1976 Team Canada is the GREATEST hockey team of All-Time - The Sports Lunatics
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- čas přidán 27. 09. 2023
- The Sports Lunatics Shawn Lavigne and Howie Mooney discuss which Team Canada hockey was the best in history!
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Bobby Hull said Orr was the best player on both teams even with his bad knee.
Quite a compliment.
I remember Guy Lafleur telling a story about being Bobby Orr’s roommate during that tournament. He said that Orr could barely walk across the suite they were staying in when he got up in the morning. Over the course of the day with walking, stretching and sometimes painkillers he was a little more mobile. But when the puck dropped he was the best player on the ice,in spite of all that pain. He was magic. I think he had the offensive mindset of Doug Harvey and took it to another planet. Best in history, imo.
Not even close to the best. Bobby Orr had a short career and only played 657 games in 8 seasons. He never once beat the Habs in the playoffs . He was great when he played but his career was so short and injury riddled that his stats don't look that great when all is said and done. Boston fans love to talk about how great he was but it wasn't long enough for him to even be considered in Top 5. Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Richard and Messier all had better numbers and all won more Cups than Bobby Orr. Even today, Sidney Crosby has much better numbers also. I saw him play several times back in the 70s. If we,are talking entire career, I would take all of those players ahead of him., no contest
I’d wager that every single player you mentioned would put Orr in the top five. Hockey historians certainly do.@@albertvanular433
@@albertvanular433 come on he changed the game only defenseman to win scoring title a plus 123 in a year first player to get over a 100 assist had the most fights out all the superstars 915 points in parts of 9 season's if he had some one to protect him might have lasted 22 years different game back then your buddy guy had 5 100 point seasons he had 6 in 9 years 8 Norris trophies no one compares
From an offensive most points measure I agree with you. However, Orr was the best overall, two way player ever I think. Remember Orr a defenseman is being compared to forwards. Orr is the only defenseman to win the scoring title - he did it twice. No other defenseman has come close. I was too young to have watched Orr play, but I've seen a lot of his highlights. He was solid in all areas of the rink and all areas of the game. Orr also has one of the highest career +/- stats. @@albertvanular433
@@albertvanular433 Just saw an interview yesterday where Scotty Bowman thought Orr was the best. He said when he first came into the league he was virtually unstoppable with healthy knees. That’s good enough for me.
As a lifelong Ranger fan from early 70s, Brad Park is still my hero. He was on the '72 team but not here, not sure why. Bobby Orr was always the greatest. thanks for posting.
Park was injured, having surgery perhaps.
we were glad to get brad park in boston although i never thought i would see it.and he stayed fo quite a while.
1st powerplay unit for the 76 team was Espo, LaFleur, Bobby Hull, Orr, Potvin.
all hall of famers first ballot .
If I was a goalie, I’d wave a white flag and surrender.
87 power play was Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Bourque and Coffey.
Nearly that entire TEAM is in the HHOF. Note the players who were on the ice for Team Canada before that magical 11:33 mark of the overtime, and each one of them touches the puck in succession: 'Savard, to Potvin, to McDonald, to Dionne to Sittler. SITTLER gets BY right on GOAL a shot.....SCORES!!!
@@timothydaniels504 So would I
One needs to mention that 2014 Canada's Men's team allowed 3 goals the entire tournament and never trailed a single second in any game on their way to a gold medal when the balance of power between the best hockey countries was never more even. Something the 72, 76, 81, 84, 87, 91 rosters never achieved.....
One of the best games I ever witnessed was indeed the 1-0 Czechoslovakia win over Canada during the round robin. Amazing goaltending on both sides. No wonder Vachon and Orr ended up sharing the Tournament MVP
I thought the clinching game of the tournament was even better. The game saw multiple lead changes. That third period was unbelievable.
Sittler's goal was inspired by Don Cherry as one of the coaches. In Cherry's book 'Grapes' I recall reading how he noted to the players that Dzurilla tended to come far out from his goal net to cover the angles. He noted if a player faked the shot Dzurilla will commit to it, thus allowing the shooter to skate around him for the now empty goal. That is what Sittler did.🤔
I agree with that sentence...Bobby Orr was fabulous, finished first scorer of the tournament and all the team was extremely talented. The best of all ...
