VMBM
And it didn't even bring me down
The time might be right. I've seen Makarov's stock rise during the past few years (due to more videos being available nowadays?), and there seems to be more and more talk of late along the lines of "Kharlamov is overrated".
I'm pretty sure that in Russia, this poll would be a no contest - at least among the older crowd; Kharlamov's legend is so strong. I'd still say that it's not revisionistic to actually debate which one was better. Namely, Kharlamov was an enourmously popular player even during his lifetime and arguably had more charisma than Makarov. His untimely death has also contributed to his legend; it's almost impossible for any other Soviet player to compete against that. He was the first player to really skate circles around Canadian proffs (1972). However, Kharlamov's "clear superiority" over Makarov is really hard to justify from today's point of view in my opinion.
Some of their accolades etc.:
|Valeri Kharlamov |Sergei Makarov
Top 5 scoring, Soviet league |1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 5th |1st x 9
Soviet MVP |1 time |3 times
Soviet All-Star, first team |7 times| 10 times
WC Best Forward |- |2 times
WC Top 5 Scoring |6 times |6 times
WC All-Star |4 times |8 times
It could be said that Kharlamov had more competition (i.e. other star players) both internationally and in the Soviet league, so it was harder for him to dominate, though I think that CSKA and the Soviet national team were actually somewhat stronger as teams in the Eighties. But maybe more significant is that Makarov seemed to distinguish himself from his team-/linemates somewhat (although sometimes Krutov was close), whereas Kharlamov never really did that, as far as statistics are concerned. In the Soviet league, for example, Kharlamov did not do as well as Mikhailov or especially 'the third man on the line', Petrov, stats-wise. I've sometimes wondered, if Kharlamov - as a very important player - was occasionally "saved" for the international tournaments like WCs and Olympics, or was he simply more injury-prone than his linemates? Anyway, it was a slightly similar situation with Anatoli Firsov; often Firsov was clearly the best Soviet player in a WC or Olympics, but never truly dominated the Soviet league in scoring.
Kharlamov's and Makarov's play in best-on-best situations...
Makarov played - and played excellently, I might add - in 3 Canada Cups, whereas Kharlamov played in none, as he was badly injured before the 1976 tournament and was 'too old', and actually dead, before the 1981 CC. However, in my mind at least, the 1972 Summit Series makes up for a lot of that. Yep, Makarov faced better Team Canadas (at least on paper) than Kharlamov, but I don't think any of the Canada Cups compare to the heat and the pressure of the 1972 Series. And don't forget, Kharlamov was the player whom the Canadians had to take out to get an advantage. Kharlamov was also clearly the best CSKA player in the 1975-76 Super Series, which arguably remains the most significant (and best-remembered) CSKA vs. NHL series there ever was.
Kharlamov & Makarov highlights on YouTube (probably not overly helpful though):
Kharlamov
Makarov
Some of their better full games on YouTube:
Kharlamov:
1972 Summit Series, game 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34w_w6pHUg
1972 Summit Series, game 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnveEDunfQ
1975-76 Super Series, CSKA vs. NY Rangers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzRgC9SeQcM
1975-76 Super Series, CSKA vs. Boston Bruins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Txy4u_b8ds
Makarov:
1981 Canada Cup final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHmdxGYkfQ
1982 World Championships, medal round, USSR vs. Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXeyMBBKiHc
1985-86 Super Series, CSKA vs. Montreal Canadiens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1d3NWl1nN4
1987 Canada Cup finals, game 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aadw7wDcnfc
I've seen quite a few games of them both, and in my opinion, at his best, Kharlamov was maybe a little bit better than Makarov. On the other hand, I see Makarov as the more consistent performer. That also has something to do with the fact that Kharlamov was simply not the same player after 1976 (car accident that broke his leg). In some post-1976 games, he still looked like the Kharlamov of old, but often too he was a shadow of his former self. His absolute peak (ca 1972-1976) was brilliant, though.
