Soviet players stats against NA professionals

[Namba 17]

I made some stats of Soviet players against NA professionals. I tried to include stats from any super series(including international teams and leagues team) as well as stats from Canada cups. Players with less than 20 games were not included. D-men outside of Fetisov and Kasatonov were not included (I have datas for Pervoukhin, Vasiliev and Lutchenko and they are pretty much the same and nothing special).
I did it myself, so, if there are any notes - don't hesitate to ask or criticize.

Table 1. Ranked by PPG against NA teams in general:

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Petrov	33	18	22	40	1,21	0,55
3	Kharlamov	39	19	28	47	1,21	0,49
4	Yakushev	31	21	14	35	1,13	0,68
5	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
6	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
7	Kapustin	28	11	17	28	1,00	0,39
8	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
9	Balderis	24	13	10	23	0,96	0,54
10	Mikhailov	40	20	16	36	0,90	0,50
11	Skvortsov	27	12	12	24	0,89	0,44
12	Shalimov	27	8	15	23	0,85	0,30
13	Maltsev	40	13	20	33	0,83	0,33
14	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
15	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
16	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
17	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
18	Shadrin	31	6	16	22	0,71	0,19
19	Anisin	34	11	13	24	0,71	0,32
20	Zhluktov	23	2	13	15	0,65	0,09
21	A.Golikov	23	8	7	15	0,65	0,35
22	Kovin	33	6	14	20	0,61	0,18
23	Vikulov	33	9	10	19	0,58	0,27
24	Lebedev	25	6	5	11	0,44	0,24

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 2. Ranked by GPG against NA teams in general:

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Yakushev	31	21	14	35	1,13	0,68
2	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
3	Petrov	33	18	22	40	1,21	0,55
4	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
5	Balderis	24	13	10	23	0,96	0,54
6	Mikhailov	40	20	16	36	0,90	0,50
7	Kharlamov	39	19	28	47	1,21	0,49
8	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
9	Skvortsov	27	12	12	24	0,89	0,44
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Kapustin	28	11	17	28	1,00	0,39
12	A.Golikov	23	8	7	15	0,65	0,35
13	Maltsev	40	13	20	33	0,83	0,33
14	Anisin	34	11	13	24	0,71	0,32
15	Shalimov	27	8	15	23	0,85	0,30
16	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
17	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
18	Vikulov	33	9	10	19	0,58	0,27
19	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
20	Lebedev	25	6	5	11	0,44	0,24
21	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
22	Shadrin	31	6	16	22	0,71	0,19
23	Kovin	33	6	14	20	0,61	0,18
24	Zhluktov	23	2	13	15	0,65	0,09

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 3. PPG against NHL teams (or NHL+WHA teams)

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Shalimov	11	4	9	13	1,18	0,36
3	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
4	Yakushev	17	9	10	19	1,12	0,53
5	Karlamov	17	9	9	18	1,06	0,53
6	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
7	Vikulov	11	5	6	11	1,00	0,45
8	Kapustin	15	7	8	15	1,00	0,47
9	Balderis	9	6	3	9	1,00	0,67
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Shadrin	16	5	10	15	0,94	0,31
12	Petrov	15	6	8	14	0,93	0,40
13	Mikhailov	20	10	7	17	0,85	0,50
14	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
15	Skvortsov	21	9	8	17	0,81	0,43
16	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
17	Zhluktov	19	2	13	15	0,79	0,11
18	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
19	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
20	Maltsev	17	4	8	12	0,71	0,24
21	Kovin	18	3	5	8	0,44	0,17
22	Anisin	14	3	3	6	0,43	0,21
23	A.Golikov	7	1	2	3	0,43	0,14
24	Lebedev	15	4	2	6	0,40	0,27

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 4. GPG against NHL teams

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Balderis	9	6	3	9	1,00	0,67
3	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
4	Yakushev	17	9	10	19	1,12	0,53
5	Karlamov	17	9	9	18	1,06	0,53
6	Mikhailov	20	10	7	17	0,85	0,50
7	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
8	Kapustin	15	7	8	15	1,00	0,47
9	Vikulov	11	5	6	11	1,00	0,45
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Skvortsov	21	9	8	17	0,81	0,43
12	Petrov	15	6	8	14	0,93	0,40
13	Shalimov	11	4	9	13	1,18	0,36
14	Shadrin	16	5	10	15	0,94	0,31
15	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
16	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
17	Lebedev	15	4	2	6	0,40	0,27
18	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
19	Maltsev	17	4	8	12	0,71	0,24
20	Anisin	14	3	3	6	0,43	0,21
21	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
22	Kovin	18	3	5	8	0,44	0,17
23	A.Golikov	7	1	2	3	0,43	0,14
24	Zhluktov	19	2	13	15	0,79	0,11

