It’s actually no secret that almost all the greatest expertise in NHL historical past belongs to the nation of Canada. Through the years, it alone arguably has extra expertise in hockey than all the different nations mixed. If a lineup had been to be constructed with the accolades and primes of particular person gamers in consideration, what would it not appear to be?
Ahead Line 1: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe
In even in fashionable instances, the true dominance of all three gamers on this line needs to be revered. Wayne Gretzky wants no clarification, as he’s arguably one of many best athletes ever. Coupled with Mario Lemieux in his prime and the revolutionary Gordie Howe, this line can be unstoppable.
Gretzky’s particular person stats are completely ludicrous. There was just one season in his 20-year NHL profession the place he wasn’t nominated for a person award, and but he was nonetheless the most effective gamers within the league at the moment regardless of being 34 years outdated. He holds the factors file captive, with a complete of two,857 in simply 1,487 video games. No person has even reached 2,000, nor threatens to overhaul him, so his glory will seemingly be secure for no less than the subsequent few a long time. For eight seasons in a row, he held the Hart Trophy and title for probably the most factors within the league. With 4 Stanley Cups, together with that, he is perhaps probably the most dominant hockey participant to ever dwell.
Lemieux’s story is slightly unlucky, however it’s one in every of pure dedication. He solely performed 915 video games in his profession on account of quite a few components, together with accidents, a most cancers analysis, and briefly retiring earlier than coming again in his late 30s and nonetheless being the most effective gamers within the league, however he nonetheless amassed 1,723 factors. It’s onerous to not recognize a participant like him. Main the league in factors six instances regardless of competing with Gretzky and his personal accidents is fairly spectacular. One of the crucial proficient gamers in league historical past, there isn’t a different place for him however on line one.
Associated: Mario Lemieux: The Triumphant Return from Retirement
Earlier than Gretzky was round, Howe was most likely the best participant within the historical past of the league. Him reaching solely 100 factors as soon as in his NHL profession would possibly look like he wasn’t a very good offensive participant, however he completely was. Profitable the Hart Trophy six instances and main the league in factors six instances as properly, he redefined hockey. For probably the most half, scoring in his period was decrease than it was within the useless puck period, so what he was doing was nonetheless above what these across the league had been doing at the moment. Ending with Hart Trophy votes 19 instances in his profession, he was really particular. The truth that he was in a position to rating 41 factors on the age of 51 within the NHL is nothing in need of sensible. He was a generational expertise and outlined the sooner levels of hockey within the NHL.
Ahead Line 2: Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mike Bossy
Some are unwilling to say present gamers in the identical breath because the legends of the league, however their accomplishments can beat a few of the greatest to ever play. For Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, they’re each properly forward of their competitors. Their linemate, Mike Bossy, was the most effective goal-scorers within the league’s historical past in his prime. If all of them might play collectively on the similar time, this line would do wonders.
When it comes to award nominations, Crosby is unbeaten. Even when he was battling concussions, he was nonetheless in a position to have himself nominated for an award each single season of his profession so far. He’s a generational participant and gave the league a brand new celebrity when these of the Nineties had been beginning to fade. With no season in his profession under some extent per recreation and over 1,500 complete factors in his time within the NHL, his dominance within the twenty first century has been nearly unmatched.
McDavid has been the one participant to really give Crosby a run for his cash. To place it merely, he is perhaps the most proficient participant to ever play within the NHL. Only a few gamers have ever pulled off the one-man circus acts that he does, like having the ability to deke previous a complete crew earlier than scoring. He has executed this a number of instances, and he has executed it in probably the most superior period of hockey up to now. Main the league in factors 5 instances in his brief profession, successful the Hart Trophy thrice, and being the primary participant to attain 150 factors in a season since Lemieux, he already joins nice firm. He got here into the league as a brand new useless puck period was forming, and immediately, offense vastly went up. He’ll go down as one of many best gamers ever and nonetheless has an extended profession forward of him.
When he was wholesome, Bossy was arguably one of the best goal-scorer of his technology. Simply the second participant in NHL historical past to attain 50 objectives in 50 video games, only a few had defenses and goaltenders found out fairly like he did. Scoring 573 objectives and successful 4 consecutive Stanley Cups in his 753-game profession, he nonetheless stays one of the vital achieved gamers within the league’s historical past regardless of having a short while within the NHL on account of accidents.
Ahead Line 3: Mark Messier, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman
Forming a line of gamers who all had been at or close to their prime within the Nineties, Mark “Moose” Messier, Joe Sakic, and Steve Yzerman be part of this membership. With a cumulative 5 Stanley Cups within the decade, they had been three of the most important faces of that period. In addition they occur to be a few of the best gamers in NHL historical past, as properly.
