Best on Best International Tournaments - Best Individual Performances all-time?

[bobholly39]

With the World Cup 2016 wrapping up in the next few days, it's quite obvious that Sidney Crosby is having an absolutely fantastic tournament for Canada.

I'm curious as to how the History board feels that compares from an all-time perspective? What are some of the very best individual performances in best on best tournaments of all-time?

Obviously, Gretzky likely has a few of them that easily surpass Crosby, notably in 87, and possibly other years. Lemieux in 87 as well. But outside of those 2 - what are some of the better individual performances of all-time in best on best tournaments? And where does Crosby 2016 slot in such a list?

Not just Canada but all nations, and not just forwards but all positions.

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[JETZZZ]

Hasek 1998

 

[VMBM]

Gretzky in the 1987 Canada Cup. (+ Lemieux, Krutov, Makarov...)

John Tonelli in 1984.

Tretyak and Shepelev* in the 1981 CC.

* Was 'only' 8th best scorer in the tournament, but scored 2+1 in the semi-final vs CSSR and 3+0 in the final vs Canada

 

[quoipourquoi]

A lot of MVP goaltending standouts in small sample tournaments: Ranford in 1991 (.940), Hasek in 1998 (.961), Niittymaki in 2006 (.951), Miller in 2010 (.946). Richter in 1996 didn't end up with an astronomical save percentage - four of his six games were against Canada after all - but he's among the very best.


EDIT: And while Carey Price wasn't on the All-Star team for 2014, he's another goalie with a pretty good tournament - albeit lighter on work.

 

[Big Phil]

First things first, who were the MVPs of the Canada/World Cups and Olympics?

1976 - Orr
1981 - Tretiak
1984 - Tonelli
1987 - Gretzky
1991 - Ranford
1996 - Richter
1998 - Hasek
2002 - Sakic
2004 - Lecavalier
2006 - Selanne
2010 - Toews
2014 - Doughty

Only Selanne won it in a losing cause. For me, the best were Tretiak, Gretzky and Richter. Hasek to an extent too. However, Lemieux was as good as anyone in 1987 as well. The system the Czechs played did help Hasek out quite a bit, he only faced 22 shots from Canada in regulation. For me the best goaltending performance for sure is Richter. I really can't think of a game in hockey history that a goalie played better than him in Game 3 of the World Cup final.

But I think you have to go with Gretzky here in 1987. Heck, he was nearly as good in 1991 too when you think of it. But 1987 was a magical tournament where he was just poetry in motion. I don't think you'll see a player do that well in a tournament like this again.

Honourable mention to Phil Esposito in 1972. No Orr, no Hull, no problem. Esposito led that team and was the bread and butter. Three points in the final period of the series. Lots of clutch goals. Impossible to contain in the slot. Lots of passion and who can forget the "huddle" he did just before the last faceoff before the goal?

I'd rank them like this:

Gretzky
Esposito
Richter
Tretiak
Hasek

Where does Crosby rank? There is still at least another game, but he'll be up there. Not sure if he cracks this list of the top 5 though.

 

[quoipourquoi]

First things first, who were the MVPs of the Canada/World Cups and Olympics?

2006 - Selanne
2010 - Toews
2014 - Doughty

Only Selanne won it in a losing cause.

I believe these might be off. It went Niittymaki in 2006, Miller in 2010, then Selanne in 2014 (though he did win best forward in 2006) all in losing causes, didn't it?

I believe in the best-on-best Olympics, only Sakic and Selanne won MVP as skaters - both being the leading scorers in the elimination round but not the full tournament. Crosby might be having the best performance from a skater in a best-on-best in a while (though Karlsson was quite good in 2014).

 

[alko]

Peter Forsberg on WJC 1991?

 

[Rexor]

Sundin was amazing in 2002.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Selänne was at his best in 06.

 

[Sens Rule]

I know 1972 is not considered best on best... Still my top 3 are (in no order)

Esposito in 1972, Gretzky in 1987, Hasek in 1998.