To close off my overview with the top 19 Eastern Bloc players, I'll move to 2 of the most prominent Spartak Moscow players.
Alexander Yakushev was something of a Russian version of Václav Nedomanský as you can deduct from a
great profile written by
@Theokritos. Big, technically skilled, shoot-first forward with subpar defensive effort (or abilities). Both Yakushev and Nedomanský are in my opinion underrated in their "Best Players" voting results in their respective countries through their individualistic styles. Both took some time to overcome some of these issues but when they did, they belonged firmly in the group of top Euros outside NHL for a good number of years. Peak? Yakushev has a case for the best Euro player of the 1974-1976 timeframe. WHC All-star in 1974 and 1975 (with the most votes out of everyone in 75) + Best Forward award in 1975 too. Plus 3rd in 1974 Soviet league scoring and 2nd in 1976.
We've mentioned the lack of parity in the Soviet league before. Well, even with that there are reasons why you want to pay attention to that league's results. Despite a total CSKA dominance, Spartak Moscow managed to steal three titles to themselves in 1967, 1969 and 1976, everytime through a significant effort by Yakushev. 20 y/o Yak was 4th in '67 scoring, 1st in '69 scoring and as mentioned, 2nd in '76. Yakushev has no jaw-dropping league stats but I personally appreciate this correlation of "whenever Yakushev scored plenty domestically = Spartak upsets the army team and wins it all". Dynamo Moscow, on contrast, with their Maltsev, Vasiliev or even Pervukhin or Bylialetdinov and with their top coaching (Chernyshev, later Yurzinov IIRC) never won a single league title in 1960-1989 timeframe.
Under close inspection, Yakushev has also decent longevity as an effective player. Played his first international game in mid-60s, first WHC in 1967, missed a subsequent OG 1968 due to injury. Although Yak missed the '78 WHC, he was still a decent member of Soviet team at '79 WHC when he was 32 y/o. A top 170-190 player.
Viacheslav Starshinov. As more information got uncovered over the last years, it has become clear (to me at least) that Starshinov was the 2nd best 1960s Soviet player. He has stats, accolades... but maybe more importantly, Starshinov would be a safe pick for the most versatile 60s Soviet player (him or Loktev?). Physical, two-way leader and equally great at passing and goal-scoring (Theo's profile with many quotes
here). For his on- and off-the-ice manners lauded frequently by Soviet, Czechoslovak and Canadian observers. For example, David Bauer and Jackie McLeod
thought back in 1968 that Firsov and Starshinov are the two best Soviets who could play for any NHL team.
Soviet coaches and other officials named Starshinov all-star (i.e. 1 of 3 top Soviet forwards) for 8 years straight (1963-1970), which is even a better record than Firsov btw. Starshinov is arguably also the best Soviet forward when it comes to domestic (goal)scoring. For 9 seasons straight (1962-1970), Starshinov always ended up in the top 5 scoring chart while winning the (goal)scoring title in 1967 and 1968 (and coming 2nd in 1969). As said above, Spartak defeated CSKA and others for the ultimate Soviet team trophy few times. During Starshinov era, it happened in 1962, 1967 and 1969 - a historically rare feat and with Starhinov as their hands down best player. A top 190-200 player.
_______________________
I called these 19 non-NHL players a "must-haves" on any list (Makarov, Fetisov, Tretiak, Kharlamov, Maltsev, Martinec, Firsov, Krutov, Mikhailov, Vasiliev, Suchý, Nedomanský, Holeček, Larionov, Petrov, Kasatonov, Pospíšil, Yakushev, Starshinov) primarily because they don't have any glaring holes in their resumé compared to other remaining Euro players. They all to some degree have elite stats, wide award collections, great quotes... (other than Vasiliev, but he was defensively oriented d-man so points are not too much of his issue).
I think including 19 non-NHLers is good enough, but let me know if you disagree with me on some player belonging or not belonging on the Top-200 list - I will make a better, more thorough case.
I'll take a look at a couple of "maybes" which some might put at the bottom of the list (incl. myself) in the next day or so.
