Hockey
Established in 1943, and currently based in Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a quite simply a tribute to those who achieved excellence in hockey. Criticized by some for their failure to recognize international stars, the WHA, women and the high amount of players inducted from the Original Six era, the Hockey Hall of Fame is still one of the most impressive facilities despite its lack of size. The rich history of hockey is certainly well represented there. For our list, we have focused on players as opposed to the builders and journalists categories; although we have included some people whom we felt could not be ignored. Current enshrinement for players is based on receiving fourteen votes out of an eighteen member committee. In terms of NHL players, it is based on being out of the league for three years. We have selected one hundred figures of hockey (though honestly only a handful really has a reasonable shot) and again we encourage debate as to who you feel deserves enshrinement in Toronto.
Until Then, keep your stick on the ice.
Sincerely,
The Not in Hall of Committee.
A very potent offensive defenseman, Steve Duchesne went from undrafted to playing sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League. That in itself was an impressive feat, but Duchesne would be an NHL All-Star three times and would finish fifth in Norris Trophy voting twice.
One of the better two-way defensemen in Hockey, Ed Jovanovski was not the player who would put up monster point totals, but he would contribute and consistently shut down attackers. He is also one of those great teammates who did all the little things well, automatically making your team better. In…
Although Ken Hodge got off to a slow start in the NHL, a trade to the Boston Bruins saw him reach new heights on a line with the legendary Phil Esposito. Hodge was able to show off his offensive abilities, and he was a great compliment to the other Bruins,…
From the Original Six, Sid Smith was a consistent star for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 50’s. Smith was a solid 20-goal scorer (a big deal for that era), but it always seemed that whenever Smith would put the puck in the net, it would be in pivotal situations.…
Physical stay-at-home defenseman don’t get a lot of love outside of their home, but home fans know the value they bring. This is why there was never any issue regarding the limited offense that Terry Harper brought to the table.
Born in South Africa but raised in Canada, Olaf Kolzig had a pretty good career in the National Hockey League where he played all but his final season with the Washington Capitals. “Olie the Goalie” would get into a grove in his seventh season where he finished fifth in Vezina…
John Ogrodnick was at his best when he played for the Detroit Red Wings in the first half of the 1980s, which was where he went to five All-Star Games. Unfortunately for Ogrodnick, Detroit was not particularly good when he played there, but while he was in Motown, he was…
While the term of having a lot of heart is applied to athletes a lot, almost to the point of being a cliché, you can’t say that about Saku Koivu.
The talented Slovakian player was a very good scorer in the National Hockey League and in International play, but Pavol Demitra is probably best known these days for his tragic end. Demitra was killed in the tragic plane crash that killed the entire Lokomotiv squad from the Russian League. We…
One of two players that won the Hart Trophy without being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Al Rollins would win the Hart in 1954, a season in which he actually led the NHL in Losses. Rollins then played for the Chicago Blackhawks, which were then the worst team…
Dustin Brown played his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Kings, debuting for the squad in 2003 and playing in SoCal until 2022. A natural leader, the native of Ithaca, New York, was L.A.'s 12th Overall Pick in 2003, quickly making the team and consistently being one of the team's…
Jim Neilson spent the majority of his career with the New York Rangers, where he studied under the great Doug Harvey and mentored a young Brad Park. Part Cree, known as “Chief,” was an underrated presence in the league. He represented the Rangers twice in the All-Star Game and was…
In the National Hockey League, Ziggy Palffy did not have the pleasure of playing for many good teams, as he was only in the playoffs for three of his twelve seasons in North America. Still, in a career split with the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings (and a…
Garry Galley may not leap off the page as someone who had a really good career in the NHL, but this was a player who had an even 600 Points, an excellent number for a blueliner. Galley was a two-time All-Star who played well over 1,100 Games professionally. The blueliner’s…
Although he was shocked to find he was traded to Montreal, Kirk Muller did not dwell on it for long. Much like he did in New Jersey, Muller was a star, putting points in the stats column without missing much ice time. Muller was a six-time all-star and was among…
While John Ross Roach may not have led the NHL in Goals Against Average, he was a workhorse for years. Roach played every game in the net for nine of his fourteen NHL seasons with a very good career GAA of 2.80. Twice leading the league in Wins, Roach was…
The NHL expansion sure was a friend to Bill White, as at the age of 28, he found a spot with the Los Angeles Kings and would emerge as their top blueliner. White’s skills would increase into his 30s, and a trade to the Chicago Blackhawks would see him make…
Somehow, Ed Litzenberger has not been remembered for his accomplishments in hockey despite having a resume chock-full of accomplishments. Traded from the loaded (or gifted, depending on your point of view) Montreal Canadiens in his rookie season, Litzenberger would win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.
A good offensive defenseman, Dan Boyle, came into his own late in his career. Boyle became a two-time All-Star (and a second-team postseason All-Star selection) after he helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win a Stanley Cup in 2004. Had Boyle come into his own in his early twenties, he may…
A very good power forward, Owen Nolan, combined skill and strength to create a solid career in the National Hockey League. Nolan had over 400 goals (and 400 assists) and was a staple on many power play units in his career. As good as he was, Nolan was not always…