First off congratulations shawn for reaching the second round!
As stated before our teams are really, really similar and it should be a very interesting match-up.
First line
I think I have the narrow edge here. Gretzky of course is the best player in the series and will again see plenty of time. I think going best-on-best in the most promising option here. While Gretzky outmatches Lalonde, Jackson and Kurri look quite similar when you look at their scoring records but I think that Kurri's post-season excellence and his defense play gives him a nice advantage. Ace Bailey is of course a better player than Tkachuk but Bailey's play doesn't close the gap created by Gretzky and Kurri. With all factors considered I think this match-up ends in my favour.
Second line
A really, really interesting if not downright awesome match-up! Major probs for building this unit, I love every bit of it. However I also love my 3 Russians on the second line and this will be a great match-up. With these players we have the great opportunity to compare what they did in international competition during the 60's and 70's.
I used the numbers on eurohockey.net for the WC and the wikipedia numbers for the Olympics. The numbers in the brackets are the time span in which these players where active in international competition. I know that this isn't that representive but I think it gives a good idea. I also included the 5 best years for each player because especially in Hlinka's and Holik's case longevity dillutes their accomplishments.
Starshinov (61-71)
94 points in 78 World Cup games 1,21 pp/g
5 best -> 56 in 36 1,56 pp/g
At the Olympics - 12 points in 7 games
Yakushev (67-77)
71 points in 64 World Cup games 1,11 pp/g
5 best -> 62 in 50 1,24 pp/g
At the Olympics - 7 points in 5 games
Balderis (76-83)
63 points in 47 games 1,34 pp/g
5 best -> 63 in 47 1,34 pp/g
At the Olympics - 9 points in 7 games
Nedomansky (65-74)
96 points in 80 World Cup games 1,20 pp/g
5 best -> 68 in 49 1,39 pp/g
At the Olympics 16 points in 12 games
Hlinka (70-81)
85 points in 89 World Cup games 0,96 pp/g
5 best -> 62 in 46 1,35 pp/g
At the Olympics 14 points in 11 games
Holik (64-77)
91 points in 106 World Cup games 0,86 pp/g
5 best -> 54 in 49 1,10 pp/g
At the Olympics 2 points in 7 games
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Top-10 finishes at the Olympics
Starshinov : 3rd (64) and 3rd (68)
Yakushev : 8th (76)
Nedomansky : 10th (68) and 2nd (72)
I tried to find more data on how they fared going head-to-head but sadly this data wasn't available for the CSSR players.
Looking at the numbers I think I have an advantage on offense. Nedomansky is probably the best forward of those 6 but Starshinov,Balderis and Yakushev emerge as 2,3,4.
Third Line
Again very similar lines. I'd say that they are about equal but it somewhat depends on what you look. Defensively I think mine is better especially with the mismatch of Metz against Schmautz. Offensively however you got the advantage.
Fourth Line
Again quite similar. This it is the other way around. Offensively they are relatively even though I think that I have an small advantage here. Paul Ronty is really underrated as far as placements in the top-10 go. Hec Kilrea has one great year but it has to be taken with a grain of salt because it is the 29-30 season.
Conclusion
Overall I think that I have an slight advantage in the forward deparment especially on offense while the defense is relatively even.
More tomorrow the whole Soviet vs. Czech thing took a LOT of time
Makes him sound like some jungle cat....