That first Canada Cup in 1976 was a special time with many great hockey memories. One that stands out for was in the final game against the Czechs when Canada’s goalkeeper Rogie Vachon made this amazing glove save on a slap shot from Milan Novy!!
Team USA fan here. '76 Canada Cup from a US POV. You had Bob Pulford running the team who was Canadian.
Would have preferred to see the US Squad go a bit younger than they did. Not having Mark Howe hurt them also.
So they would have been better off with Reed Larson added to D Corp
and Mark Howe, Mike Fidler and Tom Rowe up front.
G - Lopresti - Johnson
D - Larson - Nyrop
Sargent - Milbury
Chartraw - Roberts
Jensen - Ftorek - Rowe
Fidler - Howe - Talafous
Gilbertson - Sheehan - Ahern
Noris - Bennett - Patrick
76-77 Habs is the greatest hockey team of all time. 76 Team Canada was basically an all star team but it takes months / years to learn to play as a team.
Yeah….you can see it especially in the Sweden game; missed passes, guys out of position, back-checking..it’s a strange watch looking at that game and comparing it to recent NHL games..
@@American_Inquisitionyou also saw it in 1987 Team Canada with Gretzky and Lemieux learning to play together. Imagine having the two best players in the world, both unquestioned all time greats, and even they had trouble playing together. That famous 3 on 1 goal wouldn't have happened unless Gretzky (world's all time greatest passer) correctly taught Lemieux how to take a Gretzky pass.
And also 1972 Team Canada, getting hosed in the opener and going 1-2-1 in the first 4 games, but somehow still winning the series. That famous Henderson goal was all work and hustle and teamwork, which took a whole series of struggle against a welll-trained Soviet team to win.
76 may have had the most talent ever but 72 had the most guts. A bunch of out of shape guys with no international experience beat a team that had spent a year together and were poorly scouted.
72 would have been best if Orr & Hull would have played
it would of been up there with Hull and Orr no doubt 72 defense was good but not was good as 76 D , Savard and Lapointe were on both teams Park was good on 72 diff, in defense is Orr playing Robinson, Potvin , Watson Tho he didn't play much because of injuries . Stapleton, White, Bergman, Arewry were good but they dont match up with the 76 D
The greatest line up, because we had the greatest player, #4.
@johnnyfish4201 It is hard to believe he played on one leg the entire series and was incredible!
Literally a hall of fame game in 76. Such star power on display and 100% effort. Not like some all star games where players play at 50%
72 had the greatest victory of all time . 87 probably the greatest team in my opinion
I was at the Boston Garden on Mother's Day 1970. It was pure heaven.
The 2014 Sochi Olympics Canadian team were pretty dam good too!!
Especially the way they dominated the tournament.
the 76 team is a forgotten team sadly..but for me having see all the great teams from 72 on? the 1987 team was by far the best and the best memories as well..its a runaway actually
I once heard an ex Blackhawk player say Bobby Orr had the body of a Secretariat and kness that looked like a Picasso painting...Orr is the GOAT, so sad that he had to retire at 29.
Dennis Hull said when Orr went to the Blackhawks he couldn’t even look at Orr’s knees that’s how bad they were!
Team Canada 1972 would get the nod. Not about the Canadians on the team. Rather playing, adapting and conquering the unknown on the opponent’s rink…Three straight games to win a series. 1976 and 1987 may have had better teams. But neither took on the unknown like 1972.
For me, the '76 team is/was the greatest Canadian team to wear the Jersey, my #2, 2010 Olympic Canada team (Crosby, Toews, Iginla, Brodeur...)
2010 was a great team! So many future Hall of Famers on it as well!
The Gretzky and Lemieux 1987 team is the greatest of all time. The balance was astounding and the most dynamic players on the generation on the ice together. Add Messier, Coffey, Bourque and Hawerchuk, they rolled four lines like no other team.
goaltending wasn't near as good as the other teams . defense was not as good either 1st and 2nd lines match up good as does the 3rd line . 4th line no. 76 defense was the best of all of them the 2010 and 2014 teams had good defense also .
If you narrow it down to 1976 and 1987, the crazy thing is that Mike Bossy wasn't a part of either team, even though he was possibly the best pure goal scorer in the NHL for almost the entire intervening decade.