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 5. PPG against WHA teams

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Petrov	18	12	14	26	1,44	0,67
2	Kharlamov	22	10	19	29	1,32	0,45
3	Skvortsov	6	3	4	7	1,17	0,50
4	Yakushev	14	12	4	16	1,14	0,86
5	Kapustin	13	4	9	13	1,00	0,31
6	Balderis	15	7	7	14	0,93	0,47
7	Maltsev	23	9	12	21	0,91	0,39
8	Mikhailov	20	10	8	18	0,90	0,50
9	Anisin	20	8	10	18	0,90	0,40
10	Lebedev	10	2	7	9	0,90	0,20
11	Kovin	15	3	9	12	0,80	0,20
12	A.Golikov	16	7	5	12	0,75	0,44
13	Shalimov	16	4	6	10	0,63	0,25
14	Vikulov	22	4	8	12	0,55	0,18
15	Shadrin	15	1	6	7	0,47	0,07
16	Zhluktov	4	0	0	0	0,00	0,00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 6. GPG against WHA teams.

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Yakushev	14	12	4	16	1,14	0,86
2	Petrov	18	12	14	26	1,44	0,67
3	Skvortsov	6	3	4	7	1,17	0,50
4	Mikhailov	20	10	8	18	0,90	0,50
5	Balderis	15	7	7	14	0,93	0,47
6	Kharlamov	22	10	19	29	1,32	0,45
7	A.Golikov	16	7	5	12	0,75	0,44
8	Anisin	20	8	10	18	0,90	0,40
9	Maltsev	23	9	12	21	0,91	0,39
10	Kapustin	13	4	9	13	1,00	0,31
11	Shalimov	16	4	6	10	0,63	0,25
12	Lebedev	10	2	7	9	0,90	0,20
13	Kovin	15	3	9	12	0,80	0,20
14	Vikulov	22	4	8	12	0,55	0,18
15	Shadrin	15	1	6	7	0,47	0,07
16	Zhluktov	4	0	0	0	0,00	0,00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Click to read more...

 

[Canadiens1958]

Valuable effort. Very revealing.

 

[MaxV]

Not a surprising list, Varnakov kinda stands out.

 

[Killion]

Awesome. Nice work. Very revealing.

 

[Canadiens1958]

I made some stats of Soviet players against NA professionals. I tried to include stats from any super series(including international teams and leagues team) as well as stats from Canada cups. Players with less than 20 games were not included. D-men outside of Fetisov and Kasatonov were not included (I have datas for Pervoukhin, Vasiliev and Lutchenko and they are pretty much the same and nothing special).
I did it myself, so, if there are any notes - don't hesitate to ask or criticize.

Table 1. Ranked by PPG against NA teams in general:

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Petrov	33	18	22	40	1,21	0,55
3	Kharlamov	39	19	28	47	1,21	0,49
4	Yakushev	31	21	14	35	1,13	0,68
5	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
6	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
7	Kapustin	28	11	17	28	1,00	0,39
8	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
9	Balderis	24	13	10	23	0,96	0,54
10	Mikhailov	40	20	16	36	0,90	0,50
11	Skvortsov	27	12	12	24	0,89	0,44
12	Shalimov	27	8	15	23	0,85	0,30
13	Maltsev	40	13	20	33	0,83	0,33
14	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
15	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
16	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
17	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
18	Shadrin	31	6	16	22	0,71	0,19
19	Anisin	34	11	13	24	0,71	0,32
20	Zhluktov	23	2	13	15	0,65	0,09
21	A.Golikov	23	8	7	15	0,65	0,35
22	Kovin	33	6	14	20	0,61	0,18
23	Vikulov	33	9	10	19	0,58	0,27
24	Lebedev	25	6	5	11	0,44	0,24

