Denis Savard

[Big Phil]

Why is it that despite the incredible career that Denis Savard had that he was never named to Team Canada? I know that there could be a variety of reasons but why is it that he wasnt picked back then?

For the 1984 and '87 Canada Cup he had points in the 90s both times. And all of those years he was surronded by 100 point seasons. Yeah its true that there were a lot of good players Canada had on those teams and a lot that werent even named but I'd have to think that Savard could have easily competed with the Russians of either years. He had the speed and could stickhandle as good as anyone. Maybe they thought he was too soft I dont know.

I'm not so sure where he'd fit in on the '87 team but in '84 I think he for sure could have made that team. By '91 and '96 he was past his prime and in '81 he was only a rookie but why was Savard overlooked all the time?

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[Bring Back Bucky]

Why is it that despite the incredible career that Denis Savard had that he was never named to Team Canada? I know that there could be a variety of reasons but why is it that he wasnt picked back then?

For the 1984 and '87 Canada Cup he had points in the 90s both times. And all of those years he was surronded by 100 point seasons. Yeah its true that there were a lot of good players Canada had on those teams and a lot that werent even named but I'd have to think that Savard could have easily competed with the Russians of either years. He had the speed and could stickhandle as good as anyone. Maybe they thought he was too soft I dont know.

I'm not so sure where he'd fit in on the '87 team but in '84 I think he for sure could have made that team. By '91 and '96 he was past his prime and in '81 he was only a rookie but why was Savard overlooked all the time?

Who were the centers in 84?? I remember Trottier & Gretzky.. was Messier playing center by then? I think I have a team 84 guide upstairs, but if someone can find a link, it may help explain his ommission..

 

[chooch*]

Who were the centers in 84?? I remember Trottier & Gretzky.. was Messier playing center by then? I think I have a team 84 guide upstairs, but if someone can find a link, it may help explain his ommission..

sather didnt like him

 

[KOVALEV10*]

The centers that were selected to the 84 Canada cup team were:

Wayne Gretzky 8 5 7 12 2
Mark Messier 8 2 4 6 8
Peter Stastny 8 1 2 3 0
Brent Sutter 8 2 2 4 10
Steve Yzerman 8 4 0 0 0 0
Bob Bourne 8 0 3 3 0


Sather made some bad choices IMO choosing Sutter and Bourne ahead of Trottier and Savard.

 

[monkey_00*]

The centers that were selected to the 84 Canada cup team were:

Wayne Gretzky 8 5 7 12 2
Mark Messier 8 2 4 6 8
Peter Stastny 8 1 2 3 0
Brent Sutter 8 2 2 4 10
Steve Yzerman 8 4 0 0 0 0
Bob Bourne 8 0 3 3 0


Sather made some bad choices IMO choosing Sutter and Bourne ahead of Trottier and Savard.

KOVALEV10.............

Sather didn't like Trottier cause of some bad blood that was built up between the two during the back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals that the NY Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers had in the 1980s........after Trottier found out he wasn't selected to play for Team Canada he decided that from that point forward he would go and play for Team USA...........

there was some bad blood in the 1984 Team Canada dressing room between the players from the New York Islanders dynasty team and the Edmonton Oilers dynasty team.......Bossy, Sutter, Tonelli, Bourne, Potvin on one side pissed that Trottier wasn't selected to play........Larry Robinson was the one that helped patch things up between the two sides on the Canadian roster........John Tonelli went on to become the tournament MVP.

 

[espo*]

The centers that were selected to the 84 Canada cup team were:

Wayne Gretzky 8 5 7 12 2
Mark Messier 8 2 4 6 8
Peter Stastny 8 1 2 3 0
Brent Sutter 8 2 2 4 10
Steve Yzerman 8 4 0 0 0 0
Bob Bourne 8 0 3 3 0


Sather made some bad choices IMO choosing Sutter and Bourne ahead of Trottier and Savard.

I don't think he had a choice with Trottier.....i am pretty sure that was the year Trots decided to make turncoat and play for the U.S. Tony Esposito too of all people!!

 

[Malefic74]

I can understand it. You already have two pure offensive centres in Gretzky and Stastny who are both better than Savard. What is the value of having another? Savard was never a defnsive specialist and didn't have the versatility to be anything but an offensive specialist. Bourne, Sutter, Messier and Yzerman had far better two way games.

Like they do now, Sather was picking a team not just grabbing all the guys at the top of the scoresheet. If he didn't pick Trottier because of a personal grudge than he absolutely deserves to be ripped for it because he was the best all-around centre at the time. But leaving off Savard in no crime IMO.

 

[Big Phil]

I'm not sure why Yzerman was put on over Savard. Yzerman was just a rookie at the time. He only had one season under his belt. One thing with Savard is that he could skate and had the skill of any Russian. It isnt a crime as to why he never made any teams but with his career you just wonder why he didnt. Same goes for Oates and Francis.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

I'm not sure why Yzerman was put on over Savard. Yzerman was just a rookie at the time. He only had one season under his belt. One thing with Savard is that he could skate and had the skill of any Russian. It isnt a crime as to why he never made any teams but with his career you just wonder why he didnt. Same goes for Oates and Francis.

I think yzerman was viewed as the future at the time, and if Sather was predicting great leadership, he hit the mark right on. Oates would have been way too slow for international competition,imo. Francis?? Boy, I can't think of a good reason to exclude that guy.

 

[Ric Flair]

Nothing to do with the original question but just wanted to chime in and say that Denis Savard is one of my favorite all time players. I loved watching him skate and make plays. Spinorama RULES!!!!!

 

[Wild Thing]

Nothing to do with the original question but just wanted to chime in and say that Denis Savard is one of my favorite all time players. I loved watching him skate and make plays. Spinorama RULES!!!!!

I absolutely agree with you, 100%. I think I miss him more than almost any other former player. Even if the little rat did play for the Hawks. Gretzky was the best player of the era, but Savard was the most exciting.

 

[monkey_00*]

I absolutely agree with you, 100%. I think I miss him more than almost any other former player. Even if the little rat did play for the Hawks. Gretzky was the best player of the era, but Savard was the most exciting.

I agree..........I really can't think of anyone that's currently in the NHL that closely resembles in his style of play......Bure was exciting but Bure was a winger and not a Centre PLUS Bure was more of a sniper and Savard was a playmaker......very agile player with some of the wickest moves on skates I have EVER seen from anybody..........and he was very fast too.

 

[mistereman]

And wasn't it Irving Grundman who left Savard out of a Candien's jersey and put Doug Wickenheiser in?

That one still hurts my stomach!

Can you imagine all those years of Savard in le Bleu Blanc et Rouge?

Can you tell I like the Habs?

cheers

eman

 

[mcphee]

Nothing to do with the original question but just wanted to chime in and say that Denis Savard is one of my favorite all time players. I loved watching him skate and make plays. Spinorama RULES!!!!!

I saw Savard play a lot in Jr. One night in the old Paul Sauve arena, I think the Mtl. team was called the Bleu Blanc Rouge at the time, my then girlfriend [now wife of 27 years] accompanied me to a game. Someone on the opposition had been following Savard around and chopping at him and they both got sent off when he retaliated. The other guy started yapping at him and Savard retaliated by projecting a major league loogy at him which hung on the plexiglass separating them. As we were sitting a few rows behind the penalty box, you can imagine how attractive the soon to be Mrs. mcphee found this. I don't really remember many favorable responses afterwards when I'd suggest going to a game. Great player though. He played on a line called Les trois Denis' along with Denis Cyr and Denis Tremblay.