Divisional Final - Sokovia Recorders vs. Providence Reds

[BenchBrawl]

Sokovia Recorders

Punch Imlach
Roger Neilson

Cy Denneny - Syl Apps "A" - George Armstrong "C"
Roy Conacher - Jean Ratelle - Bill Cook "A"
Bob Pulford - Anze Kopitar - Corey Perry
Kevin Stevens - Cooney Weiland - Rick Tocchet

Jacques Laperriere - Eddie Shore
Moose Johnson - Jimmy Thomson
Sergei Gonchar - Terry Harper

Ken Dryden
Tiny Thompson

PP1: Denneny-Apps-Cook-Gonchar-Shore
PP2: Conacher-Ratelle-Perry-Laperriere-Thomson

PK1: Pulford-Armstrong-Johnson-Harper
PK2: Kopitar-Weiland-Laperriere-Thomson

Spares:
Bruce Stuart, F
Joe Primeau, C
Carol Vadnais, D

vs



coach Scotty Bowman

Valeri Kharlamov - Elmer Lach (A) - Rod Gilbert
Vladimir Krutov - Sergei Fedorov - Sergei Makarov
Johnny Gottselig - Ralph Backstrom - Bill Mosienko
Blair Russel - Marty Walsh - Ed Litzenberger
Dubbie Kerr, Adam Graves, Wilf Paiement

Lionel Hitchman (C) - Bobby Orr
Hod Stuart - Larry Murphy
Doug Mohns - Fern Flaman (A)
Ott Heller

Johnny Bower
Hugh Lehman

Coach Bowman will finalize it, but this GM imagines:

PP1: Krutov - Fedorov - Makarov - Murphy - Orr
PP2: Kharlamov - Lach - Gilbert - Mohns - Stuart

PK1: Walsh - Gottselig - Hitchman - Orr
PK2: Backstrom - Litzenberger - Stuart - Flaman
PK 1/2 on the fly: Krutov - Makarov (historically 1st, 2nd in Soviet PK time)​

Click to read more...

 

[VanIslander]

Line-up change.

I'll submit it later today for cut and pasting.

Hint: Playoff grittier Graves in, Mosienko sits, Russel moves to RW where he played more than LW.

Shore will be taken to the penalty box, looking to get him hotheaded again and get himself unwisely ejected.

 

[Dreakmur]

Good luck VI. Hoping for a good battle here.

This looks like a fun match-up, with 2 very different teams going head to head.

 

[Dreakmur]

First Lines: Kharlamov-Lach-Gilbert vs. Denneny-Apps-Armstrong(Cook)
- One of the many Soviets that is somewhat tricky to evaluate, I feel I am quite generous when I assign Kharlamov a 7 season vs.X score of 90.0. I've said it before, the anecdotes describe a player who is in the same tier as Bobby Hull, but the statistics don't back that up. Not even close.
- Denneny was maybe the best scorer of the early NHA/NHL era. Excellent goal-scorer. Decent playmaker. Physically intimidating. Excellent in the play-offs.
- Kharlamov's soviet league finishes are: 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 9, 10
- Denneny's un-consolidated NHL finishes are: 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 12
- You'd really have to think highly of that Soviet league to think Kharlamov is equal to Denneny as an offensive player.

-Apps is pretty much the average 1st line center here. He's pretty strong offensively, but doesn't bring a well-rounded game.
-Lach is a highly skilled mucker. He brings a valuable skillset, but he's pretty weak on a 1st line.
- Both players actually have similar looking scoring finishes, but that doesn't tell the whole story. First, Apps lost 2 and 1/2 seasons while serving in WW2. Lach put up 4 of his 6 best season up between 1943 and 1946. Second, Apps was undoubtedly the best player on his team, and he drove the offense. Lach was at best the 2nd best player on his line, and sometimes 3rd.

- Armstrong and Gilbert are weak links on a top line. Armstrong bring a set of skills that is needed for the unit.

- Providence has a combined vs.X score of 259.2. Sokovia has a combined score of 252.8 with Armstrong, and 295.9 for the few shifts that Cook takes his place.
- Defensively, neither line is particularly good. Lach is a good forechecker and backchecker. Kharlamov and Gilbert are probably neutral - not being good, nor being liabilities. Denneny has a mixed reputation, though he seems to have been a lot more committed to playing defense in the play-offs. Armstrong is quite good for a winger.
- Physically, Providence Lach does the vast majority of the dirty work. Sokovia has a significant size and toughness advantage on the wings. Apps isn't particularly aggressive, but he's a big and powerful man.

