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All-Time Starting Lineup

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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I've been watching hockey since 1961. I've seen a lot of players and here is my list of the best starting lineup of all time based on what I've seen. I've also made my selections based on which players would work well together, not just their raw skill level.

LW--Bobby Hull
CTR-Wayne Gretzky
RW--Gordie Howe
DEF-Bobby Orr
DEF-Larry Robinson
GL---Jacques Plante

A few comments. The forwards are each easily among the best goal scorers of all time regardless of their postions, but they all have different skills. Howe can dig in the corners and with his elbows provide a physical presence for his linemates, Gretzky could find his auto-scoring wingers anytime they were open and Hull would open up the ice with his speed, end to end rushes and huge shot (just imagine how hard he'd shoot with modern equipment.)

Orr is automatic. I like Robinson because he could rush the puck and shoot, but he was a huge physical presence in his own zone and controlled the front of the net. He was tough but clean.
Denis Potvin was close to Robinson. Bouque and Coffey were not physical enough to play with Orr who was not a bruiser.
The other man to be considered would be Doug Harvey, but I never saw him play in his prime.

Jaques Plante was the goalie who best combined flash and style with technical brilliance. He was also an innovater with the mask and with the goalie leaving the crease to play the puck. Bernie Parent was the best technical goalie, trained of course by Plante when they were both with the Leafs. Honourable mention to Terry Sawchuk, Glenn Hall and grudgingly Pat The Primadonna Roy.

As a side note, you'll notice the list of all-time great leftwingers decreases in quality much faster than rightwingers. Never could figure that one out. After Hull you've got Mahovlich, Yakushev and maybe a couple of modern guys who will have nice career numbers, but they don't dominate and define the game as do players of other positions.

I'm sure I've convinced everyone that my choices are the only correct ones and that there will be no dissenting voices.
 
R

revolver

There's not too much to argue about there. That's a great lineup. I'd switch Sawchuk for Plante and Potvin for Robinson though.
 

Hepcat

The old gods live!
Nov 6, 2001
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Revolver!

I agree! I'd replace Larry Robinson with Denis Potvin! I also agree with Hull, Gretzky, Howe and Orr but I'm not sure about the goalie.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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I thought Robinson and Potvin were a coin toss. The only reason I took Robinson was because of one of the classiest moves I've ever seen. Tiger Williams had taken a penalty just before overtime in game 4 of the semis with the Habs up 3 games to 0 against the Leafs. Montreal promptly scored a power play goal and rushed off the bench to celebrate with the goalie. Tiger jumped out of the box and made a bee line for the ref with bad intent on his mind. Robinson, who by all rights should have been whooping it up, took it upon himself to intercede and stop Tiger from doing something really stupid. I'll always remember that and have high regard for the man.
Sawchuk definitely had better stats than Plante but again, I never saw him play early in his career. I saw more of Jake the Snake.
My birthday is on the 23rd, hence I would be Eddie Shack when playing road hockey.
 
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