LEWIS ARENA, back when entering USA to see a game was a smooth procedure.

 

[rmartin65]

I could write an essay on the spot as I was a teenager during his career and constantly thought Larionov the key to the line. Bowman said Igor was coaching for him. "The Professor" owned the room and was more important to Detroit's success than fans even acknowledged. I was in the Joe in 1994. And 1995. There was no Internet then, unfortunately. I was in grad school living in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River WITHIN EYESIGHT OF JOE LEWIS ARENA, back when entering USA to see a game was a smooth procedure.

Mikhailov and Larionov?

 

[VanIslander]

Dang... I thought we were talking about the GREATEST SOVIET FORWARD EVER: Makarov.

(Posting while walking has its risks)

My bad. Never saw Mikhailhov play.

 

[Pominville Knows]

I could write an essay on the spot as I was a teenager during his career and constantly thought Larionov the key to the line. Bowman said Igor was coaching for him. "The Professor" owned the room and was more important to Detroit's success than fans even acknowledged. I was in the Joe in 1994. And 1995. There was no Internet then, unfortunately. I was in grad school living in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River WITHIN EYESIGHT OF JOE LEWIS ARENA, back when entering USA to see a game was a smooth procedure.

That Larionov was "coaching the room" in Detroit is no direct evidence for him being the key player on the ice for an entirely different team.
But i get your point, you found him to be that key. Controvercial as i'm sure you are aware of, but still.

 

[Big Phil]

He was a great player, no doubt. Was known for a lot more than just the "kick" with his skates in the 1972 Summit Series.

 

[VMBM]

I see that he was the soviet MVP in 77 and 78, best forward at the WHC in 79 and someone mentioned the 79 Challenge Cup so i guess at that time there could have been such european sources.

Actually, Helmut Balderis was the MVP in '77.

Anyway, in 1979 Mikhailov was named the best European player (Golden Stick award) of the season, and I think due to that automatically got the Soviet MVP too, without any voting. On top of that, he was the MVP of the Challenge Cup, so the 1978-79 season seemed to have been the biggie for him.

Anatoli Firsov was mentioned; yeah, I don't think anyone considered Mikhailov a better player in the '6Os or early '70s.

 

[johan f]

I could write an essay on the spot as I was a teenager during his career and constantly thought Larionov the key to the line. Bowman said Igor was coaching for him. "The Professor" owned the room and was more important to Detroit's success than fans even acknowledged. I was in the Joe in 1994. And 1995. There was no Internet then, unfortunately. I was in grad school living in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River WITHIN EYESIGHT OF JOE LEWIS ARENA, back when entering USA to see a game was a smooth procedure.

There was Internet 1994-95. I was member of Freep discussion forum and remember it was more talk about Fedorov than Igor. That is for sure. But it has nothing to do with Mikhailov. I think he was seen as top dog partly because he was 100 loyal toward soviet system and the program. Aside of being a stellar player.

 

[Sentinel]

VMBM nailed it, as usual.

Mikhailov was one of the most complete Soviet players ever (probably second only to Firsov).

 

[Overrated]

I’m not trying to get into a political issue here with ‘Russian Propaganda’ but the three documentaries that I have seen this mentioned is the ‘Do You Believe in Miracles’ HBO special, the NBC Summit Series special, and a Canada Cup documentary that was from the Canadian point of view (can’t think of the name)

Clearly Mikhailov and his teams were superior if they were beating North American teams during that era.

I don't think he was ever dubbed that. In a recent interview when asked about whether he felt any resentment about Kharlamov being so revered in comparison to other players and was even shown a clip of the Spartak coach Viktor Shuvalov claiming Kharlamov was super overrated and Mikhailov gave a rather diplomatic answer but still said that in his era two guys, Tretiak and Kharlamov were the greatest. Interestingly even Shuvalov who named Firsov Maltsev and Veniamin Alexandrov as greater never even mentioned Mikhailov. I don't think anyone ever though that of him. He was likely the fastest out of the trio, had the best longevity and was the captain. He was more of a pure goal scorer. He was also the dirtiest Soviet player back then even fouling goaltenders before receiving passes into the slot. I'd personally put Petrov above him as his scoring wasn't much lower yet did much more defensively and in terms of playmaking however I believe most would put Mikhailov ahead of Petrov though. I don't think he was ever even close to being the best player in the world.

I am not sure whether they were superior to the NHL/Canada as they weren't always beating their teams but given the fact the Soviet defense at least until the very late 70s was somewhat weak and likely weaker than even the Czechoslovak defense I am inclined to believe the Soviet offense was significantly better than the Canadian offense.

 

[VMBM]

He was likely the fastest out of the trio, had the best longevity and was the captain.

There's no way Mikhailov was faster than Kharlamov. Not even in straight-line speed and without the puck. And then when you add lateral movement and the puck, Kharlamov was way quicker.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I personally see Mikhailov as Soviet Phil Esposito, i.e. amonst the greatests but not the greatest for sure. Even in his time let alone if we take players who came later, like Makarov, Fetisov and Soviet/Russian NHLers.

 

[Overrated]

There's no way Mikhailov was faster than Kharlamov. Not even in straight-line speed and without the puck. And then when you add lateral movement and the puck, Kharlamov was way quicker.

It's hard to tell but after watching quite a few of these games from the late 60s early 70s it seemed like Zimin was maybe the fastest, then Firsov and then Mikhailov. Kharlamov seemed way more agile but not faster although I could be wrong. It's definitely possible Kharlamov was slightly faster or the same.

 

[Big Phil]

Any chance he gets into the HHOF someday? He is a notable omission from that era among Soviets. Is "the kick" what has hurt him? Or is it the fact he has always sort of gone to the beat of his own drum?

 

[Overrated]

Any chance he gets into the HHOF someday? He is a notable omission from that era among Soviets. Is "the kick" what has hurt him? Or is it the fact he has always sort of gone to the beat of his own drum?

It's shameful he is not in, especially when he did so well even against the Canadian pros. Let's hope he gets in before he dies.

 

[Big Phil]

It's shameful he is not in, especially when he did so well even against the Canadian pros. Let's hope he gets in before he dies.

Considering his Soviet teammates are in, it is strange he isn't. Might have ran over the wrong person's dog.

 

[Overrated]

Considering his Soviet teammates are in, it is strange he isn't. Might have ran over the wrong person's dog.

Firsov, Maltsev, Petrov, Vasiliev are not in. Only Kharlamov, Yakushev and Tretiak are. Not even Krutov and Kasatonov from the green line are in.

 

[Big Phil]

Firsov, Maltsev, Petrov, Vasiliev are not in. Only Kharlamov, Yakushev and Tretiak are. Not even Krutov and Kasatonov from the green line are in.

Mikhailov is in the same range as his 1972 mates though. It surprises me. To be honest, I don't know enough of the reasons why he isn't in, other than I have heard it is eluded to that he has ticked off the powers to be before.

 

[Staniowski]

Mikhailov is in the same range as his 1972 mates though. It surprises me. To be honest, I don't know enough of the reasons why he isn't in, other than I have heard it is eluded to that he has ticked off the powers to be before.

I don't think there's any reason to believe there's anything unusual about Mikhailov not being in the HHOF. As Overrated said, there's only Tretiak, Kharlamov, and now Yakushev who've been inducted. Of the '60s and '70s Soviets, Mikhailov is probably the best-known in Canada of the players who are outside, so it wouldn't be a surprise if it happens in the future.