The Career of Jari Kurri

I thought this would be a good one to look at given the talk about Draisaitl relying on McDavid these days.
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon / thehockeyguy
/ youtubehockeyguy
Follow me on Twitter: @shansboomstick
Instagram: youtube_thehockeyguy
[e-mail]
Join our discord discordapp.com/invite/thehock...
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
PO Box 746
Ferndale, WA 98248

[@TheHockeyGuy]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jari_Kurri Yes, Kurri was the original Finnish Flash. Selanne may have made the nickname more famous, but it started with Kurri.

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

In the season after Gretzky was sold to LA, Kurri got 1 more goal, 5 more assists, 6 more points in 4 fewer games while driving a line with Tikkanen. The next season, they won the cup! He was my favorite player and I still got an old Koho stick of his in the garage.

[@ulrichsuter3548]

Kurri did not speak a lot of English when he arrived in Edmonton - and there are stories that he always ordered the same food in a restaurant as Gretzky, just because he wasn't able to order anything else - so he simply used "I have the same"... on the ice though, he and Gretzky understood each other blind and created the "don't go where the puck is" ice hockey rather than "go where the puck is going"... His hockey IQ is off the charts and together with his defensive skills, his scoring totals are even more impressive! I had the chance to play a few times with him (Pietrarinkadun Oilers) and watch a few ice hockey games with him in his box in Finland - and learned that he is off the ice, just as smart and modest as on the ice. Absolutely one of the very best Europe has ever produced.

[@johngalt2506]

A point to make about his 92-93 season is that Gretz was injured for most of that season and Kurri was centering the first line. That was the year Robitaille had 63 goals playing on his wing. Kurri was awesome at center. He reminded me a lot of Gretzky at times.

[@devilsadvocacy]

His coach at the time, the otherwise irritating Barry Melrose, was right on when he pointed out that Jari's line was best in the league for three months after he put Jari at center, which Jari had never played in the pros. All the while Gretzky was rehabbing a back injury

[@eirikrdberg1161]

Kurri looked like Lemieux the first half of 92/93 without Gretzky.

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

Even in Edmonton, Gretzky often took the faceoff and then played more like a winger and Kurri would play the role of the center taking more of the defensive responsibilities, and doing a lot of back checking. He should have won the Selke at least once, but sports writers were mostly based out East.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@devilsadvocacy In Gretz's absence Kurri had an incredible 46 points in his first 22 games @32 years old. That included a wild stretch of 27 points in just 8 games! (games 11-18). He slowed down considerably after that crazy start. As a Gretzky/Kurri fan i recall that insane start.

[@ramela]

Kurri signed with Milan in 1990 because he wanted to ensure that he gets to play in the 1991 IIHF Word Championship tournament, because that tournament was held in Finland.

[@sureshsrikant8927]

Actually it was because he wanted more money from the Oilers and sat out.

[@niceguy91320]

The biggest most underrated part of Jari's play was his defensive skills. He was just such a complete player.

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

He should have won a Selke, but the sports writers were mostly out East.

[@jessejamesainger3263]

I love the quote from Kurri that went something like " I didn't even need to see where Wayne was or where the puck was, I just went towards the empty spot on the ice and Wayne would always get me the puck there"

[@markko17]

Gretzky never got to a Stanley Cup Final without Jari Kurri on the team. Kurri won a Stanley Cup without Gretzky.

[@davidhaworth7152]

Common denominator there is #11

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

Kurri was a very good player. It takes more than just one man to create a dynasty. It takes a whole team. Kurri deserves a good amount of credit.

[@johncominsky2758]

My favorite athlete. A hero for me for his skill and his grace.

[@raywateredge6444]

Kurri was a great player,great sniper in his prime but also a great 2 way player.

[@johngalt2506]

Would have been nice to talk about his +/- rating over his career.

[@NYFanatic]

Kurri had a very solid defensive game. he knew how to intercept cross crease passes and he was pretty fast. without Gretzky he would've had 450 goals at least.

[@NYFanatic]

You know what? I can't argue against that. Because no winger has ever came close to Jari Kurri in terms of skill, talent, and heart outside of Gretzky. I've mentioned that Jari Kurri had a very solid defensive game. No Selke awards to show for it, but its overlooked all the time.

