All-Time Team Lineup Challenge

[Classic Devil]

This is impossible for a few teams in the NHL, since they haven't played at least 23 seasons. A few of us on the Devils board have been fiddling with trying to make this work, but it's not easy.

The Premise: You're creating an all-time lineup from your team's history. You are going for four lines, two reserve forwards, six defensemen and a reserve defenseman, and two goaltenders. Feel free to name a captain and two alternates.

The Rules: This isn't a free for all.
1. You can have only one person wearing a given number. For New Jersey, Jamie Langenbrunner and John MacLean both wore #15, so you can't put both in your lineup. If a player changed numbers during his career, use the number he is remembered as wearing - ie. even though Brodeur wore #29 when he came into the NHL, you have to use Brodeur's #30.

2. You are selecting players by their performance each year, but you can only have one person from a given season - ie. you cannot use the 1990 season for two players. So teams which have existed for longer are going to have a huge advantage in terms of player pool to pick from, and there will also be much greater variation between lineups.

3. When picking players, playoff performances matter - consider them. Don't discount regular season performances, however.

This is my current lineup for New Jersey. It's not perfect, but this is harder than you might think. HockeyDB is your friend.

#26 Patrik Elias [2000-2001] - #9 Kirk Muller [1986-1987] - #14 Brian Gionta [2005-2006]
#44 Stephane Richer [1994-1995] - #17 Patrik Sundstrom [1989-1990] - #15 John MacLean [1988-1989]
#22 Claude Lemieux [1992-1993] - #18 Mel Bridgeman [1985-1986] - #93 Doug Gilmour [1996-1997]
#11 Brendan Shanahan [1999-1991] - #16 Bobby Holik [2001-2002] - #21 Randy McKay [1997-1998]
#25 Jason Arnott [1999-2000], 10 Aaron Broten [1984-1985]

#4 Scott Stevens [1993-1994] - #28 Brian Rafalski [2006-2007]
#3 Ken Daneyko [1998-1999] - #27 Scott Niedermayer [2003-2004]
#7 Alexei Kasatonov [1991-1992] - #23 Bruce Driver [1987-1988]
#8 Tapio Levo [1982-1983]

#30 Martin Brodeur [2002-2003]
#31 Chris Terreri [1995-1996]

Captain: Scott Stevens
Alternate: John MacLean
Alternate: Mel Bridgeman

Click to read more...

 

[Pwnasaurus]

This was impossible with the Ducks obv. I did what I could, I made sure I certainly used every season with the number rules in effect and made sure I didn't use any season more than twice at most.

1995-96 Paul Kariya LW #9 - 2005-06 Andy McDonald C #19 - 1996-97 Teemu Selanne RW #8
2003-04 Petr Sykora LW #39 - 1996-97 Steve Rucchin C #20 - 1997-98 Scott Young RW #48
2000-01 Mike LeClerc LW #12 - 2001-02 Samuel Pahlsson C #26 - 1994-95 Patrick Carnback #21
2001-02 Jeff Freisen LW #11 - 2006-07 Ryan Getzlaf C #15 - 1993-94 Todd Ewen #36
1999-00 Matt Cullen C #17 - 1998-99 Marty McInnis LW #16


2005-06 Scott Niedermayer D #27 - 2006-07 Chris Pronger D #25
2002-03 Keith Carney D #3 - 1999-00 Oleg Tverdovsky D #10
1997-98 Ruslan Salei D #24 - 2000-01 Niclas Havelid D #28
1998-99 Fredrik Olausson D #2



2002-03 JS Giguere G #35
1993-94 Guy Hebert G #31

Captain: Scott Niedermayer
Alternates: Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne

 

[JaymzB]

This is a great idea, a lot of fun. Here is what I came up with for the Canadiens:

Dickie Moore #12 1958/9 - Jean Beliveau #4 1956/7 - Maurice Richard #9 1944/5
Toe Blake #6 1938/9 - Howie Morenz #7 1930/1 - Guy Lafleur #10 1977/8
Steve Shutt #22 1976/7 - Henri Richard #16 1957/8 - Stephaine Richer #44 1989/90
Mats Naslund #26 1985/6 - Pete Mahovolich #20 1975/6 - Bob Gainey #23 1978/9

