Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Greatest Playoff Team???

Ok, I don't know why I decided to do this, but I thought I would take a stab at creating the best Playoff Team. Now, I don't know squat about pre-expansion hockey (nor do I care too), so this is all relevant from the post-expansion era. Now, this team is built for winning (it has 65 Stanley Cups on it), not just on points or goals (although, the more you had, the better your chance was to get on the team). I have put together two primary scoring lines, a 2-way checking line and a utility line. I even went as far as to name a coach & his assistants. I included all-time greats, clutch performers and proven winners; of course half the team were easy picks (Gretz, Coffey & Roy), but there are some noticeable absences... There is no Guy Lafleur, Scott Stevens or Broadstreet Bullies. There was not enough room for the Chris Chelios', Jaromir Jagr's or Bryan Trottier's of the world. Cut from the team was Sergei Fedorov, Gary Roberts and Eddie Belfour. Also not making the team are perennial playoff heroes: Theo Fleury, Butch Goring, Eric Desjardins and the entire Legion of Doom. And possibly the biggest name left off the team was 'The Moose'. I just couldn't find a niche for him on the team: he doesn't block shots, he doesn't score OT winners and his 2-way game is less then desirable (it also didn't help that I had 4 Oilers already)... He may be the greatest captain of all time, but I think this team has enough leadership to make it through without him. Dominating my team are the high-flyin' Oilers of the 80s (4), the Dynasty from Detroit (4) and the ever-consistent Avs (5). I didn't pay too much attention to C or LW or RW, but I assume my team is like Team Canada, anyone lucky enough to be on it would gladly play any position I ask them too. So, let's get some discussion up in 'hur!!! What would you change? Who would you add and who would you replace? Is my team missing anything? Who would be the GM and what city is this team most suited for? Let the debate rage on!!!
Anderson
- 5th in career goals (93)
- 4th in career points (214)
- 3rd in career OT winners (5)
- 6 Stanley Cups in 11 yrs
- Clutch for Oiler Dynasty

Bossy
- 6th in career goals (85)
- 2nd in career PPG (35)
- 19th in career points (160)
- 4 straight Stanley Cups
- Goal-scoring Machine

Bourque
- 3rd in Dman career goals (41)
- 2nd in Dman career points (180)
- 5th in Dman points for one year (25)
- 2001 Stanley Cup
- Greatest Dman Ever?

Bowman
- 1st in career wins (223)
- 9 Stanley Cups
- Greatest Coach Ever

Brodeur
- 2nd in career wins (95)
- 2nd in career shutouts (22)
- 1st in lowest GAA (1.87)
- 3 Stanley Cups
- Roy's Successor

Coffey
- 5th in career points (196)
- 1st in Dman career goals (59)
- NHL Dman record points in one year (37)
- 5 Stanley Cups
- See Bourque

Drury
- 9th in active goals (46)
- 11 GWG in only 4 years
- 2001 Stanley Cup
- Earned the name 'Captain Clutch'

Forsberg
- 2nd in active goals (64)
- 2nd in active points (171)
- 2 Stanley Cups
- Unstoppable with a 2-way game

Gilmour
- 7th in career points (188)
- 1 of 2 players to lead in scoring, no finals
- '89 Stanley Cup Winner
- 1 of 2 players to lead the playoffs in scoring, but not make the Finals

Gretz
- 1st in career goals (122)
- 1st in career assists (260)
- 1st in career points (382)
- 4 Stanley Cups
- Greatest Ever

Hasek
- 10th in career wins (65)
- 4th in career shutouts (15)
- 4th in lowest GAA (2.03)
- 2002 Stanley Cup
- 1996-2002, Greatest Stretch Ever?

Hitchcock
- 9th in career wins (66)
- 1999 Stanley Cup
- Great Defensive Mind

Hull
- 19 consecutive playoffs
- 3rd in career goals (103)
- 2nd in GWG (24)
- 1st in career PP goals (38)
- Deadly Offensive Weapon

Kurri
- 3rd in career goals (106)
- 3rd in career points (233)
- NHL record 12 goals in one series
- 5 Stanley Cups
- Gretz' Wingman

C. Lemieux
- 9th in career goals (80)
- 4 Stanley Cups
- Cups with 3 diff. Teams
- Clutch in the Trenches

M. Lemieux
- 10th in career goals (76)
- 5th in career PP goals (29)
- record points in game (8)
- 2 Conn Smythe Trophies
- Second only to Gretz

Lidstrom
- 1st Euro Captain to win Cup ('08)
- Never missed playoffs (16 years)
- Conn Smythe in 2002
- 4 Stanley Cups
- Greatest European Ever

MacInnis
- 4th in Dman career goals (39)
- 3rd in Dman career assists (121)
- 4th in Dman career points (160)
- Made 19 of 20 playoffs when healthy
- PP Specialist

Potvin
- 2nd in Dman Career goals (56)
- 3rd in Dman career points (164)
- 14 straight playoffs
- 4 straight Stanley Cups
- Backbone of those 4 Straight Cups

Robinson
- 20 consecutive playoff appearances
- 6th in Dman career points (144)
- '78 Conn Smythe Winner
- 6 Stanley Cups
- Unparalleled Playoff Experience

Roy
- 1st in career games (247)
- 1st in career wins (151)
- 1st in career shutouts (23)
- 4 Stanley Cups
- Greatest Goalie Ever?

Sakic
- 8th in career points (188)
- 1st in active goals (84)
- 2 Stanley Cups
- Mr. Consistent

Sather
- 6th in careers wins (89)
- 5 Stanley Cups
- Mastermind of Offensive Dynasty

Yzerman
- 9th in career points (185)
- 10th in career assists (115)
- 4 Stanley Cups
- Mr. Everything


Now, I figured the lineup would look something like this...

Hull - - - - - - Gretzky - - - - - - Kurri
Anderson - - M. Lemieux - - - Bossy
C. Lemieux - Sakic - - - - - - - - Forsberg
Drury - - - - - Yzerman - - - - - Gilmour

Coffey - - - - - - Bourque
Robinson - - - - Lidstrom
Potvin - - - - - - MacInnis

Roy
Hasek
Brodeur

Head Coach: Bowman
Ass. Coach: Sather & Hitchcock


Cheers.
-Smith

1 comment:

  1. no hasek. thats all, not a good goalie, put any other playoff goalie, put tim thomas in. no hasek!!!!!

    ReplyDelete