Best Russian Forward Ever?

[sholi2000]

Ovechkin is the total package..he scores, he back checks, he hits and he is vey enthusiastic...loves what he does. While I think he goes over the top sometimes, you can't help but like his game. If he was Canadian..his already hobby love, would be thru the roof...far above that of Crosby or Price. He is a True Power Forward and then some.

I can't think of anther Russian that is even comparable to Ovechkin. lol maybe Tretiak!

[Wantroba99]

In the 90's Bure and Fedorov were king. I used to love watching the russian rocket skate, he was such a pure goal scorer but did little else. Fedorov was a goal scorer and he was a good defensive player as well, if memory serves me correctly, didn't he play D for the Wings every now and then? But to me Ovechkin is the total package, he stikes fear into anybody in the net. He can kill you with his wrister and to me has the best slapper off a one timer that I have ever seen. he can knock your block off too. I know he has only played 4 years but heck, those are the best 4 years I have ever saw from a russian player.

[michiganice91]

In the 90's Bure and Fedorov were king. I used to love watching the russian rocket skate, he was such a pure goal scorer but did little else. Fedorov was a goal scorer and he was a good defensive player as well, if memory serves me correctly, didn't he play D for the Wings every now and then? But to me Ovechkin is the total package, he stikes fear into anybody in the net. He can kill you with his wrister and to me has the best slapper off a one timer that I have ever seen. he can knock your block off too. I know he has only played 4 years but heck, those are the best 4 years I have ever saw from a russian player.

Yeah, Sergei played point on the powerplay a lot I believe. Kind of like mikael samuelsson does.

[duwal]

Just wanted to get some thoughts on who you guys think is the best Russian forward ever to play in the NHL?? I love every guy on this list...but I just have to go with Sergei Fedorov simply because of the fact that he was a great skater, and did just about everything on the ice.

EDIT: if you pick other...post who in the thread

one time that I will agree with you. Hopefully enough of the members can remember Sergei in his prime and vote, but I have a feeling a lot of them are voting for Ovechkin or Malkin and didn't realize he was more dominant than either of them especially considering the clutch and grab era that he played in. In his prime playing in this softer defense era with no hooking or actually holding on to a player he might have had more points than either of them, plus people need to remember he was very reliable on defense as well

[Crater_Satori]

How come he did not get too? Just wondering not to sure on him as I know Markarov, Festiov, and the one other did to varying degrees of success.

DON

DON - I believe he was long dead before the mass migrations started.




__________________________________________________ ___________________

"Best Russian Forward" is really a tough question. Sorry but i don't count players with only a few years experience...ie Malkin, Ovy and all, good players no doubt best best ever would be a stretch right now.


Of course the Nuck fan in me says Bure...with good purpose, what did he have 3 - 60 goal seasons, I can't quite remember right now.

Larionov def deserves to be on the list....if this were a "Greatest Russian Leader" poll, he would win HANDS DOWN! It also doesn't hurt that he started his NHL career in Van City


Mogilny - 76 goals in one season...nuff said!

But my vote goes to Fedorov. Goals, assists, special teams, hart trophy, Stanley cups, can play forward and defense. Why do you think Washington brought him in, to teach the younger russians how to play in this league. His duration alone puts him near the top of the list IMO

Nash

[Prime B]

If Bure stayed healthy.................wow, the possibilities. I went with Fedorov since he did stay (relatively) healthy and is the total package, a true dominant two way player.

I am surprised that AO is getting that many votes.

I attribute that a lot to the younger crowd here who never got to really see the greatness of Bure, Mogilny, Fedorov and the like in their day. All they know is AO. And even some of the older folks get swayed in too easy by AO I think. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose................

Ovechkin still has way too much to prove to me other than he can score a lot of goals, take a lot of shots and do a lot of showboating............he needs a more complete game and a big slice of humble pie.

I'm old school and a blue collar guy. I like to see a guy score a goal, fist pump for a sec or raise his arms and then return to the bench with his head down and mouth shut.

[Crater_Satori]

If Bure stayed healthy.................wow, the possibilities. I went with Fedorov since he did stay (relatively) healthy and is the total package, a true dominant two way player.

I am surprised that AO is getting that many votes.

I attribute that a lot to the younger crowd here who never got to really see the greatness of Bure, Mogilny, Fedorov and the like in their day. All they know is AO. And even some of the older folks get swayed in too easy by AO I think. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose................

Ovechkin still has way too much to prove to me other than he can score a lot of goals, take a lot of shots and do a lot of showboating............he needs a more complete game and a big slice of humble pie.

I'm old school and a blue collar guy. I like to see a guy score a goal, fist pump for a sec or raise his arms and then return to the bench with his head down and mouth shut.

Great post, I agree with everything you state here.

[Flames17]

Easily the best is: Sergei Makarov

[sholi2000]

Easily the best is: Sergei Makarov

Andre Lomakin blows Sergei away!

[oldhasek]

I always heard that the KLM line was deadly, but I never watched them play. Bure played in the west and down south, so I missed him play. Fedorov was awesome. The next gen Dats Malk Ovie are all elite players. Difficult to choose the best of all time.