Instead of jotting down the names of the greatest talents and/or highest scorers, I chose to build my team a different way. I'm going to build a winning team. A team that can compete against any opponent and win. A team with little-to-no-weakness. My plan: to build a team with two main scoring lines, a shutdown line, and a checking line that is both relentless and tenacious. I am creating a complete team here, not just a historic all-star team.
Scoring line #1
M. Lemieux - Gretzky - Kurri
Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri were perhaps the greatest offensive duo in hockey history, at least to play in the NHL. Simply put, Gretzky and Kurri were pure magic. And, not only could Kurri score, but he was responsible defensively as well. Now, add to that line one of the greatest offensive threats ever in Mario Lemieux. We all know how dominant 99 & 66 were in the ‘87 Canada Cup. Picture all three of these guys playing together and Wayne dishing to both Kurri and Lemieux. Wow. Chemistry is a big factor when building my team and I am convinced Gretzky would challenge Lemieux to be the very best night in and night out. A motivated Lemieux could possibly be the greatest physical specimen in hockey history, certainly the most talented. This line has a bit of everything, but most of all, chemistry. Gretzky is precisely unselfish and gifted with wizard-like hockey sense and vision. Kurri is fantastic all-around. Lemieux is an elite giant who could score from anywhere and is a bear to defend against, due to his slick finesse and 6-4, 230 pound frame.
Scoring line #2
Howe - Forsberg - Bossy
Some may question my choice of Peter Forsberg on this line. However, when he was “on”, there weren't many better than Forsberg, ever. Especially in terms of playmaking and dishing the puck. Forsberg is a versatile monster who is one of the most creative players of all-time. Picture him setting up one of the greatest snipers of all-time in Mike Bossy and a big, power forward with gifted hands like Gordie Howe. For this line I was looking for a magical passer in the middle and Forsberg fit the bill perfectly. While there are many other great pivots who could have easily centered this line (including Jean Beliveau, Mark Messier or Steve Yzerman), Forsberg’s package includes many of the intangibles that turn great teams into champions. On the wings I had some real thinking to do. It was difficult, but I chose Bossy over Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur and Alexander Ovechkin, because the way this line is constructed, Forsberg will be the focal point, carrying the puck and orchestrating the plays. Bossy was a master at “getting open” and had the best pure release I’ve ever seen. Maurice Richard was maybe the best from the offensive blue line in, but I have Howe to crash the net and Forsberg to send a perfect saucer over to Bossy who will blow one top-shelf past any goaltender to ever have strapped on pads. Lafleur was a great choice but he was a tad too fickle for my liking. Ovechkin, wow. Even in his short career, it is hard to keep Ovechkin off this line, let alone team. The same with Bobby Hull, Jaromir Jagr and Valeri Kharlamov. There were some tough decisions to be made indeed. But Bossy was my guy – a brilliant shooter who would never hurt my team’s chances to succeed by taking an undisciplined penalty at a crucial time.
Shutdown line #3
Gainey - Messier - Carbonneau
When the opposition has their best scorers on the ice, I wanted to roll out a line that would keep them off the score sheet, but also have enough skill to bury chances and capitalize offensively. Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau own seven Selke Trophies between them. In the ‘70s, when the well coached Russian Red Army team was an authority in the game, they considered Gainey the most complete player in the world. His accomplishments speak volumes. And I chose Mark Messier to center the line, over a player like Bryan Trottier, but it was an extremely close decision. While someone like Trottier or even Dave Keon, Sergei Fedorov, Doug Jarvis or Pavel Datsyuk may be better suited in a “shutdown role”, Messier adds some bite to the line and glue in the lockeroom. I am a believer that leadership, drive and the ability to rise to the occasion are paramount when building a winning team. Messier has answered the bell in spades throughout his illustrious career. If some sticks need to be broken or a table needs to be flipped in the lockeroom, Messier will be the one to do it. If my opponent takes liberties with my point-producers, Messier will put an end to such nonsense. Messier always sets the tone with his leadership, and has brilliant timing, which is why he made my all-time team. Leaving him off any all-time team would simply be foolish if not criminal. If I wanted to, I could easily interchange Messier and Forsberg on my 2nd and 3rd lines without missing a step.
Checking/Tenacious line #4
Tikkanen - Clarke - C. Lemieux
How would you like to go up against this line in a seven game series, where all the marbles are on the table? Not only are these guys great forecheckers, tireless workers and villainous, they all have great skills and score in the clutch. Bobby Clarke is one of the (if not the) greatest leaders in the history of the game and would do anything it takes to win (ask Valeri Kharlamov). I want that element on my team, plain and simple. Clarke is joined by Stanley Cup warriors Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemieux. Teams would lose sleep knowing they will be grinding it out with these guys in the alley shift after shift. My only concern with Lemieux would be him recklessly thinking of himself before the team when tensions rise. But under Clarke’s guidance, I believe this problem could be curtailed. Plus, Lemieux’s uncanny ability to clinch a series is worth a few potentially damaging penalties if you ask me. As for Tikkanen, let’s not forget this guy is a pest that knows how to play with stars (he flanked Gretzky for years). He is a beloved teammate and can play on virtually any line, on any team. I gave much consideration to “better” players such as Ted Lindsay, Rick Tocchet, Johnny Buyck and Clark Gillies, but chose Tikkanen over them for two reasons – speed and smarts. Tikkanen is the perfect soldier to initiate a forecheck or cover ground backchecking because of his blazing speed. He also knows when to instigate and when to just cover his man.
