Eskimo
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CanadianCowboysFan;3292333 said:Um, we are the most skilful players around and have been since the dawn of time, we just play with a harder edge. No european has been more skilled the Lemieux, Gretzky, Mau Richard, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau etc
Not sure where the myth started that Europeans have the skill and we just the grit started. .
They played a style which was difficult to develop on small ice surfaces and it took quite a bit of getting used to their speed and finesse game.
The Russians and Swedes have equalled us in skill for awhile - they don't play with as much toughness and grit because it isn't as big a part of big ice hockey. They initially had trouble adapting their game to small ice but have been getting better over time. The first group that came over in the late 80s to early 90s were fairly unimpressive except for the youngsters who adapted more readily.