frisco
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame...
The first four, of what I consider best-on-best tournaments played by Canada, are the 1972 NHL Summit, 1976 Canada Cup, 1979 Challenge Cup and 1981 Canada Cup. I am leaving out the 1974 WHA Summit and the various games played by Russian elite teams versus individual NHL teams.
Back of the envelope numbers for some prominent (not comprehensive) Canadian players that played in at least two of the tourneys:
Gilbert Perreault 9-12 for 21 points in 16 GP (72-76-79-81)
Phil Esposito 11-9 for 20 points in 15 GP (72-76)
Guy Lafleur 4-14 for 18 points in 17 GP (76-79-81)
Mike Bossy 12-5 for 17 points in 10 GP (79-81)
Denis Potvin 3-13 for 16 points in 17 GP (76-79-81)
Bryan Trottier 4-9 for 13 points in 10 GP (79-81)
Marcel Dionne 5-7 for 12 points in 15 GP (76-79-81)
Bobby Clarke 3-6 for 9 points in 17 GP (72-76-79)
I've always argued that Perreault's international record is often overlooked. But you could make an argument that he was the top guy for Canada in the first decade of best-on-best hockey.
My Best-Carey
Back of the envelope numbers for some prominent (not comprehensive) Canadian players that played in at least two of the tourneys:
Gilbert Perreault 9-12 for 21 points in 16 GP (72-76-79-81)
Phil Esposito 11-9 for 20 points in 15 GP (72-76)
Guy Lafleur 4-14 for 18 points in 17 GP (76-79-81)
Mike Bossy 12-5 for 17 points in 10 GP (79-81)
Denis Potvin 3-13 for 16 points in 17 GP (76-79-81)
Bryan Trottier 4-9 for 13 points in 10 GP (79-81)
Marcel Dionne 5-7 for 12 points in 15 GP (76-79-81)
Bobby Clarke 3-6 for 9 points in 17 GP (72-76-79)
I've always argued that Perreault's international record is often overlooked. But you could make an argument that he was the top guy for Canada in the first decade of best-on-best hockey.
My Best-Carey