My top line would probably be:

Forsberg – Crosby – Ovechkin
Pronger – Lidstrom
Brodeur

If I had a whole team:

LW – C – RW
Heatley – Forsberg – Jagr
(Huge Puck Cariers that control play, and can’t be bumped off the puck)
Ovechkin – Crosby – Selanne
(Speed, Scoring, Multiple ways to kill, alltime rookie line of still existing players)
Kovalchuk – Thornton – Cheechoo
(Scoring tandem can’t be ignored, would pick every coner with a second sniper)
Elias – Sakic – Sundin
(Consistancy, and Sundin where he belongs, they are clutch players and GWG scorers)
alternate:Staal

D1 – D2
Pronger – Lidstrom (size/strength, one shooter, one passer)
Chara – Redden (best tandem)
Neidermeyer – Phaneuf (speed, strength, youth tandem)
Alternate:Zidlicky

Goal
Brodeur
Luongo
Alternate: Ward

This actually took some thinking.
Do you take a player who is hot one year, or consistancy. Experience or youth. Canadian vs. Abroad.

I felt the mix was best.

The late seventies early 80s era of hockey was more intune with what is played today than is recognised.

On that note Bossy is a big benchmark to hold Ovechkin too. While he was short in a career span he cannot be laughed off like that. They did not have the technology then that they do now in the ways of equipment or medical treatment, drugs included or aside.

I am a big Ovechkin supporter, but only time will tell if he can compare to Bossy or anyone else in the fame.

As for basing a career on a rookie campaign thats pretty dangerous. Selanne never lasted his rookie effort (best of all time), Alexandre Daigle was heavily touted and then busted along with many others. Don’t forget Yashin, whom was great and then – Kirplunk!

Not too mention Ovechkin gets way more icetime (as well he should) than most players, or star players, and has similar protectionism as Gretzky was touted to have. As does Crosby. And before the bragging or Ovechkin physical play gets tossed around, take note that Crosby had almost double the penalty minutes. Whom do you think is more willing to get physical ?

Not a big favourite either way on the Crosby/Ovechkin tandem but either one of these guys has huge shoes to fill when you compare them with some of the all time greats.

The Gretzkys, the Lemeiuxs, the Orrs, The Richards, The Bossys, The Sittlers, The Espisitos, (just off the top of my head) are some great company to begin to inlcude them in. First and foremost they have to last.

OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!
OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!
OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!
OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!
OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!

WSamsanov
C Peca
W Pisani

W Grier
C Drury
W J. Blake

D Smith (A)
D Pronger

D Leetch
D Leapold

D Chelios (C)

BACK UP: Wade Dublewitz

for teh first part of the comment

Lidstrom Pronger
Chara Redden
Nedermayer Jovo

Brodeur
Luongo

still get 6 more players due to 23 player rosters so in the press box ummm Kiprusoff, Phaneuf, Zubov, Zetterberg, Crosby, Cheechoo

plus id have 1st over pick in the draft and id take Staal, to go with prospects Shremp, and Gilbert Brule in the minors

Id personally coach the team have Scotty Bowman there as an advisor