69. Don Marshall

Known for his strong defensive skills as a hockey player, Don Marshall did not necessarily come by those skills naturally. Upon joining the loaded Montreal Canadians, he was asked to focus on the defensive and checking attributes. It worked, and as Marshall would venture across various teams he was able to use these new-found skills while still able to contribute on offense. A quiet leader and a dependable asset, he was always considered a great teammate. He won’t make the Hall, but at some point, it would be nice if he received a few props from some of the teams he played for in the past.

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214. Jim Thomson

Jimmy Thomson was the flashier of the “Gold Dust Twins” but along with his partner Gus Mortson, he provided the defensive backbone for the Toronto Maple Leafs for many years.  Like Mortson, Thomson was a very rugged player but he was a better passer then his defensive partner and he would have five seasons of 20 or more Assists.  He would anchor the Leafs to four Stanley Cups and individually he was a two-time Second Team All Star and was a three time leader in Defensive Point Shares.

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101. Dave “Tiger” Williams

Before Tiger Woods jumped upon the golf world, the most famous sports feline was that of Dave “Tiger” Williams. The rugged enforcer set the career mark for most penalty minutes of all time, and chances are if you saw a game with Tiger in it, he would be watching the game too from the confines of the penalty box. Williams was not juts a thug, he was actually a capable scorer who netted 35 goals one year and finished with 513 points in his career. Not bad for someone who was barely on the ice.

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27. Vladimir Konstantinov

It might seem a little laughable now, but there was a time that all Russian players were considered soft. Vladimir Konstantinov may have been part of the 1980’s Soviet Red Army team but he was a man who was seemingly bred for the NHL as he was anything but “soft”. Konstantinov had an instant impact on the pros with the Red Wings. He was literally a pest who made it exceptionally difficult for opponents to score. This was reflected by his high plus/minus tallies. Konstantinov’s last season saw him as the Norris Trophy runner up and hoist the Stanley Cup. Less than a week after that triumph, Konstantinov was in a horrible limousine accident that put him in a coma and literally put him in the fight of his life. Needless to say, Vladimir never played again, though if he had it can be argued that he might be a much stronger candidate for induction than he is now.

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87. Bob Goldham

Called the “second goalie” for his penchant for throwing himself in front of the puck to stop any offensive burst, Bob Goldham was one of the premier defenders of his era. Goldham's career started a little late as he was a member of the Canadian Navy during World War II, but upon his return to the professional game, there was little doubt that he was among the best at pure defensive hockey. Goldham became best known to many for his work with the CBC during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts in the ’70s. Maybe it is that combination of on and off ice work that could help him reach the Hall.

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80. Mike Liut

A very good goalie that lost out on the Hart trophy to Wayne Gretzky in 1981, Mike Liut seemed destined for a stellar career after his amazing 1980-81 season. That year he won the Lester B. Pearson award (MVP as selected by their peers) and would be the starting goalie for the 1981 Canada Cup Canadian contingent. Liut’s career tapered off and he was unable to keep up the prediction that so many made about him in the early 80’s. Still, he racked up 294 career NHL wins and was one of the top net minders of the 1980’s.

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194. Anders Hedberg

Along with Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg would become one of the first European stars in the North America when the pair joined the Winnipeg Jets who were then with the World Hockey Association.  Hedberg would be named the Lou Kaplan Trophy winner as the WHA’s version of the rookie of the year and was a Second Team All Star who scored 53 Goals and an even 100 Points.  Hedberg would go on an incredible run as a Jet as their top goal scorer where he would put the puck in the net 50, 70 and 63 times in the next three years, the 70 being league leading.  The Swedish sensation would be a First Team All-WHA selection all three of those years and he is the all-time leader in the World Hockey Association in Goals per Game.

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247. Keith Primeau

A fifteen-year veteran of the National Hockey League, Keith Primeau probably would have had a few more had it not been for post concussion syndrome.  Primeau was known to be a player who was good at almost every aspect of his game (not necessarily great, just very good) and he was a two time NHL All Star who would have four 60 Point Seasons.  Primeau would also represent Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and 1998 Olympics.
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153. Danny Gare

Though the focus on the 1970’s Buffalo Sabres lied with the French Connection line, Danny Gare showcased a few seasons that matched what any sniper was doing at the time. Gare enjoyed a pair of 50 goal seasons and was even the co-goal scoring champion in the 1979-1980 campaign. The scrappy star’s game tailed off after being traded to Detroit, but Gare had enough impact to have his jersey retired in Buffalo. It is unlikely though, he can receive a similar accolade in the Hockey Hall in Toronto.

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