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 2. Ranked by GPG against NA teams in general:

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Yakushev	31	21	14	35	1,13	0,68
2	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
3	Petrov	33	18	22	40	1,21	0,55
4	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
5	Balderis	24	13	10	23	0,96	0,54
6	Mikhailov	40	20	16	36	0,90	0,50
7	Kharlamov	39	19	28	47	1,21	0,49
8	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
9	Skvortsov	27	12	12	24	0,89	0,44
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Kapustin	28	11	17	28	1,00	0,39
12	A.Golikov	23	8	7	15	0,65	0,35
13	Maltsev	40	13	20	33	0,83	0,33
14	Anisin	34	11	13	24	0,71	0,32
15	Shalimov	27	8	15	23	0,85	0,30
16	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
17	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
18	Vikulov	33	9	10	19	0,58	0,27
19	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
20	Lebedev	25	6	5	11	0,44	0,24
21	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
22	Shadrin	31	6	16	22	0,71	0,19
23	Kovin	33	6	14	20	0,61	0,18
24	Zhluktov	23	2	13	15	0,65	0,09

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 3. PPG against NHL teams (or NHL+WHA teams)

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Shalimov	11	4	9	13	1,18	0,36
3	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
4	Yakushev	17	9	10	19	1,12	0,53
5	Karlamov	17	9	9	18	1,06	0,53
6	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
7	Vikulov	11	5	6	11	1,00	0,45
8	Kapustin	15	7	8	15	1,00	0,47
9	Balderis	9	6	3	9	1,00	0,67
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Shadrin	16	5	10	15	0,94	0,31
12	Petrov	15	6	8	14	0,93	0,40
13	Mikhailov	20	10	7	17	0,85	0,50
14	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
15	Skvortsov	21	9	8	17	0,81	0,43
16	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
17	Zhluktov	19	2	13	15	0,79	0,11
18	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
19	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
20	Maltsev	17	4	8	12	0,71	0,24
21	Kovin	18	3	5	8	0,44	0,17
22	Anisin	14	3	3	6	0,43	0,21
23	A.Golikov	7	1	2	3	0,43	0,14
24	Lebedev	15	4	2	6	0,40	0,27

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 4. GPG against NHL teams

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Krutov	27	18	16	34	1,26	0,67
2	Balderis	9	6	3	9	1,00	0,67
3	Varnakov	24	13	12	25	1,04	0,54
4	Yakushev	17	9	10	19	1,12	0,53
5	Karlamov	17	9	9	18	1,06	0,53
6	Mikhailov	20	10	7	17	0,85	0,50
7	Makarov	31	15	20	35	1,13	0,48
8	Kapustin	15	7	8	15	1,00	0,47
9	Vikulov	11	5	6	11	1,00	0,45
10	Bykov	25	11	13	24	0,96	0,44
11	Skvortsov	21	9	8	17	0,81	0,43
12	Petrov	15	6	8	14	0,93	0,40
13	Shalimov	11	4	9	13	1,18	0,36
14	Shadrin	16	5	10	15	0,94	0,31
15	Khomutov	27	8	13	21	0,78	0,30
16	Larionov	22	6	12	18	0,82	0,27
17	Lebedev	15	4	2	6	0,40	0,27
18	Fetisov	31	8	17	25	0,81	0,26
19	Maltsev	17	4	8	12	0,71	0,24
20	Anisin	14	3	3	6	0,43	0,21
21	Kasatonov	35	7	19	26	0,74	0,20
22	Kovin	18	3	5	8	0,44	0,17
23	A.Golikov	7	1	2	3	0,43	0,14
24	Zhluktov	19	2	13	15	0,79	0,11

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 5. PPG against WHA teams

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Petrov	18	12	14	26	1,44	0,67
2	Kharlamov	22	10	19	29	1,32	0,45
3	Skvortsov	6	3	4	7	1,17	0,50
4	Yakushev	14	12	4	16	1,14	0,86
5	Kapustin	13	4	9	13	1,00	0,31
6	Balderis	15	7	7	14	0,93	0,47
7	Maltsev	23	9	12	21	0,91	0,39
8	Mikhailov	20	10	8	18	0,90	0,50
9	Anisin	20	8	10	18	0,90	0,40
10	Lebedev	10	2	7	9	0,90	0,20
11	Kovin	15	3	9	12	0,80	0,20
12	A.Golikov	16	7	5	12	0,75	0,44
13	Shalimov	16	4	6	10	0,63	0,25
14	Vikulov	22	4	8	12	0,55	0,18
15	Shadrin	15	1	6	7	0,47	0,07
16	Zhluktov	4	0	0	0	0,00	0,00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Table 6. GPG against WHA teams.

