tinyzombies
Registered User
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, D
Harry Sinden said:
Sinden was talking about the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups
The Bilyaldetdinov-Pervukhin pairing was the USSR's second great pairing for almost a decade, behind Fetisov-Kasatonov.
Bilyaletdinov was a six-time IIHF World Championship gold medalist for the Soviet Union. He also won the Olympic gold medal in Sarajevo in 1984 and was part of the Soviet squad which captured the 1981 Canada Cup. Bilyaletdinov also played in the 1976 and 1984 Canada Cups.
Considering the Soviet Union of Bilyaletdinov's era was stronger than it ever was, and that you could make a very plausible argument that its top end talent was just as good as Canada's, minus Gretzky and Lemieux, it's quite obvious to me that the USSR was a hell of lot more than just the Green Unit at this time.
He played aggressive, hard hitting shut down hockey
1981
As most of us know, a young Gretzky, in the midst of a then-record-breaking 164 point season but several years away from being "a winner" was frustrated through the first two periods of the game, as the USSR entered the third period with a 3-1 lead. In the third period, the USSR blew out Canada for an 8-1 final victory, but things could have been very different if Gretzky had got going. This is widely considered the worst loss in the history of Canadian hockey.
He got into a rare fight at the World Championships
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/last-days-of-the-dynamo/
Notice the inclusion of Bilyaletdinov and not Pervukhin as a "legendary player" of the club.
An "ancient" 31 year old Bilyaletdinov was added to a declining Soviet Club in 1987, out of desperation.
History appears to view him as better than his partner, Pervukhin
-Longterm hfboards poster and fan of Soviet hockey Peter25 told me via PM that there is "no doubt" Bilyaletdinov was a better player than Pervukhin (and he's a big fan of both men).
-Dynamo Moscow was one of the most famous clubs in Russia, dating back to the old USSR. They sadly folded last year.
Harry Sinden said:
There were three defensemen on the two Soviet teams who would win the Norris Trophy in our league - Fetisov and Kasatonov of the Central Army team and Bilyaletdinov of the Dynamo
Boston Globe - January 12, 1986Sinden was talking about the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups
The Bilyaldetdinov-Pervukhin pairing was the USSR's second great pairing for almost a decade, behind Fetisov-Kasatonov.
Bilyaletdinov was a six-time IIHF World Championship gold medalist for the Soviet Union. He also won the Olympic gold medal in Sarajevo in 1984 and was part of the Soviet squad which captured the 1981 Canada Cup. Bilyaletdinov also played in the 1976 and 1984 Canada Cups.
Considering the Soviet Union of Bilyaletdinov's era was stronger than it ever was, and that you could make a very plausible argument that its top end talent was just as good as Canada's, minus Gretzky and Lemieux, it's quite obvious to me that the USSR was a hell of lot more than just the Green Unit at this time.
He played aggressive, hard hitting shut down hockey
1981
As most of us know, a young Gretzky, in the midst of a then-record-breaking 164 point season but several years away from being "a winner" was frustrated through the first two periods of the game, as the USSR entered the third period with a 3-1 lead. In the third period, the USSR blew out Canada for an 8-1 final victory, but things could have been very different if Gretzky had got going. This is widely considered the worst loss in the history of Canadian hockey.
He got into a rare fight at the World Championships
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/last-days-of-the-dynamo/
Notice the inclusion of Bilyaletdinov and not Pervukhin as a "legendary player" of the club.
An "ancient" 31 year old Bilyaletdinov was added to a declining Soviet Club in 1987, out of desperation.
There is a feeling among long-time international observers that the Soviet program is in a state of transition, both in style and personnel. Although the Soviets have been playing hockey for 40 years, their game may be experiencing its first growing pains.
In one move interpreted as desperation, 31-year-old Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was added to the touring squad shortly before the Soviets left for Quebec, although he hadn't qualfied for the national squad in years. (For the Soviets, 30 is nearly ancient in hockey terms. Once past that "golden" age, players are routinely farmed out or given coaching duties.)
The pool of young talent has evidently dried up. The Soviets went victoryless in the recent fight-filled junior championships. [Alan Eagleson] said he couldn't recall seeing a worse collection of Soviet
juniors.
-Providence Journal, Feb 14, 1987In one move interpreted as desperation, 31-year-old Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was added to the touring squad shortly before the Soviets left for Quebec, although he hadn't qualfied for the national squad in years. (For the Soviets, 30 is nearly ancient in hockey terms. Once past that "golden" age, players are routinely farmed out or given coaching duties.)
The pool of young talent has evidently dried up. The Soviets went victoryless in the recent fight-filled junior championships. [Alan Eagleson] said he couldn't recall seeing a worse collection of Soviet
juniors.
History appears to view him as better than his partner, Pervukhin
-Longterm hfboards poster and fan of Soviet hockey Peter25 told me via PM that there is "no doubt" Bilyaletdinov was a better player than Pervukhin (and he's a big fan of both men).
-Dynamo Moscow was one of the most famous clubs in Russia, dating back to the old USSR. They sadly folded last year.