Summa summarum, IMO peak goes to Kharlamov, career (and prime?) to Makarov. Usually I go with peak, but I think Makarov's edge in career makes up for a lot, so I vote "I can't decide" myself.
PS. Please notify, if you see something wrong...
I'm pretty sure that in Russia, this poll would be a no contest - at least among the older crowd; Kharlamov's legend is so strong. I'd still say that it's not revisionistic to actually debate which one was better. Namely, Kharlamov was an enourmously popular player even during his lifetime and arguably had more charisma than Makarov. His untimely death has also contributed to his legend; it's almost impossible for any other Soviet player to compete against that. He was the first player to really skate circles around Canadian proffs (1972). However, Kharlamov's "clear superiority" over Makarov is really hard to justify from today's point of view in my opinion.
Some of their accolades etc.:
Top 5 scoring, Soviet league |1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 5th |1st x 9
Soviet MVP |1 time |3 times
Soviet All-Star, first team |7 times| 10 times
WC Best Forward |- |2 times
WC Top 5 Scoring |6 times |6 times
WC All-Star |4 times |8 times
It could be said that Kharlamov had more competition (i.e. other star players) both internationally and in the Soviet league, so it was harder for him to dominate, though I think that CSKA and the Soviet national team were actually somewhat stronger as teams in the Eighties. But maybe more significant is that Makarov seemed to distinguish himself from his team-/linemates somewhat (although sometimes Krutov was close), whereas Kharlamov never really did that, as far as statistics are concerned. In the Soviet league, for example, Kharlamov did not do as well as Mikhailov or especially 'the third man on the line', Petrov, stats-wise. I've sometimes wondered, if Kharlamov - as a very important player - was occasionally "saved" for the international tournaments like WCs and Olympics, or was he simply more injury-prone than his linemates? Anyway, it was a slightly similar situation with Anatoli Firsov; often Firsov was clearly the best Soviet player in a WC or Olympics, but never truly dominated the Soviet league in scoring.
Kharlamov's and Makarov's play in best-on-best situations...
Makarov played - and played excellently, I might add - in 3 Canada Cups, whereas Kharlamov played in none, as he was badly injured before the 1976 tournament and was 'too old', and actually dead, before the 1981 CC. However, in my mind at least, the 1972 Summit Series makes up for a lot of that. Yep, Makarov faced better Team Canadas (at least on paper) than Kharlamov, but I don't think any of the Canada Cups compare to the heat and the pressure of the 1972 Series. And don't forget, Kharlamov was the player whom the Canadians had to take out to get an advantage. Kharlamov was also clearly the best CSKA player in the 1975-76 Super Series, which arguably remains the most significant (and best-remembered) CSKA vs. NHL series there ever was.
Kharlamov & Makarov highlights on YouTube (probably not overly helpful though):
Kharlamov
Makarov
Some of their better full games on YouTube:
Kharlamov:
1972 Summit Series, game 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34w_w6pHUg
1972 Summit Series, game 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnveEDunfQ
1975-76 Super Series, CSKA vs. NY Rangers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzRgC9SeQcM
1975-76 Super Series, CSKA vs. Boston Bruins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Txy4u_b8ds
Makarov:
1981 Canada Cup final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHmdxGYkfQ
1982 World Championships, medal round, USSR vs. Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXeyMBBKiHc
1985-86 Super Series, CSKA vs. Montreal Canadiens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1d3NWl1nN4
1987 Canada Cup finals, game 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aadw7wDcnfc
I've seen quite a few games of them both, and in my opinion, at his best, Kharlamov was maybe a little bit better than Makarov. On the other hand, I see Makarov as the more consistent performer. That also has something to do with the fact that Kharlamov was simply not the same player after 1976 (car accident that broke his leg
Summa summarum, IMO peak goes to Kharlamov, career (and prime?) to Makarov. Usually I go with peak, but I think Makarov's edge in career makes up for a lot, so I vote "I can't decide" myself.
PS. Please notify, if you see something wrong...
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