Patrick Roy was one of the greatest goaltenders that ever lived. Like Ken Dryden did fifteen years before, Roy came out of nowhere to become the starting netminder for the Montreal Canadians and took them to a Stanley Cup in 1986. The difference though, is that the 1986 team had no real business winning that trophy, and had it not been for the emergence of “Saint Patrick” it would not have happened. The same could have been said for the Montreal team that won in 1993; as again Roy backstopped a squad that probably would not have come close without him. Roy was beloved in Montreal and was certifiably amongst the best goalies in the NHL, but even legends have an off night.

The architect of the “Miracle on Ice”, Herb Brooks assembled and coached the United States to the impossible: a Gold Medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics which included a semi-final victory over the most powerful International Team in Hockey, The Soviet Union. That alone is worth enshrinement to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but Brooks did have a decent run as the Head Coach of the New York Rangers and coached the Americans to a Silver Medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Herb Brooks was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006.

Harley Hotchkiss was part of the consortium that brought (or rescued) the Flames from Atlanta and brought them to Calgary. He also worked to build the Saddledome, which was built for the Calgary Flames and served as the Hockey venue for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Likely what secured Hotchkiss’ Hall of Fame induction was his long serving tenure as the Chairman on the NHL’s Board of Governors. We will wager without that last role on his resume, he would not have gotten in.

Dick Duff was a very good player who was on six Stanley Cup winning rosters, but for a forward his overall points total was decent but perhaps not Hall of Fame worthy based on his era. However, his points per game increased in the post season, and he was a key contributor on many of those Cups, and not just a bystander. It is not a terrible induction, but it was not exactly a snub had Dick Duff never been included.