Sittler got the winning goal, scored 10 points in a single game for leafs in the regular season and 5 goals in a single playoff game against the Flyers a in one season. Somehow he was overlooked for MVP. Lafleur won it
I'm a Leafs fan but Lafleur definitely deserved MVP that year. He was leader or top three in both the regular season in points, goals and assists also Montreal won the Cup that year and Lafleur played a pivotal role in winning the cup. It's also MVP for the NHL, they wouldn't use him scoring the winning goal in a Canada Cup as criteria. Sittler put up good numbers that year for sure but Lafleur outscored him by 25 points.
Somehow he was overlooked? Because MVPs means they are most valuable for an entire season. Lafleur was the best player on the best team in NHL history. No brainer for the Hart.
Tough call...76 and 87 were amazing teams. But Mario and Gretz push it to that year for me...
It's up for debate. 1987 Canada cup team Canada was even better , lead my Gretzky and Lemieux. That team was more balanced, faster and most players were at the peak of their career. The Soviet team of 1987 was the best red machine team that has ever played hockey. Also - crazy amount of talent and all the star players were at the peak of their might.
Team Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was scary good, very well balanced but lacked stars like Gretzky and Lemieux... So to say that 1976 team Canada was the best team ever is bit of a speculation.
87 .... the 76 team was wicked too but the greatest player of all time was playing on the 87 team. I was born and raised just south of Edmonton Alberta Canada and watched him play live many many times and partied in the streets of Edmonton every time the Oilers won the cup! That's a lot of partying! lol He still holds most NHL records and likely will for quite some time even after our generation is gone. Im the same age as Gretzky.
84 team with Oilers and Islanders players deserve more recognition. Not saying it was the best but it's the 3rd best imo. 76 and 87 being better. . but that 84 team was great too.
89 Flames were the best team assembled 5or 6 50 Goal scores .
'84 team vastly overlooked. If they had Lemieux as a rookie, it might have been the best team ever.
@@todd4317 agreed.
You're right .. in fact that team was conceived to be an Oiler/Islander combo but with Trottier, Potvin and Smith declining it didn't really work out that way completely. Still a great lineup. Only played to potential a couple times but got the job done.
no arguments there . Great Series and unbelievable lines. Amazing , Orr was mvp . with his bad knees and all.
Great team. I saw them play Sweden. However, the greatest hockey team ever was the Sochi olympic team. They gave up 3 goals......in the entire tournament.....for a 0.5 goals against average.
1976's Team was greatest collection of Stars ever assembled, but, 1972's was most esteemed, winnin' under incredible circumstances - against
all odds. As for sheer heart, no Canadian Team has ever displayed more. In my 75-yrs, never've seen it. Recall, too, the '72 Team missed, Hull,
Howe, Orr, Lemaire, and others. Here's trivia: Russia's '72 Team was comprised of only left-handed Shots.
That's a great fact. Probably a disadvantage on the Power Play.
@bob-qz9ey You make great points and thank you for posting!
Petrov and Liapkin were right handed,I believe.
IMO in September 1972, had Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull had played in the series with no injuries, Canada would have lost the 1st game and won the last 7. Orr would have swallowed the Russians for breakfast. The European ice surface (200ft x 100ft) would have made Orr untouchable. He would have been the top point getter in the tournament. Bobby Hull was at his prime in 1972. He was not allowed to play. The Hockey hall of fame had Bobby Hull shot recorded at 118 mph. Hulls shot was faster than Zdeno Chara (109.2 mph), now measured at all-star game.
The 2014 Olympic team only gave up 3 goals in a 6 game tournament, the 1976 team actually had one loss, though they did go on to win.
@gymguy25 You make a great point but I found Canada's style of play incredibly boring to watch that tournament.
@@sportslunatics8241Defensive brilliance. PK Suppan couldn't get on the ice.
My memory tells me that's wrong... They (Our 1976 Team) actually lost a round robin game 1-0 to Czechoslovakia, if memory serves... But then they beat them 2 games, in a row, in the best of 3 games final... One game was a blowout and the other was won with Sittler's OT goal... That said, It could be argued that the competition was better in 76, compared to 2014 ... although CCCP didn't have all their top players...
PEACE OUT...
Canada lost a game in the 1976 round robin but went a perfect 6-0 at the 2004+2016 World Cup and the 2014 Olympics, in fact, at the 2016 World Cup, the only team that somewhat challenged Canada consisted of several countries.
