What is the time-line on the Kamensky injury? Because he never posted any stats in Russia that would indicate he was any better than Bure at least at any age really. Bure had 17 goals and 26 points in 32 games as a 17–18 year old.
as theo notes above, an exhibition game before the 1991 canada cup. what a dog of a tournament for the soviet team: no mogilny (defected), no bure (defection risk), no kamensky.
So as you know Kozlov caused a serious car accident killing his former teammate Tarasov and injuring himself. The Red Wings had actively tried to get him defect already earlier and used the opportunity to bribe doctors who gave Kozlov a suitable diagnosis in order to get him released from the Red Army. The army people weren't buying it so they also got their share, and some more for the Tarasov family to make the legal case go away.
thanks. so are you suggesting that how bad kozlov's injuries were is debatable?
Watcha meaning?
If you mean what I think you do, you're really really high on Alex. If you mean what I don't think you mean, you probably should have run into Bure
i'm just talking about all the players i've personally seen play live. which isn't actually that many all-time greats, but includes sakic, fedorov, lidstrom, datsyuk, the sedins, doughty, among others. i never saw gretzky or the penguins though.
and yes, i thought mogilny was the most talented of all those players. he had the best shot i've ever seen, the best hockey sense, such an underrated passer and underrated defensive player, and could just do the most out there. this was '96 mogilny, so he wasn't crazy fast anymore but there was just this sense when you watched him that motion was a natural movement, just so graceful and yet game-breakingly dangerous at the same time.
bure is my favourite player of all time. he was the better and more effective player overall, because of his drive. but when mogilny was on, he could do more, at least to my eyes.
Always? Even after he beat him at the All Star Game? Was it in 94? That would be way too modest.
mogilny broke his leg in the 1993 playoffs against montreal.