Overall, I think these are pretty even in the offense and defense categories, but Sokovia has a decent physical edge.

 

[VanIslander]

Um...

It's impossibly deficent to imagine matchups of top lines and pretend Orr wouldn't be on the ice. This team was built around his style of play specifically. More details to come, but I assure you Bowman will likely have Orr out there with the top lines the lion's share of the time:

Kharlamov - Lach - Gilbert
Hitchman - Orr

Kharlamov and Orr will fly up ice together and the opposing top pair of Laperriere and Shore will have that to immediately deal with. Shore was much more offensively talented than defensively talented, paired with a great defensive defenseman to cover his rushes, only imagine an Eddie Shore rush deep up ice and the Providence counterattack by the greatest Soviet skater ever (by some accounts) and the greatest rushing defenseman ever. Shore will certainly be a stride or two behind the play.

Can Laperriere handle that initial rush repeatedly? The opposition might want to keep Shore away from Providence's top line or at least limit Shore's rushes, or have a few speedy forwards take shifts trying to stay high at the point anticipating rushes against.

Kharlamov-Orr would soar past the worst pairing in this series: Gonchar-Harper.

Dryden didn't play so well against Kharlamov in the Summit Series, Orr was a nemesis in the NHL, and we haven't even mentioned yet the Makarov line threat, with Fedorov capable of keeping up with Orr or Hod Stuart on the counterattack.

The Sokovia defense was not built to handle the Providence counterattack well. Maybe Moose Johnson would lengthen his stick a little more?

 

[Dreakmur]

Kharlamov and Orr will fly up ice together and the opposing top pair of Laperriere and Shore will have that to immediately deal with. Shore was much more offensively talented than defensively talented, paired with a great defensive defenseman to cover his rushes, only imagine an Eddie Shore rush deep up ice and the Providence counterattack by the greatest Soviet skater ever (by some accounts) and the greatest rushing defenseman ever. Shore will certainly be a stride or two behind the play.

Yes, offensive defensemen can get caught deep in the offensive zone. That does include Eddie Shore. You think Bobby Orr would be immune? Both he and Shore will create a lot of offense, and both will leave their partners alone from time to time.

Kharlamov's Soviet league scoring finishes are much weaker than his reputation suggests. Even the most generous conversion of his scoring finishes would leave him looking more like a 2nd liner than the super elite offensive dynamo you seem to want to portray.

Can Laperriere handle that initial rush repeatedly? The opposition might want to keep Shore away from Providence's top line or at least limit Shore's rushes, or have a few speedy forwards take shifts trying to stay high at the point anticipating rushes against.

Well, when you're outnumbered, you're always at a disadvantage, so no defenseman is going to consistently be able to break up odd-man rushes. Laperriere, however, is pretty well equipped to play those situations, and he would do about as well as any other defenseman in those situations.

I'd be a lot more worried if I had a guy like Lionel Hitchman there instead.

Kharlamov-Orr would soar past the worst pairing in this series: Gonchar-Harper.

I suppose I should have put my worst defenseman on my top pair....

Dryden didn't play so well against Kharlamov in the Summit Series

Yeah, the rookie Dryden was no ready for a totally different style of attack.

Orr was a nemesis in the NHL

Did Dryden ever lose a play-off series to the Orr-led Boston Bruins?

and we haven't even mentioned yet the Makarov line threat, with Fedorov capable of keeping up with Orr or Hod Stuart on the counterattack.

I'll get to the 2nd lines shortly. I actually think your 2nd line is better than your 1st.

The Sokovia defense was not built to handle the Providence counterattack well. Maybe Moose Johnson would lengthen his stick a little more?

Your team wants to play open ice and counter-attack game. My team wants to play up and down the boards and in the trenches.

You have a better blueline and better coaching. I have a better forward group and better goaltending.

I think my advantages outweigh yours. Let's put together some actual in depth analysis and see what the voters thing. How about that?

