Congrats on making it this far Murphy. This should be an interesting series. I think the Canadiens have a few significant advantages.
Goaltending. No other semi-final series features such a large mismatch in goal. Hasek had arguably the greatest peak of any goalie in hockey history and is universally considered a top three goalie. Giacomin was a good (and underrated) netminder but likely falls at least 15 spots behind Hasek on any credible all-time goalie ranking. I assume that every GM is familiar with Hasek’s advantage over Giacomin in playoff success, Hart tropy voting, Vezina/all-star awards, save percentage, GAA, etc., though I can elaborate if necessary.
Contrary to what Murphy says, Hasek has one of the most consistent playoff records in NHL history. Since he became a starter in 1994, only twice (in ten years) did Hasek have a save percentage below 91.5% in the playoffs (once in 1995, and once at age 43 last year) (
source). Only three times did he have a GAA above 2.10. Hasek carried a nearly AHL calibre team to the Stanley Cup finals playing behind ****** and ******* as his best defensemen… now he will be protected by Zdeno Chara, who will use his size and raw strength to protect Hasek and ensure his crease is clear at all times.
Coaching. Not only is Hap Day one of the most successful coaches in hockey history, but his meticulous style is well-suited for my team. Day has a proven track record of success: he won five Stanley Cups in ten NHL seasons (including four Cups in seven years if the watered-down WWII seasons are excluded); he had very different rosters over time indicating that the coach was a big part of the team’s success. Day was one of only two coaches (along with Al Arbour) who successfully coached his team to come back & win a series after falling into a 3-0 deficit – this proves that Day was able to motivate his players and ensured that they never quit. Ted Kennedy said that the Leafs “were meticulously trained” (
source) and that Day had great technical knowledge because he “knew the rule book inside out and could quote it verbatim” (
source). Kennedy said Day “devised the Leafs system which was particularly adhered to in the playoffs” (
source), which shows that Day was a great tactician and raised his level of performance in the playoffs.
I like Neilson but, frankly, his playoff track record is not remotely comparable to Day’s. Neilson was a great tactician and innovator but the previous quotes about Day’s tactics and knowledge of the rulebook indicate he is at least Neilson’s equal in those regards. Finally, simply put, I don’t think that Don Cherry is an ATD-calibre coach. His playoff record is underwhelming considering the quality of his team.
#3/4 defensemen. Chara has subtly become one of the most complete defensemen in the NHL. His enormous size, raw power and lack of any injury history means that he can withstand a pounding from the Maroons’ aggressive forwards. Chara has consistently been an excellent penalty killer – since the NHL started tracking PK ice time in 1998, only Lidstrom, Chelios and Pronger have spent more time killing penalties (
source). Chara isn’t a conventional offensive threat but he won the fastest slapshot competition at the all-star game in 2007 & 2008 (
source), making him a dangerous threat from the point on the PP. Chara’s main weakness is that his speed is merely average. However, I will match him up against Nels Stewart who is a slow skater (
source) and, despite being tough, should be unable to outmuscle Chara. He’s ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th in Norris voting (
source).
Described as “a rock-solid defensemen” (
source) Davydov might be the most underrated Soviet hockey player. He was a six-time USSR all-star defenseman (
source), during the same time period as Firsov and Ragulin. In the earliest year I could find Soviet MVP voting (1970), Davydov was 6th in MVP voting, ahead of Firsov and Petrov, and one spot behind Kharlamov (
source). With just 8 goals in 178 games, Davydov obviously is not an offensive threat, however he is the ideal conservative partner for Vasiliev.
In contrast, the Maroons’ secondary defensemen will likely be exposed by the speed & skill of Bure & Mosienko. Vadnais was an enigmatic player – he was a skilled puckhandler and playmaker but his stats are underwhelming and he was known as an indifferent defensive player. Presumably due to his lack of defensive ability, Vadnais finished in the top ten in Norris voting just once in his career (1975) (
source). Vadnais’s lack of defensive ability makes him a weak link against the speed or Bure/Mosienko. Additionally, Hartsburg is a solid defenseman but really lacks any significant personal or team accomplishments. Vadnais would be okay with a strong defensive partner but I don’t think Hartsburg has the speed or hockey sense to make up for Vadnais’ mistakes.
Utility line. Correct me if I’m wrong Murphy but your Sutter line is likely your best defensive line (similar to my Sanderson line) while your Hay line would be your “utility” line (similar to my Irvin line).
I have one of the best utility lines in the draft, as they will provide excellent offense. Dick Irvin was a four-time WCHL all-star who finished in the top five in goals & top ten in scoring four times. As soon as he switched to the NHL (1927) he led the league in assists and was second only two Bill Cook in scoring. He was “lauded for his exceptional stickhandling ability, a hard, accurate shot and a cool temperament that kept him out of the penalty box” (
source). Irvin is re-united with his LW George Hay, the four-time WCHL all-star. He finished in the top five in goals & points five times in the WCHL & NHL. Sportswrite Sam Green says Hay combined “speed and poise, aggressiveness and finesse, with unsurpassed mechanical ability” (
source) while coach Jack Adams said Hay was “always in condition, always on the job, always willing to play any position” (
source). Including BA Gustafsson, a perennial Selke contender in the 1980s, my utility line has excellent offensive ability and solid two-way play.
Murphy’s utility line is centred by Bill Hay, a player who recorded a lot of assists playing for two years with Bobby Hull but who accomplished absolutely nothing of note without him. Doan & Clark and tough players but clearly do not approach the offensive ability of Hay & Irvin, as described above and Gustafsson is likely the best defensive player on either utility line (including top five finishes in Selke voting in 1986 and 1989 (
source)).
Obviously these lines have a contrast in styles (Maroons’ toughness vs Habs’ offense). I think this matchup favour me for two reasons. First, given my significant advantage in goal, the Giacomin will have to face three very dangerous scoring lines – even if the can contain, say, Trottier & Bure for a night, Irvin & Hay have proven to be elite scorers in the WCHL & NHL, and they should be able to step up & contribute. Furthermore, Murphy’s aggressive (and heavily penalized) fourth line will allow me to use my dangerous powerplay which was voted 1st in the division prior to the start of the playoffs (
source).
Murphy has a good team and this will be a tough series but I think my advantages in goal, behind the bench, on the utility line, and on the second defense pair will allow the Canadiens to win.
