John Vanbiesbrouck’s career may be best described as one of “missing out.” He achieved great success as a New York Ranger, but was outplayed by Mike Richter, who won the starting job, and “Beezer” was shipped out before he could see the Rangers win that elusive Cup. His best work was with the Florida Panthers, where he gave that team “legitimacy” and actually took that team to a Stanley Cup berth, where he again “missed out” on winning. John Vanbiesbrouck seemingly had many very good seasons, but not exactly a great one, or a career-defining moment. His total of 374 career NHL wins is impressive, but he just lacked that intangible that makes it possible for the Hall to keep him out.

Possibly the best player of the New York Islanders dynasty not yet in the Hall of Fame, John Tonelli traveled where others feared to tread. Tonelli was a grinder and was one of the few players who were just as comfortable chasing an open puck as he was digging for it in the corner. Usually, players defined by grit were not known for their scoring touch, but John Tonelli was able to rack up 834 NHL career points. Had he gone to the NHL right away, odds are he would have hit that four-digit plateau.

It is hard to call someone with the skill set of Andy Moog unfortunate, but he did emerge as a star goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers around the same time as Grant Fuhr. As such, Moog did not receive as much playing time in Edmonton as he would have liked, and despite being a valuable component in three Stanley Cup wins, he sought more responsibility elsewhere. He found it in Boston, where he enjoyed the best years of his career, posting personal highs. Moog was known for his outstanding reflexes, and despite being very well-known, he was somewhat underrated. Moog finished off his career with an impressive 372 career wins, and though he played with some outstanding offensive teams, he certainly did his part in between the pipes to earn them.

Some have said that John LeClair got off to a slow start in the NHL. There is certainly a level of truth to that, as his stint with the Habs showed his defensive skill, but not any fundamental offensive proficiency. Upon becoming a Philadelphia Flyer, LeClair began to utilize his size and mobility effectively. He was placed on a line with Eric Lindros and Michael Renberg, and the line dubbed the “Legion of Doom” became a highlight reel staple with their goals and bruising nature. LeClair became the first American to net 50 goals three seasons in a row. The question for the Hall is whether John LeClair’s tenure on Broad Street was enough to secure a spot.