 

[Dreakmur]

Seconds Lines: Krutov-Fedorov-Makarov vs. Conacher-Ratelle-Cook
- Just like Kharlamov, Makarov and Krutov are a bit tricky to accurately evaluate. I think I have been fair in assigning Makarov a vs.X score of 100.0, and Krutov a score of 85.0.

- Krutov is a good offensive player who brings some grit.
- Conacher is pretty much an offense-only player. He's a really good scorer, but despite a monstrous frame he was not physical.
- Krutov has goal-scoring finishes of 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 9 in the Soviet league.
- Conacher has goal-scoring finishes of 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 6, 7. He also missed 3 and 1/2 seasons to service in WW2.

- Makarov is one of the best offensive right wingers. He's a scary sight on a second line.
- Cook is one of the few right wingers who is better offensively than Makarov. He's also a dominant power forward.

- Fedorov is elite defensively and good offensively.
- Ratelle is very good offensively and very good defensively.

- Providence has a combined score of 265.8. Sokovia has a score of 283.6.
- Defensively, Fedorov is very good. Ratelle is quite good himself, but not on Fedorov's level. None of the wingers seem to be particularly good or bad defensively.
- In terms of physical play, Krutov is a decent mucker and corner guy. Fedorov and Makarov seem to be neutral - won't initiate, but won't back off either. Cook is an animal. Coacher and Ratelle are not aggressive, despite their size.

Overall, Providence is a bit better defensively. Sokovia has the edge on offense and physical play.

 

[Dreakmur]

Third Lines: Gottselig-Backstrom-Russel vs. Pulford-Kopitar-Perry
- I'm not sure who's replacing Mosienko on right wing here. I assume it's Blair Russel, but I suppose it could be Ed Litzenberger.
- Blair Russel's offense is somewhat tough to fully flesh out. He had quite good results in terms of placements on the scoring leader board, but how do those early eras compare to current ones? Some other members here have suggested that using the scoring leader as the X in a vs. X formula. Using that, Russel comes out with a very weak 7 season score of 52.5. There are 2 seasons with very significant outliers as the leading scorer. If you remove those players, he comes out with a score of 61.7, which actually seems about right to me.
- All the members of Sokovia have "official" ES vs. X scores from Hockey Outsider's chart. Same with Ralph Backstrom. Gottselig and Russel have nothing officially recorded, so I will assume they score at the average rate on the PP.

- Offensively, Ralph Backstrom, Bob Pulford, and Corey Perry all have excellent even strength scoring numbers. Providence has a combined ES vs. X score of 142. Sokovia has a combined score of 157.
- Defensively, Blair Russel was known as a very good defensive player. Considering era, he's probably a better than both Perry and Gottselig. Backstrom, Pulford, and Kopitar are all excellent defensively. Russel is good. Gottselig and Perry seem to be neutral.
- Physically, the Sokovia line is just bigger, stronger, and tougher all around. Backstrom is a gritty competitor, but I'm not sure he can stand up to the much bigger Kopitar.

Overall, Sokovia has the edge in basically all aspects of the game.

 

[Dreakmur]

Fourth Lines: Graves-Walsh-Litzenberger vs. Stevens-Weiland-Tocchet
- Marty Walsh is a tad tricky to compare, but I'll give it a shot. He had 3 really good seasons, and only really played 5. Using a 7 season vs. X measure gives him a score of only 55.3, which is way too low for him - 2 seasons with a score of 0 really hurts! If we use only the seasons he played, and got for a 5 year vs. X score, he comes out with a 77.4, which seems like a much better place for him.
- Ed Litzenberger doesn't have an official ES vs.X score, but he was a good ES scorer, so I will assume he scored 0.75 at ES instead of the average 0.66.

- Offensively, Providence combines for an ES score of 136. Adam Graves really brings this line down offensively. Sokovia combines for 147.
- Defensively, Walsh and Weiland are pretty good. Graves is better than average. Litzenberger, Stevens, and Tocchet all seem to be about neutral.
- Physically, Stevens and Tocchet are absolute tanks. Graves is tough. Walsh and Weiland are somewhat gritty, but a tad undersized. Litzenberger is big, but not aggressive.

Overall, Providence is a little better defensively, but Sokovia is better offensively and physically.