[@amyvedin251]

A two way player---here he comes and there he goes!

[@Sempermortis84]

Yup. He is still top ten in shorties.

[@juholaakkola7694]

Jari Kurri - the childhood star for Teemu & Saku - where them were icons for current Talent like Aho, Barkov, Laine, Rantanen etc! ✊

[@samiviitasalo1173]

Kurri was maybe one of the first Selke level two way wingers out there. He was really over point per game guy even without Gretzky. Of course he get more points with Gretzky, but also because that people didn't see his real two-way finesse.

[@fawgy3702]

Unless those 601 goals were all empty net tap-ins assisted by Gretzky, he was a pretty good player.

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

Yeah I'd say Gretzky wouldn't have been as good as he was without Kurri. They complemented each other and both could tear the league open on their own.

[@TheDolfanar]

Without Gretzky, Kurri would have been more of a Doug Gilmour type player imo. Less goals, more assists and more recognized for his 2-way play.

[@busupshot83]

@@TheDolfanar and 93 was amazing too 💪🏽

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@mysticsaxophone4181 Kurri wasn't even a 40 goal scorer when Gretzky scored 212 Points.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

@Jeffrey Kaufmann you don’t even know what you’re talking about.

[@theodorebelmont7922]

Very underrated player...Huge part of the Oilers dynasty

[@theodorebelmont7922]

@@matthewdaley746 of course he never got the credit that he deserved. His pure sniping ability and people forget how good of a two-way forward he was too amazing. Probably the best Winger of the 80s or second-best winger of the 80s behind Mike Bossy I'd say

[@gamergod3378]

FINALLY! The best wingman for the best player ever.

[@TheDolfanar]

Kurri helped Gretzky as much as Gretzky helped Kurri. Gretzky's production dropped when he left Edmonton, Kurris increased. In 92-93 when Gretzky got hurt, Kurri stepped into the #1 center spot and his production again increased. Finally, Kurri was considered to be one of the best defensive forwards in the game which allowed Wayne to sit at his own blue line waiting for the outlet pass while Kurri would go back and help out the D. In todays game he would transition easier than Wayne thanks to his skating, shot and two-way play.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Kurri had five 100 Point Seasons playing with Gretzky. Only one after Gretzky was traded and never scored 50 goals again.

[@TheDolfanar]

@@jeffreykaufmann2867 Gretzky had 6 180+ point seasons playing with Kurri, only one after being traded and never scored 60 again.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@TheDolfanar Gretzky not scoring 60 Goals after being traded has nothing to do with not playing with Kurri. He was already passed his Prime as a goal scorer. In the 85-86 Season only 52 Goals. In the 81-82 Season He had 212 Points (92 Goals,120 Assists) and Kurri only scored 32 Goals. Gretzky and Kurri weren't on the same line at that time. Gretzky didn't depend on Kurri that much to get his 212 Points. When He was traded to L.A he was still getting 100+ Assists/Season but Kurri never scored 50 Goals. Gretzky turned L.A Bernie Nichols into a 70 Goal scorer. He had never scored 50 Goals before. Kurri would never score 68 and 71 Goals without Gretzky. Gretzky missed 16 games in his last year as an Oiler. Kurri had 43 Goals. Had Gretzky played a full Season Kurri has another 50+ Goal Season. Gretzky also had Six 180+ Seasons playing with Paul Coffey, Messier and Glenn Anderson. Take out Kurri and Gretzky playing with those 3 Guys would produce at least two more 180 Point Seasons.

[@pandelaz6767]

Selänne is finnish flash, Kurri was spicy finn

[@TheHockeyGuy]

During his career in Edmonton, he was nicknamed the "Finnish Flash" (a title since bestowed on Teemu Selänne). Kurri was "by far our most complete player", according to Oilers' director of personnel Barry Fraser. - That's from Wikipedia. Kids these days...

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Spicy Finn sounds like a nickname for a very exciting two-way hockey player.

[@pandelaz6767]

@@TheHockeyGuy ok ur right👍

[@terskatti4994]

@@TheHockeyGuy Yep Kurri was "original" finnish flash.

[@heliumtrophy]

Finnish flash sounds more interesting to the ear after countless "Flying Finn" comments made to all potential fast Finnish motorsport drivers.