Canada lost a game in the 1976 round robin but went a perfect 6-0 at the 2004+2016 World Cup and the 2014 Olympics, in fact, at the 2016 World Cup, the only team that somewhat challenged Canada consisted of several countries.
I have a question : Why Dryden at his best was not the first goalie of the team ? or event invited ?
Any team with Bobby Orr on it has to be the best.
Top 3 teams of all time
1. Team Canada 1987
2. Team USA 1996
3. Team Canada 1996
Sorry but an assembly of of all stars to play a short term tournament isn’t really a TEAM. You can do this virtually any sport. It’s not the same as an actual team that has to go through the daily grind & an entire season ……
Correct, for that we have the Islanders - no team will ever eclipse what they did
For me, it's always been the 1976 Team... and I'm old enough to have seen Orr play,even as a junior for the Oshawa Generals... Orr on one leg... Yeah amazing for sure... Dennis Potvin, he of the controversial, Post Tourney , Canadian Magazine article... But for me, the 2nd best D-man, I've seen play... bearing in mind, that Islanders won 19 playoff series in a row, if memory serves, and even with Bossy, Trottier, Billy Smith etc, likely the BIGGEST reason for that incredible Islander run imo , ... But getting back to the subject at hand... Even Phil Esposito was fighting for ice-time on that 76 Canada Cup Team...
Espo entering his decline by '76.
well said!
I thought of that, but didn't bother mentioning it... Agreed@@todd4317
Actually Czechoslovakia was the World Champion in hockey that year. Besides that, the USSR didn't bring all their best players to the Canada Cup that year and so this really wasn't a surprise, contrary to what you said..
2014 Team Canada for the Olympics is the best team ever assembled and there will never be a better team.
Perrault and Dionne were terrific
Inflation 2 + 2 is 5 now deflation all day work for hockey ticket amazing good video
@Anonymous-ez6cz Thanks for your comment!
I saw the 72, 76, and 87 series. 72 did not have Orr or Hull. 87 too many goals against. So I agree 76. My best game(s) ever was the 3-3 tie between the Habs and the Soviets in 75 and of course the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
'87 Gretzky and Lemieux 🇨🇦🏒
@sid7099 Larry Murphy was the greatest decoy in hockey history!
I was at that game and that is where Gretzky brought Mario up to a new level. Still remember that pass from Wayne to Mario for the goal.
That's a Great Team. An American here. 1996 World Men's Hockey World Cup of The USA was also.
My greatest memories where 72,76 Canada Cup,I think the greatest team ever was 1987.
@mariobuttino6095 It is Shawn from Sports Lunatics I actually think 1972 was behind 1987 and 1976 Team Canada. Thank you for your comment!
The most dominant teams were:
1987
2014 Sochi
the 76 team hands down.
Team Canada 72 , is my pick for the most interesting , for me anyway .
I would say #2 best team. I agree with the '87 team just being a bit better.
There’s something going on in middle of this picture
Bobby hull scored the most goals in the 76 Canada cup
Hull was also the leading scorer in the 1974 WHA vs Soviet Union series.
Close buy no cigar. Best team of all time was the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens who list only 8 games in an 80 game schedule. They also dominated in the playoffs winning their 2nd of 4 straight Stanley Cups winning 12 games and only losing 2 games.
I remember that Canadiens team....every time they played the Leafs it was a laugher. What a roster! I think they would've won even with Dryden sitting on a chair reading a newspaper and drinking coffee.
The 76 team was the best ever assembled and they even won without Dryden who was injured.
THE GREATEST TEAMS OF ALL, BUT 1976 WAS THE GREATEST!
87 Canada Cup Canadian team.
The '76 and '87 teams very close. Probably lean towards '87 because Gretzky was in his prime and Lemieux was just entering his.
I was at all of the Canadian games in 1987 and I can tell you the 1976 team was better, best ever!!
1987, 2002,2010,2014
Did Bobby Hull have to glue that mop to his head ?
YOU COULD OF PUT THAT SEASONS MONTREAL CANADIENS IN THE CANADA JERSEY AND THEY WOULD OF WON THE CANADA CUP
@benlavallee Well there were 7 players from Montreal on the team and Scott Bowman was behind the bench.
