All time Team Canada?

[vadim sharifijanov]

everyone at a position he actually played, even if it was really early or late in his career--

hull gretzky howe
olmstead beliveau lemieux
messier trottier m. richard
gainey h. richard provost

harvey orr
potvin bourque
robinson coffey

roy
plante

 

[Iapyi]

The all time Team Canada is the same as the all time NHL team.

 

[Johnny Engine]

The all time Team Canada is the same as the all time NHL team.

Lidstrom and Hasek have a great case for an all-anything team, as does Jagr (though you might not want him as your 3rd line RW after Howe and Richard).

 

[VanIslander]

Representing Canada on the world stage?!

HHOFer Moose Goheen.

 

[therealkoho]

Bobby Hull - Gretzky - Howe
Robataille - Lemieux - Lafleur
Shanahan - Crosby - Brett Hull
Bucyk - Trottier - Bossy

Neidermeyer - Orr
Bourque - Potvin
Robinson - Pronger
Coffey

Dryden - Brodeur

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Esposito over Trottier

 

[jj cale]

Esposito over Trottier

Yeah, he's on my team.

He always seems to get left off by most people on these Team Canada dream teams but he would be on every single combination I would come up with. His goal scoring ability and never say die leadership which was on legendary display in the 72 Series makes him a must inclusion on any all time Team Canada I would come up with.

For me, Espos gotta be there.

 

[JackSlater]

I wouldn't really consider Esposito. The team will inevitably have better scoring centres and leaders already. Esposito isn't going to take the defensive matchups, he isn't going to play wing. He isn't going to dislodge Gretzky, Lemieux, Beliveau and even if Lemieux is moved to wing there are other centres better suited to the role.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I wouldn't really consider Esposito. The team will inevitably have better scoring centres and leaders already. Esposito isn't going to take the defensive matchups, he isn't going to play wing. He isn't going to dislodge Gretzky, Lemieux, Beliveau and even if Lemieux is moved to wing there are other centres better suited to the role.

only 1 center has been a better scoring center than Esposito, and thats Gretzky.

 

[Sheppy]

Hull-Gretzky-Howe
Lemieux-Crosby-Richard
Lindsay-Beliveau-Lafleur
Messier-Trottier-Bossy

Harvey-Bourque
Potvin-Robinson
Shore-Coffey

Roy
Sawchuk

lol, no Orr.

 

[VMBM]

Gilbert Perreault, anyone? Not on paper obviously, but if real-life performances on Team Canada count; he is a bit like "Canadian Yakushev" in that regard, was nearly always very hard to handle for the Soviets.

 

[jj cale]

I wouldn't really consider Esposito. The team will inevitably have better scoring centres and leaders already. Esposito isn't going to take the defensive matchups, he isn't going to play wing. He isn't going to dislodge Gretzky, Lemieux, Beliveau and even if Lemieux is moved to wing there are other centres better suited to the role.

We have been at odds on this matter in the past,lol.

We don't see eye to eye on the matter but i am o.k with you not having him on your team, it's one tough team to pick when we are talking an all time Team Canada in hockey, it's like picking an all time Team U.S.A in basketball. When you are talking all time Team Canada you are trying to pick from a horde of all time greats from the all time greatest hockey nation, that is just never going to be easy and great players are going to be left off.

But I stand by my inclusion of Espo on my team, I know he would be a big player, a big GAME player.

 

[jj cale]

only 1 center has been a better scoring center than Esposito, and thats Gretzky.

People seem to forget that for some reason, it seems he suffers from the Orr effect in that regard, well Orr didn't play in the summit series and look what espo still accomplished. And don't forget, even if you do think Orr played such a high role in his success, remember..........................Orr will be on this all time Team Canada.

Can't think of any better guy to work with him.

 

[JackSlater]

only 1 center has been a better scoring center than Esposito, and thats Gretzky.

That's pretty obviously not true.

We have been at odds on this matter in the past,lol.

We don't see eye to eye on the matter but i am o.k with you not having him on your team, it's one tough team to pick when we are talking an all time Team Canada in hockey, it's like picking an all time Team U.S.A in basketball. When you are talking all time Team Canada you are trying to pick from a horde of all time greats from the all time greatest hockey nation, that is just never going to be easy and great players are going to be left off.

But I stand by my inclusion of Espo on my team, I know he would be a big player, a big GAME player.

There isn't a spot for him, other than maybe 13th forward as a powerplay specialist and even then such a player isn't necessary. If Esposito was an excellent scorer who could also excel defensively or play the wing or play a with a wide variety of players that is one thing, but he's pretty much the most one dimensional player out of Canada's best centres outside of Lemieux and Gretzky. If you have Lemieux and Gretzky already taking up the majority of the primary offensive minutes and someone like Clarke taking the defensive responsibilities, Esposito isn't bringing a whole lot over someone like Beliveau or even a Trottier type who is more well rounded.

 

[bobholly39]

I won't make a full lineup - but i'd be very tempted to put a lot of modern guys on this. Crosby for sure (he makes it on merit regardless) - but maybe a few others as well, like Toews, some defenders like Doughty/Weber/Keith - (maybe not room for all 3).

Team Canada in the past....10 years or so let's say, in the Crosby/Toews era - has been pretty unstoppable. I think results should be a part of it and some of them would make such a team, even if there are "better" players left off.

