So the debate begins. Is this team the best of all time? I still think the Canada Cup Team in 1976 was a darn good team. Bobby Clarke, Guy Lafluer, Darryl Sittler. And the defense has Savard, Potvin, and Bobby !!!!
2014 Team Canada Men's Olympic Hockey the best team of All time?
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What ? Any team that had Mario and Gretz on the same team should forever be granted that title ...So the debate begins. Is this team the best of all time? I still think the Canada Cup Team in 1976 was a darn good team. Bobby Clarke, Guy Lafluer, Darryl Sittler. And the defense has Savard, Potvin, and Bobby !!!!
Best Defensive Unit of all time .. Heck even that can be questioned ... 1976 team had Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Bobby Orr ..
They almost lost to Latvia in QF. Easily could have been the most disappointing ever. They wiffed on so many scoring chances. Hard to anoint them the best.
Really!!!! They beat all comers in a style that has never been seen before And they didn't have to do it with the barbaric ankle breaking tactics of a Bobby Clarke or a bunch of spit in your face Russians. They did what we expected them to do I 1972 with class, dominance and pride in their country. And no suckie guys spat the soother and went home from the NY Rangers.They almost lost to Latvia in QF. Easily could have been the most disappointing ever. They wiffed on so many scoring chances. Hard to anoint them the best.
Team Canada '76 was the best IMO.So the debate begins. Is this team the best of all time? I still think the Canada Cup Team in 1976 was a darn good team. Bobby Clarke, Guy Lafluer, Darryl Sittler. And the defense has Savard, Potvin, and Bobby !!!!
Forwards and Defense:
Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Bob Gainey, Danny Gare, Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur, , Guy Lapointe, Reggie Leach, Richard Martin, Peter Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald, Bobby Orr, Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Steve Shutt, Darryl Sittler, Carol Vadnais, Jimmy Watson
Goaltenders:
Gerry Cheevers, Glenn Resch, Rogatien Vachon
No denying they won the gold but the argument here is the best ever and that they are far from it. Latvia shouldn't have even got a whiff of a chance at an upset. Pregame all the commentators were asking by what point in the first period the game would be out of reach. The best defensive team ever I agree but that was the coaching strategy.
Quite a few of these guys must be in the HOF now.Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Bob Gainey, Danny Gare, Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur, Guy Lapointe, Reggie Leach, Richard Martin, Peter Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald, Bobby Orr, Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Steve Shutt, Darryl Sittler, Carol Vadnais, Jimmy Watson
Goaltenders:
Gerry Cheevers, Glenn Resch, Rogatien Vachon
BTW: At least one Latvian and one Swedish player were "dirty".
I don't think there's a debate because it would be fruitless.So the debate begins. Is this team the best of all time?
It is impossible to properly compare players from different eras let alone compare the way the game has changed and evaluating their opposition.
There is never consensus. Have fun.
They faced the hardest competition of all time.No denying they won the gold but the argument here is the best ever and that they are far from it. Latvia shouldn't have even got a whiff of a chance at an upset. Pregame all the commentators were asking by what point in the first period the game would be out of reach. The best defensive team ever I agree but that was the coaching strategy.
They played the best two way hockey of all time.
It was in the Olympics-not a a "hit and giggle" tournament.
Sydney is now in the class of Bob Gainey with his overall contribution.
They did it on the little ice and proved it on the big ice-in Russia!
What more do they have to do to for you?
Celebrate it!!!! You might actually feel good, for once
Just my opinion. The Team Canada 2014 team is the best of all time. The best defensive corp of all time. Even though the forwards didn't score a lot, I believe they have match up with other Team Canada teams.So the debate begins. Is this team the best of all time? I still think the Canada Cup Team in 1976 was a darn good team. Bobby Clarke, Guy Lafluer, Darryl Sittler. And the defense has Savard, Potvin, and Bobby !!!!
It's funny. Canada could have fielded two teams. What would your second Team Canada look like?
Ditto!I don't think there's a debate because it would be fruitless.