Though Messier and Gretzky helped type one of many best dynasties in league historical past, it was after his teammate left that the Moose was in a position to present that he was a legendary participant in his personal proper. Profitable two Stanley Cups in his profession after he was separated and piling up practically 1,900 factors in his 1,756-game profession, he was the most effective.
Sakic was one of many principal stars of a borderline dynasty within the mid-Nineties and early 2000s. Even when he was properly into his 30s, he was nonetheless scoring at a unprecedented charge. With two Stanley Cups, a Hart Trophy, and 1,641 factors in 1,378 profession video games, he doesn’t belong anyplace else however on this crew.
Yzerman, the one one of many three in the 150-point membership, was by no means in a position to lead the league in factors or seize a Hart Trophy. Nonetheless, the 1,755 factors he scored in his profession rank seventh all-time, and he did so, rating twenty first all-time by way of video games performed. He helped begin a dynasty and was an enormous piece in NHL lore.
Ahead Line 4: Phil Esposito, Bobby Clarke, Man Lafleur
Now a line that might have cruised via the Nineteen Seventies, Phil Esposito, Bobby Clarke, and Man Lafleur make up this trio. They gained each single Stanley Cup within the decade, making the selection to make this line the best way it’s fairly self-explanatory.
Phil Esposito was actually one of many first gamers to modernize scoring. Not solely was he the primary participant to attain 70 objectives, however he was the primary to attain 60, as properly. For six straight seasons, he led the league in objectives. That is one thing that not even Gretzky ever did. He had two Hart Trophies and two Stanley Cups spherical out his resume, cementing him as arguably one of the best hockey participant of the Nineteen Seventies.
Clarke’s offensive totals may not leap out when in comparison with another forwards on this checklist, however scoring 1,210 factors in simply 1,144 video games within the NHL remains to be a implausible feat. He went the whole lot of his profession with out ever not being nominated for an award, as even when his offense began to regress on account of age, his protection definitely didn’t. One of many best two-way gamers of the Nineteen Seventies, he deserves to be right here. Like Esposito, he has two Stanley Cups, however he has three Hart Trophies slightly than two. For a number of seasons, he was debatably one of the best all-around participant in hockey.
To spherical out the offense, Lafleur makes an look. He led the league in factors for 3 seasons in a row and gained two Hart Trophies however was additionally ok to win 5 Stanley Cups and was the most important offensive contributor for 4 of them. Regardless of enjoying most of his prime in a closely aggressive decade, he too has a case to be one of many best hockey gamers of the Nineteen Seventies.
It was actually robust to go away somebody like Maurice Richard out of the lineup, however the competitors for this crew is slightly unimaginable. He helped outline objective scoring in an period that lacked it and led the league in them 5 instances in his profession. With eight Stanley Cups, he is likely one of the best gamers ever. Nonetheless, the tightness of the lineup and him by no means main the league in factors and solely successful a single Hart Trophy was what did it.
Ron Francis was the king of consistency in his time, with over 1,700 video games performed and practically 1,800 factors to associate with that, however the one main particular person awards he gained in his profession had been the Selke Trophy as soon as, the Woman Byng Trophy thrice, and the King Clancy Trophy as soon as. Regardless of a very excessive level complete, he by no means fairly led the league in them. He gained two Stanley Cups, however he simply misses the crew for not having the identical particular person success as these on the roster.
As for Marcel Dionne, he’s in the identical boat as Francis, solely he was by no means in a position to seize a Stanley Cup. He did lead the league in scoring as soon as however by no means gained a Hart Trophy to associate with his 1,771 factors in 1,348 video games. The legendary Los Angeles King simply barely misses the mark right here.
Protection Line 1: Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey
This primary defensive pair consists of, arguably, the 2 best defensemen to ever play the sport. Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey mixed for 15 Norris Trophies in simply 31 seasons within the league, making this classic pair a possible dynamo.
Orr’s NHL profession was immensely brief, but one of the vital profitable for a defenseman ever. Regardless of enjoying simply 657 video games within the NHL on account of accidents, he stands because the all-time chief in Norris Trophies with eight, which he gained all consecutively. He led the league in factors twice, plus-minus six instances, and gained the Stanley Cup two instances. Despite the fact that his profession was terribly brief, he retired as one of the vital achieved defenders ever. As such, he’s arguably the most effective gamers in league historical past.
Harvey had a for much longer profession, however he, too, dominated his period. Proper earlier than Orr got here round, it was him who was stealing all the Norris Trophies. He gained seven in an eight-year span and gained the Stanley Cup six instances. From the 1954-55 season via the 1974-75 season, the 2 gained 15 of the entire 21 Norris Trophies doable. Each want their correct respect.
Protection Line 2: Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque
On this pair, the 2 highest-scoring defenders of all time are put collectively. Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque scored at a stage greater than a big majority of forwards throughout their time within the league, making them two of the best offensive defensemen ever.