[@patientmental875]

He still put up 77 goals in his last 2 years in Edmonton without Gretzky! And theres really no argument that the 80's Oilers were the best team of all time! They even won without Gretzky & Coffey! The NHL has never seen anything like that team before or after! Only team that comes close that was super offensively scary with cup wins/appearance is the 2010s Pens with the early 90's Pens a close second!

[@patientmental875]

@@matthewdaley746 You must live in Montreal

[@Zamppa86]

With Kurri it wasn't just about the goals and points. Gretzky himself said Kurri was probably the best 2 way player he ever played with.

[@mikamaki-leppilampi6482]

Gretzky has said that he wouldn't have become as good as he did without Kurri. So both benefitted! End of story

[@wilnerolivier7971]

Kurri's greatest accomplishment besides putting up crazy numbers during his career & winning 5 Cups is that he married a former Miss Finland!!

[@mikkostenberg1740]

Could be called as Jari Kurri hat trick! 😆💪

[@droopmountain6510]

Looked her up- hubba hubba!

[@PAARYNAKAKKU-ic3td]

ONE OF MY IDOLS

[@MANSIKKAPUURO-jl9zm]

MY IDOL

[@TheQWE99]

Would Gretzky have 364 less assists if Kurri never played in Oilers? Goal scoring is a mutual relationship, Kurri is a great player on his own

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Gretzky got 109 assists and 120 assists in his 2nd and 3rd year. Kurri only Scored 32 goals in both those Seasons

[@name028hfjsiwh2]

@@jeffreykaufmann2867 “only” 32 is good amount of goals and atleast when u have Gretzky on ur team

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@name028hfjsiwh2 Not really.

[@name028hfjsiwh2]

@@jeffreykaufmann2867 top scorers now get 20-30/season and ur saying 32 is bad when u have the one on ur team

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@name028hfjsiwh2 32 goals in the highest scoring era isn't much.Kurri peaked with 68 and 71 goals In the 85 and 86 Season.

[@mortaljorma69]

Best duo, ever to play this sport.

[@juhomantynen4638]

You forgot to add that Kurri was one of the best two way wingers in the league while also scoring 50 or even 70 goals. If he was as little defense oriented as Gretzky was, he would've cracked 1500 or 1600 points easily. Too bad those qualities don't show up in the stats if you're a forward.

[@ramela]

Kurri was also renowned as a defensive forward.

[@sureshsrikant8927]

I think he finished runner up for the Selke one year.

[@chrisg7160]

Kurri was one of my favorite players growing up in the 80’s. He was a great play both offensive and defensively.

[@michaeltrinkus1772]

Love kitty in the background:-) keep on going, love your shows

[@jayheevlogs]

Kurri is so underrated

[@vadgaming7774]

Love you’re vids man keep it up

[@JBMc117]

Been waiting for this. Thanks Shannon

[@mrchromaticable]

for me its 2 great players having great chemistry together. they both benefited each other while being great players in their own right.

[@4P3APE]

Never clicked so fast, thanks in advance Shannon!

[@goji059]

Simply great, nuff said

[@jonnvoxx5208]

Thank You🙏🏻

[@mikkostenberg1740]

Thanks for this long awaited video @The Hockey Guy! Really like your channel! 💪🙏 It is funny However how the comparison to Kurri's goals is always made this way. What about Wayne's goals that Kurri passed - how many are there?

[@RoyalMela]

Even when playing with Gretzky, Kurri WAS the centre. Yes, Gretzky took the faceoffs but never actually played the role after that. 99 was mostly waiting near the blue line when the puck was in their zone, and it was Kurri who played the center lane and near the goal. The duty of centre as a winger. And as soon as they got the puck, it was Gretzky who was the man taking the puck out and into opponents area, and Kurri came in from the second wave, just like centre does. So yes, Kurri as a winger played the role of centre, and Gretzky as a centre played the role of a winger.

[@wagglewiggle]

Great job on this video would love to see a career of ken dryden.

[@mcdaviddeservesbetter8]

I’m so amped to create a power play unit of Gretzky, Kurri, McDavid, Messier & Coffey in NHL 20.

