Better team on paper in hindsight USA or CANADA 84 Olympics

[carjackmalone]

Looking at both rosters to me personally the Canada team had players that went on to great things in the NHL. However the US did have players like Lafontaine and Chelios

What are your thoughts

Canada

• 'Head coach: Dave King
• Warren Anderson
• Robin Bartel
• Russ Courtnall
• Jean-Jacques Daigneault
• Kevin Dineen
• Dave Donnelly
• Bruce Driver
• Darren Eliot
• Patrick Flatley
• Dave Gagner
• Mario Gosselin
• Vaughn Karpan
• Doug Lidster
• Darren Lowe
• Kirk Muller
• James Patrick
• Craig Redmond
• Dave Tippett (C)
• Carey Wilson
• Dan Wood

USA

Fusco	C	65	22	31	53	59
Mark Fusco	D	56	4	27	31	26
Corey Millen	C	45	15	11	26	10
Rich Costello	F
Gary Haight	D
Kurt Kleinendorst	F
Ed Olczyk	C
Chris Chelios	D
Tim Thomas	D
David Jensen	F
Bob Brooke	C
Bill Nichols	D
Al Iafrate	D
Bob Mason	G
Scott Bjugstad	F
David Jensen	D
Tom Hirsch	D
Ken Leiter	D
Marc Behrend	G
Ed Lee	W
Paul Guay	R
Phil Verchota	F
Pat LaFontaine	C
John Harrington	F
Steve Griffith	L
Mark Kumpel	F
Gary Sampson	F

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[Sentinel]

On paper, USA is far superior. Which Canadians "went on to great things in the NHL"? Muller? Courtnall?

 

[Albatros]

On paper, USA is far superior. Which Canadians "went on to great things in the NHL"? Muller? Courtnall?

No love for Driver in NJ?

 

[Crosby2010]

USA, just because they have a couple of HHOFers on the team. But in all honesty did we have that good of a team for Canada? I am actually surprised we had that much name recognition, or at least future name recognition. By the way, does anyone know how it worked out with Muller in 1984 and his junior team? He was going to be drafted in 1984 but joined the Canadian National team for a few games and then played in the Olympics (and also in the World Juniors earlier). I suspect the Guelph Platers were okay with him being away from the team that much? He played in just 49 games for them.

 

[The Panther]

On paper, USA is far superior.

Really?

Canadians who had significant NHL careers:
Russ Courtnall
Jean-Jacques Daigneault
Kevin Dineen
Bruce Driver
Patrick Flatley
Dave Gagner
Mario Gosselin
Doug Lidster
Kirk Muller
James Patrick
Dave Tippett (C)
Carey Wilson
(Redmond and Darren Eliot made the NHL, but not significant.)

Americans who had significant NHL careers:
Corey Millen
Ed Olczyk
Chris Chelios
Bob Brooke
Al Iafrate
Pat Lafontaine
Bob Mason
Scott Bjugstad
Marc Behrend

(Guay and Kumpel played in the NHL a bit, but not really significantly.)

So, yeah, the US squad had 2 Hall of Famers, for sure. But beyond that, you've basically got Olczyk and Iafrate as impact players.

The Canadians don't have the highest peaks, but all the guys I listed had pretty significant careers. Courtnall had four 70+ point seasons and led two franchises in scoring. Daigneault a fifteen-year career; almost 1000 games with playoffs. Dineen five 30+ goal seasons; 355 NHL goals. Driver over a fourteen-year career and 1000+ games. Flatley thirteen seasons, 850 games. Dave Gagner back to back 40-goal seasons, incl. six straight 30+ goal seasons. Muller was a top player for many years; two 90-point seasons and over 1000 points incl. playoffs. Patrick scored 639 points (RS only) on defence. Dave Tippett almost 800 games incl. playoffs.

 

[MadLuke]

Americans who had significant NHL careers:

Is Pat Lafontaine not on that list because he was only 18 ? He scored 234 pts the previous season in the Q.

 

[The Panther]

Is Pat Lafontaine not on that list because he was only 18 ? He scored 234 pts the previous season in the Q.

I just forgot to list him, but he was considered (i.e., "two Hall of Famers").

 

[Sentinel]

No love for Driver in NJ?

Who?

 

[Staniowski]

Canada is quite a bit better, but this is an interesting time for US hockey, where they're starting to produce NHL stars such as Chelios and LaFontaine. But they don't yet have the depth of talent of Canada.