Which of the Great Russian lines would you take as your all-time Russian forwards?

Question

No interchanging

The 1970s Russians

Valeri Kharlamov-Boris Mikhailov-Alexander Maltsev

- this team when playing Canada's best, rarely came out on top (1972SS, 1976CC, 1079ChC) with a record of 5-6-1

The 1980s Russians

- Sergei Makarov-Vladimir Krutov-Igor Larionov

- a much better record against Canada's best winning the 1981 CC and taking the 1984 team to overtime

The 1990s Russians

- Serge Fedorov-Aleksandr Mogilny-Pavel Bure

- argued by many as the best Russia had to offer - but corrupted by North American money

The 2000s Russians

- Alexander Ovechkin-Evgeni Malkin-Ilya Kovalchuk

Which trio would you take and why?

Note: The top 4 Russian players today are Kovalchuk, Dastyuk, Ovechkin, and Malkin - and they all shoot left. Any trio from this group will count as a point for 2000s, but the best answer will go to the responder who has the best response for any of the above.

Answer 1

I would take the 70s Russians even though they didn't have a great record against the best in Canada they had dominated most of the NHL teams at the time.Even though the goalie had alot to do with it.Also how can you not love a guy who continues to play after fracturing his ankle by a slash from the great Bobby Clarke.

2000s Russians will probably leap over them in 5 years but its too early to tell.

Answer 2

I think Fedorov....when the Russian five was with Detroit.

I am kinda partial to Swedes right now.....LOL.

Answer 3

I have to go with the 80's version.  We must remember the Makarov and larionov of the early 80's, not after the came to the NHL at the end of their careers.

The 70's version- I did not see enough to comment.  Only in the occasional broadcast of the 72 series and that is usually only the games at the end that the Russians lost that I have seen.

90's version- each was great individually for periods of time but not consistently great and not great together.  I rank them last out of these groups.

2000's This may well be the best of the group when we look back 10 yrs from now.  As it is basing it on international hockey all be really have is the world Jr's with Ovechkin and Malkin playing together.  I am looking forward to seeing them together at the Olympics.  

Overall I have to go with the 80's version but I expect the 2000's to take over in the next few years.

Answer 4

the 90's   I'd hate to be a D-man or goalie against that line

just seeing it makes me wonder if they would have owned most of the records in the NHL....Scary

add to that. Konstantinov, Fetisov and Tretriak.   How could you lose....yes i know Tretriak (spell check) was 80's but that line just got me thing crazily

Answer 5

I like the KLM line (1980s group). Only because I saw Larionov at the end of his career and have to say he was one of the most creative players I ever saw. Great vision and great hands. I saw them play as a group a couple of times on TV and would love to see them more.

Answer 6

The 90s Russians (Serge Fedorov-Aleksandr Mogilny-Pavel Bure) They were one of the most productive lines in hockey history.  BY THE WAY, they all also shoot left.  

Sergei Fedorov –A point a game type of guy.  He was the perfect balance between knowing when to shoot the puck and when to pass for an assist.   Excluding his poor performance in the 1st World Jrs., he was untouchable competing internationally.  Who can argue with 3 Stanley Cups and 3 gold World’s medals? The biggest thing about Fedorov is that he can also play defense.  

Aleksandr Mogilny –Alexander the Great……….great at obtaining injuries.  Still, he was a point a game type of guy, and record setter at the time.  He had great speed, and was a good skater.  

Pavel Bure- When somebody says, “Russian hockey player”……Bure’s face pops in my head.  Strong rushes…..great puck handler……a coach's dream.  He would have had one heck of a career if he did not have so many injuries, just like Magilny.

Yep, they were something else.  I may be bias because of my strong like for all of the above.

I am really just answering your question because I need some good BEER TO DRINK!  You don’t have to answer the prior beer question I asked you…I am going to this place this weekend called Tanks Tap Room with some BIG clients.  http://tankstaproom.com/  If you have to time…pretty please *bat eyelashes* tell me what beer on tap I should try so that I do not make myself look silly.

Lity:  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.  Saint Barnardus Abt 12 it is.  Whoa Momma!  Mega alcohol content!  I better sip slowly or the panties will come off…..kidding.  

Canadian Biology Man:  Are picking on me because of my lack of beer knowledge?  Everyone has the start from somewhere, you stinker. ;)

Lity:  I assumed that wouldn't be a problem for you.  ;)

Answer 7

I am taking the KLM line.

Answer 8

i wasnt around before the 90's, so its between the last two for me.

im gonna have to go with bure, fedorov, mogilny. they were among the top russians players EVA, and the others are too young to be able to tell if they're better than these three.

of the other two lines, ive only heard of (and actually seen play) igor larionov. crazy, huh?

Answer 9

Now I only experienced the 1990's and 2000's Russians, and some film from Miracle (not the Disney Version). But I would argue that todays Russians are the best yet. I feel they have the best balance, Ovechkin and Malkin are large and can use their bodies in ways that that 1990's Russians could not. Datsuyk is comperable in playmaking ability to just about anyone listed, and Kovalchuk can score with the best of them.

I feel like with the advances in training and nutrition, todays athletes are stronger and better conditioned than those of the past, while they may (at times) be criticized for their lack of heart and toughness, I believe that todays crop of Russian players takes the cake.

Answer 10

I am growing up with the 2000's so probaby them but I also like the 90's with Mogilny.

Answer 11

I gotta start by saying that Khmylev, Kamensky and Semak of the 1987 team all shot right.

As for the best trio, great question, LITY.

I never really had a chance to see Kharlamov and Mikhailov play in their prime, so my 'analysis' is incomplete outside of anecdotal tales of those 2 players.

