ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski posted a list of the best representatives from 8 hockey nations for each and every one of the NHL’s 31 teams today, and here are his picks for the Red Wings:
Canada: Gordie Howe, RW (1946-71, 1,687 games, 1,809 points)
USA: Chris Chelios, D (1999-2009, 578 games, 158 points)
Finland: Valtteri Filppula, C (2005-13, 2019-20, 553 games, 272 points)
Sweden: Nicklas Lidstrom, D (1991-12, 1,564 games, 1,142 points)
Germany: Uwe Krupp, D (1998-2002, 30 games, 6 points)
Slovakia: Marian Hossa (2008-09, 74 games, 71 points)
Czech Republic: Vaclav Nedomansky (1977-82, 364 games, 247 points)
Russia: Sergei Fedorov, C (1990-2003, 953 games, 954 points)
Best of the rest of the world (Ireland): Jim McFadden, C (1947-51, 253 games, 142 points)The case for Steve Yzerman over Gordie Howe: He had a higher points-per-game average (1.16) than Howe (1.07), with 1,755 points in 1,514 games. His mid-career pivot to a more defensive role, coupled with the trap taking over the league, brought that average down. But, it’s hard to deny Howe’s six scoring titles and six Hart Trophy wins; and it’s equally hard to deny that a guy named “Gordie” is, by default, the ideal Canadian rep.
(In all honesty, it’s goalie Terry Sawchuk who had the best claim on Canadian icon, with three Vezinas and a Calder in his 734 games with Detroit. But, c’mon, it’s Gordie Howe, people.)
Marian Hossa’s one year in Detroit — including his last 40-goal season — was better than Tomas Tatar‘s career with the Wings. Nedomansky is a recent Hall of Famer. Belfast native McFadden is the third-highest leading scorer from the U.K., and the only player born in Ireland to win a major NHL award (the Calder).
Chelios had better runs with other teams — he was only a Norris Trophy finalist with Detroit — but he played a role on two Stanley Cup winners and gets the nod over Reed Larson (708 games, 570 points). Pavel Datsyuk (918 points in 953 games) should be a Hall of Famer eventually, and the Red Wings have had their share of incredible Russian players, but Fedorov was one of the most exceptional talents in NHL history — a Hart Trophy winner offensively who was so good defensively he was used on the blue line.
Krupp is “standardmäßig,” which is German for “by default.”