Saku Koivu #11 1996/7 - Vincent Damphousse #25 1995/6

Larry Robinson - #19 1979/80 - Doug Harvey #2 1954/5
Serge Savard - #18 1968/9 - Guy Lapointe #5 1974/5
Chris Chelios - #24 1987/8 - J.C. Tremblay #3 1970/1

Eric Desjardins #28 1991/2

Jacques Plante #1 1960/1
Patrick Roy #33 1992/3

Coach: Scotty Bowman 1972/3

GM: Sam Pollack 1965/6

C: Jean Beliveau (Sorry Rocket)
A: Maurice Richard
A: Toe Blake

I’m sure some will disagree with the list. The only reason Koivu is there is simply I wanted a player currently with the team on the list.

 

[Pwnasaurus]

This is a great idea, a lot of fun. Here is what I came up with for the Canadiens:

Dickie Moore #12 1958/9 - Jean Beliveau #4 1956/7 - Maurice Richard #9 1944/5
Toe Blake #6 1938/9 - Howie Morenz #7 1930/1 - Guy Lafleur #10 1977/8
Steve Shutt #22 1976/7 - Henri Richard #16 1957/8 - Stephaine Richer #44 1989/90
Mats Naslund #26 1985/6 - Pete Mahovolich #20 1975/6 - Bob Gainey #23 1978/9

Saku Koivu #11 1996/7 - Vincent Damphousse #25 1995/6

Larry Robinson - #19 1979/80 - Doug Harvey #2 1954/5
Serge Savard - #18 1968/9 - Guy Lapointe #5 1974/5
Chris Chelios - #24 1987/8 - J.C. Tremblay #3 1970/1

Eric Desjardins #28 1991/2

Jacques Plante #1 1960/1
Patrick Roy #33 1992/3

Coach: Scottie Bowman 1972/3

GM: Sam Pollack 1965/6

I’m sure some will disagree with the list. The only reason Koivu is there is simply I wanted a player currently with the team on the list.

Nice work. The Habs are doubly tough because of the non-repeating # rule. ie) No Laperriere or Tom Johnson, etc.

 

[JaymzB]

Nice work. The Habs are doubly tough because of the non-repeating # rule. ie) No Laperriere or Tom Johnson, etc.

Thanks. I probably should have had Emile Bouchard in there over Tremblay for #3, but I guess I just wanted to go for overkill on offense from the backend.

 

[shawnmullin]

2000-2001 Ryan Smyth #94 - 1981-1982 Wayne Gretzky #99 - 1984-1985 Jari Kurri #17
1982-1983 Glenn Anderson #9 - 1989-1990 Mark Messier #11 - 1983-1984 Ken Linesman #10
1992-1993 Craig Simpson #18 - 1995-1996 Doug Weight #39 - 2006-2007 Ales Hemsky #83
1988-1989 Essa Tikkanen #10 - 1993-1994 Craig MacTavish #14 - 1979-1980 Dave Semenko #27

2005-2006 Chris Pronger #44 - 1987-1988 Steve Smith #5
1985-1986 Paul Coffey #7 - 1980-1981 Kevin Lowe #4
2003-2004 Steve Staios #24 - 2000-2001 Jason Smith #21

1986-1987 Grant Fuhr #31
1990-1991 Bill Ranford #30

Captain: Wayne Gretzky
Alternate: Mark Messier
Alternate: Kevin Lowe

 

[Classic Devil]

Nice work. The Habs are doubly tough because of the non-repeating # rule. ie) No Laperriere or Tom Johnson, etc.

The Habs have so many years to work with though.
I bet there are half a dozen different possible lineups for Montreal which would all be fantastic.

For the Devils, I have 24 seasons to get 23 players.

