Marcus-74
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2005
- 165
- 1
We all just love top-ten lists, dont we? Here are the ten best players IMO from every true European hockey country (along with honorary mentions and some comments/excuses/whatnot). The emphasis is on international careers, and I´ve tried to stick with players who have already finished playing, but often it is just not possible.
Russians
1. Anatoli Firsov
-So many of his contemporaries consider him as the greatest ever, and his speed, slapshot and accuracy were from another planet in European hockey in the ´60s.
2. Viacheslav Fetisov
3. Valeri Kharlamov
4. Sergei Makarov
- Of the Russians Ive seen, he´s the most complete package. Awesome skater and stickhandler and almost impossible to handle 1-on-1.
5. Vsevolod Bobrov
-A dominating figure, though hockey of course was so different in the ´50s.
6. Alexander Maltsev
- A very graceful skater and puckhandler and a truly classy player.
7. Vladislav Tretiak
He just has to be here, even though I´m still not quite convinced of his greatness.
8. Pavel Bure
9. Vladimir Krutov
- Too high, eh? Try to name a top level game vs. Team Canada in which he did not score a point. And already as a 19-year old he was the Soviet who the Americans feared the most in Miracle on Ice game, I believe...
10. Valeri Vasiliev
HM´s: Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, Igor Larionov, Alexander Ragulin, Viacheslav Starshinov, Alexander Yakushev
Czechs
1. Jaromir Jagr
- Too soon? No, I dont think so.
2. Dominik Hasek
3. Vladimir Martinec
- One of the best forwards in the world in the 70s. Period.
4. Jan Suchy
- "European Bobby Orr"
5. Jiri Holecek
- Mainly due to his heroics vs. the Soviets.
6. Frantisek Pospisil
- The soul of Czech defense for many many years.
7. Josef Malecek
8. Ivan Hlinka
9. Milan Novy
10. Jiri Lala
- Didn´t have an overtly long career at the very top, but was one of the best forwards in the world around, say, ´81-´86.
HM´s: Jiri Holik, Oldrich Machac, Vladimir Ruzicka, Josef Cerny, Jiri Bubla
Swedes
1. Peter Forsberg
- Never before has a Swedish player been considered the best in the world.
2. Borje Salming
3. Sven "Tumba" Johansson
4. Mats Sundin
5. Mats Naslund
6. HÃ¥kan Loob
7. Ulf Sterner
- Favorite Swede of the Canadians, right? He also had some controversial incident with a Finnish player in the sixties... but he´s one of Sweden´s best ever anyway.
8. Nicklas Lidstrom
- Better than Salming? Probably. But he´s not even nearly finished yet.
9. Kent Nilsson
10. Bengt(-Ã…ke) Gustafsson
HM´s: Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson, Pelle Lindbergh, Nils Nilsson, Ronald Petterson, Peter "Pekka" Lindmark, Mats Waltin, Leif Holmqvist, Lennart Svedberg
Slovaks
1. Vaclav Nedomansky
- Not maybe a North American view, but since I have the emphasis on international careers, I will put Nedomansky on top.
2. Peter Stastny
- Sorry Mr. Stastny! If NHL careers were the measuring stick, he would be a clear winner.
3. Vladimir Dzurilla
- By all means the best ever Slovak goalie.
4. Josef Golonka
5. Peter Bondra
6. Miroslav Satan
7. Zigmund Palffy
8. Darius Rusnak
9. Dusan Pasek
10. Igor Liba
HM´s: Marian & Anton Stastny, Vincent Lukac, Zdeno Chara, Jan Starsi, Marian Hossa, Josef Stumpel
Finns
1. Jari Kurri
- Oh really?!!
2. Saku Koivu
3. Teemu Selanne
- He still got it?
4. Lasse Oksanen
5. Teppo Numminen
6. Matti Hagman
- First true Finn in the NHL.
7. Veli-Pekka Ketola
- Teammate of Bobby Hull in the Winnipeg Jets (WHA).
8. Raimo "Raipe" Helminen
- A Finnish icon; will probably continue playing until he´s 70.
9. Pekka Rautakallio
- First Finnish player in a NHL All-Star game.
10. Pekka Marjamaki
HM´s: Reijo Ruotsalainen, Aarne Honkavaara, Jarmo Myllys, Kari Jalonen, Matti Keinonen, Timo Jutila, Christian Ruuttu, Jere Lehtinen, Ville & Esa Peltonen
PS. Sorry for the (possible) glaring omissions. I´m still learning, you know.