#	Player	GP	G	A	P	PPG	GPG
1	Yakushev	14	12	4	16	1,14	0,86
2	Petrov	18	12	14	26	1,44	0,67
3	Skvortsov	6	3	4	7	1,17	0,50
4	Mikhailov	20	10	8	18	0,90	0,50
5	Balderis	15	7	7	14	0,93	0,47
6	Kharlamov	22	10	19	29	1,32	0,45
7	A.Golikov	16	7	5	12	0,75	0,44
8	Anisin	20	8	10	18	0,90	0,40
9	Maltsev	23	9	12	21	0,91	0,39
10	Kapustin	13	4	9	13	1,00	0,31
11	Shalimov	16	4	6	10	0,63	0,25
12	Lebedev	10	2	7	9	0,90	0,20
13	Kovin	15	3	9	12	0,80	0,20
14	Vikulov	22	4	8	12	0,55	0,18
15	Shadrin	15	1	6	7	0,47	0,07
16	Zhluktov	4	0	0	0	0,00	0,00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Interesting but bottom line is that over the same period, many NA and other Europeans players also played against NHL players within the NHL. Much larger samples space and their stat lines, PPG or GPG or any measure is just as impressive or better:

https://www.hockey-reference.com/pl...&c1comp=gt&threshhold=5&order_by=games_played

Trade-off or adjust the fact that the Soviets played mainly road games against the much larger sample spaces generated by internal NHL competition. The Soviets had the advantages of novelty, without having to adjust while internal NHL players regardless of provenance had to overcome familiarity and on going adjustments and an interesting picture emerges.

 

[Namba 17]

Interesting but bottom line is that over the same period, many NA and other Europeans players also played against NHL players within the NHL. Much larger samples space and their stat lines, PPG or GPG or any measure is just as impressive or better:

It seems, that you don't understand the idea and that's why don't understand, why your stats are irrelevant.

 

[Albatros]

Interesting but bottom line is that over the same period, many NA and other Europeans players also played against NHL players within the NHL. Much larger samples space and their stat lines, PPG or GPG or any measure is just as impressive or better:

I don't think throwaway regular season NHL games can be directly compared to these matches, it's not the same ball game.

 

[Canadiens1958]

It seems, that you don't understand the idea and that's why don't understand, why your stats are irrelevant.

I understand perfectly. To bad you do not see the logical coherence of what you posted and how it extend to actual on ice performance.

You may not have foreseen or like the extensions but they are perfectly valid.

 

[Canadiens1958]

I don't think throwaway regular season NHL games can be directly compared to these matches, it's not the same ball game.

Some vague notion that you fail to define. 1985-86 LA Kings, Minnesota and St.Louis played CSKA once each and the Montreal Canadiens a few times each. Kindly identify the throw away games given that the Canadiens went on to become SC Champions and CSKA went on to win the the Soviet league championship.

 

[Batis]

I understand perfectly. To bad you do not see the logical coherence of what you posted and how it extend to actual on ice performance.

You may not have foreseen or like the extensions but they are perfectly valid.

Like I said in the Makarov discussion in the other thread the level of the opponents in most of these games was simply far, far higher than the average NHL-level so you really can't compare these stats to regular NHL stats. To once again take the Makarov example 13 out of his 31 games here were played against pretty much the absolute best that the NHL could offer (Best on Best Team Canada and NHL All-Star Teams). Another 4 games were played against either the reigning Stanley Cup champions or the Stanley Cup champions of that season (Canadiens and Islanders in 79/80 and Oilers and Canadiens in 85/86). So that is 17 out of 31 games played against teams that were immensely much stronger than the NHL norm. Edit: And we can probably add the Sabres who were the Prince of Wales Conference champions in 79/80 to make it 18 out of 31 games.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Like I said in the Makarov discussion in the other thread the level of the opponents in most of these games was simply far, far higher than the average NHL-level so you really can't compare these stats to regular NHL stats. To once again take the Makarov example 13 out of his 31 games here were played against pretty much the absolute best that the NHL could offer (Best on Best Team Canada and NHL All-Star Teams). Another 4 games were played against either the reigning Stanley Cup champions or the Stanley Cup champions of that season (Canadiens and Islanders in 79/80 and Oilers and Canadiens in 85/86). So that is 17 out of 31 games played against teams that were immensely much stronger than the NHL norm. Edit: And we can probably add the Sabres who were the Prince of Wales Conference champions in 79/80 to make it 18 out of 31 games.

