Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,148
Denis Savard - Only Gretzky and Statsny had more points than him in the '80s. I know Canada had great Canada Cup teams but dont you think that in '84 or '87 he could have made the cut? Savard would have been dynamite against the Russians. His size was suspect but it wasnt as if he were a playoff choker either, he delivered. His point totals were too hard to ignore IMO. By '91 he was past his prime.
Adam Oates - '91 was a huge snub. Everyone knows Oates created an already very good goalscorer in Hull into an 86 goal scorer. Oates did that to everyone - hello Cam Neely. But could he have not gotten on the team in '91? '96 wouldnt have been bad either and '98 wouldnt have hurt, but other than skating what made teams leave him off?
Bernie Federko - Whether it was '81 or '84 Federko easily could have been there. He was more of a quiet player, never got noticed much, which is why many question his HHOF induction. He had the point totals year after year and I dont see how he could have made the '81 team any worse.
Ron Francis - Underrated for much of his career. I can see him missing '84 and even '91 but what about '91? By then he had won a Cup, already had a 101 point season and had been the final piece in the puzzle of a Cup win. '96 he was named to the World Cup team but was injured, but in '98 he was still more effective than a couple others on that team IMO. Trevor Linden is there but the guy that does everything right isnt?
Randy Carlyle - Probably should have never been cut from the '81 Canada Cup team. No matter what you never cut the Norris Trophy winner. Other than that only '87 may have been a year where he may have been able to crack a team
Bernie Nicholls - I know nothing jumped out at you about him but if there were a Canada Cup in '89 would he not have been named to the team? I think so. Other than that only '87 and '91 were years that he may have had a shot. He got extremely hot at the wrong time, much like a guy like Turgeon did ('89-90, '92-93). I would have invited him to a camp though nonetheless
Billy Smith - Yeah people complain about Roy and they should but what about Smith? In '81 he was named to the team but was a third stringer behind Liut and Edwards. Both good goalies, even at that time, but how do you pass up then two-time winning goalie Smith? I doubt if Smith is in net Canada loses 8-1. Then in '84 after his 4 Cups, his clutch play and already having a Vezina and Conn Smythe under his belt he doent make that team. Okay Pete Peeters, I can see. He won the Vezina a year earlier. Fuhr, sure he won the Cup that year. But Lemelin over Smith? Yeah I know after than Smith kind of went downhill but he had just been in his 5th straight finals appearance that spring
Adam Oates - '91 was a huge snub. Everyone knows Oates created an already very good goalscorer in Hull into an 86 goal scorer. Oates did that to everyone - hello Cam Neely. But could he have not gotten on the team in '91? '96 wouldnt have been bad either and '98 wouldnt have hurt, but other than skating what made teams leave him off?
Bernie Federko - Whether it was '81 or '84 Federko easily could have been there. He was more of a quiet player, never got noticed much, which is why many question his HHOF induction. He had the point totals year after year and I dont see how he could have made the '81 team any worse.
Ron Francis - Underrated for much of his career. I can see him missing '84 and even '91 but what about '91? By then he had won a Cup, already had a 101 point season and had been the final piece in the puzzle of a Cup win. '96 he was named to the World Cup team but was injured, but in '98 he was still more effective than a couple others on that team IMO. Trevor Linden is there but the guy that does everything right isnt?
Randy Carlyle - Probably should have never been cut from the '81 Canada Cup team. No matter what you never cut the Norris Trophy winner. Other than that only '87 may have been a year where he may have been able to crack a team
Bernie Nicholls - I know nothing jumped out at you about him but if there were a Canada Cup in '89 would he not have been named to the team? I think so. Other than that only '87 and '91 were years that he may have had a shot. He got extremely hot at the wrong time, much like a guy like Turgeon did ('89-90, '92-93). I would have invited him to a camp though nonetheless
Billy Smith - Yeah people complain about Roy and they should but what about Smith? In '81 he was named to the team but was a third stringer behind Liut and Edwards. Both good goalies, even at that time, but how do you pass up then two-time winning goalie Smith? I doubt if Smith is in net Canada loses 8-1. Then in '84 after his 4 Cups, his clutch play and already having a Vezina and Conn Smythe under his belt he doent make that team. Okay Pete Peeters, I can see. He won the Vezina a year earlier. Fuhr, sure he won the Cup that year. But Lemelin over Smith? Yeah I know after than Smith kind of went downhill but he had just been in his 5th straight finals appearance that spring