TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Thanks for the commentary Dreakmur. Just want to address one thing:
I guess it depends on how much emphasis you place on international tournaments vs Soviet domestic league play. In the domestic league, you are absolutely right.
Krutov was more decorated internationally, though I know at least some of that was a function of opportunity.
In the World Championships, Krutov scored 78 points in 68 games. Balderis scored 54 in 47 games. Ice Hockey World Championships ‑ All-Time Points Leaders. Both round to 1.15 PPG. Tiny advantage Krutov for doing it over more games...
However, Krutov was named All-Star at 4 WCs (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987) - (Earlier this series, I copied "6 WC All-Stars" from his old profile, but I think the first two were probably "2nd Team WC All-Stars," which didn't exist every year, so they are probably best ignored in a comparison like this). He was also named best forward at 2 of them (1986, 1987).
Balderis was just named All-Star and Best Forward at just one WC - 1977.
So while their stats look equal at first glance, the voters seem to have been more impressed by Krutov. These are two different sets of voters BTW. The WC All-Star teams were voted on by a subset of the international hockey media, while the "best forward" award was voted on by the directorate.
In the Canada Cups, Krutov scored 30 points in 22 games (1.36 PPG - his scoring actually improves over the WCs, despite the competition being higher on average in the Canada Cups).
Krutov's 30 points rank him 4th all-time in Canada Cup/World Cup scoring, behind only Gretzky, Makarov, and Coffey. And Coffey took 33 games to score his 31 points. World Cup ‑ All-Time Points Leaders.
Krutov was the only Soviet forward named an All-Star at the 1987 Canada Cup - the other two forwards were Gretzky and Lemieux, but noteworthy that Krutov was named over his linemate Makarov.
Balderis didn't play in any Canada Cups - his prime was at an awkward time to play in them (no Canada Cups between 1976 and 1984). But still, Krutov should get some credit for performing at such a high level against the best competition the Soviets would play against.
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Also, it's just one season, but Krutov was voted the best player in all of Europe in 1987. International & European Hockey Research and Information Thread
The Izvestia Golden Stick for best player in Europe was first awarded in 1978-79, so it misses Balderis' great 1977 season, so maybe this isn't worth mentioning in a comparison.
I think Balderis is probably a little better offensively than Krutov, but less well-rounded. I'd say they are probably equal.
I guess it depends on how much emphasis you place on international tournaments vs Soviet domestic league play. In the domestic league, you are absolutely right.
Krutov was more decorated internationally, though I know at least some of that was a function of opportunity.
In the World Championships, Krutov scored 78 points in 68 games. Balderis scored 54 in 47 games. Ice Hockey World Championships ‑ All-Time Points Leaders. Both round to 1.15 PPG. Tiny advantage Krutov for doing it over more games...
However, Krutov was named All-Star at 4 WCs (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987) - (Earlier this series, I copied "6 WC All-Stars" from his old profile, but I think the first two were probably "2nd Team WC All-Stars," which didn't exist every year, so they are probably best ignored in a comparison like this). He was also named best forward at 2 of them (1986, 1987).
Balderis was just named All-Star and Best Forward at just one WC - 1977.
So while their stats look equal at first glance, the voters seem to have been more impressed by Krutov. These are two different sets of voters BTW. The WC All-Star teams were voted on by a subset of the international hockey media, while the "best forward" award was voted on by the directorate.
In the Canada Cups, Krutov scored 30 points in 22 games (1.36 PPG - his scoring actually improves over the WCs, despite the competition being higher on average in the Canada Cups).
Krutov's 30 points rank him 4th all-time in Canada Cup/World Cup scoring, behind only Gretzky, Makarov, and Coffey. And Coffey took 33 games to score his 31 points. World Cup ‑ All-Time Points Leaders.
Krutov was the only Soviet forward named an All-Star at the 1987 Canada Cup - the other two forwards were Gretzky and Lemieux, but noteworthy that Krutov was named over his linemate Makarov.
Balderis didn't play in any Canada Cups - his prime was at an awkward time to play in them (no Canada Cups between 1976 and 1984). But still, Krutov should get some credit for performing at such a high level against the best competition the Soviets would play against.
_____________________
Also, it's just one season, but Krutov was voted the best player in all of Europe in 1987. International & European Hockey Research and Information Thread
The Izvestia Golden Stick for best player in Europe was first awarded in 1978-79, so it misses Balderis' great 1977 season, so maybe this isn't worth mentioning in a comparison.
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