[@theodorebelmont7922]

Maybe we shud play vs online...ill have Mario Jagr Crosby Malkin n Coffey waiting

[@theodorebelmont7922]

@@matthewdaley746 haha ill let u know when i buy it

[@Brickz-xf7ul]

nice video do a career video on Patrick Elias and Travis zajac if you find time thanks

[@Jaageful]

Would Gretzky have made all those points without Kurri? You could say propably not. Both benefitted each others talent mutually and both of them played really well as individuals anyway, so why even argue about it?

[@Ylinatsiperkele]

Nyt ne suomilinssit pois naamalta, Gretzky ois saanu ne pisteet vaikka ois pelannu äitis kanssa samassa ketjussa :D

[@Jaageful]

@@Ylinatsiperkele Eiköhän se oo poju parempi että meet takas sinne pohojanmaalle seuraamaan pesäpalloa ja ajelemaan traktorilla ympyrää.

[@Ylinatsiperkele]

@@Jaageful fiksun miehen vastaus

[@Ylinatsiperkele]

@@matthewdaley746 i wasn't talking to you

[@DARK24-7]

Kurri scores!!!

[@TheBorderGeek]

May I please suggest the following players (personal favourites of mine 🤷‍♂️) if they haven't been covered already... Theoren Fleury Vinny LeCavalier Johan Hedberg Freddie Brathwaite Georges Laraque Mike Comrie Raffi Torres Thanks for all the vids!

[@hewhoamareismyself]

I hope the Draisaitl arguments will be done in a year or two.

[@terskatti4994]

First finnish hockey superstar and gentleman outside of the rink too

[@ssc00p]

@@matthewdaley746 LUL Great story 😂

[@nhlvan]

Kurri is a legend, sure playing with Gretzky helped, but he himself was one heck of a player to consistently keep up with Gretzky.

[@Loggydogg1]

Kurri signing in Anaheim was pretty much so him and Selänne could play together since Kurri was Selannes idol and Selänne was the new Finnish phenom.

[@Losrandir]

And they both were pissed off because they didn't get on the same line or even the same PP

[@hermannikorianteri]

Kurri 5 cups. Tikkanen 5 cups. Wayne 4 cups. Just who carried who? The more you know...

[@hermannikorianteri]

The jokes aside, maybe one of the greatest defensive wingers ever. So responsible defensively.

[@johngalt2506]

@@matthewdaley746 interesting to point out, the years Gretz wasn't there, Kurri was the #1 scorer on that team.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Tikkanen won with 4 Oilers & 1 Rangers Stanley Cups ! He had even a race horse named after Him !

[@edivadR]

Wayne wouldn't be The so called great one without him IMO

[@sdgakatbk]

He thoroughly deserves to be in the Hall, of course I'm biased towards any player who played in the NHL before I was 30.

[@watcher6935]

I thought Teemu Selanne was called "The Finish Flash". Tisk tisk hockey guy. 😉 Love the Jersey. 👍❤️

[@TheHockeyGuy]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jari_Kurri Kurri has the nickname too.

[@watcher6935]

The Hockey Guy , lol, but when I google "finish flash " the AI picked Teemu first. Oh an I I'm pretty sure Teemu was a faster skater is why he took it over.

[@watcher6935]

Dan Evertt , you do that, and follow the pack off a cliff also when they make a mistake.......just because lots of them are doing it. Lol. I'm bugging him but when it comes to going with something because lots of people are.....that's a mistake. Think for yourself. That's how Germans got into trouble in ww2......at least a 120,000 people agreed with something. Next guys said I'm following the 120,000 who think is is right. That's what's causing so much problems today. Pack followers.

[@santeriautio4996]

Jari on äijä

[@Sempermortis84]

Still top ten in shorties

[@Ultraclassic2009]

Watched him for a lot of years, and Kurri learned to shoot to compliment Gretzky. 99 Drew a crowd to him, and Kurri found the open area and pulled the Trigger. Without a shooter, Gretzky is keyed on, and nobody gets points. Kurri's jump from a great player to a hall of famer begins because he was, more often than not, the first forward back in the defensive zone and he did not give up the puck and cost his team odd man rushes etc. Offence wins fans, but Defence wins Championships.

[@CrueHead18]

You have to put the puck in the net. Assist doesn't matter always.

