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(Ed. Notice: Welcome to the Puck Daddy 2013 summer venture, the Nationwide Hockey League of Nations. We’ve recruited 30 writers/blogs to identify the most effective participant in their favorite group’s history for every major nationality that creates the material of our beloved NHL: Canada, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland and The Rest of The World. It’s their criteria, so long as they’ll justify it. Read, debate and enjoy! If you wish to achieve this on Twitter, it is #NHLoN.)
By Ryan Blight and Arctic Ice Hockey
Disclaimer: We here at Arctic Ice Hockey struggled with the standards for how to do this, because the Jets 1.zero hold a special place in our hearts right here in Winnipeg. And to tell you the truth, if it weren’t for the Internet, most people in Winnipeg couldn’t name 10 ex-Thrashers outside of those that came up to Winnipeg.
So for the aim of this effort, we’ll include all Jets 1.0 up until the transfer to Phoenix (because we still strongly dislike the Coyotes), the entire history of the Atlanta Thrashers, and the past two superb years of the Jets 2.zero.
And sorry, the WHA years don’t rely both.
Canada: Dale Hawerchuk
In one that basically didn’t take long to determine, Dale Hawerchuk is the very best Canadian to ever lace them up either in Winnipeg or throughout the Thrashers organization. The first-total number of the Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft won the Calder Trophy that season, and within the 9 years in the ‘Peg never finished below 81 points in a season, capping out at 130 (fifty three targets and 77 assists) in ‘84-85. And don’t overlook the help he earned on Mario Lemieux’s GWG within the 1987 Canada Cup victory over the Soviets. Ducky was a tremendous Jet and may be very deserving of this honour.
Honourable mentions: Dany Heatley, Shane Doan (who was only a rookie in Winnipeg throughout the ultimate season of Jets 1.0), Marc Savard, Andrew Ladd, Bobby Hull (who had his WHA contributions disregarded).
Finland : Teemu Selanne
I was tempted to choose Olli Jokinen, simply to bother lots of people after his less-than-stellar opening season as a Jet, but how can we not decide Teemu Selanne?! Despite enjoying solely 4 seasons in Winnipeg, there has never been a much bigger love affair with one single participant in this city. Selanne’s magical rookie season of 76 targets and 132 points continues to be fondly recalled prefer it was yesterday, as is the infamous capturing-his-glove celebration. And any questions on how much we love Teemu within the River City should be answered by trying out the ovation he acquired as a member of the Anaheim Ducks just two seasons ago. On prime of that, he’s medalled in three totally different Olympic Games. We nonetheless love you Teemu! #teemubest
Honourable Mentions: Teppo Numinen, Kari Lehtonen, Olli Jokinen
USA: Keith Tkachuk
Now this was a tough one, as there were very few Thrashers to think about and we aren’t ready to anoint Jacob Trouba with this award just but. Ultimately, I chose Keith Tkachuk to be the very best American player in a troublesome resolution over Phil Housley. What clinched it for me was that Tkachuk performed five seasons in Winnipeg versus three for Housley, served as crew captain, and for a time he was one of the premier power-forwards in the recreation. A 50-objective scorer within the remaining season of the Jets 1.0, Tkachuk put up points and penalty minutes like they were going out of favor, and he represented the USA at four Olympic Video games, incomes a Silver Medal in Salt Lake City. Nonetheless, it should have been him traded as a substitute of Teemu…
Honourable mentions: Phil Housley, Ed Olczyk, Jim Slater, Dave Ellett, Brian Mullen, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, Zach Bogosian.
Sweden: Thomas Steen
Thomas Steen, who is still a local city councilor, is my choice as the best Swede. When it comes to all Jets 1.zero players previous to the move, Steen put up 264 objectives and 817 factors, each 2nd behind Hawerchuk, but Steen is the chief in assists with 553. However perhaps extra importantly, he played 14 seasons in Winnipeg and has made it his residence ever since despite our horrible winters, massive mosquitoes and lack of parks. Thomas Steen, we salute you!