Russians
1. Anatoli Firsov
-So many of his contemporaries consider him as the greatest ever, and his speed, slapshot and accuracy were from another planet in European hockey in the ´60s.
2. Viacheslav Fetisov
3. Valeri Kharlamov
4. Sergei Makarov
- Of the Russians Ive seen, he´s the most complete package. Awesome skater and stickhandler and almost impossible to handle 1-on-1.
5. Vsevolod Bobrov
-A dominating figure, though hockey of course was so different in the ´50s.
6. Alexander Maltsev
- A very graceful skater and puckhandler and a truly classy player.
7. Vladislav Tretiak
He just has to be here, even though I´m still not quite convinced of his greatness.
8. Pavel Bure
9. Vladimir Krutov
- Too high, eh? Try to name a top level game vs. Team Canada in which he did not score a point. And already as a 19-year old he was the Soviet who the Americans feared the most in Miracle on Ice game, I believe...
10. Valeri Vasiliev
HM´s: Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, Igor Larionov, Alexander Ragulin, Viacheslav Starshinov, Alexander Yakushev
Czechs
1. Jaromir Jagr
- Too soon? No, I dont think so.
2. Dominik Hasek
3. Vladimir Martinec
- One of the best forwards in the world in the 70s. Period.
4. Jan Suchy
- "European Bobby Orr"
5. Jiri Holecek
- Mainly due to his heroics vs. the Soviets.
6. Frantisek Pospisil
- The soul of Czech defense for many many years.
7. Josef Malecek
8. Ivan Hlinka
9. Milan Novy
10. Jiri Lala
- Didn´t have an overtly long career at the very top, but was one of the best forwards in the world around, say, ´81-´86.
HM´s: Jiri Holik, Oldrich Machac, Vladimir Ruzicka, Josef Cerny, Jiri Bubla
Swedes
1. Peter Forsberg
- Never before has a Swedish player been considered the best in the world.
2. Borje Salming
3. Sven "Tumba" Johansson
4. Mats Sundin
5. Mats Naslund
6. HÃ¥kan Loob
7. Ulf Sterner
- Favorite Swede of the Canadians, right? He also had some controversial incident with a Finnish player in the sixties... but he´s one of Sweden´s best ever anyway.
8. Nicklas Lidstrom
- Better than Salming? Probably. But he´s not even nearly finished yet.
9. Kent Nilsson
10. Bengt(-Ã…ke) Gustafsson
HM´s: Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson, Pelle Lindbergh, Nils Nilsson, Ronald Petterson, Peter "Pekka" Lindmark, Mats Waltin, Leif Holmqvist, Lennart Svedberg
Slovaks
1. Vaclav Nedomansky
- Not maybe a North American view, but since I have the emphasis on international careers, I will put Nedomansky on top.
2. Peter Stastny
- Sorry Mr. Stastny! If NHL careers were the measuring stick, he would be a clear winner.
3. Vladimir Dzurilla
- By all means the best ever Slovak goalie.
4. Josef Golonka
5. Peter Bondra
6. Miroslav Satan
7. Zigmund Palffy
8. Darius Rusnak
9. Dusan Pasek
10. Igor Liba
HM´s: Marian & Anton Stastny, Vincent Lukac, Zdeno Chara, Jan Starsi, Marian Hossa, Josef Stumpel
Finns
1. Jari Kurri
- Oh really?!!
2. Saku Koivu
3. Teemu Selanne
- He still got it?
4. Lasse Oksanen
5. Teppo Numminen
6. Matti Hagman
- First true Finn in the NHL.
7. Veli-Pekka Ketola
- Teammate of Bobby Hull in the Winnipeg Jets (WHA).
8. Raimo "Raipe" Helminen
- A Finnish icon; will probably continue playing until he´s 70.
9. Pekka Rautakallio
- First Finnish player in a NHL All-Star game.
10. Pekka Marjamaki
HM´s: Reijo Ruotsalainen, Aarne Honkavaara, Jarmo Myllys, Kari Jalonen, Matti Keinonen, Timo Jutila, Christian Ruuttu, Jere Lehtinen, Ville & Esa Peltonen
PS. Sorry for the (possible) glaring omissions. I´m still learning, you know.
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