[@nigelfarage4119]

Favorite as a kid...In my top 5....Should have had at least 1 Selke

[@CrueHead18]

Look at his assists....not just a goal scorer.

[@PAPAIJAKAKKU-gv2ez]

HE WAS AMAZING WITH GRETZKY

[@edivadR]

Jari Kurri the guy who made Gretzky who he is!!!

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

It's the reverse.

[@staalman1226]

@@jeffreykaufmann2867 I mean the commentor is wrong, but you're also completely wrong. You don't score 601 goals in the NHL without being a great player.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@staalman1226 He wouldnt have scored 69 and 70 goals with another player.

[@nickokona6849]

I’m of the mindset that not just anyone can play with the best. Just look at Ty Rattie last year. Given every opportunity with McDavid and couldn’t do it. Draisaitl is the only one on the roster dominant enough to make it worth it playing it’s McDavid.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

I think you have to be pretty good in the first place to play alongside a Gretzky a Lemieux a McDavid. I wouldn't have scored playing with any of those guy.😂

[@WolverineIncognito]

You say that Kurri lost his scoring touch in his 30s and became more of s setup man. Didn’t he play Center for some time in the 90s? (I might be getting him mixed up with someone else.)

[@deryckostashek5852]

Finnish Flash was Selanne.

[@yuvyork6915]

What if Taylor Hall returns to the Oilers in free agency?

[@peppyten5037]

yuvraj khinda He’ll get injured.

[@yuvyork6915]

@@peppyten5037 We need wingers

[@peppyten5037]

yuvraj khinda If we had 8+million in cap space to spend on a winger id prefer someone who is actually going to play and not sit on LTIR

[@Defy5]

Setups in Hockey is not often pure tap-ins. I know a lot of players that wouldn't score 50 goals with Gretzky (or 71 lol). Goals don't score themselfs, It's really unfair to Kurri and a great career.

[@Losrandir]

It's not easy to play together succesfully with a Gretzky it's darn hard and takes someone of the same caliber, who sees the game the same way or it might be a fiasco

[@MaMa-kh7xh]

How many goals Gretzky made with Kurri? Half?

[@johnj8069]

Anybody who has actually played hockey knows that you don't score 40-70 goals in a season in the NHL without being a great player. If you score more than 30 goals you are pretty damn good, no matter who is your linemate.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Every time I see someone saying that a 30 goal scorer only got there because of their linemate, I think of how many years the Sedins couldn't find chemistry with a third member of their line. Anson Carter clicked, then left. Burrows clicked after that. Other than those two names, there were Steve Bernier, Trent Klatt, and eventually Loui Eriksson experiments that failed to generate the same results. Not just anyone can score with a gifted player.

[@xodgamer3515]

Do a video about Henrik Zetterberg’s career

[@markfeland2285]

Jarri was a consummate sniper, as good as anyone

[@sksaddrakk5183]

I think criticism towards Kurri is kinda not giving credit where credit is due... yes, Gretzky was the best set up men of all times and leagues and could even make a blind in a wheel chair score (no offence to differently abled people intended)... However, wihtout a 'killer instinct' in front of the net, not even 99 could have made anyone score so many goals... I also want to put it in, that opponents D would focus on Wayne's line mates, since it was futile to try and get him under control... so you have the Grinders and D-Men breathing down your neck and still keep your cool to score...

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I feel that way about Draisaitl too. He scored 50 last year and the criticism is that he played so much with McDavid. I don't think that takes away from Leon at all. Being able to click with a superstar player like 87 or 99 isn't a given.

[@tomchamberlain4329]

@@TheHockeyGuy It's so obvious Draisaitl is a great player in his own right, just watch him!

[@Zak6959]

It’s a team sport man.

[@j.k.kaisla1431]

Selanne is Finnish flash.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I have a pinned comment on this video which points out Kurri had the nickname first.

[@TripleAlfafa]

You probably should do a bunch of reading in to the history of Jokerit, since he started out his professional career there and these days, he's the owner of that team. They're under some financial strains due to previous owners being a bunch of sleazy Russian oligarchs who only managed to buy it off Harkimo because he started a political career and wanted some extra capital ASAP.

[@riissanen93]

Would have Gretzky been as good without Kurri? Maybe, maybe not. This is all very interesting to think about but in the end of the day, we rly cant say for sure. Same goes vice versa.