 

[Dreakmur]

First Pair: Hitchman-Orr vs. Laperriere-Shore
- Eddie Shore is one of the most offensively dominant defensemen of all time. He's in the mix with Coffey and Kelly for the 2nd through 4th slot in that category. Orr is obviously first, but how dominant was he?
- I used the vs. X formula and applied to the defensemen scoring leaders. How defensemen scored compared to forwards has fluctuated greatly across eras, so I think its only fair to compare them to each other rather than to the forwards.

- Eddie Shore comes away with a 7 season vs. D score of 114.7 and a 10 season score of 108. That's really impressive.
- Bobby Orr comes away with a 7 season score of 163.9 and a 10 season score of 133.9. That is horrifyingly dominant. For comparison, Wayne Gretzky has a score of 155 and 144. So, at his peak, Orr was more dominant than Gretzky, but had less longevity. Jaromir Jagr is 114 and 106, so he is basically identical to Shore.

- Both Hitchman and Laperriere are on their respective pairs to give their rushing partners a little more freedom to roam. While they are stylistically similar, I just don't think Hitchman is a good enough player for this role. Laperriere is probably a low end #2 in a draft this small. Hitchman is more of a #5/6 defensive specialist and PKer.

- This pairing comes down to Orr being better than Shore and Laperriere being better than Hitchman.
- Combined, I think they are similar in terms of defensive ability. Combined, I think Sokovia has an edge in physical play.
- Offensively, the gap between Orr and Shore is significant. Despite the fact that I have come to really like Shore, he's no Orr....

Overall, this is an edge to Providence, simply because Bobby Orr is the best player ever.

 

[VanIslander]

The top pairings are not equal defensively.

Orr was the best defensively as well as offensively (his ability to rush back and effectively break up plays was legendary) and there are several references to Eddie Shore's at times lacklustre defensive play. He is a rushing player who gets caught out of position, and is a HOTHEAD you can easily take to the box.

This is not a series where Eddie's offensive rushes are unparalleled. In fact, Providence welcomes the end-to-end style Shore favors.

Providence has a clear advantage on each defensive pairing. And the better defensive and speedy centers will be utilized by Bowman to strengthen defensive play.

 

[Dreakmur]

The top pairings are not equal defensively.

Yes, Orr is better than Shore defensively. There are, however, two players on each pair. I think both players combined are about equal, especially considering each pair is built with a stay-at-home partner, and Sokovia’s is much better.

Orr was the best defensively as well as offensively (his ability to rush back and effectively break up plays was legendary) and there are several references to Eddie Shore's at times lacklustre defensive play. He is a rushing player who gets caught out of position, and is a HOTHEAD you can easily take to the box.

Well, rushing, by definition is being out of position. Both Orr and Shore are very prone to that! The difference is that one pair has Jacques Laperriere there to play the odd man rush, and the other has Lionel Hitchman.

This is not a series where Eddie's offensive rushes are unparalleled. In fact, Providence welcomes the end-to-end style Shore favors.

Yes. I actually put numbers to that....

Providence has a clear advantage on each defensive pairing. And the better defensive and speedy centers will be utilized by Bowman to strengthen defensive play.

Well, you do have the clear advantage in the top pair, despite having a weak link beside Orr. He is simply too dominant.

We have yet to examine the 2nd and 3rd pairs.

 

[Dreakmur]

Second Pair: Stuart-Murphy vs. Johnson-Thomson

• Hod Stuart is one of the trickiest players to evaluate. He was probably the best player from the pre-NHA/PCHA era. That's obviously the weakest era. He also had a career shortened by his early death. Like Orr, he did have enough of a career to consider it a fully fleshed out "peak", which is what I consider the most important part of a career. That leaves him, however, with basically no longevity.
• Moose Johnson, on the other hand, was an elite player for a long time. He was never the best player, but there are a few seasons during his career that he might have been the best defenseman.
• Hod Stuart was perfectly well-rounded. Good offensively, good defensively, and physically imposing.
• Moose Johnson was essentially a shut-down defenseman. He had a few good offensive seasons, but generally, he was not among the leaders. He was very good defensively, and he was physically imposing.
• Between the two of them, the physical play is probably a wash. Stuart is, obviously, better offensively. Johnson is better defensively. Stuart's edge in offense is larger than Johnson's edge in defense. Edge to Stuart.