 

[The_Human_Atombomb]

2. You are selecting players by their performance each year, but you can only have one person from a given season - ie. you cannot use the 1990 season for two players.

Nice idea btw

 

[shawnmullin]

Sawhcuk/Hasek is a pretty ridiculous.

As is Yzerman on the 4th line. Yikes.

 

[arrbez]

no repeating numbers? the Leafs are boned. 12 of the 13 numbers they have honoured are repeats.

1 Turk Broda, G,
1 Johnny Bower,
4 Clarence "Hap" Day,
4 Leonard "Red" Kelly,
7 King Clancy,
7 Tim Horton,
9 Charlie Conacher,
9 Ted Kennedy,
10 Syl Apps,
10 George Armstrong,
21 Börje Salming,
27 Frank Mahovlich,
27 Darryl Sittler,

Only Salming is safe...but it's only a matter of time untill John Pohl is honoured, and then who knows what'll happen...

 

[Pwnasaurus]

Who would you put on there instead of Sawchuk, Hasek, and Yzerman? Goaltending hasn't exactly been the wings strongest position. Sawchuk and Hasek are the best goaltenders that the Wings have had. As for Yzerman, even though the team did so good this year without him, I think he still belongs on there. Datsyuk and Zetterberg haven't played long enough. Larionov can't be on there because someone else is wearing the #8. The only other options would be Norman Ulman or Marcel Dionne.

I'm pretty sure he meant that it was ridiculous in a good way....ie) those are 2 are two best goalies ever

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

I will do one for the Avs (no Nordiques):

#13 Valeri Kamensky (95-96) - #21 Peter Forsberg (02/03) - #23 Milan Hejduk (02/03)
#40 Alex Tanguay (03/04) - #19 Joe Sakic (00/01) - #22 Claude Lemieux (95/96)
#37 Chris Drury (99/00) - #26 Paul Stastny (06/07) -#18 Adam Deadmarsh (96/97)
#25 Shjon Podein (00/01) - #9 Mike Ricci (95/96) - #14 Theo Fleury (98/99)

#77 Raymond Bourque (00/01) - #4 Rob Blake (01/02)
#8 Sandis Ozolinsh (96/97) - #52 Adam Foote (03/04)
#7 Greg deVries (02/03) - #24 Jon Klemm (01/02)


#33 Patrick Roy (00/01)
#31 Peter Budaj (06/07)

Captain: Joe Sakic
Alternates: Raymond Bourque
Alternates: Adam Foote

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Great list. Darn good team if you can have Stevie Y on the 4th line. Probably give my Habs a run for there money .

Just one question. Lidstrom as Captain over Yzerman, Delvecchio or Howe?

The choice of captain surprised me too.

 

[Pwnasaurus]

I will do one for the Avs (no Nordiques):

#13 Valeri Kamensky (95-96) - #21 Peter Forsberg (02/03) - #23 Milan Hejduk (02/03)
#40 Alex Tanguay (03/04) - #19 Joe Sakic (00/01) - #22 Claude Lemieux (95/96)
#37 Chris Drury (99/00) - #26 Paul Stastny (06/07) -#18 Adam Deadmarsh (96/97)
#25 Shjon Podein (00/01) - #9 Mike Ricci (95/96) - #14 Theo Fleury (98/99)

#77 Raymond Bourque (00/01) - #4 Rob Blake (01/02)
#8 Sandis Ozolinsh (96/97) - #52 Adam Foote (03/04)
#7 Greg deVries (02/03) - #24 Jon Klemm (01/02)


#33 Patrick Roy (00/01)
#31 Peter Budaj (06/07)

Captain: Joe Sakic
Alternates: Raymond Bourque
Alternates: Adam Foote

You didn't use every season of their existance at least once?

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

You didn't use every season of their existance at least once?

Well, considering Colorado has been in the League only for 10 years, it would be kind of hard to choose only 1 player per season.

 

[kovy1335]

I know the Penguins lineup could look sweet in this but i don't have the time to figure it out...

