Top 25 Swedish Hockey Players of All-Time - #3

[Hobnobs]

Originally Posted by seventieslord

Cool your jets. The point being made was in regards to them being better than Lundqvist, who has been the best at his position and challenged for the Hart. If you see those players doing that, there is some heavy romanticizing taking place.

If someone is romanticizing anything its you. Getting a chance to be the best at your position in the 50's-60's NHL was a hellova lot harder than it is today. Would Lundqvist play in the NHL if he were born at the same time as Tumba, Svedberg and Sterner? No. He would be in Sweden and playing against the Soviets and you would say the same ridiculous thing to downplay him.

[seventieslord]

Originally Posted by Hobnobs

If someone is romanticizing anything its you. Getting a chance to be the best at your position in the 50's-60's NHL was a hellova lot harder than it is today. Would Lundqvist play in the NHL if he were born at the same time as Tumba, Svedberg and Sterner? No. He would be in Sweden and playing against the Soviets and you would say the same ridiculous thing to downplay him.

The best Swedes are as good as the best Canadians NOW, but that was not the case in the 50s and 60s.

[jkrx]

Originally Posted by seventieslord

The best Swedes are as good as the best Canadians NOW, but that was not the case in the 50s and 60s.

The absolute best were good enough for the NHL if they were as good as Hull, Beliveau, Howe probably not but then neither is Lundqvist. Tumba, Sterner and Svedberg were all offered contracts by NHL teams and I doubt they did that just for laughs.

Svedberg was praised by the coaches and Gordie when he showed up in Detroit, Sterner was praised by your MLD coach (Emile Francis) and the stars on the team. Tumba (and the other two) opted for amateur status instead of playing in the NHL. Don't you think Tumba could have been the first line center at the end of the 50's.

[seventieslord]

QUOTE=jkrx;53487707]The absolute best were good enough for the NHL if they were as good as Hull, Beliveau, Howe probably not but then neither is Lundqvist. Tumba, Sterner and Svedberg were all offered contracts by NHL teams and I doubt they did that just for laughs.

Svedberg was praised by the coaches and Gordie when he showed up in Detroit, Sterner was praised by your MLD coach (Emile Francis) and the stars on the team. Tumba (and the other two) opted for amateur status instead of playing in the NHL. Don't you think Tumba could have been the first line center at the end of the 50's.[/QUOTE]

I honestly don't know. My gut leans toward no, but I realize there is a large degree of uncertainty there. Still, being a 1st line center is a long way from being elite. Paul Ronty, Dutch Reibel, Earl Ingarfield, Larry Popein and Don Raleigh were 1st line centers in that era for a while too. So even if it is true that Tumba was NHL 1st line caliber, that is far from conclusive proof he belongs ahead of Lundqvist.

[CodeBlue*]

3. Borje Salming
4. Mats Sundin

Let's just skip to the #5, before the trolls on here get any ideas.

[jkrx]

Originally Posted by seventieslord

I honestly don't know. My gut leans toward no, but I realize there is a large degree of uncertainty there. Still, being a 1st line center is a long way from being elite. Paul Ronty, Dutch Reibel, Earl Ingarfield, Larry Popein and Don Raleigh were 1st line centers in that era for a while too. So even if it is true that Tumba was NHL 1st line caliber, that is far from conclusive proof he belongs ahead of Lundqvist.

First line center for Boston puts him up there with McKenney and Mackell.