If Krutov had not eaten his way out of the NHL, I think the KLM line would hold the mantle as best Russian trio, without question. So, the question becomes how much weight should be placed on NHL accomplishment vs. International achievement in this argument?

The NHL statistical achievements of Makarov and Larionov starting TEN years into their remarkable International careers has to have some value in the equation. They showed tremendous longevity as the game itself evolved in the 80's and 90's. Managing to remain effective and relevant as the game became faster and the players bigger also has to factor into the equation.

The 90's trio reflected said evolution in terms of their physical skills. I had never seen guys who could execute at full speed and shoot in full stride like Bure, Mogilny and Fedorov (maybe Sakic could compare, but that's it). I do agree that these guys lost a little bit of the fire as their bank accounts accumulated more and more zeroes.

If you take a top level view of the three generations from the 80's on, the 90's group reflect the transition in cultural perspective brought on by the post-cold war monies and freedoms. These guys were trained in the old, demanding, oppressive Soviet Union training system and had to find their own driving force when they landed in North America.

The 00's trio, however, were babies when the wall came down. They grew up exposed to the North American game and even aspiring to be NHLers as their primary goal. The passion, emotion and energy they show on ice are the distinctly North American traits that come with that exposure at an early age.

So, with all that said, I'd take the KLM line of the 80's. Their achievements might be matched by the current group, but the bar was set high enough by the 80's trio to justify holding the mantle until proven otherwise.

Lastly, I think the 90's trio may have been blessed with the most all-around, pure skill but clearly underachieved for any number of reasons.

LITY, you're a blessing in a sea of "who will win the cup?" h**l.

Answer 12

I think it's the 70s Russians. I mean, that line that you have put up there has both Mikhailov AND Kharlamov, considered two of the greatest Russian players ever (along with Makarov). I don't really care much about their record, as the top line doesn't usually make the team. Maybe the rest of the team sucked in the 70s and were better in the 80s? And perhaps Canada had a better-meshing team in the 70s, which helped them beat the USSR more. I think those top 3 guys would beat out any other Russian troika in your list.

~

btw, I've never seen any of these guys play (except for the 2000s), I'm just going by what I've read in books.

Answer 13

I'm going with this decade's group.  The fall of the Soviet Union took away one of the great hockey powers, and I think the fact that you have 4 forwards (and Semin isn't a slouch either) that have as much skill as the 4 you mentioned, and they only play together on the National Team, and are as good teogether as they are tells me that they are the best.

Other reasons

  - these guys train with North Americans day in and day out

  - better equipment

  - better coaching

LITY

- the NHL is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch...........I can't find the Saint Bernardus on their website.............please share.

Answer 14

It is close between the 90s and 2000s

Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure were nasty in the 90s, but at the same time, they played in an era of higher GAA. Aleksandr Mogilny had a few good seasons, but he didn't do anything that the 2000s Russians haven't done.

The 2000s Russians are big, fast, and can snipe. Ovechkin is a great open-ice hitter and a scoring machine. Anyone who can break 60 goals in todays NHL is doing something right. Evgeni Malkin is also a big boy who is a bit of a power-forward. 80 goals in your first two seasons ain't bad.  Kovalchuk is just a pure sniper who has been consistent his entire career, only having one season with less than 30 goals, which was his rookie season with 29. Hes actually only had 2 seasons without 40 goals, and one of those he had 38 goals. I think if these guys were to play back in any of the other eras, they would have been even better.

Answer 15

90s. Bure was awicked fast, Federov could play physical and dig the puck out of the corners well Moginly couls score any hwhich way

As a line for Russia the 80's. Unspoiled by greed yet and seemed to have the most chemistry

Answer 16

The 2000s Russians

- Alexander Ovechkin-Evgeni Malkin-Ilya Kovalchuk

Alexander Ovechkin is unstopable, Ilya Kovalchuck plays really good with Ovechin & so does Malkin, they are all great players that know how to get the puck in the net!

Answer 17

i've only been alive to see the 90's and millenium russians play...so my pick will go to them, even though i've seen enough footage on the 80's russian.

anyways the 90's russian line of feds, mogs, and burs, are one of the best hockey lines ever. the production from moginly as winger, feds as center, and burs as winger (they all shoot left) was great to see in the 90's. they're all really fast and are good handling the puck.

moginly (who i saw as a leafs), is the only player who's beat mats out for most points a season. he has really good scoring hands. quick release, and his also a dynamite skater...sometimes i would be like uh whys mogs in the other teams zone already when the play is back on the leafs zone. he's also sneaky with his speed, and turns it up anytime. too bad he's easily injured. in his prime, he's easily a top forward, and he's also a member of the triple gold club, olympic gold-wc gold-stanley cup winner.

fedorov is also easily one of the better forwards to play the game. his puck handling skills blows the mind sometimes, and he is also good on defence. he's an all around hockey player with good hands, and skating ability. he can think the game and is creative with plays. he has three golds in wc, and he has three stanley cup...what more could you want from a player.

bure- also one of the fastest skaters i've seen play this game. his a great rush guy, he can score amazing goals, and he can lay out checks...too bad he's also injured prone.

ilya kovalchuck after the gold medal game this year "we're flying back out to moscow to celebrate with the city. this is huge for us." Part-ay over here...courtesy of the vodka, and the 2008 wc russian team. gah.

Answer 18

As much as I liked the 80's Russians, they were easy prey for a physical team.  For my money the 90's Russians were unbelievable.  Pure speed from all 3 players and both Federov and Mogilny could work the corners as well as many of their Canadian counterparts.  The 2000 Russians are impressive as well but the oldest of them is only 23 so it may be a bit early to make a proper decision on them, although their range of skills compliment one another very well.