Top Wingers of the 80's:

[arrbez]

What would you list as your top-5? Specifically, I'm interested in seeing where Makarov and Krutov fall in with Bossy, Kurri, Goulet, etc.

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[Reks]

Makarov = Bossy
Krutov = Kurri

 

[Kyle McMahon]

I think a Bossy, Kurri/Makarov, Krutov ranking is a little more believeable. Bossy was one of the very best goal scorers ever, and many rank him in the 20-30 range all-time. Makarov is obviously tough to judge due to circumstances, and it's possible he would have indeed been as prolific a scorer as Bossy, but I think that requires a pretty big leap of faith. Putting him alongside Kurri is a lot more reasonable IMO.

 

[Fredrik_71]

The KLM line was arguble the best line in hockey for a long time. But because they entered the NHL past their prime its hard to judge them. I have a hard time equaling Bossy and Makarov. But if Makarov had entered the NHL at 20 instead of 30 I do think I think he would have put up monster numbers.

As a line I personally have the KLM line as the top 1-3 all-time considering.

/Cheers

 

[MXD]

Bossy
Kurri
Makarov

Then, it's a bit of a mess. I'm inclined to answer Goulet and Krutov.

 

[VelvetJones]

Luc Robitaille should be mentioned even though he only played the last 1/2 of the 80's.

 

[BrOrpik 44]

The Top Winger of the 80's.

I'll need to think about this actually

 

[greatgazoo]

1. Makarov
2. Bossy
3. Kurri
4. Goulet
5. Robitaille

31 points in 22 Canada Cup games...no winger can possibly beat that! (Makarov)

 

[Pear Juice]

I have to put Bossy as the top dog during the 80s, after that it gets all messy. Makarov or Kurri? Goulet or Krutov? Tim Kerr?
I'm all ears.

 

[Saw Jiris Tlusty]

1. Makarov
2. Bossy
3. Kurri
4. Goulet
5. Robitaille

31 points in 22 Canada Cup games...no winger can possibly beat that! (Makarov)

9 straight 50 goal seasons in the NHL will also be hard for any winger(or anyone for that matter) to match or beat. Mike Bossy has to be at the top.

 

[arrbez]

9 straight 50 goal seasons in the NHL will also be hard for any winger(or anyone for that matter) to match or beat. Mike Bossy has to be at the top.

Makarov had 9 straight scoring titles in the Soviet league, which is at the very least a comparable accomplishment.

At this point I give Bossy the edge because as good as Makarov was in the Canada Cups and whatnot, Bossy outscored him all three times they played in the same tournament. I'd love to know their stats in head-to-head Canada/Soviet games though.

 

[Jungosi]

Makarov had 9 straight scoring titles in the Soviet league, which is at the very least a comparable accomplishment.

At this point I give Bossy the edge because as good as Makarov was in the Canada Cups and whatnot, Bossy outscored him all three times they played in the same tournament. I'd love to know their stats in head-to-head Canada/Soviet games though.

The statistics I found at www.chidlovski.net are incomplete but are the best I can come up with. Maybe someone elsse has access to the additional data.

In '81 they scored a goal each in the two games between Canada and Russia. I couldn't find the assist though. (I'm pretty sure that Makarov got a few assists in the 8-1 blowout since Larionov and Krutov scored three goals combined)

In '84 Makarov outscored him by one goal (2-1). Makarov got one in each game while Bossy scored the game winner in their semi-final match-up.

So Makarov scored 3 goals when they went head-to-head while Bossy scored two. No assist date available but my best guess is that Makarov got the upper hand in this department because his linemates scored quite a bit. Larionov has 3 goals and the same goes for Krutov. Not sure who Bossy's linemates where though.

Both were selected to the all-star team of the tournament once. Concluding I'd say that Makarov's resume looks slightly better (from the available data at least).

 

[tony d]

1) Jari Kurri
2) Michel Goulet
3) Glenn Anderson
4) Mike Gartner
5) Mike Bossy

 

[Wetcoaster]

The KLM line was arguble the best line in hockey for a long time. But because they entered the NHL past their prime its hard to judge them. I have a hard time equaling Bossy and Makarov. But if Makarov had entered the NHL at 20 instead of 30 I do think I think he would have put up monster numbers.

