FASTHANDS*
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Obvisouly the Isalnders and Oilers teams will stand out, but which version of them were the best? You have a great one year Calgary Flames team from 1989, how do the stand in the mix along with the cinderalla 1986 Canadiens.
Well, the Isles were badly beat up by that point.The 1981-'82 Islanders and the 1983-'84 Oilers might classify.
The only knock on the Islanders that year is that they barely got by a mediocre Pittsburgh team in the 5th and deciding game needing overtime after scoring two late goals (and actually needed a huge save from Smith in overtime). They also played Vancouver in the final. Not Edmonton. And in fact they didn't even face the Habs at any time either. Funny story, during that deciding game vs. Pittsburgh the score of the Quebec/Montreal game was announced to cheers upon hearing that the Nords knocked Montreal out in overtime. Either way the Isles still beat anyone that year.
The Oilers played the best team in the final in 1984. Islander fans will mention that they swept Edmonton in 1983 but the Oilers beat the Isles in five in 1984 so really when it comes down to it, it's at best a difficult debate on who had the better team.
But it's between those two IMO
The 1981-'82 Islanders and the 1983-'84 Oilers might classify.
The only knock on the Islanders that year is that they barely got by a mediocre Pittsburgh team in the 5th and deciding game needing overtime after scoring two late goals (and actually needed a huge save from Smith in overtime). They also played Vancouver in the final. Not Edmonton. And in fact they didn't even face the Habs at any time either. Funny story, during that deciding game vs. Pittsburgh the score of the Quebec/Montreal game was announced to cheers upon hearing that the Nords knocked Montreal out in overtime. Either way the Isles still beat anyone that year.
The Oilers played the best team in the final in 1984. Islander fans will mention that they swept Edmonton in 1983 but the Oilers beat the Isles in five in 1984 so really when it comes down to it, it's at best a difficult debate on who had the better team.
But it's between those two IMO
Well, the Isles were badly beat up by that point.
Ill just copy paste what I wrote before
I really do not feel like getting into a heated discussion today, but the Isles the Oiler beat for their first cup were far removed from their greatness the past year. And when I say far removed, I know it is only a year's difference, but you need to take into context the Isles players who were close to retirement by this point, as well as the fact that most of their main cast was hurt.
Trottier was hobbled for a season and a half starting in Jan 1984 by a knee injury which required arthroscopic surgery to the point that they were barely using him as a first line player. Potvin by the time the playoffs rolled around was playing at half capacity due to injuries and for that matter most of their defense squad was off and on. Persson and Langevin both had shoulder injuries and thus, were missing games and ineffectual while there, while Morrow had knee problems that year(Surgery) and was ineffectual. Bourne and Nystrom, 2 of their most solid secondary scorers were both out with knee injuries and Brent Sutter, another solid scorer just had surgery for an infection and tendon damage due to it of all things, as well as buggering his knee in the playoffs, was injured and toughed it out, as was Tonelli, with yet another shoulder injury(And he had missed time right before the playoffs with a sprained knee, and was not 100% to begin with). Sutter and Tonelli were the best checking line players on the team and solid scorers to boot.
Goring was set to retire at this point, no longer effective.
People often make the mistake of trying to extrapolate who was better between the Oilers and Islanders based on their two meetings, but it needs to be remembered that neither meeting featured both teams at their best. A 1987 or 1988 Oilers against a 1980 or 1981 Islanders is probably the hypothetical peak matchup.
I'd probably go with the 1988 Oilers as top team. That spring was probably Gretzky's finest hour as he just totally dominated the playoffs including setting a record for most points in a final despite it only going 4 2/3 games (power outage at the Boston Garden cancelled Game 4 in the second period, but the personal stats still counted). The Oilers only finished second in their division, but swept the Cup-favorite Flames in the Smythe final. They went 16-2 overall, a record that will almost certainly never be matched.
People often make the mistake of trying to extrapolate who was better between the Oilers and Islanders based on their two meetings, but it needs to be remembered that neither meeting featured both teams at their best. A 1987 or 1988 Oilers against a 1980 or 1981 Islanders is probably the hypothetical peak matchup.
I'd probably go with the 1988 Oilers as top team. That spring was probably Gretzky's finest hour as he just totally dominated the playoffs including setting a record for most points in a final despite it only going 4 2/3 games (power outage at the Boston Garden cancelled Game 4 in the second period, but the personal stats still counted). The Oilers only finished second in their division, but swept the Cup-favorite Flames in the Smythe final. They went 16-2 overall, a record that will almost certainly never be matched.
1. 87-88 Oilers
2. 82-83 Islanders
The '86 Habs and '89 Flames were flukes IMO who both had the benefit of seeing the Oilers shoot themselves in the foot in '86 and of course seeing Gretzky beat the Oilers in '89 while playing for the Kings.
The 1988 Edmonton Oilers steamrolled through the playoffs going 16-2. Although there was less talent then in 1987, the defense was tremendous and Gretzky after missing 16 games during the regular season seemed rejuvenated with the much needed rest. With such a dominating run it makes you wonder what they would have done un 1989 with the same team intact. The '88 Oilers I believe was the their best team ever.
I think if those teams met in the finals for 10 straight seasons you would have each side winning 5 times—the teams were built differently—but took you to the same place.
In todays money....with no cap...
Mike Bossy: $9-$10 mil
Trottier: $9-$10 mil
Clark Gillies: $6.5 mil
John Tonelli: $5.5 mil
Bobby Bourne: $5-$5.5 mil
Dennis Potvin: $8-8.5 mil
Billy Smith: $6 mil
Dave Langevin: $4.5 mil
Ken Morrow: $3 mil
Brent Sutter: $3.5 mil
Bobby Nystrom: $3 mil
Duane Sutter: $2.5 mil
That is not even the whole team—and we are approaching $70 mil
Bottom line—I think both teams were amazing. Overall—call me a homer—but my Isles won 19 straight playoff series—19. Something that has never been matched—not even by the great Habs teams. Im not taking ANYTHING away from the Habs, Oilers or anyone else.—but 19 straight series wins!
In todays money....with no cap...
Mike Bossy: $9-$10 mil
Trottier: $9-$10 mil
Clark Gillies: $6.5 mil
John Tonelli: $5.5 mil
Bobby Bourne: $5-$5.5 mil
Dennis Potvin: $8-8.5 mil
Billy Smith: $6 mil
Dave Langevin: $4.5 mil
Ken Morrow: $3 mil
Brent Sutter: $3.5 mil
Bobby Nystrom: $3 mil
Duane Sutter: $2.5 mil
That is not even the whole team—and we are approaching $70 mil.
The oilers would be comparable to the Isles numbers—Gretzky and Messier would make roughly what Bossy and Trottier would make...