• Larry Murphy is pretty easy. He was good offensively. He was better than average defensively. He was soft. He has a decent peak, and very good longevity.
• Jimmy Thomson seems easy too. He was decent defensively. He was good defensively. He was physical. He was a decent peak, and poor longevity.
• Their Norris/All-Star records are similar. Murphy has a Norris record of 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11. Thomson has Norris/All-Star record of 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7 and also one season where voting was not available, but he was selected to the all-star game.
• Offensively, Murphy has the following point finishes among defensemen: 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9. Thomson has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Similar peaks. Murphy has an extra 5 seasons of good scoring
• Defensively, Thomson was the #1 defenseman on the NHL's first dynasty - a team which was built on defending. Murphy was consistently reliable, but never among the best.
• Murphy is better offensively, Thomson is better defensively. Thomson brings a lot more physical bite. Edge to Murphy

Overall, Providence has much better offense from this pair. Sokovia has better defense and more physical play. The offensive gap is more significant than the defensive one, so I think they would get a slight edge in overall play.

 

[VanIslander]

Their Norris/All-Star records are similar. Murphy has a Norris record of 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11. Thomson has Norris/All-Star record of 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7 and also one season where voting was not available, but he was selected to the all-star game.

Offensively, Murphy has the following point finishes among defensemen: 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9. Thomson has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Similar peaks.

Murphy had high Norris finishes against more all-time great dmen (Bourque, Coffey, MacInnis, Chelios, Leetch); and Thomson being 5th or 6th scoring dman in a 6-team league isn't as significant as Murphy's 5th and 6th in a much larger league.

There is a clear edge in offensive peak. Then add in the extra years of offensive production, and the two players end up in different tiers, offensively.

 

[Dreakmur]

Murphy had high Norris finishes against more all-time great dmen (Bourque, Coffey, MacInnis, Chelios, Leetch); and Thomson being 5th or 6th scoring dman in a 6-team league isn't as significant as Murphy's 5th and 6th in a much larger league.

There is a clear edge in offensive peak. Then add in the extra years of offensive production, and the two players end up in different tiers, offensively.

Murphy did have good competition, but Thomson went head to head with prime Harvey, Kelly, and Gadsby, so he didn’t exactly have it easy.

I’ll rip through their vs. D scores for a better offensive comparison. Either way, Murphy is better offensively. How much is yet to be determined. That doesn’t change that Thomson is better defensively and physically.

 

[Dreakmur]

Larry Murphy's 7 season vs. D is 94.7.

Jimmy Thomson's 7 season vs. D is 84.4.

So, it appears that he has a better offensive peak than Thompson. That, in my mind, gives Murphy an edge in overall play.

 

[Dreakmur]

Third Pair: Mohns-Flaman vs. Gonchar-Harper

• Mohns is a multi-position player who spent part of his career as a power forward and part as a rushing defenseman. It's tough to know exactly how much he played each, but it seems that he was mostly a forward until 1957. Then he was mostly a defenseman through 1964. Then he was a forward through 1969. Then finished his career as a defenseman.
• Gonchar started his NHL career as a defensive shut-down defensemen, but quickly developed an offensive game.
• Mohns has the following scoring finishes: 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9.
• Gonchar has the following scoring finishes: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 6, 6, 8
• Mohns has a 7 season vs. D of 90.7. Gonchar has a score of 98.7.
• Mohns has a Norris record of 5, 5, 8, 8, 10, 10. Gonchar has a Norris record of 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9.
• Edge to Gonchar

• Flaman was a dominant force as a physically imposing defensive defenseman. He was one of the toughest fighter of his era.
• Terry Harper was a physical defensive defenseman, who specialized in killing penalties and antagonizing opposing stars.
• Flaman has a Norris record of 3, 3, 3, 5, 5. Harper has a Norris record of 5, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9.
• Big edge to Flaman. He's more of a #3/4 and Harper is a #6.

Overall, the edge of Flaman outweighs the edge for Gonchar, so Providence has the better pair.

 

[Dreakmur]

Goaltending: Bower vs. Dryden
- This one is pretty easy. Dryden is about an average starting goalie here. Johnny Bower is a borderline starter.
- Bower has a Hart record of 2, 7, 7, 9 and an All-Star record of 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5
- Dryden has Hart record of 2, 4, 4, 10 and an All-Star record of 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4

This is a big edge for Sokovia.