 

[kovy1335]

Well, considering Colorado has been in the League only for 10 years, it would be kind of hard to choose only 1 player per season.

true, but you didnt use 97-98 either.

 

[Krieger Bot]

I only did forwards

Rene Robert (76-77) #14 - Gilbert Perrault (75-76) #11 - Rick Martin (74-75) #7
Lindy Ruff (81-82) #22 - Mike Peca (96-97) #27 - Craig Ramsay (84-85) #10
Dave Andreychuck (90-91) #25 - Pat Lafontaine (91-92) #16 - Alexander Mogilny (92-93) #89
Daniel Briere (06-07) #48 - Chris Drury (05-06) #23 - Danny Gare (79-80) #18

Not a bad lineup, the French Connection, a 76 goal scorer, the all time leader in PP goals, 2 Selke winners along with a forward/defensemen making an excellent shutdown line, our current cocaptains and another 50 goal scorer.

That would definentely get a lot tougher if I tried to add 11 more players, cuz I already had to leave Hawerchuck off.

 

[nik jr]

Here is the Red Wings, I had to leave alot of players out because they wore the same numbers as some of the players I already had listed:

Ted Lindsay #7 52/53 - Sid Abel #12 49/50 - Gordie Howe #9 54/55
Brendan Shanahan #14 00/01 - Sergei Fedorov #91 93/94 - Brett Hull #17 01/02
Syd Howe #8 43/44 - Alex Delvecchio #10 65/66 - Mickey Redmond #20 72/73
Larry Aurie #6 34/35 - Steve Yzerman #19 97/98 - Dino Ciccarelli #22 94/95

Lidstrom #5 99/00 - Red Kelly #4 53/54
Paul Coffey #77 95/96 - Marcel Pronovost #3 60/61
Reed Larson #28 83/84 - Vladimir Konstantinov #16 96/97

Terry Sawchuk #1 51/52
Dominik Hasek #39 06/07

Captain - Nick Lidstrom
Alternate - Alex Delvecchio
Alternate - Gordie Howe

my version:

#7 lindsay (53) #19 yzerman (89) #9 howe (55)
#27 frank mahovlich (69) #91 fedorov (94) #14 shanahan (97)
#10 delvecchio (59) #12 abel (50) #20 redmond (73)
#11 pavelich (56) #33 draper (03) #6 aurie (37)
#22 ciccarelli (93) #17 foligno (80)

#5 lidstrom (01) #4 kelly (54)
#77 coffey (95) #16 konstantinov (96)
#3 quackenbush (49) #2 stewart (43)
#24 chelios (00)

#1 sawchuk (52)
#39 hasek (02)

C: abel
A: kelly
A: yzerman

edit:
moving yzerman to 2nd line with fedorov and mahovlich would create a very fast, high-powered, edmonton-like offensive unit with coffey. abel back up to production line, shanahan to 3rd LW.

 

[ck26]

Dallas Stars+Minnesota North Stars

26 Jere Lehtinen ('96) 9 Mike Modano ('93) 22 Brett Hull ('01)
23 Brian Bellows ('92) 25 Joe Nieuwendyk ('99) 13 Bill Guerin ('03)
10 Brenden Morrow ('07) 21 Guy Carbonneau ('97) 12 Mike Keane ('00)
17 Basil McRae ('89) 7 Neal Broten ('88) 16 Pat Verbeek ('98)

2 Derian Hatcher ('95) 56 Sergei Zubov ('06)
3 Craig Ludwig ('94) 43 Philippe Boucher ('04)
24 Mark Tinordi ('91) 4 Craig Hartsburg ('87)

20 Ed Belfour ('02)
30 Jon Casey ('90)

Captain: Derian Hatcher
Alternates: Craig Ludwig, Joe Nieuwendyk

The years I chose are mostly arbitrary (Modano's 50 goals in '93, Nieuwendyk's '99 Conn Smythe, Zubov's big year last year notwithstanding), but I didn't have enough to work with to be really choosy.

 

[Pwnasaurus]

true, but you didnt use 97-98 either.

