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 real offensive proficiency. Upon becoming a Philadelphia Flyer, LeClair really began to use his size and mobility. 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 did John LeClair’s Broad Street tenure do enough to secure a spot.

In the world of the National Hockey League, you wouldn’t normally think that any player who amassed over 3,000 career penalty minutes could potentially have over 1,000 points but the notorious Dale Hunter is currently the only player to have accomplished this feat. Hunter may not have led the league in scoring but he was able to score 70 or more points six times in his career and did achieve some level of consistency in that department. He was a tenacious player who you never wanted to face on the ice but would be glad to have on your side. He was a true leader and in many ways symbolic of many hockey players (one of the nicest guys you could meet off the ice and a real beast on it). His overall statistics may not show a Hall of Fame career, but Dale Hunter may have had just enough intangibles to receive a peek from the Hockey Hall of Fame committee.

Arguably the best player to come out of the hockey rich state of Minnesota, Neal Broten did not just come from the Gopher State; he played virtually his entire career there. Broten played his collegiate hockey for the University of Minnesota and played the bulk of his career for the Minnesota North Stars. The American Center was part of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team and although he never did get a Stanley Cup Ring in Minnesota, he did gain that accolade with the Devils in 1995. Although Broten failed to get 1,000 career points, he did get more than 60 assists four times in a season and with his Collegiate and International play, he has to be considered a wild card possibility to enter the Hall.

Should someone compile a list of the best all time hockey players from Sweden, Kent Nilsson often gets left out. Nilsson was a largely forgotten international star whose professional path may have made him the forgotten man. After a few years lighting up the Swedish league, Nilsson joined the WHA and the Winnipeg Jets where he was instantly among that organization’s elite. Upon the merger of the WHA and NHL, Nilsson joined the Flames where in the 1980-81 season he had a career year of 131 points. This remains the record both a Swedish born player and Calgary Flame.