No one is debating this. You have confirmed that like many other outstanding players Makarov had the ability to elevate his game against other outstanding players while playing bored against weak opposition. Also that neither Makarov, Gretzky or Lemieux brought much if anything defensively against each other.

Take Makarov's Soviet stats - HR version. 710 points in 519 games in a league that never approached parity or sought to. 1.36 PPG in a slightly weaker league. NHL/WHA type situation and comparable.

 

[Theokritos]

No one is debating this. You have confirmed that like many other outstanding players Makarov had the ability to elevate his game against other outstanding players while playing bored against weak opposition.

Well, the post of yours Batis was replying to said this:

Interesting but bottom line is that over the same period, many NA and other Europeans players also played against NHL players within the NHL. Much larger samples space and their stat lines, PPG or GPG or any measure is just as impressive or better.

If "many NA and other European players" had numbers just as impressive or better than Makarov, then that doesn't exactly suggest he was an "oustanding player" (which, however, you now confirm in your latest post). It's understandable your prior post raised the question of how ordinary a player Makarov was in your eyes, isn't it?

 

[Kshahdoo]

No one is debating this. You have confirmed that like many other outstanding players Makarov had the ability to elevate his game against other outstanding players while playing bored against weak opposition. Also that neither Makarov, Gretzky or Lemieux brought much if anything defensively against each other.

Take Makarov's Soviet stats - HR version. 710 points in 519 games in a league that never approached parity or sought to. 1.36 PPG in a slightly weaker league. NHL/WHA type situation and comparable.

Makarov's NHL stats in 1989-1992 years (age 31-34), when he was already past his prime, and had to adapted to a new life style and different hockey: 76 + 159 in 226 games, or 235 points in 226 games, or 1.04 PPG.

I think he could easily have 1.36 PPG at his prime.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Well, the post of yours Batis was replying to said this:



If "many NA and other European players" had numbers just as impressive or better than Makarov, then that doesn't exactly suggest he was an "oustanding player" (which, however, you now confirm in your latest post). It's understandable your prior post raised the question of how ordinary a player Makarov was in your eyes, isn't it?

No it just raised the question of how outstanding Makarov was. Answer, typical NA outstanding for his time.

 

[Namba 17]

I understand perfectly. To bad you do not see the logical coherence of what you posted and how it extend to actual on ice performance.

You may not have foreseen or like the extensions but they are perfectly valid.

(sigh). Your stats has nothing to do with my stats. Your stats doesn't contain any stats of players in my list. And they can't contain, because players in my list never played in the NHL of the time you made your stats.
With the same success I may take stats of Canadian players against Soviets and compare them to Soviets League stats. And it will be irrelevant the same way.

 

[Batis]

No one is debating this. You have confirmed that like many other outstanding players Makarov had the ability to elevate his game against other outstanding players while playing bored against weak opposition. Also that neither Makarov, Gretzky or Lemieux brought much if anything defensively against each other.

You should really check out this thread. http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threa...ling-a-video-study-of-the-green-unit.2181483/

To sum it up Makarov was a brilliant penalty killer during his prime and carried alot of the weight on the Soviet penalty kill when up against the likes of Gretzky, Lemieux and other superstars. Here you have his penalty killing stats from Canada Cup, Super Series and Rendezvous competition during the 81-89 time frame.

Sergei Makarov:
Ice time finishes: 1st at the 1984 Canada Cup, 1st at the 85/86 Super Series, 1st at the 88/89 Super Series, 2nd at Rendezvous 1987, Tied for 3rd at the 1987 Canada Cup, Tied for 4th at the 1981 Canada Cup, Did not play in the 82/83 Super Series due to injury.