 

[Dreakmur]

-Special Teams:
- Denneny-Apps-Cook-Gonchar-Shore gives Sokovia one of the best PP units in the draft. Everyone is ether good or elite in their position.
- Krutov-Fedorov-Makarov-Muprhy-Orr is a very good PP unit, but has a few weak links. Krutov and Muphy are probably average, an Fedorov is pretty weak. Makarov is elite, and Orr is so good that he might just be enough to make up for the weaknesses on forward.
- Sokovia has the better first PP unit.

- Conacher-Ratelle-Perry-Laperriere-Thomson is a mediocre unit. I thought about using Ratelle on the point and Kopitar up front, but despite the fact that I think that would work well, I don't think Ratelle ever played the point during his career. Either way, Laperriere is weak on the point. Perry and Thomson are mediocre in their roles.
- Kharlamov-Lach-Gilbert-Mohns-Stuart is one of the best second units. Kharlamov is elite in his role, and everyone else is good.
- Providence has the better second PP unit.

-Pulford-Armstrong-Johnson-Harper is a good PK unit. Pulford and Johnson are elite, and Armstrong and Harper are good. The proven chemistry between Pulford and Armstrong helps too.
- Walsh-Gottselig-Hitchman-Orr is also a good PK unit. Walsh is weak for a first PK unit. Gottselig ad Hitchman are both good. Orr is elite, but on a PP, it's pretty easy to isolate or avoid players once you set up.
- Sokovia has the better first PK unit.

- Kopitar-Weiland-Laperriere-Thomson is also a good PK unit; it may be better than my top unit. Kopitar and Weiland are both good, Laperriere and Thomson are elite.
- Backstrom-Litzenberger-Mohns-Flaman is a decent unit. Backstrom and Flaman are elite. I'm not sure Mohns is much of a PKer. Litzenberger is weak.
- Sokovia has the better second PK unit.

Overall, the combined PP units are pretty close to even. The gap between the top units is smaller, but they'll be used more, so I think it evens out. The PK units, however, are a clear edge for Sokovia. As mentioned above, weak links on a PK unit are very detrimental, and Providence has a few players who can be exposed.

Sokovia has an edge on special teams.

 

[VanIslander]

Big edge to Flaman. He's more of a #3/4 and Harper is a #6.

Overall, the edge of Flaman outweighs the edge for Gonchar, so Providence has the better pair.

You make no mention of the fact that Mohns-Flaman were an NHL pairing in Boston for half a decade together, renowned as excellent on an otherwise woeful Bruins of the O6 era.

It is misleading to breakdown a team match-up to individual pick vs. pick, and then assess a line or pairing's worth without supplemental considerations.

For example, Mohns will be able to counterattack with the speedy Providence scoring line wingers, just as Hod Stuart on the 2nd pairing and Orr on the 1st would do.

And Orr certainly will see more ice time than other defensemen, paired with Murphy or Flaman at certain times. Coach Bowman liked to move players around to capitalize on shift-by-shift opportunities.

You indicate an "edge" to Providence on your pairing breakdowns, but the gap is quite big, more of two different tiers, ie., a clear competitive advantage for Providence in this series.

But, of course, team defense includes more than just dmen, as Lach and Fedorov were drafted to speedily backcheck like a 3rd dman when the opposition has the puck.

 

[Dreakmur]

You make no mention of the fact that Mohns-Flaman were an NHL pairing in Boston for half a decade together, renowned as excellent on an otherwise woeful Bruins of the O6 era.

I had no idea they played together. It's kind of up to you to supply that kind of information.

You indicate an "edge" to Providence on your pairing breakdowns, but the gap is quite big, more of two different tiers, ie., a clear competitive advantage for Providence in this series.

When I mean a large edge, I say a large edge.

Orr is a lot better than Shore. Laperriere is a lot better than Hitchman. Overall, you're pair is a little better.

Stuart is slightly better than Johnson. Murphy is slightly better than Thomson. Overall, you're pair is a little better.

Flaman is a lot better than Harper. Gonchar is a little better than Mohns. Overall, you're pair is a little better.

 

[Theokritos]

• Gonchar started his NHL career as a defensive shut-down defensemen, but quickly developed an offensive game.

