Datsyuk is pretty much it
- BiggE

He can, but even Datsyuk is known more for being the best stickhandler in the game. Very complete player though.

What a job by Finland. They play the ultimate team game. Rask was tremendous. Fins lost Barkov in the tourney, and were missing Koivu, and Fillpula due to injuries. They are the antithesis of the Russian team. Truly greater than the sum of their parts.

I think the Russians were also hurt by a pretty weak defensive corps. In the heyday of Soviet hockey guys like Fetisov and Kasatonov were absolute beasts, on the level of a Suter or Weber. They have no one remotely like that today.
- BiggE

THats true too. Tuton, Voynov, Belov, emelin, Markov and Nikitin. None of those guys would make the Canadian, Sweden or American roster.

Kulemin isn't a bad two-way player either.
- PhillySportsGuy

Svitov is that type of player, too, but they didn't dress him.

10 best defensive forwards I ever saw, in no particular order

Bob Gainey
Craig Ramsey
Bobby Clarke
Dave Poulin
Craig MacTavish
Guy Carbonneau
Jere Lehtinen
Sergei Federov
Pavel Datsyuk
Patrice Bergeron
- BiggE

John Madden was pretty good, too.

The hockey player, not the former Raider coach.

I'd also throw Rod the Bod on there.

Danny Markov
- jmatchett383

Can you name a forward?

John Madden was pretty good, too.

The hockey player, not the former Raider coach.

I'd also throw Rod the Bod on there.
- johndewar

Laughton

Laughton
- PhillySportsGuy

We hope that Scott "Selke" Laughton one day makes this list, yes.

Rod the Bod.
- johndewar

I still hate that trade

I think the Russians were also hurt by a pretty weak defensive corps. In the heyday of Soviet hockey guys like Fetisov and Kasatonov were absolute beasts, on the level of a Suter or Weber. They have no one remotely like that today.
- BiggE

True. But with their fire power, when they hold the opposition to 3 goals, they should be able to win the game.

It's like they go out of their way to only bring over the most gifted finesse guys, then their coaches poop all over them for not being willing to dump and chase, and TV guys poop all over them because they don't play like Shane Doan.
- Tomahawk

I mean, I'm totally in for a teardown of Radulov or Zherdev on their own individual merits. But Russian hockey players come in different flavors, the same as anybody. I don't think anybody would say Datsyuk is lazy or doesn't play the other side of the puck.

Blah, whatever I guess.

We hope that Scott "Selke" Laughton one day makes this list, yes.
- johndewar

Scott Selke Laughton and Art Ross Akeson are on their way.

Can you name a forward?
- PhillySportsGuy

Anisimov, maybe?

Anisimov, maybe?
- jmatchett383

Putin taught him everything he knows.

Scott Selke Laughton and Art Ross Akeson are on their way.
- PhillySportsGuy

With Lauridsen anchoring the defense and playing 56 minutes a game, we could throw even Michael Leighton in the net and still lead the league in lowest GAA.

And please, it's Mr. "Hart Ross" Akeson.

THats true too. Tuton, Voynov, Belov, emelin, Markov and Nikitin. None of those guys would make the Canadian, Sweden or American roster.
- PhillySportsGuy

Nor would any of them have made the Soviet squads of the 70s and 80s

John Madden was pretty good, too.

The hockey player, not the former Raider coach.

I'd also throw Rod the Bod on there.
- johndewar

Both would certainly be in my 11-15

Anisimov, maybe?
- jmatchett383

Exactly. Anisimov, Kulemin and Datsyuk.

Look at the US roster. Kesler, Parise, Pavelski, Oshie, Backes, Stastny, Brown, Callahan are all good two-way forwards. Thats more than half the starting forwards.

Scott Selke Laughton and Art Ross Akeson are on their way.
- PhillySportsGuy

What about Tye Cam Neely McGinn?

Exactly. Anisimov, Kulemin and Datsyuk.

Look at the US roster. Kesler, Parise, Pavelski, Oshie, Backes, Stastny, Brown, Callahan are all good two-way forwards. Thats more than half the starting forwards.
- PhillySportsGuy

Should hopefully be 2 excellent matchups in the semis: Sweden/Finland and USA/Canada!

Nor would any of them have made the Soviet squads of the 70s and 80s
- BiggE

Well, don't forget those Soviet teams had guys from all of the Soviet Republic.

Countries like the Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, etc. didn't have their own Olympic teams. They were all under the banner of the Soviet Union.

What about Tye Cam Neely McGinn?
- BiggE

You really think Cam Neely is as good as McGinn?

Well, don't forget those Soviet teams had guys from all of the Soviet Republic.

Countries like the Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, etc. didn't have their own Olympic teams. They were all under the banner of the Soviet Union.
- johndewar

Oskars "Scott Stevens" Bartulis.

Oskars "Scott Stevens" Bartulis.
- jmatchett383

Worth every penny of that buyout

Putin taught him everything he knows.
- Tomahawk