[@KippariVille]

Woah woah woah "Finnish flash"!?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Yes, he had that nickname first.

[@KippariVille]

@@TheHockeyGuy Well, dang. Had no idea.

[@JeffCfreeradiorevolution]

Answer = it was both...

[@jordanmccallum8132]

Kurri Would have always been great.

[@pupeEETR]

Hi

[@butchcassidy8199]

NeXT Saku?

[@brucewestcott7839]

Come on, Shanon. As already pointed out, Kurri was never called the Finnish Flash. That was Selanne.

[@schnitzler5844]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jari_Kurri

[@TheHockeyGuy]

He was called that first. Selanne had the name after.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Another example. thehockeywriters.com/happy-birthday-to-the-finnish-flash-jari-kurri/ I accept your apology.

[@vinnykurri17]

Sounds like youre trying to convince yourself Jari wouldnt have been as good without Wayne. Kurri would have been great not good in any era without 99. It was the perfect storm when he and Wayne were put together. Rather than cast that seed of doubt why not embrace the fact that they complimented each other perfectly.

[@uj5436]

coca cola

[@CrueHead18]

All goals? He had some assists too didn't he?

[@megarollxrgmbroadcasting91]

No views 6 likes. Makes sense. I completely forgot Kurri was a duck lol

[@Ihatecensorship1]

Neil Smith gave away future perennial defensive rock Mattias Norstrom and scrappy do or die Ian Laperriere for the corpse of Jari Kurri, Shane Churla, and Marty McSorley. One of the worst trades in Ranger history and sadly gives me a bad taste when I think of Jari Kurri.

[@Mineav]

How many goals does Ovechkin have assisted vs unassisted? Guy has been a total leech off his team mates.

[@patch8376]

RFAs take warning. Kurri was never the same after holding out a whole year playing in another, lesser league, and holding out part of a season very clearly negatively affected Nylander, for how long we don't know yet.

[@henkkaaazzz]

He bought finnish khl hockey team that plays in icehall owned by russian oligark

[@polarbear3589]

What happened to Kurri in 96 in his brief stint with the Rangers? He was God awful in New York. I guess he was just washed up. Very disappointing.

[@Zenkka]

I want to meet an Asian person that pronounces his name Jali Kulli

[@Fwasfus]

Mites nää torien varailut? Yks on jo, THG Square tortilla on avattu. Torille siis. And in English: Torille = To the market square. A term born or established in ‘95 after Finland winning the Škoda (World championships) Cup for the first time. So if you see “TORILLE”, “TORILLA TAVATAAN” or “TORTILLAT AVATAAN” on KZbin or on Twitch, something Finnish related is going on. Ie. music, video or even a hockey player

[@zigfield723]

Omg again with the Draisitl bullshit. Think you need to give it up man. It's nonsense. 50 goals and 100 points doesn't just happen for no reason, and for a 3rd overall pick?? Yes he part-time's with the best player in the world... Get over it. End. Stop.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

No. Never stop.

[@zigfield723]

@@allsystemsgo8678 ...Says someone who's very jealous he's not on your team lol

[@zigfield723]

@@matthewdaley746 Yeah it's quite clear at this point the jealousy towards Edmonton having McDavid and Draisitl is a fact. People just can't stand it.

[@BvG_Venom]

Why is every elite Finn nicknamed the Flying Finn or the Finnish Flash?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

because people like alliteration.

[@TripleAlfafa]

With the Flying Finn, it was originally applied to the rather excellent bunch of runners Finland produced. People like Paavo Nurmi, Hannes Kolehmainen and so on in the early 20th century. After that, it was more of a thing for all the rally drivers, motorcyclists and F1 champions creating a saying in the motorsports community of "If you want to win, hire a Finn".

[@foursights]

Product of the greatest player of all time, still a good player but not as good across his career as Oilers fans make him to be. Very evident when he went to LA

[@stevewheaton7218]

Yari Kurri is definatly an all time Top 100. It can be argued that he helped in making Gretzky the player he was.

[@max27stoner]

Steve Wheaton he’s easily in Top 100. More like in Top 50!

[@max27stoner]

Matthew Daley what makes you say that?

[@romaliop]

Which of them won the cup without the other, though?