The decline of Canadian-born players in the early 90's and the Euro expansion

[JuJu Mobb]

Some bold statements are made in this news report from the early 90's.

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[Big Phil]

In the 1990s there was certainly the idea that Europeans cared more about the World Championships than the Stanley Cup. Much more so than today. That had a little bit of validity to it because if you entered the NHL in the 1990s as a European you would have grown up with the Worlds as being more important. Where as you come into the NHL today European players have followed the Stanley Cup growing up.

But guys like Kurri, and afterwards Fedorov and such changed the notion that they can't be great in the playoffs.

 

[Hobnobs]

In the 1990s there was certainly the idea that Europeans cared more about the World Championships than the Stanley Cup. Much more so than today. That had a little bit of validity to it because if you entered the NHL in the 1990s as a European you would have grown up with the Worlds as being more important. Where as you come into the NHL today European players have followed the Stanley Cup growing up.

But guys like Kurri, and afterwards Fedorov and such changed the notion that they can't be great in the playoffs.

It was dispelled from the beginning and it was mostly a stereotype because of silly canadian national pride. Willy Lindström, Kallur, Salming, Ulf Nilsson, Hedberg, Siltanen proved this wrong already in the 70s in WHA/NHL.

 

[Leksand]

In the 1990s there was certainly the idea that Europeans cared more about the World Championships than the Stanley Cup. Much more so than today. That had a little bit of validity to it because if you entered the NHL in the 1990s as a European you would have grown up with the Worlds as being more important. Where as you come into the NHL today European players have followed the Stanley Cup growing up.

But guys like Kurri, and afterwards Fedorov and such changed the notion that they can't be great in the playoffs.

This is all true. The NHL and the Stanley Cup have increased in value immensely to the average European over the last few decades.

 

[Leksand]

In the 1990s there was certainly the idea that Europeans cared more about the World Championships than the Stanley Cup. Much more so than today. That had a little bit of validity to it because if you entered the NHL in the 1990s as a European you would have grown up with the Worlds as being more important. Where as you come into the NHL today European players have followed the Stanley Cup growing up.

But guys like Kurri, and afterwards Fedorov and such changed the notion that they can't be great in the playoffs.

This is also why it’s hard for many Europeans, old enough, to grasp the notion that Hasek was really really good but couldn’t get it done, when he, more than anyone ever, contributed to a best on best olympics win. At least where I come from that tournament was looked forward to like nothing else. “Finally, a best on best, like the soccer World Cup”. Not interested at all in discussing Hasek, but just to give a true flavor of sentiments. Hasek or Roy or Dryden or Plante or whatever I don’t care and it can’t be decided objectively. An international NHL is great and fun to watch. Can’t wait!