When you look at the career numbers of Adam Oates, you wonder why it took so long for him to get into the Hockey Hall of Fame. With three Assists titles, and over 1,400 career points, Oates career numbers are easily Hall of Fame worthy. However Oates never played for a championship team, nor was he really associated with any one team as the longest he ever played for one franchise was a near six season stint with the Washington Capitals. Still, you can’t deny a Hall of Fame slot for a man with over 1,000 career assists, as there were few purer playmakers in the game of Hockey.

The first ever European born number one NHL Draft Pick did not disappoint in the professional ranks. The Swedish born superstar would become one of the greatest hockey players that his country ever produced, and he would become a hero in Sweden and a star in Toronto, the Mecca of the hockey world. Sadly, Mats Sundin was often the lone bright spot for another wise bad team, and he never really came close to winning the Stanley Cup; though he did win the Olympic Gold Medal late in his career in 2006. The two time Second Team All Star finished with a very good 1,349 career points in roughly the same amount (1,346) of games and despite his quiet demeanor was considered one of the great leaders of all time.

A major part of the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup wins in 1997, 1998 and 2002, Brendan Shanahan was a prolific sniper who was known for his grit and determination. Shanahan would win the King Clancy Award in 2003 and was a three time Post Season NHL All Star Selection.

If you go by just totals in the NHL, you wouldn’t think that a total of 384 points over seven seasons equates to a Hall of Fame career. However, in the case of Sergei Makarov his professional career did not start until he was thirty one years old. Prior to that, Makarov was one of the most dynamic forces for the Soviet Union; the nation that scared the world on the ice and off. Makarov was part of the feared KLM line (with Igor Larinov & Vladimir Krutov) which was considered the best line in International hockey.