I do think Galchenyuk will end up being the best player of both lists (beside HOF Roy), but there are major disparencies. For example, both Lemieux and Corson were power forwards, Lemieux being a 30 goals power forward, which today's habs are FARRRRR from having.
I think Chelios-Subban are close enough to be a wash.
...but Roy is THE difference. He alone is worth at least 2/3 of today's list.
And Richer, despite all his weaknesses, was a true sniper, which again today's list doesn't have (but Galchenyuk will be way better all around player, it's not even funny)
But honnestly, the fact is that 86's team was well balanced, way better than today's team.
You could probably say the same for Chelios...
Too much love for Chelios. Yes, he had a lot of talent, but he reached his peak with Chicago and has become legendary partly because of longevity. While he was with the Habs he was very good, but for every great rush there was a stupid mistake. He became more responsible and smarter once he left.
But even at his peak, he wasn't as powerful a player as Subban, IMO.
But I totally agree with the comments on Roy. I've said this before and I'm happy to repeat myself: Watching Patrick Roy explode into the league was one of my best hockey memories. He was one "Wow!" moment after another. So much of his ability came from his mental strength and blood-red determination, which is something nobody can teach you. His regular seasons could be erratic, great some nights, lost in space others, but in the playoffs he turned into the greatest clutch goalie in history because he willed himself to win.
So yeah, he remains in a class by himself.
That said, Subban is a similar type of game-changing player. Equally intense, equally talented. I find myself saying "Wow!" the same way when he grabs control of a play. Unfortunately, his 28 minutes on D can't exercise the same control over a game's outcome as a goalie's 60 minutes in nets. But don't take him for granted! We have a bonafide superstar on our team right now -- remember each long, loping rush up the ice, with arms poised like a wide-receiver; remember each PP as he sets up plays like a pool-shark and unloads bullets like a submachine gun. Program each game into your long-term memory so you can tell the next generation all about PK Subban the same way I can say "I was there" for the Patrick Roy era.
I'll take PK over Chelios any day.
Richer was unbelievably talented, but friggin inconsistent. Huge body, huge shot, driven by a tiny propeller of motivation. Drove me nuts watching him appear and disappear from game to game.
Lemieux and Corson were tough, physical players, with decent talent.
Comparing those guys to our current young guys, Galchenyuk has the most talent of the forwards. Richer was close, but so damn erratic that Eller might be more valuable over an entire season. After that, the 1986/87 team was loaded with big, gritty players who weren't as talented as Pacioretty or even Gallagher, but brought real scoring depth on every line. They wore down the opposition, something the smaller forwards of today's Habs can't do.