As one of the toughest members of the 1970s Boston Bruins (which really says something), Terry O’Reilly was a rough enforcer who was able to score. The emotional leader of Boston was a rugged protector of skilled players, but he himself enjoyed a pair of 70-point-plus seasons and was an underrated defender. With 606 career points, Terry O’Reilly likely does not have the overall statistics for serious consideration from the Hall.  Still, his number was retired by Boston, an honor that he certainly deserved.

Like many Canadians of his era, Flash Hollett was a two-sport athlete (Lacrosse and Hockey). Thankfully for the Boston Bruins, Hollett, who focused on hockey, was among the first defensemen comfortable with rushing the ice. Flash held some of the early scoring records for defensemen. Because Hollett achieved his greatest offensive output during the war-depleted years of World War II, he does not receive as much respect as he likely should. Regardless, Flash Hollett was an effective player in the early years of the NHL and may still yet be considered by the Hall one day.

Was Kevin Stevens a superstar forward in the shadow of Mario Lemieux, or was he only a superstar because of Lemieux? Many asked that question as Kevin Stevens topped over 100 points twice and was among the league leaders. The answer may have been somewhere in between. Stevens may not have reached those plateaus without Mario, but he was far from a pylon either. By 1995, injuries had really slowed him down, and he went from superstar to salary liability seemingly overnight. His good years were very good, but there likely weren't enough of them to grant him entry.

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. Although he was a clutch goal scorer, his gentlemanly play, which while respected, did not exactly make him stand out. Had he been able to do so, the multiple-time All-Star would have had a much better shot at induction.