What if Philadelphia beat Montreal in 1976?

[David Puddy]

I remember that game well. Lindbergh got hurt (wrist/hand) early in that game, he continued playing, and then he was lost to the team for more tha a month. He was never the same that year. His injury killed the Flyers season.

Tretiak's play didn't impress you in that game?

It's a shame what happened to Pelle Lindbergh nearly three years later. He was only 26 at the time.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Tretiak's play didn't impress you in that game?

It's a shame what happened to Pelle Lindbergh nearly three years later. He was only 26 at the time.

He was probably the best goalie on the planet at the time of his death. IMO the season he had the season before his death was the best by a goalie in the 80's and he was only going to get better.

 

[Habs Icing]

The thing that John is saying is that it is way too difficult to judge Tretiak as a goaltender because he didn't play many games against elite competition. The games that he did play against elite competition, he had his ups and his downs.

As for Dryden and Espo, they had the chance to prove themselves against elite competition in the NHL year after year. We know how they played in big games and we know that both were great goaltenders. Tretiak didn't have this opportunity, who knows how he would have fared.

This makes no sense to me. Canada and the Soviet Union were 1a and 1b throughout the 70's and most of the 80's. So how can you say Tretiak didn't play against elite competition but Dryden and Espo did. Just because they played in the NHL? If I remember correctly every time the Soviet Teams came over and played a series of games against NHL teams they would win the series. If you want to make a judgement about elite hockey, maybe you should take those series into consideration. What makes you think the NHL in the 70's and 80's was elite competition? It was a watered down league that had expanded way past canada's capacity to supply it with elite players.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

This makes no sense to me. Canada and the Soviet Union were 1a and 1b throughout the 70's and most of the 80's. So how can you say Tretiak didn't play against elite competition but Dryden and Espo did. Just because they played in the NHL? If I remember correctly every time the Soviet Teams came over and played a series of games against NHL teams they would win the series. If you want to make a judgement about elite hockey, maybe you should take those series into consideration. What makes you think the NHL in the 70's and 80's was elite competition? It was a watered down league that had expanded way past canada's capacity to supply it with elite players.

When the Soviets Tretiak either played with the :

A. Soviet National Team - all-star team that played year round

B. Soviet Red Army Team - 85-90% of the Soviet National Team

Those teams playing against regular NHL teams had incredible advantages.

When other club teams like the Soviet Wings came over, the results were much more in favor of the NHL squads.

 

[acr*]

He was probably the best goalie on the planet at the time of his death. IMO the season he had the season before his death was the best by a goalie in the 80's and he was only going to get better.

He could've been a HOFer if he was responsible enough not to drink and drive.

Who knows what could've been if he didn't die. With Hextall in the system and a very good backup in Froese, with trades and whatnot, it could've affected at least 3 franchises and their history.

Maybe the Flyers would've beaten the Oilers in '87, or another team would've gotten a chance with a better goalie.

We can only wonder, and it's a shame....

 

[David Puddy]

When other club teams like the Soviet Wings came over, the results were much more in favor of the NHL squads.

From the website Canada versus Russia,

lesser Soviet teams (Dynamo, Wings, Spartak, Riga, Khimik, SKA and Sokol) versus the NHL you will still find the Soviets coming out on top with 31 wins, 28 losses and 8 ties

While the other Soviet Elite League teams didn't do nearly as well as the Central Red Army Team (CSKA,) which went 31-11-2 against NHL clubs, the contests ultimately did not come out in favor of the NHL clubs.

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During the Super Series '82-83, the Soviets went 4-2, playing one game against each the Candiens, Flyers, Nordiques, Flames, North Stars and Oilers. Vladimir Myshkin went 0-2 (lossing to the Flames and Oilers,) and Vladislav Tretiak went 4-0, including two shutouts.