gold star for USAHOF

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 bit of a late bloomer in terms of his offensive production, Glen Murray began his career quietly with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins but a trade to the Los Angeles Kings would see him gain two 60 Point seasons in the late 90’s.  He would be traded back…
From Massachusetts, Robbie Ftorek went undrafted in the NHL but would play a handful of games for the Detroit Red Wings after being part of a surprise Silver Medal United States Olympic Team in 1972.  Ftorek would join the Phoenix Roadrunners of the World Hockey Association where he shocked fans…
Barry Pederson was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in 1982 when he had a 92 Point Season for the Boston Bruins and in the next two years he had 107 and 116 Points respectively, both of which earned him a trip to the All-Star Game.  He was fifth and…
Joel Otto came from Elk River, Minnesota where he went starred for Bemidji State University.  Otto would go undrafted but after what must have seen like an eternity, he was signed with the Calgary Flames.  Otto would become a permanent fixture in the pro ranks in the 1985/86 season and…
Known for his seriousness, discipline and overall toughness Bobby Holik came from Czechoslovakia to the National Hockey League where after two seasons with the Hartford Whalers he found a real home with the New Jersey Devils.  Holik would play for the Devils for ten straight seasons where he would score…
When you think of players who led the National Hockey League in Goals there is a pretty good chance that Blaine Stoughton is not one of the ones you think of.  He accomplished that with 56 Goals the 1979/80 season, which was the season that the New England Whalers became…
A fifteen-year veteran of the National Hockey League, Keith Primeau probably would have had a few more had it not been for post concussion syndrome.  Primeau was known to be a player who was good at almost every aspect of his game (not necessarily great, just very good) and he…
Sweden produces some of the world’s best hockey players but there was a time where it was believed that Scandinavians could not cut the mustard in North America.  Ulf Nilsson helped changed that perception.
The Kansas City Scouts selected Wilf Paiement second overall in the Amateur Draft in 1974 and he was able to crack the roster instantly of this expansion team.  As the Scouts relocated to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies, Paiement would see his scoring improve and he had a pair…
Cliff Ronning was considered by some to be a flashy player in terms of his skill though he always seemed to be overshadowed by bigger names.  Ronning’s best run was with the Vancouver Canucks where he had four 60 Point seasons and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals in…
While Jean-Sebastien Giguere only finished as high as fourth place in Vezina Trophy voting (2007-08) he will always be known for his playoff performances with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Mighty Ducks.  It was in the 2003 Playoffs where Giguere took the lower seed Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals…
A member of the Montreal Canadiens 1916 Stanley Cup Championship team when it was won when they were in the National Hockey Association, Bert Corbeau would have a few distinct firsts in the NHL.  Corbeau was the first player to play for both the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs,…
Already a Stanley Cup Champion (with Chicago) when Dustin Byfuglien was traded to the Thrashers in what would be their last year in Atlanta, he was moved back to his natural blueline position and essentially became a more valuable hockey player.  In that lone year in Atlanta, Byfuglien scored 53 Points and…
Brian Gionta was a good two way player over his sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League and everywhere he went he was lauded for his leadership.  This includes his pre-NHL days where he was the captain of his Boston College team that would win the NCAA Championship.
Tod Sloan played a handful of games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the late 1940’s and in the 1950/51 he secured himself not only a permanent place on the roster but proved to be one of the team’s better players helping them win the Stanley Cup that season.  Sloan…
Shayne Corson was a highly regarded player wherever he went.  Corson may never have been an elite scorer but the veteran of 1,156 Games accumulated 693 Points over his career and he was a team captain twice.  Corson was considered a gritty leader who played predominantly for the Montreal Canadiens…
After playing for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks, Bryan McCabe arrived in Toronto where his game reached a much higher level.  Already a good defenceman, McCabe took on more offensive facets to his game and he would have three seasons with the Buds where he scored…
Alexei Zhamnov was a product of the Soviet Union and the Moscow Dynamo and unlike many of his older peers he was able to enter the National Hockey League early in his playing career.
Eric Nesterenko may have barely been a half a point per game forward over his career, but he was a glue guy who was known for his elbows and ability to aggravate opponents and throw them off their game.  He was an important piece in the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup…
Sylvain Cote may not seem like he belongs on this list at all, even if we were just talking about a “Hall of Very Good”.  However this was a player who competed in 1,171 Games in the National Hockey League and was a steadying defensive presence for years in both…