The fourth Veterans Category inductee is another that we are bit on the fence on.   Clint Smith was a good player for the New York Rangers and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1940. Smith was known for his playmaking and gentlemanly play winning the Lady Byng in 1939. Smith found his way to Chicago and was on a dream line with Bill Mosienko and Doug Bentley and led the NHL in assists in 1944 and won his second Lady Byng. Overall, Clint Smith had a very productive career, but we have to question whether it was a Hall of Fame one.

It is not so much that we have an issue with the induction with Bob Pulford, but couldn’t the Hockey Hall of Fame just admit the induction of Pulford was a combination of what he did on the ice and off of it, as frankly he probably is not a Hall of Fame entry without the sum of all of the parts. As a player, he was a five time All Star game participant and helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win four Stanley Cups in the 1960’s. He was an excellent defensive forward, and had a multitude of checks that he mastered to slow attackers. As a Head Coach, he would win the Jack Adams Award (as Coach of the Year) completely turning around the Los Angeles Kings in 1975. Later he would take over the reins in Chicago, and though it was not as good, he still posted a winning record in the Windy City over a seven year period. Overall, the career is a Hall of Fame one, but again we feel it is based on the combination of his on and off ice work.

Arguable the greatest Buffalo Sabre in that franchise’s history, Gilbert Perreault still holds many records for that team. He played his entire professional career in Western New York, and was the leader of its most famous hockey line, The French Connection, that also had Rick Martin and Rene Robert. He dazzled the Buffalo faithful with his offensive skills and brought excitement to the team. Perreault would crack the top ten in scoring five times and finished his career over 1,300 points. Although, he did not win the Stanley Cup in Buffalo, he did take the Sabres to the 1975 Finals and was the major reason for the success that Buffalo had through the 1970’s. Gilbert Perreault remains in high regard in Buffalo and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

This is actually the first Veteran Category induction we like. Fern Flaman was a rough and tumble Defenceman with hard hitting acumen that made him one of the better blueliners of the 1950’s. Flaman entered the NHL early at the age of 18 when World War II thinned the ranks, but he proved he was there to stay when the big boys returned. He was a three time Second Team All Star and suited up in the All Star Game five times. Flaman also showed his leadership, by captaining the Boston Bruins for a solid four year stretch. Although we have been critical of the Hockey Hall of Fame for the previous two Veteran Category inductees, we again state that we like the third.