Probably but there were a couple of Americans on the Habs
The 72 team and series was the most momentous for Canada. The 76 team may be better, but nothing beats the emotion and suspense of the 72 series. To this day, I cannot respect the NHL HoF for excluding Paul Henderson. He scored 3 game winners, and the last one is the most iconic goal in hockey history, discussed and analysed for generations. If that is not deserving of fame, then what is?
Yet the goalie that he scored those goals on IS in the H of F!
Henderson did not have a HOF career.
@@howie9751 that may be true BUT, those goals meant more to Canadian hockey than most players contribute to the game in a career!
@@wizwaz5529 If Tretiak was in , Henderson surely deserve Hockey Hall of Fame...
@@claudebuysse7482 Tretiak had a HOF career. Henderson had a couple of glory moments.
Almost agree .. 1976 Canadian Team had on it several players from the Montreal Canadiens .. in 'my' opinion the greatest Hockey team ever ..
@byrd-is-the-word In your opinion which Habs team was the best?
@@sportslunatics8241 .. by the greatest Hockey team ever .. I was specifically referring to the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens .. in "my" opinion .. (:))
@@byrd-is-the-word 4 stanley cups in a row is a great achievement of course . I saw them loosing only 8 games in a season. Dryden- big 3 and Lafleur Shutt - Lemaire and Bowman . Gainey also was very important.. Oilers and Islanders were fantastics too. But i'm a habs fan...
@@claudebuysse7482 .. I remember .. that year Larry Robinson became my favourite hockey player ever ..
@@byrd-is-the-word Big bird was awsome 99 % of the time . Sometimes he was a little bit lunatic especially against the Nordiques. And another smoker of 2-3 packs per day. A lot of them were genetically superior like Lafleur and in Soccer Johan Cruyf. They died young... The most talented of the big 3 for me. Good day !
Bobby orr was one of the best
From our perspective they were all stars and then some...but they barely won.
3:27 - He thinks that's strange somehow?
Will a working class American be able to go to just a regular season game in the NHL for under 7 hours of work?
Seems in line with the job he had, that he was able to go and see star studded international hockey for under seven hours of work at the grocery store.
1987 Team Canada, Canada Cup #1, 2002 Team Canada Olympic Team #2, 2010 Team Canada Olympic Team #3, and 1976 Team Canada, Canada Cup
Great list @TPMikeJ!
No mention of the 2014 team who only gave up 3 goals in 6 games?
CCCP was the best hockey team 💪
I will take the 96 us World Cup team
That has merit … beat Canada three times
Better than 81 Soviet Union ?
Disagree, 1996 USA World Cup Team and 1987 Team Canada hands down
Nope. This team didn't have Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman, Sakic, Messier, they might be second best at best. F right off with this ish.
Not even close
How was the 1976 Team Canada The GOAT? They lost in the RR to Czechoslovakia and needed an empty net goal to beat Team USA.
Real GOAT teams are USA Dream Teams in basketball.
Further they didn't even play the best USSR Team who left their
top 6 forwards back in the USSR.
Nonsense.
Третьяк ржёт в голос
the 1980-84 islanders are the greatest team in history
That's a matter of opinion. I'd say the 1976-79 Montreal Canadiens were the greatest team in history.
@stratovani I believe Howie and I would agree with you! Thanks for commenting!
@@stratovani The edition of 1955-60 Montreal Canadiens was the best for me. Only 6 teams with the cream of the cream. Harvey was as good of Orr , M. Richard , Beliveau , Moore , Bouchard , Plante , H. Richard, Boom Boom Geoffrion and all the rest of the team. They can play hard and finesse...but i'm an old man.
I agree with the Gretzky -Lemieux -Hawerchuk -Messier -Coffey -Bourque for the second best all -stars team. For the emotion the 72 tournament was awsome but Canadians were not in shape. If that team was trained like the soviets , I bet 1000 $ that the reds were maybe winning one or two games not more...They were not amateurs at all...
1975 - 1982 Russians were way better - much more of a team, better goaltending, better first two lines - sorry Canada! Hockey is now America's game!
Greatest hockey team? No they are not!!!
When Bobby Orr took a full page add in a major US newspaper endorsing Donald Trump he went from hero to zero in an instance
Only to you.
What a maroon
Not really!!!
75 million Americans would have disagreed with you in 2020 and the number will likely be closer to 100 million this time around. Trump2024!!! MAGA!!!
@@billyfranklin85 You know you can get help,
Gretzky and Lemieux would have destroyed that 76 team