 

[Neutrinos]

Bobby Hull - Gretzky - Howe
Robataille - Lemieux - Lafleur
Shanahan - Crosby - Brett Hull
Bucyk - Trottier - Bossy

Neidermeyer - Orr
Bourque - Potvin
Robinson - Pronger
Coffey

Dryden - Brodeur

Kariya would be a better option than Shanahan or Robitaille

 

[therealkoho]

Kariya would be a better option than Shanahan or Robitaille

for you maybe

Shanny like Howe is the prototypical hockey player, big and strong with speed skill and finesse backed by a killer instinct, and years of consistent and solid production

Kariya had a great career no doubt and I considered him for sure in fact in the very spot I put Luc, but all things considered goal production tipped the scale

 

[therealkoho]

Esposito over Trottier

hard decision I know

Espo gets a lot of cache for the Summit Series and "the speech," but if it's only about scoring then you'd have to give Sakic the nod. What tipped it for me was the 4 SC's in NY and then 2 more in Pittsburgh for Trottier, and besides Trots can PK, Espos wheels didn't allow him to do that

 

[jj cale]

That's pretty obviously not true.



There isn't a spot for him, other than maybe 13th forward as a powerplay specialist and even then such a player isn't necessary. If Esposito was an excellent scorer who could also excel defensively or play the wing or play a with a wide variety of players that is one thing, but he's pretty much the most one dimensional player out of Canada's best centres outside of Lemieux and Gretzky. If you have Lemieux and Gretzky already taking up the majority of the primary offensive minutes and someone like Clarke taking the defensive responsibilities, Esposito isn't bringing a whole lot over someone like Beliveau or even a Trottier type who is more well rounded.

It gets joked about on hf a lot but there is indeed such a thing as intangibles and espo is one of those guys who has them. The guy could just score goals, his leadership,will,mental fight and natural ability to be just in the right spot at the right moment to score goals, big goals, just can't be properly quantified. You can't judge a guy like that with how versatile his game is, it doesn't matter.........................he's a big goal scorer and a winner, the guy has huge offensive numbers. I mean I see Lindros being named on almost all the teams here but what the heck does Lindros have over Espo? what did that guy ever really win? what numbers does he have over espo? what did he ever do in international play?

And he's a slam dunk? I don't get it, great player but he was no espo.

I mean, say an all time TC is taking on an all time Team Russia and the score is tied 3-3 going into overtime, who are you more comfortable sending over the boards to get that winning goal? Eric Lindros or Phil Esposito? I know who my choice is and I don't even have to think about it, I bet you I am not the only one who thinks that way too.

It's stuff like that you have to take into when considering building a team, maybe you think it is not important but I do.

We will just agree to disagree,I respect and understand your reasoning, your viewpoint is legit, I just see things in a different way in terms of team Building. But there is no way Eric Lindros is getting a spot over Phil Esposito on any team I am picking, not a chance.

But thats just me, i understand you see it in a different way and I'm fine with that.

 

[Neutrinos]

I'd take Lindros over Esposito

 

[Neutrinos]

for you maybe

Shanny like Howe is the prototypical hockey player, big and strong with speed skill and finesse backed by a killer instinct, and years of consistent and solid production

Kariya had a great career no doubt and I considered him for sure in fact in the very spot I put Luc, but all things considered goal production tipped the scale

Shanahan had 2 goals, 3 points in 12 Olympic games

Kariya had 6 goals, 11 points in 14 Olympic games

If you adjust for era, Shanahan's career high is 49 goals, 92 points. Robitaille's is 51 goals, 101 points. Kariya's is 48 goals, 115 points - with additional seasons of 104 and 103 points

Simply put, Kariya was a level above either of your preferences

 

[blogofmike]

This is my attempt to limit choices to a one player cap from each best-on-best tournament since the '72 Summit Series for forwards, and a separate one for defenders AND goaltenders.

Mark Messier ('84) - Wayne Gretzky ('91) - Mario Lemieux ('87)
Patrice Bergeron ('16) - Sidney Crosby ('10) - Mike Bossy ('81)
Bobby Hull ('76) - Joe Sakic ('02) - Gordie Howe ('74)
Steve Yzerman ('98) - Vinny Lecavalier ('04) - Brendan Shanahan ('96)
Phil Esposito ('72)

Denis Potvin ('81) - Bobby Orr ('76)
Ray Bourque ('87) - Paul Coffey ('84)
Duncan Keith ('10) - Al MacInnis ('91)
Shea Weber ('14)

Martin Brodeur ('04)
Carey Price ('16)
Patrick Roy ('98)​

 

[therealkoho]

Shanahan had 2 goals, 3 points in 12 Olympic games

Kariya had 6 goals, 11 points in 14 Olympic games

If you adjust for era, Shanahan's career high is 49 goals, 92 points. Robitaille's is 51 goals, 101 points. Kariya's is 48 goals, 115 points - with additional seasons of 104 and 103 points

Simply put, Kariya was a level above either of your preferences

sorry but "adjusting for era?" c'mon man really

 

[Neutrinos]

sorry but "adjusting for era?" c'mon man really

Apology accepted

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Forwards:
Messier-Gretzky-Howe
Bo. Hull-Lemieux-Richard
Esposito-Crosby-Bossy
Mikita-Beliveau-Lafleur
Backups: Sakic, Yzerman and Trottier
Defencemen:
Orr-Bourque
Niedermeyer-Coffey
Harvey-Robinson
Backups: Pronger, Potvin and Park
Goalies:
Sawchuk
Roy
Brodeur

The fact that players like Pronger, Sakic and Yzerman are potentially backups on any sort of squad speaks major volumes as to how loaded this team is​

Should be able to do better on that 2nd pair D, no?