It is impossible to properly compare players from different eras let alone compare the way the game has changed and evaluating their opposition.
There is never consensus. Have fun.
BTW, the "Best defence corps of all time" has to include Bobby Orr, being he's the best player of all time and all.........Just sayin is all..........................
Can't we just appreciate a great team and a great win without all this all time stuff?
I agree with 1976. 2014 Team Canada was good but remember they easily beat Swedish team without some their key players.Team Canada '76 was the best IMO.
Forwards and Defense:
Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Bob Gainey, Danny Gare, Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur, , Guy Lapointe, Reggie Leach, Richard Martin, Peter Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald, Bobby Orr, Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, Steve Shutt, Darryl Sittler, Carol Vadnais, Jimmy Watson
Goaltenders:
Gerry Cheevers, Glenn Resch, Rogatien Vachon
Back at ya' with the ditto.Ditto!
BTW, the "Best defence corps of all time" has to include Bobby Orr,
Orr, Potvin, Robinson, Savard vs. Vlasic, Keith, Pietrangelo. I feel even embarrassed putting them in the same (non-) sentence. Only someone under age 45-50 would think otherwise.
Doughty is the only one who is worthy of discussion.
100% agree. Today's athletes are bigger, stronger, faster, fitter, eat better, are coached better. For the era, yes the guys from the past were dominating and spectacular, but let's be honest here, today's teams would beat them handily. If you are ever unsure, watch some old games, the players and the actual gameplay are slow, goaltending is terrible, giveaways like crazy. Wish there was a way to compare today's athletes in the gym and training methods compared side by side with the guys from the 70's, Lafleur used to smoke cigarettes in the dressing room as one method of comparison.It is impossible to properly compare players from different eras let alone compare the way the game has changed and evaluating their opposition.
It is also fruitless cause this 2014 team's reseme is incomplete ie they are a young bunch .. They are being compared to players who have completed their reseme ..I don't think there's a debate because it would be fruitless.
It is impossible to properly compare players from different eras let alone compare the way the game has changed and evaluating their opposition.
There is never consensus. Have fun.
anyone think the NHL will allow their players to go to South Korea in 2018. It'll be a shame to not see Crosby for one more Olympics.
I agree with what some have said, in that it is hard to compare teams from different era's. How the game was played in the 70's (skill, toughness and goons), to the 80's (offense, offense and more offense), to now (players with complete games), makes it very hard.
One thing i will say, is that as much as i respect the players today, especially Crosby and Toews (this guy's will to win is probably the best in the game), we are not seeing the transcendent, once in a lifetime talents, such as we were blessed to see with guys like Bobby Orr in the 70's, or Gretzky and Lemieux in the 80's and 90's.
The other thing we are seeing nowadays, is that unlike in years past, where Canada really only had to worry about Russia, the other countries have caught up, and most are now all capable of winning an Olympic or Canada Cup style tourney at any time.
One thing i will say, is that as much as i respect the players today, especially Crosby and Toews (this guy's will to win is probably the best in the game), we are not seeing the transcendent, once in a lifetime talents, such as we were blessed to see with guys like Bobby Orr in the 70's, or Gretzky and Lemieux in the 80's and 90's.
The other thing we are seeing nowadays, is that unlike in years past, where Canada really only had to worry about Russia, the other countries have caught up, and most are now all capable of winning an Olympic or Canada Cup style tourney at any time.
I don't know too much of the older teams (pre 1990's) so I can't really judge.
I will eat my words though...when I first saw this team announced, didn't think they'd win gold...but that was nearly complete dominance from start to finish. I'd rank this team first of all the Olympic teams though.
I will eat my words though...when I first saw this team announced, didn't think they'd win gold...but that was nearly complete dominance from start to finish. I'd rank this team first of all the Olympic teams though.
But Sweden does not have the depth that Canada does. Even without Tavares and Stamkos, there is list of 10 suitable Canadian players that could fit in.Remember also that Team Canada was without Tavares and Stamkos.
