From the regular season, Stoll is the easy choice.
Samsonov was a nice fit for that team, but he was a talented guy on a team that didn't have a lot of pure skill beyond Hemsky. He was always a guy that needed others to make room for him vs. someone that played well with skill: It's one of the reasons he didn't vibe in Montreal afterwards. He was in a better fit as the undisputed puck carrier with Stoll and Dvorak retrieving and digging pucks out for him, than playing with someone like Koivu or a young Plekanec.
Peca in 05/06 had a meh season where Horcoff and Stoll stole a fair bit of his thunder offensively. Though he is a close second for me in this poll, as his still outstanding defensive play freed Horcoff and Stoll to grow offensively. Pronger gets a ton of (deserved) credit for helping team a team with sub 885 SV% stay afloat, but Peca also did a ton to help keep that leaking boat from sinking.
**Imo that's one reason they went to far in the playoffs that spring. The team was forced to play such good defence (and had the personal to) all season that come playoffs it was second nature to them.**
Playoff Roli was amazing. However Roloson in the regular season was still trying to find his game after losing the starter job in Minny and adjusting to not playing behind JacquesLemaire's pure trap. At the time he was still regarded as a question mark going into the playoffs.
Torres would be suspected in today's game. Even at the time he avoided getting the book thrown at him, as he toed and
crossed the line.
Stoll meanwhile really had no weakness that season. He was outstanding on the dot, was on the 2nd unit PK (after Peca) and top PP (until the TDL when Samsonov arrived). But why I go with him over Peca is flexibility, even if I would like the elite defensive play. He fills the hole as a RHS caused by Yams and Pulju taking a step back this season, all while still bringing quality defensive play. Imagine adding a Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle or Joel Erikson Ek-type, but with a massive slapshot, to this team.