Although we have covered players who returned to the ice after they were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and owners who completely should have been kicked out after they were inducted, we now have a builder who continued to have a Hall of Fame career AFTER he was inducted.

As the goal scoring machine for the New York Islanders dynasty, Mike Bossy won the Calder Trophy in 1978 and spent the next nine seasons lighting the red lamp on a frequent basis. Bossy would become the second player to net fifty goals in fifty games and would hit the half-century mark in his first nine NHL seasons. More importantly, Bossy would lead his Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups.

Contrary to what you might think, the first Defenceman to hit 1,000 points was not Bobby Orr. That accolade goes to Denis Potvin who was the anchor behind the New York Islanders success. Potvin was the first overall pick by the Isles, who were a struggling expansion team. He won the Calder Trophy, and was a two way superstar throughout his career. Potvin would become a three time Norris Trophy and five time First Team All Star in his career, but the pinnacle was the four consecutive Stanley Cups that the Islanders captured in the early 1980’s. The Hall of Fame ceremony had to be an extra special one for Potvin, as the ceremony was in Ottawa, where he grew up, and his Class included longtime teammate, Mike Bossy.

The fourth Veterans Category inductee is another that we are bit on the fence on.   Clint Smith was a good player for the New York Rangers and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1940. Smith was known for his playmaking and gentlemanly play winning the Lady Byng in 1939. Smith found his way to Chicago and was on a dream line with Bill Mosienko and Doug Bentley and led the NHL in assists in 1944 and won his second Lady Byng. Overall, Clint Smith had a very productive career, but we have to question whether it was a Hall of Fame one.