Honourable Mentions: Tobias Enstrom, Fredrik Olausson, Niclas Havelid, Willy Lindstrom, Johnny Oduya
Russia: Ilya Kovalchuk
This one was simple. Ilya Kovalchuk is the best Russian player to have ever played for the Jets 1.0, Thrashers or Jets 2.0, despite not having dressed as a Jet in the River Metropolis. You cannot ignore the success that Kovalchuk had with the Thrashers, and as we sit right here with the Jets 2.zero he is still the franchise chief in nearly every offensive stat by large margins. Kovalchuk’s 615 factors in 594 video games during part of the useless-puck period is a testament to the special type of talent he has, and the NHL is worse with out him now that he’s left the NHL to play at house within the KHL. Kovalchuk has taken part in three Olympic video games, successful a Bronze Medal in Salt Lake Metropolis, and will most actually play in Sochi in just a few months.
Slovakia: Marian Hossa
The solely answer here is Marian Hossa, and it’s not simply because solely six Slovaks have laced them up in Atlanta and 0 have performed so in Winnipeg. Though he only played three seasons in Atlanta, Hossa averaged over a degree-per-recreation with 248 factors in 222 games. He has also represented Slovakia at three Olympic Games already. Hossa was a premier talent who was sadly traded away for pennies on the dollar by Don Waddell in what was one of his, nicely, many horrible strikes as GM in Atlanta…
Honourable mentions: Ronald Petrovicky, Lubos Bartecko, Boris Valabik
Czech Republic: Ondrej Pavelec
Hmm. It is a tough one. Do I go with Patrick Stefan, the first-general choice who by no means justified his draft spot but still had a good profession? Do I select Ondrej Pavelec, the current Jets 2.0 netminder with the laughable starting goalie numbers who nonetheless has represented the Czech Republic at one Olympic Video games already? Perhaps Bobby Holik for being such a stable grinder? Frantisek Kaberle? Slim pickings.
In the top, I’m pained to decide on Ondrej Pavelec, and only do so as a result of he has represented his country already as backup on the 2010 games in Vancouver, was the starter at the most recent World Championships and has a strong likelihood to begin for them in Sochi as effectively. If his own country likes him this a lot, who are we to argue?
However, Pavelec has not played in one playoff hockey game in his NHL profession and has persistently put up below league-common save percentages, so this choice will not be primarily based on his NHL career up up to now.
Can he enhance? Hopefully, and he’ll must if the Jets 2.zero are to be even thought of a playoff workforce, however his international expertise gives him the nod right here. And while Stefan was a productive participant who just simply by no means lived up to his draft standing, may we actually pick him when this is his arguably probably the most recognizable play of his career?
Honourable Mentions: Patrik Stefan, Bobby Holik, Frantisek Kaberle, Michael Grosek, Pavel Kubina
REST OF THE WORLD CATEGORY
Nik Antropov may be very probably one of the best participant to ever come from Kazakhstan. Not solely has Antro been a very strong NHLer throughout his career, however he’s additionally represented his country at numerous international competitions and put his country on the map in the hockey community by being a 10th-overall choice in 1998. And to be completely trustworthy, I would like to see the big man re-signed by the Jets someday this summer, as he’s presently a free agent.
Meanwhile, the Ukraine was represented by the likes of Alexei Zhitnik and Oleg Tverdovsky, Germany noticed Uwe Krupp and Christoph Shubert lace them up, and Latvia watched as Arturs Kulda and Herberts Vasiljevs took part as properly.
Finally, we wouldn’t want to leave out the legend of Rumum Ndur, the first Nigerian-born participant to ever play in the NHL. Although he grew up in Canada and solely played 27 of his career 69 video games with the Thrashers, we felt the necessity to embrace him as a result of it’s such an incredible story.
Winnipeg Jets, National Hockey League of Nations (including the Atlanta Thrashers!)
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