Coffey’s scoring as a defenseman was fairly ridiculous. After all, he dominated within the Eighties and early Nineties, which had been full of objectives, however solely he and Orr have scored 100 factors in a season as a defender greater than as soon as. The 80s and 90s star did it 5 instances. He rounded out his resume with three Norris Trophies and 4 Stanley Cups, making him a lock for Canada’s lineup.
All through his 22-season profession, Bourque by no means went with out being voted within the prime 10 for the Norris Trophy. He gained the award 5 instances, completed as a finalist 15 instances, and gained his first and solely Stanley Cup in his final season within the league. He stands at second all-time by way of pictures on objective, as he was identified to fireside the puck very ceaselessly. He wasn’t a normal defender, which additionally helps make him the most effective ever. His 1,579 profession factors and holding the file for probably the most profession factors as a defenseman helps solidify that.
Protection Line 3: Larry Robinson, Denis Potvin
When Orr was out of the equation, Larry Robinson and Denis Potvin had been arguably the 2 greatest defensemen of the Nineteen Seventies. Each having a number of Norris Trophies and several other Stanley Cups, it was virtually unimaginable to go away both of them off.
Robinson was the most effective of the Nineteen Seventies, and his accolades present why. He gained six Stanley Cups in his profession and was a significant factor in 5 of them. He was in a position to seize two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy, 958 factors in his profession, and ended with a plus-722 ranking as properly.
As for Potvin, he was one of many first nice defenseman scorers earlier than it turned commonplace within the Eighties and a part of the Nineties. He’s within the unique membership of defenders who scored 100 factors in a season and even gained the Norris Trophy thrice and the Stanley Cup 4 instances. With 1,052 factors in simply 1,060 video games, he is likely one of the only a few defenders who had been in a position to rating at round some extent per recreation throughout a profession.
The hard-hitting Scott Stevens was left off of the checklist for the straightforward incontrovertible fact that he by no means gained a Norris Trophy. Whereas he was a significant factor in three Stanley Cup wins, the person accolades are missing a bit. He got here near being topped as one of the best defenseman within the league a number of instances however by no means sealed the deal. Because of this, those who have are forward of him.
Al MacInnis was a really robust participant to go away off, as he was the most effective offensive defensemen in NHL historical past. It’s onerous to compete with 1,274 factors in 1,416 video games, however his lone Stanley Cup and Norris Trophy solely make him borderline for this lineup. It wouldn’t be truthful to present him his correct kudos, however he merely doesn’t make this stacked lineup.
Goaltenders: Patrick Roy, Jacques Plante
There are few extra recognizable goaltenders within the historical past of the NHL than Patrick Roy and Jacques Plante. They performed at utterly totally different instances, however each had been equally as vital to evolving the position of the goaltender.
Roy has a case for being one of the best goaltender in NHL historical past, and his case could be very clear. He led the NHL in save proportion (SV%) 4 instances in his profession and did that when the league was offensively pushed. His butterfly fashion paved the best way for the longer term and makes his influence primarily final eternally. Three Vezina Trophies, three Conn Smythe Trophies, and 4 Stanley Cups definitely give him a case for being one of the best Canadian goaltender ever.
Plante’s dominance, coupled along with his insane longevity, makes him the backup for this crew, and he might need a case for being the starter. He gained seven Vezina Trophies after main the NHL in SV% 5 instances, gained the Hart Trophy as soon as, and gained six Stanley Cups. He led the playoffs in SV% six instances, making him the most effective performers at any stage. He had a league-leading .944 SV% and 1.89 goals-against common (GAA) when he was 42 years outdated, which furthers his already stacked set of accomplishments.
Martin Brodeur was one of the vital revolutionary goaltenders in historical past. He primarily invented the trapezoid rule along with his elite puck-handling means and stands because the winningest goaltender in NHL historical past, main the league in wins 9 instances in his profession. Nonetheless, he did all that with out ever main the league in SV%, but gained 4 Vezina Trophies within the course of. Since objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx) turned obtainable in 2008-09, the final seven seasons of his profession could be analyzed. Sadly, he completed with a minus-61.4 end within the GSAx period, but completed as a Vezina Trophy finalist in his 2009-10 season regardless of not being one of the best goaltender by way of GSAx on his crew that season. He performed with arguably probably the most distinctive defenses the league has ever seen in order that massively contributed to his greatness. His lack of success in opposition to his competitors across the league places him off the roster, however the battle was shut.
Canada’s all-time lineup is extremely stacked. There are only a few flawed choices, and any crew that’s manufactured from it’s largely based mostly on opinion. Of their primes, this might be one of the best hockey crew ever assembled, with only a few questions requested.
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