Ed Belfour’s first full season in the National Hockey League was a stellar one as he won the Calder, the Vezina, the William M. Jennings and was a First Team All Star. From that point on, Belfour was considered one of the top Goalies in professional hockey, and though he may not have had a season as good as first, he would have a lot of very good ones winning more awards and putting his teams in Stanley Cup contention, eventually winning the grand prize with the Dallas Stars in 1999.   Belfour would become a first ballot Hockey Hall of Fame entrant in 2011.

Although Doug Gilmour was undersized, the man dubbed “Killer” became one of the most popular players in the National Hockey League due to his tenacious and feisty play. However, Gilmour was not just ferocious, as he was an effective playmaker who three times hit the 100 points mark in a season and was twice the runner up for the most assists. Gilmour was also a top two way star, as he won the Frank J. Selke Award for the top Defensive Forward in the NHL in 1993. It was in those early 90’s that “Dougie” took over the hearts of Toronto Maple Leaf fans, nearly taking them to the Stanley Cup Finals and dazzling everyone with his complete style of play. He may never have made a Post Season All Star Team, but he was a Centre that every team coveted.

Starting off as the Eastern Scout for the New York Islanders in 1972, Jim Devellano gradually worked his way up the ladder in Long Island and with his help the Islanders became a powerhouse and a dynasty in the National Hockey League. Jim would bolt for Detroit and would become their General Manager in 1982, and would remain in the Motown front office for decades and helped the Red Wings win four more Cups.   Seven Stanley Cups for an administrator? It is easy to see why he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A four time All Star Game selection, Dino Ciccarelli was an excellent goal scorer with the Minnesota North Stars who proved many scouts wrong as he went undrafted in 1979. Minnesota was not always a great team, but Dino gave fans hope and a reason to come to the games. He was a feisty (though occasionally controversial) player who would finish his career with an even 1,200 points and over 600 goals. Ciccarelli was often used on the Power Play, and twice would finish second in the NHL in that category. He did however wait a bit before entering the Hockey Hall of Fame likely due to the controversy that surrounded him and the fact that his career plus/minus was a negative two.   With that said, there were many who thought that the Hall waited far too long to induct Dino Ciccarelli.