There was a time in Gonchar's career when he was a shut-down defenceman?

 

[Dreakmur]

There was a time in Gonchar's career when he was a shut-down defenceman?

Based on the scouting reports I read, yeah. He seems to have started with a shut-down reputation (1997-1999)... then became an offensive gambler for a couple years (2000-2001).... then solidified into a well-rounded player for his prime (2002-2008)

Gonchar has logged a lot of ice time the past two seasons and has a tendency to pace himself, which is why at times he appears a bit passive. Gonchar was teamed with Mark Tinordi much of last season against other teams’ top lines, and did a very intelligent job. He is an effective penalty killer.

A good, all-around defenseman who can read the play well. He can play the physical game when needed, knows when to jump into the play, and what to do with the puck. Labeled as a stay-at-home defenseman, he led the Caps' defensemen in points.

Once seen as a stay-at-home "D", Gonchar has proved to be a pure two-way rearguard.

It's hard to believe Gonchar was mostly recognized as a defensive blueliner back in Russia.

Gonchar made the quick jump to becoming a complete player by adding offense.

 

[Dreakmur]

Containing Bobby Orr:

• As always, it's impossible to completely shut down a player like Orr, but hockey is not a game where one player can totally dominate. Even during his career, Orr only won two Stanley Cups. That means that even in the "lesser" league of the real NHL, it was possible to shut down Orr.
• The best way to slow down elite offensive players is to make them play in their own zone, and that's the best way to deal with Orr. Get the puck deep in the offensive zone, dominate the boards, win the puck battles, and hope he expends a lot of his energy in the defensive end.
• The next best way to slow down a player like Orr is to get on him early, and try to pinch him off before he really gets going.
• I think Sokovia is built to do both of those.

• On the cycle, Sokovia is loaded with big, strong, and aggressive forwards. That's actually one of the top ways we want to generate offense, so it's not even a change to our game plan.
• Even the lesser inclined "muckers" an Sokovia are big and strong dudes. Roy Conacher was 6'2', and he started in the late 1930s. He was one of the bigger players of his era. Syl Apps was 6', and he started in the late '30s as well. Jean Ratelle was 6'1" in the 1960s. They were both quite big, probably similar to Anze Kopitar's size.

• On the forecheck, Sokovia has quite a few forwards who are aggressive forecheckers. Again, that's not something we need to change - this was always an aggressive team.

Match-Ups:

• I think the best match-up for Sokovia is to role the Kopitar line against the Orr-Kharlamov unit. I suppose we'll shoot for that a lot.
• Pulford is an elite forecheker, so he'll usually initiate the cut-off on Orr. Kopitar finishes.
• Kharlamov gets to play against renowned nice guy, Corey Perry.

 

[ChiTownPhilly]

coach Scotty Bowman

Valeri Kharlamov - Elmer Lach (A) - Rod Gilbert
Vladimir Krutov - Sergei Fedorov - Sergei Makarov
Johnny Gottselig - Ralph Backstrom - Bill Mosienko
Blair Russel - Marty Walsh - Ed Litzenberger
Dubbie Kerr, Adam Graves, Wilf Paiement

Lionel Hitchman (C) - Bobby Orr
Hod Stuart - Larry Murphy
Doug Mohns - Fern Flaman (A)
Ott Heller

Johnny Bower
Hugh Lehman

Coach Bowman will finalize it, but this GM imagines:

PP1: Krutov - Fedorov - Makarov - Murphy - Orr
PP2: Kharlamov - Lach - Gilbert - Mohns - Stuart

PK1: Walsh - Gottselig - Hitchman - Orr
PK2: Backstrom - Litzenberger - Stuart - Flaman
PK 1/2 on the fly: Krutov - Makarov (historically 1st, 2nd in Soviet PK time)​

Who on this team is NOT under-rated?

Orr is not under-rated. Bowman is not under-rated.

Other than that, pretty much everybody. [Well, maybe press-box denizen Adam Graves is over-rated, for all of the total non-difference that makes.] Hell, even the GM under-rates Fedorov.

The advancing GM put together a fine team- and is a worthy laureate- but man, one or two tweaks in the composition of the voting-panel and this one could have gone the other way.

Has there ever been a higher-quality team that did not make the Final Four?