Goal differential: 1st at the 1984 Canada Cup, 1st at the 1987 Canada Cup, 1st at the 88/89 Super Series, 3rd at Rendezvous 1987, 5th at the 85/86 Super Series, 8th at the 1981 Canada Cup, Did not play in the 82/83 Super Series due to injury.

Makarovs penalty killing stats are very impressive in my opinion. In the 30 games that he played during these tournaments/series he averaged 2 minutes and 11 seconds of shorthanded ice time per game. Over the total of 65 minutes and 28 seconds that he played on the penalty kill during these 30 games he was on the ice for 6 goals forward and 8 goals against. So when Makarov was on the ice the opponents powerplay only went plus 2 over the course of more than an hour of powerplay time. When we consider that 10 of those 30 games were against NHL All-Star calibre teams it becomes even more impressive. In the 10 games against Team Canada (8 games) and the NHL All-Star team (2 games) Makarov averaged 2 minutes and 19 seconds of shorthanded ice time per game and was on the ice for 3 goals forward and 5 goals against. And this was done while facing powerplay units such as Gretzky, Trottier, Bossy, Lafleur, Potvin or Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Bourque, Coffey or Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Bourque, Wilson.

And having recently completed an even more extensive penalty killing study of Soviet forwards from 1960-1990 which soon will be posted here I can say that Makarov clearly was the greatest Soviet penalty killing forward of the 80's and arguably the greatest Soviet penalty killing forward of all time. So to say that Makarov brought next to nothing defensively when playing against Gretzky or Lemieux is clearly false. Yes being a brilliant penalty killer does not automatically make you a great defensive player at even strenght but Makarov clearly brought alot of defensive value while shorthanded during his prime years. That is not even up for debate as far as I am concerned.

 

[double5son10]

Yakushev comes out looking really good here. He's arguably the most dominant Soviet player against NA competition after Krutov. I know he was the Soviet league scoring champ in '69, led the league in goals in '74 & '76 and his Spartak was the team most likely to best CSKA for the league championship w/ three championships (and 3 2nd place finishes) while he was there. He was also voted best forward by the IIHF in '75. And yet, all that said, and please correct me if I am wrong, the Big Yak doesn't seem to be held in very high regard in his native Russia. What's the reasoning?

 

[Theokritos]

And yet, all that said, and please correct me if I am wrong, the Big Yak doesn't seem to be held in very high regard in his native Russia. What's the reasoning?

I hope some of our Russian posters chime in with first-hand accounts. But my impression is not that Yakushev isn't held in very high regard. He's just a bit overshadowed by 1) Kharlamov and 2) the KPM troika as a whole, as they had more impressive careers overall.

 

[Albatros]

Yakushev screwed up with the national team in 2000, but that doesn't outweigh what he accomplished there as a player or indeed being the biggest star of Moscow's most popular club.

 

[Canadiens1958]

I hope some of our Russian posters chime in with first-hand accounts. But my impression is not that Yakushev isn't held in very high regard. He's just a bit overshadowed by 1) Kharlamov and 2) the KPM troika as a whole, as they had more impressive careers overall.

Yakushev stylistically played a NA game very similar to Frank Mahovlich. Not the traditional Soviet game.

 

[Theokritos]

Yakushev stylistically played a NA game very similar to Frank Mahovlich. Not the traditional Soviet game.

True, that could be another factor. Still, in his prime Yakushev was highly regarded in the Soviet Union. From 1972-1976, he was 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in "Soviet Player of the Year" voting.

 

[Albatros]

In Russia he was known as Як-15 after a Yakovlev turbojet fighter aircraft, not much of a defensive player definitely but he's remembered for his strong offensive qualities anyway.

 

[Namba 17]

Big Yak doesn't seem to be held in very high regard in his native Russia. What's the reasoning?

What do you mean by "held in very high regard"?

 

[double5son10]

What do you mean by "held in very high regard"?

Overstated, sure, but on best-of lists by Russian posters here, he seems to be mainly lumped into HM status. He certainly isn't spoken of in the same God-like awe that Kharlamov and Makarov receive, though he was just as effective, at least vs. Canadian players.

 

[Albatros]

Kharlamov's position has in part to do also with the fact that he died while still active.