Hockey
Established in 1943, and currently based in Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a quite simply a tribute to those who achieved excellence in hockey. Criticized by some for their failure to recognize international stars, the WHA, women and the high amount of players inducted from the Original Six era, the Hockey Hall of Fame is still one of the most impressive facilities despite its lack of size. The rich history of hockey is certainly well represented there. For our list, we have focused on players as opposed to the builders and journalists categories; although we have included some people whom we felt could not be ignored. Current enshrinement for players is based on receiving fourteen votes out of an eighteen member committee. In terms of NHL players, it is based on being out of the league for three years. We have selected one hundred figures of hockey (though honestly only a handful really has a reasonable shot) and again we encourage debate as to who you feel deserves enshrinement in Toronto.
Until Then, keep your stick on the ice.
Sincerely,
The Not in Hall of Committee.
Craig Anderson had an extraordinary 20-year career in the National Hockey League, but his remarkable achievements may have gone unnoticed in the sport's history. Anderson was drafted by his hometown team, the Blackhawks, in the Third Round in 2001. He later played for Florida and Colorado before being traded to…
Arriving in the NHL at 28, Mark Streit came in as a brilliant swing player whose offensive sensibilities from the blueline made him a very effective two-way player. Streit would really come into his own as a member of the New York Islanders and would earn the distinction of being…
One of the most physical players of his day (which says an awful lot!) Phil Russell was also a very capable playmaker. One of the few players to play over 1,000 Games with 2,000 Penalty Minutes, Russell was a power play expert who knew how to use his strength and…
Many say Jay Bouwmeester is one of the most gifted skaters in hockey history. We have to agree, and would gladly add that Bouwmeester is one of the more underrated players in the game. The Canadian Defenseman was the third overall pick in 2002 by Florida, and was an All-Rookie after…
Alex Tanguay would score 863 Points in the National Hockey League, which is no small feat considering he played in the dead puck era.
It is hard for many fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins to imagine this now, but for many years in the pre-Mario Lemieux era, Western Pennsylvania did not have a very good professional hockey team, and they almost lost their franchise. One of the few bright spots of the Pens was…
There was not a lot to cheer for if you were a fan of the Atlanta Flames, but the second-place finisher for the Calder Trophy in 1973-74 gave you a reason to come out to the arena.
Bob Murray played his entire NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was named a two-time All-Star. Murray was never ever considered among the upper echelon of NHL Defenceman, but this was a hockey player who was in the league for 1,008 Games and it was all with one…
Glen Wesley was a veteran of 20 years in the National Hockey League and, with 1,457 Games Played, is one of only a handful of players who tallied that many shifts and is not in the Hall of Fame.
From Czechoslovakia, Robert Lang had a very good career in the National Hockey League, although it took him some time to really find his groove. In his late 20s, Lang came into his own with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and in his third season there at age 30, he had an…
Martin Straka, from the Czech Republic, had a long career in the NHL. Straka had a pair of 80 Point Seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins and two 70 Point Seasons for the New York Rangers over his career, and he would tabulate 717 Points overall in his career. Straka was…
Winning the Calder Trophy in 1973, Steve Vickers would play his entire career with the New York Rangers. Vickers would have three 30 Goal Seasons, his best being a 41 Goal campaign where he finished ninth overall and was named a Second Team All-Star. The Right Wing would play in…
Wade Redden is best known for his long tenure with the Ottawa Senators, where he anchored their blueline expertly for years. With excellent two-way skills. Redden would receive Norris Trophy votes six times and was also an All-Star in 2002. Much of the success of Ottawa’s excellent teams of the…
Geoff Courtnall had a nice career in hockey, scoring 799 Points with four seasons of 70+ points. This was very impressive, considering that Geoff was undrafted and was known, not always affectionately, as Russ Courtnall’s older brother.
From Banff, Alberta, Ryan Smyth would play for his home province, the Edmonton Oilers, for the first eleven and a half seasons of his career. Smyth would become one of the Oilers’ top scorers, known for his determination and scoring ability. Smyth would have three 30 Goal seasons for the…
Felix Potvin is best known in hockey for his run with the Toronto Maple Leafs, during which he backstopped the franchise to deep playoff runs in the early 1990s. Known as “The Cat”, Potvin would go to two All-Star Games (1994 & 1997), but his best year took place in…
In a 15-year NHL career, Jyrki Lumme enjoyed considerable success on the blueline. Lumme, who played nine of his seasons with the Vancouver Canucks was often regarded as the team’s top defenceman and he would have four 40 Point seasons with the team. Lumme was never an All-Star, though he…
Scott Hartnell was a very popular, tenacious player during his National Hockey League career, earning All-Star honors in 2012 while a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. It was when he was with Philly that his job was at its apex, as he had a pair of 30 Goal seasons there…
Undersized at 5 7”, Steve Sullivan used every pound he had in his small frame to make a productive career in pro hockey. Sullivan was a crafty playmaker who secured seven 60 Point seasons in a career that spanned 1,011 Games. Sullivan had his highest point totals with Chicago, but…
Nearly a Point per Game player over his NHL career (751 Points in 760 Games), Craig Janney might very well claim one of the best players never to make an All-Star Game. Janney was a brilliant playmaker who at times was one with the puck, and he would finish in…