As a line I personally have the KLM line as the top 1-3 all-time considering.

/Cheers

It is hard to beat the original Detroit Production Line of Abel, Howe and Lindsay. IN 1950 Lindsay won the scoring title and the three finished 1–2–3 in NHL scoring - that has never been equalled since.

Boston's fabled Kraut Line (centre Milt Schmidt, left wing Woody Dumart, and right winger Bobby Bauer) also finished 1-2-3 in scoring in 1939-40. They all enlisted in 1942 with the RCAF and missed three seasons until the end of WWII. Who knows how good they would have been. On February 11, 1942, their last game before reporting for duty, the line accumulated 22 points on the way to an 8–1 victory over Montreal.

 

[The Dayvan Cowboy]

1. Bossy
2. Kurri
3. Robitaille
4. Makarov
5. Anderson

 

[Pear Juice]

1) Jari Kurri
2) Michel Goulet
3) Glenn Anderson
4) Mike Gartner
5) Mike Bossy

How anyone can not put Bossy at the top of this list is beyond me. I guess Kurri is good competition, and there we have an argument, but behind Anderson and Gartner! You must value career games higher than anything.

He was a 5-time first-team All Star in only 10 years.
9 straight 50 goal seasons
Fastest player to reach 100 career goals
69 goals in five runs to the cup
4 Stanley Cups
1 Conn Smythe
Calder Trophy

 

[jekoh]

It is hard to beat the original Detroit Production Line of Abel, Howe and Lindsay. IN 1950 Lindsay won the scoring title and the three finished 1–2–3 in NHL scoring - that has never been equalled since.

KLM were 1-2-3 in scoring in 86 and 87.

 

[Canadiens1958]

NHL Scoring

KLM were 1-2-3 in scoring in 86 and 87.

Not in the NHL.

 

[seventieslord]

How anyone can not put Bossy at the top of this list is beyond me. I guess Kurri is good competition, and there we have an argument, but behind Anderson and Gartner! You must value career games higher than anything.

He was a 5-time first-team All Star in only 10 years.
9 straight 50 goal seasons
Fastest player to reach 100 career goals
69 goals in five runs to the cup
4 Stanley Cups
1 Conn Smythe
Calder Trophy

Yeah, what he said. ^^^

Thanks for beating me to it, dude. I could feel my blood pressure rising when I saw Gartner's name ahead of Bossy.

 

[jekoh]

Not in the NHL.

In a league every bit as good as the NHL.

 

[God Bless Canada]

In a league every bit as good as the NHL.

Top-end was close to the NHL. Depth was a different story. No league has been able to come close to the NHL in terms of depth for more than 80 years.

I don't have my Top 100 list in front of me. But I'm pretty sure that Bossy and Kurri would be the clear-cut No. 1 and 2, respectively.

 

[Boxscore]

1. Bossy
2. Kurri
3. Goulet
4. Makarov
5. Anderson

HM. Kerr

 

[arrbez]

Top-end was close to the NHL. Depth was a different story. No league has been able to come close to the NHL in terms of depth for more than 80 years.

I don't have my Top 100 list in front of me. But I'm pretty sure that Bossy and Kurri would be the clear-cut No. 1 and 2, respectively.

You think Kurri was clearly ahead of Makarov?

 

[Boxscore]

You think Kurri was clearly ahead of Makarov?

In terms of raw skills, no way. Makarov was a monster.

I personally give the slight edge to Bossy, Kurri and Goulet because of their impact in the NHL, which I consider the best league in the world, ever.

I would love to have seen the Soviets in their prime playing in the NHL.

 

[arrbez]

In terms of raw skills, no way. Makarov was a monster.

I personally give the slight edge to Bossy, Kurri and Goulet because of their impact in the NHL, which I consider the best league in the world, ever.

I would love to have seen the Soviets in their prime playing in the NHL.

I think it's a disservice to Makarov to rate Kurri and (especially) Goulet ahead of him based solely on what league they played in. Makarov won 9 straight Soviet scoring titles, tore up the Canada Cup and every other international tournament, and was probably the best of the three from age 31-onwards (the age Makarov joined the NHL at).

I can see an argument for Kurri, although I disagree. I can't see a good argument for Goulet, though.