Defense pairing #1
Orr - Shore
The greatest player in NHL history (Bobby Orr) paired with one of the meanest and talented hombres who ever laced up a pair of skates (Eddie Shore). NHL coach Pat Burns once said, “Chris Chelios is a junkyard dog who makes a million bucks.” Well, if that's the case, what should be said about Shore? That he is a hungry pit bull foaming from the mouth with the skills of a superstar? No matter how you slice it, this would be a dominant pair every way possible: Puck possession, checking, defensive awareness, strength, shutdown ability, scoring and charisma. This pairing has no weakness whatsoever. Try to exploit them, especially with Orr, Gretzky and Lemieux owning the puck and Kurri backchecking like a devil. The opposition will be hard-pressed to succeed. It has been said, “The only way to stop Orr is with a gun”, which is why opponents would often take runs at his knees – with the intent to injure. The presence of Shore aside him would eliminate much of that foolish behavior.
Defense pairing #2
Potvin - Bourque
Rock solid. Period. Two of the most complete defenders in history paired together as a 2nd pairing, no less. Both are excellent at taking the body, especially Denis Potvin, who looks to decapitate opponents with his hits. Both legends are capable of providing tons of offense from the points and Potvin owned one of the best homerun outlet passes of all-time. Raymond Bourque is a pure thoroughbred, whose shift recovery time has been considered “unreal”. In addition, Potvin is well-known as one of the most competitive players ever. He openly admitted that he “hated losing, more than he liked winning.” This spirit is contagious, which is why Potvin was the leader of the great Isles dynasty in the early-80s (considered one of the best teams in NHL history). And just like my top pairing, there is zero weakness with this combo. They will be rolled out in any situation: powerplay, penalty kill, or overtime, it doesn’t matter.
Defense pairing #3
Lidstrom - Robinson
Technically, Nicklas Lidstrom is among the all-time elite at the defense position. He is a master, and easily could have made the 1st pairing with Orr. But on my team, he anchors the 3rd pairing with the big, multi-dimensional Larry Robinson. If there is any knock on Lidstrom, it is his non-violent approach to the position. That's why I chose Robinson as his partner over Doug Harvey. Scott Stevens was also a strong consideration, but Robinson was slightly all-around better than Scotty and would be a better partner for Lidstrom. There were times when Stevens thought of the big hit first, whereas Robinson was extremely intelligent when deciding the best way to defend a play. Harvey was one of the best ever at controlling the tempo of a game, but I have Orr, and every player on my team serves a purpose. Robinson’s purpose is to round out a pairing and compliment Lidstrom. He could do that better than anyone and is willing to drop the mitts with the toughest of opponents (such as Dave Schultz). Viatcheslav Fetisov, Red Kelly and Brad Park were also considerations, but they just missed the cut.
Goalies
Roy - Brodeur - Hasek
I’m not naming a starter just yet, but these are my three guys. Depending on my opponent, each one of them could get the nod on any given night. All things considered, I feel these guys are the three best of all-time. Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur are 1-2 on my list, and Dominik Hasek edged out Vladislav Tretiak, Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall and Ken Dryden to make my team in the 3 slot. Tretiak was the toughie to not include, but I went with the unorthodox Euro Hasek because of his success both in International play and the NHL. All of these masked men have different styles and mannerisms. The thing they all have in common is their passion for the game. Dryden gave up a golden career in the NHL to pursue a law degree. Sawchuk and Hall both loathed playing professional hockey to the point where the stress inflicted physical damage to their being. When choosing my team, I wanted the goalies that were maniacally driven to be considered the all-time best at their position; marvels like Roy and Brodeur.
Coaching staff
Bowman - Tarasov - Shero
Designing a philosophy and game plan for my team is the greatest hockey mind of all-time, Scotty Bowman. He is my head coach. Assisting Bowman on the bench and in the coach’s room, are savvy tacticians and blessed motivators – Anatoly Tarasov and Fred Shero. Tarasov and Shero are both innovators who are well-versed in various hockey genres. Historically, the most successful coaches are masters of preparation, decision making, and motivation. The way my team is built, a verbally intense coach or taskmaster (like Mike Keenan) is not the best fit because of the personalities of my players like Messier, Shore and Potvin. Out of my three coaches, Tarasov is the most verbal, but due to the language barrier, most of his critiquing would be offered to Bowman and Shero during meetings and not to the players on the bench. Tarasov was a master of fitness, on/off-ice training, drills and systems. The Russian strategist was also a mastermind at exploiting the weakness of his opponent, and is directly responsible for turning the former Soviet Union into an International hockey powerhouse, practically overnight. Shero is the most cerebral of the bunch, which should allow him to connect well with a thinker like Gretzky. Shero is also known as a clever motivator, using unique methods which inspire his players to perform for the betterment of the team. As a head coach, Bowman was the greatest ever at player matchups and making sure all 60 minutes are utilized to the max. Before the games started, Bowman was notorious for knowing exactly when all the TV commercial timeouts were taking place, so he would know when extra breathers were coming for his players. It was progressive thinking like this that helped Bowman standout amongst the rest of his peers. He was a hockey genius who never missed a trick. One thing is certain – my team will never be unprepared, outsmarted or outcoached.
