Theokritos
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The following is sourced from Anatoly Tarasov's book Хоккей грядущего (2nd edition, 1971). Tarasov says that "four years ago" a Czechoslovak sports journalist named Ladislav Krnáč had asked "the two renowned Canadian coaches [David] Bauer and [Jackie] McLeod" to grade the quality of the Soviet national team in comparison with the strongest and the weakest NHL teams, Chicago Black Hawks (top team in the regular season) and Boston Bruins (bottom dweller). Here's the full breakdown as quoted by Tarasov:
Physical preparation
McLeod: "The Soviet players have a more well-rounded training, especially when it comes to strength. Boston 3 points, USSR 5 points."
Bauer: "The advantage of the Soviet team is that it pays special attention to training in the off-season, the players are involved in hockey all-year round. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 5 points."
Skating
McLeod: "The average level of the professionals is higher. Bobby Orr, for example, has an incredible acceleration. [Veniamin] Aleksandrov skates more elegantly. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "The Soviet players are stronger on their skates, but personally I would put Bobby Hull at the top. The players of the Canadian national team who appear in Grenoble are stronger on their skates than the third line of Chicago. Thus, Chicago 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Puck control
McLeod (without hesitation): "They're on par. Esposito and Firsov are exemplary. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer (after much deliberation): "The two teams play different styles. For the professionals the main principle is to shoot, hammer the puck ahead and put pressure on the goaltender. The Soviet team focuses on buildup and puck possession. Both are good at what they're doing. I don't acknowledge the notion that the Soviets play a mechanical game. Only the Montreal Canadiens are able to combine those two styles. Chicago 4 points, USSR 4.5 points."
Shooting
McLeod: "The professionals shoot more often, harder and more accurate. Boston 5 points, USSR 2 points."
Bauer: "The NHL has 15 players who are fantastic shooters, but that's all. Two years ago I would have said Chicago 5 points, USSR 2 points, today I say Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Passing
McLeod: "The professionals pass less often but they're effective. The Soviet players pass around a lot. Almetov and Starshinov are true kings of the pass. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "The Soviet players can pass in many ways and they're more accurate. The professionals often give the puck away because they often take risks. Chicago 4.5 points, USSR 5 points."
Physical game
McLeod: "The professionals are more experienced in this, the only thing the Soviets do better is their pressing. Ragulin has ideal qualities for the physical game. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "True, among the Soviet players are a few who don't like the game with the body. That's not the case among the professionals. Nevertheless, Chicago 4.5 points, USSR 4.5 points."
Goaltending
McLeod: "No contest. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "All professional goaltenders are great players. Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Power play
McLeod: "The Soviets excell in choice of position and passing. Boston 3 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "I don't see a difference. Both still have room to improve. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Penalty killing
McLeod: "The NHL has more players proficient in holding the puck. The Soviets defend more actively. Boston 3 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "It all comes down to luck. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Defensive play
McLeod: "The pros have great goalies. The forwards don't help the defencemen as much. In general, the NHL teams defend better. Boston 4 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "I'm not taking goaltenders into account. The pros get paid for goals, therefore Chicago, for example, can't win the cup. The Soviet team defends more as a collective. Chicago 4 points, USSR 5 points."
Offensive play
McLeod: "Hard to answer. The pros shoot more often, but the Soviet players are better at creating shooting positions for each other. It all depends on the defencemen and the goalkeeper. Boston 4 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "I've expressed my opinion on this one before. Hull and Mikita are superstars. Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Overall play
McLeod: "I think the game of the pros is more efficient. The Soviet team is well organized. In addition it's getting stronger from year to year. There are more and more players of the type of Almetov, Firsov and Polupanov. If we take this into account I would go with a draw. Both sides contribute to the world of hockey. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "Each has their own qualities. It would be difficult for the players to play on the team of the opponent. In my opinion the only Soviet players who wouldn't be at loss [when switching to an NHL team] would be Firsov and Starshinov. Chicago 5 points, USSR 5 points."
Physical preparation
McLeod: "The Soviet players have a more well-rounded training, especially when it comes to strength. Boston 3 points, USSR 5 points."
Bauer: "The advantage of the Soviet team is that it pays special attention to training in the off-season, the players are involved in hockey all-year round. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 5 points."
Skating
McLeod: "The average level of the professionals is higher. Bobby Orr, for example, has an incredible acceleration. [Veniamin] Aleksandrov skates more elegantly. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "The Soviet players are stronger on their skates, but personally I would put Bobby Hull at the top. The players of the Canadian national team who appear in Grenoble are stronger on their skates than the third line of Chicago. Thus, Chicago 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Puck control
McLeod (without hesitation): "They're on par. Esposito and Firsov are exemplary. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer (after much deliberation): "The two teams play different styles. For the professionals the main principle is to shoot, hammer the puck ahead and put pressure on the goaltender. The Soviet team focuses on buildup and puck possession. Both are good at what they're doing. I don't acknowledge the notion that the Soviets play a mechanical game. Only the Montreal Canadiens are able to combine those two styles. Chicago 4 points, USSR 4.5 points."
Shooting
McLeod: "The professionals shoot more often, harder and more accurate. Boston 5 points, USSR 2 points."
Bauer: "The NHL has 15 players who are fantastic shooters, but that's all. Two years ago I would have said Chicago 5 points, USSR 2 points, today I say Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Passing
McLeod: "The professionals pass less often but they're effective. The Soviet players pass around a lot. Almetov and Starshinov are true kings of the pass. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "The Soviet players can pass in many ways and they're more accurate. The professionals often give the puck away because they often take risks. Chicago 4.5 points, USSR 5 points."
Physical game
McLeod: "The professionals are more experienced in this, the only thing the Soviets do better is their pressing. Ragulin has ideal qualities for the physical game. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "True, among the Soviet players are a few who don't like the game with the body. That's not the case among the professionals. Nevertheless, Chicago 4.5 points, USSR 4.5 points."
Goaltending
McLeod: "No contest. Boston 5 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "All professional goaltenders are great players. Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Power play
McLeod: "The Soviets excell in choice of position and passing. Boston 3 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "I don't see a difference. Both still have room to improve. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Penalty killing
McLeod: "The NHL has more players proficient in holding the puck. The Soviets defend more actively. Boston 3 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "It all comes down to luck. Chicago 3.5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Defensive play
McLeod: "The pros have great goalies. The forwards don't help the defencemen as much. In general, the NHL teams defend better. Boston 4 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "I'm not taking goaltenders into account. The pros get paid for goals, therefore Chicago, for example, can't win the cup. The Soviet team defends more as a collective. Chicago 4 points, USSR 5 points."
Offensive play
McLeod: "Hard to answer. The pros shoot more often, but the Soviet players are better at creating shooting positions for each other. It all depends on the defencemen and the goalkeeper. Boston 4 points, USSR 3 points."
Bauer: "I've expressed my opinion on this one before. Hull and Mikita are superstars. Chicago 5 points, USSR 3.5 points."
Overall play
McLeod: "I think the game of the pros is more efficient. The Soviet team is well organized. In addition it's getting stronger from year to year. There are more and more players of the type of Almetov, Firsov and Polupanov. If we take this into account I would go with a draw. Both sides contribute to the world of hockey. Boston 4 points, USSR 4 points."
Bauer: "Each has their own qualities. It would be difficult for the players to play on the team of the opponent. In my opinion the only Soviet players who wouldn't be at loss [when switching to an NHL team] would be Firsov and Starshinov. Chicago 5 points, USSR 5 points."
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