I am not sure if I am reading this right. Are you saying that there are quotes form teammates in Edmonton suggesting that Matti Hagman was better than Messier when he was in Edmonton?
If so this was certainly not the case. I watched every home game he played for the Oilers live and there is no way that even at 25 that Hagman was as good as a 20 year old Mark Messier.
In Messier's second year with the Oilers and Hagman's first one might argue that they were closer statistically. But Messier still had a significant physical presence that was a big factor for the Oilers.
This is an interesting thread. Based on NHL play only since I don't really have much of a feel for Finnish international play, I would have given Kurri a slight edge over Selanne based on the difference in their defensive games.