Yeah that was my point

 

[EagleBelfour]

Coach: Scotty Bowman 1972/73

Toe Blake#6 1938/39 - Jean Beliveau#4 1955/56 - Maurice Richard#9 1944/45
Dickie Moore#12 1958/59 - Howie Morenz#7 1930/31 - Guy Lafleur#10 1977/78
Frank Mahovlich#27 1972/73 - Henri Richard#16 1962/63 - Bernard Geoffrion#5 1956/57
Bob Gainey#23 1978/79 - Jacques Lemaire#25 1974/75 - Mats Naslund#26 1985/6
Steve Shutt#22 1976/7
Pete Mahovlich#20 1975/76

Larry Robinson#19 1979/80 - Doug Harvey#2 1954/55
Serge Savard#18 1968/69 - Emile Bouchard#3 1945/46
Chris Chelios#24 1987/88 - Ken Reardon#17 1946/47
Eric Desjardins#28 1991/92

Jacques Plante#1 1959/60
Patrick Roy#33 1992/93

Nothing against JaymzB team, but mine is just better

 

[mcphee]

This is a great idea, a lot of fun. Here is what I came up with for the Canadiens:

Dickie Moore #12 1958/9 - Jean Beliveau #4 1956/7 - Maurice Richard #9 1944/5
Toe Blake #6 1938/9 - Howie Morenz #7 1930/1 - Guy Lafleur #10 1977/8
Steve Shutt #22 1976/7 - Henri Richard #16 1957/8 - Stephaine Richer #44 1989/90
Mats Naslund #26 1985/6 - Pete Mahovolich #20 1975/6 - Bob Gainey #23 1978/9

Saku Koivu #11 1996/7 - Vincent Damphousse #25 1995/6

Larry Robinson - #19 1979/80 - Doug Harvey #2 1954/5
Serge Savard - #18 1968/9 - Guy Lapointe #5 1974/5
Chris Chelios - #24 1987/8 - J.C. Tremblay #3 1970/1

Eric Desjardins #28 1991/2

Jacques Plante #1 1960/1
Patrick Roy #33 1992/3

Coach: Scotty Bowman 1972/3

GM: Sam Pollack 1965/6

C: Jean Beliveau (Sorry Rocket)
A: Maurice Richard
A: Toe Blake

I’m sure some will disagree with the list. The only reason Koivu is there is simply I wanted a player currently with the team on the list.

Geez, ya think that defense would be strong enough ?

 

[shawnmullin]

Who would you put on there instead of Sawchuk, Hasek, and Yzerman? Goaltending hasn't exactly been the wings strongest position. Sawchuk and Hasek are the best goaltenders that the Wings have had. As for Yzerman, even though the team did so good this year without him, I think he still belongs on there. Datsyuk and Zetterberg haven't played long enough. Larionov can't be on there because someone else is wearing the #8. The only other options would be Norman Ulman or Marcel Dionne.

I meant GOOD ridiculous

 

[pnep]

Toronto Maple Leafs

#11 Jackson Busher (1931-32) -- #10 Apps C.J. Syl (1941-42) -- #12 Drillon Gordie (1937-38)
#15 Stewart Gaye (1945-46) -- #14 Keon Dave (1966-67) -- #9 Conacher Charlie (1934-35)
#27 Mahovlich Frank (1961-62) -- #93 Gilmour Doug (1992-93) -- #6 Bailey Ace I. (1928-29)
#8 Smith Sid (1954-55) -- #13 Sundin Mats (2001-02) -- #89 Mogilny Alexander (2002-03)


#7 Horton Tim (1963-64) -- #2 Brewer Carl (1962-63)
#26 Stanley Allan (1959-60) -- #21 Salming Borje (1976-77)
#18 Brewer Carl (1958-59) -- #24 Mccabe Bryan (2003-04)
#4 Day Hap (1932-33) -- #19 Barilko Bill (1948-49)


#1 Broda Turk (1947-48)
#31 Joseph Curtis (1998-99)
#23 Rollins Al (1950-51)