1979 Challenge Cup - NHL's Best Not Enough Against Soviets

In the February 23rd, 1979 The Hockey News, Charlie Halpin suggested the NHL set itself up for disatrous failure by icing its best without any practice time or game plans.

The National Hockey League is faced with a new dilemma after their crushing defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union - where do they go from here?

It would seem the NHL had all the 'big stars,' hockey's top bananas as far as player wealth was concerned, but it all boiled down to one thing - they didn't have a system. The Soviets did.

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