Okay, I'll bite, but my choices are based
when they played for Edmonton (i.e., I'm not taking Jacques Plante because he was 84 years old when he played for Edmonton):
Tikkanen 1990 -- Gretzky 1984 -- Kurri 1985
[Only two seasons with all three together, but possibly the greatest NHL line of all time. 'Nuff said.]
Draisaitl 2019 -- McDavid 2018 -- Yamamoto 2020
[McDrai is easy; you may be surprised at the Yamamoto selection, but I love his game and I love his chemistry with Draisaitl.]
Anderson 1986 -- Messier 1990 -- Simpson 1988
[All big-game bosses; was an actual line from late 1987 to spring 1991. Rocked.]
Krushelnyski 1985 -- MacTavish 1986 -- McSorley 1988
[The grind line that will play 10 minutes per game. MacT is awesome on face-offs, Krushelnyski extremely versatile and great on the boards, and McSorley -- as a forward, not a 'D' -- can be very effective and will kill anyone who messes with the stars, just in case.]
I really like this forward group. Every line has one right-hander, and two lefties, interestingly. I seriously doubt any NHL team in history can boast three centers of the collective level of the top three, above. Also, each line has one guy who will go to the net in the 'dirty' areas -- namely, Tikkanen, Yamamoto, Simpson... and everyone on the 4th line!
Pronger 2006 -- Larsson 2020
[Pronger was scary-good in Edmonton for one year; Larsson's game this year is back to peak level.]
Coffey 1983 -- J. Smith 2000
[One goes out, one stays at home.]
S. Smith 1990 -- Klefbom 2020
[Two lefties? They'll make it work.]
I may be a tad worried about Coffey's and Klefbom's defensive games, but their partners are there to balance them out with more physicality. Coffey, I think, was best around 1982-1984 before he got too caught up chasing records (exception of '85 playoffs when he was superhuman). There's at least one bruiser on each pairing (and two, in the case of Pronger/Larsson).
Joseph 1997 -- Fuhr 1986
[Oilers have been blessed with some serious goaltenders, but these two stand-out to me. Could win you big games.]
So, that's my team!!
Players that I considered, but 'cut':
- Vince Damphousse (awesome in 1991-92, but look at the top three centers? We don't need him)
- Bernie Nicholls (great with Damphousse in '92, but similar problem as above, and he was a bit past his peak)
- Doug Weight (incredible playmaker, but we've got enough of those, and his defensive game was really weak)
- Kent Nilsson (Bernie Nicholls-ish problem -- he was great for a few months, but I prefer Simpson on that wing. Simpson was a 'gamer' who laid his body on the line and was huge in the playoffs)
- Ryan Smyth (fan favorite, likable guy, but we don't need him)
- Taylor Hall (again, we don't need him. Also, I never liked him)
- Michael Peca (wanted him on the '4th line', but was he maybe a bit past his peak in Edmonton?)
- Todd Marchant (could replace Krushelnyski on the 4th line, if you prefer a speedster who's less physical)
- Charlie Huddy (great at his best, but didn't quite excel in any one area to make it)
- Boris Mironov (liked watching him, but a little concerned at his defensive stability)
I believe the line-up I assembled, if both motivated and healthy, could go something like 79-3 in a regular season. And, needless to say, would win the Cup!
Other teams would look at this team... and then just go home in fear.
Ah, it warms my heart to imagine it!