Although Craig Patrick had a healthy playing career in the 1970’s, it was in the builder’s category that he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame. Patrick first became known for his behind the bench work as the Assistant Coach for the United States Miracle on Ice Team that won the 1980 Olympics. Patrick would later become the Director of Hockey Operations for the New York Rangers, and would also coach them for two separate stints; however it was his work in Pittsburgh that got him into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Walter Bush was one of the great administrators in American Hockey history.  Bush was part of a group that formed the Central Hockey League and was instrumental in helping to bring the NHL (in the form of the Minnesota North Stars) to his home state.  Bush would also become the President of U.S.A. Hockey for nearly two decades and was a key figure in bringing women’s hockey to the Olympics.   We will forgive him for that last achievement.

No matter how many other Americans hit the 500 goal and/or 1,000 point mark in the NHL, Joe Mullen will always have the honor of being the first.  Mullen was a dependable forward for multiple NHL teams and hit the 40 goal mark six times.  He was a pesky player, whose ability to evade attackers and avoid trouble made him a valuable player and earned him two Lady Byngs.  Mullen’s best achievement of course, was his three Stanley Cups; one with Calgary in 1989, and two with the Mario Lemieux led Pittsburgh Penguins.  He would join the Hockey Hall of Fame, two years after his selection to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

A brilliant playmaking Centre, Denis Savard was an over a point per game player throughout his career.  He had his best efforts while playing with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980’s and would hit the 100 point mark on five occasions.  The gifted forward would often find unique way to get the puck to his teammates, or put it in the net.  Basically, this was a player made for the sports highlight reel.  Savard would reach his pinnacle in his home province as he was able to raise the Stanley Cup as a member of the Montreal Canadians in 1993.  The flashy French Canadian entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.