While the occasional All-Star or Olympic team has stars galore (and who could forget the 1987 Canadian entry in the Canada Cup?), what single season team has proven over time to be the best ever put together?
2007-09-13 14:11:08 · 15 answers · asked by Snoop 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I'm pretty sure it was not last year's edition of our home town heros (Leafs) so that probably leaves a choice between the OIlers during Gretzky's reign and Montreal Canadiens from '60 to the late 70's.
Because the Habs ruled the roost for so long and were able to introduce news superstars (ie; Guy Lafleur) before the previous one retired (Richard etc.) for such a long time, I'd have to give it to them.
If you wanted the best team for a given year, based on the circumstance of the day, I would pick the Oilers because of the number of players they had of star quality at a time when drafting European players was still considered a risk. The number of other teams who also had the opportunity to draft the same talent, made it much tougher to have that much talent on one team. So, not sure exactly which year's edition of the Oilers I'd pick, but I'd probably go with one during Gretzky's tenure as best for a given year.
Honorable mention to a bunch of different Habs teams, the Islanders and for the sake of an arguement, Broad St. Bullies. (not a greatly talented team but scared the opposition into submission like nobody else, a talent on its own.)
2007-09-14 04:08:09 · answer #1 · answered by cme 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Much as I hate to admit it, those Montreal teams already mentioned are the reason I dislike the Canadiens so much. They always won!!! I was a Ranger fan and poor Eddie G and rod Gilbert only saw pictures of the Cup, sigh. I lived in Edmonton during the WHA and Gretzky/Messier years and would have loved to see that juggernaut against those Montreal teams, but to be forthright, the Islanders came closer to being the best than Edmonton. Way too many 9-6, games from the Oilers to compete defensively with those Montreal teams. Heck, they beat Orr and Esposito in their primes, lost as well(added that for the Bruin fans). The record of 8 losses in a season will be around for a long time so Montreal 1977, greatest of all time. Damn, can't believe i said that....
2007-09-13 14:48:24 · answer #2 · answered by Bob D 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1959-1960 Montreal Canadiens - Jacques Plante wins his 5th straight Vezina Trophy as the club finishes with a league best 40-18-2 record. They sweep the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs on their way to their record 5th straight Stanley Cup. Plante only allows 5 goals in 4 games in the Stanley Cup finals, and Maurice Richard ends his career by scoring his 34th finals goal.
2007-09-14 02:51:43 · answer #3 · answered by Zombie Birdhouse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For this question you have to go back to the Original Six Era. Simply put, back in those days, with only six teams, you had to be EXTREMELY good to play in the NHL. Plus these guys were tough; no helmets, no masks, no 30 second shift, no fourth line, and I could go on and on.
My first choice would be the '52-'53 Canadiens. Maurice and Henri Richard, Dickie Moore, "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Jaques Plante, Doug Harvey, Elmer Lach..yadda yadda yadda.
a VERY close runner-up would be the '51-'52 Red Wings. Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, Marcel Pronovost, Sid Abel, Red Kelly and on, and on...
Nothing compares to these guys
2007-09-13 21:36:19 · answer #4 · answered by desert_fox73 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hard to argue with either the Habs of the late 50s and early 60s or the Habs of the late 70s.
Not to take away from the Oilers team but those Hab teams were unbelievable.
2007-09-13 14:39:53 · answer #5 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The 1976 through 1979 Canadiens have 9 Hall of Famers
The 1960 Canadiens had 8
Plante
Harvey
Johnson
H. Richard
M. Richard
Beliveau
Geoffrion
Moore
2007-09-13 14:31:42 · answer #6 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I would be hard pressed to choose between the true great dynasties
the Montreal Canadiens from the 70s
the New York Islanders after that (god I still hate Billy Smith!)
then the fall of the Islanders led by the Edmonton Oilers
2007-09-13 14:20:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
the edmonton oiler teams of the mid 80's Gretzky, Messier, Tikkanen, Coffey, Kurri, Lowe, Anderson, Fuhr, McSorley,
2007-09-13 17:05:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was the Edmonton Oilers teams of the Eighties. Messier coming off the bench? In his prime? Now that's a deep team.
2007-09-13 14:48:07 · answer #9 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Tough question and they were helped by expansion and the WHA, but I'd say the Bowman era '70s Habs (even though I hated them with a passion being a B's fan).
2007-09-14 15:57:41 · answer #10 · answered by fugutastic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