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.
Barry Pederson was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in 1982 when he had a 92-Point Season for the Boston Bruins. In the next two years, he had 107 and 116 Points, respectively, both of which earned him a trip to the All-Star Game. He was fifth and sixth in…
From Massachusetts, Robbie Ftorek went undrafted in the NHL but would play a handful of games for the Detroit Red Wings after being part of a surprise Silver Medal United States Olympic Team in 1972. Ftorek would join the Phoenix Roadrunners of the World Hockey Association where he shocked fans…
Sweden produces some of the world’s best hockey players but there was a time where it was believed that Scandinavians could not cut the mustard in North America. Ulf Nilsson helped changed that perception.
While Jean-Sebastien Giguere only finished as high as fourth place in Vezina Trophy voting (2007-08) he will always be known for his playoff performances with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Mighty Ducks. It was in the 2003 Playoffs where Giguere took the lower seed Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals…
Known for his seriousness, discipline and overall toughness Bobby Holik came from Czechoslovakia to the National Hockey League where after two seasons with the Hartford Whalers he found a real home with the New Jersey Devils. Holik would play for the Devils for ten straight seasons where he would score…
When you think of players who led the National Hockey League in Goals there is a pretty good chance that Blaine Stoughton is not one of the ones you think of. He accomplished that with 56 Goals the 1979/80 season, which was the season that the New England Whalers became…
Dave Kerr began his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Maroons, the New York Americans and he went back to the Maroons but was traded by the cash strapped team to the New York Rangers where he would become one of the top Goalies in the last half of…
The Kansas City Scouts selected Wilf Paiement second overall in the Amateur Draft in 1974 and he was able to crack the roster instantly of this expansion team. As the Scouts relocated to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies, Paiement would see his scoring improve and he had a pair…
Jimmy Thomson was the flashier of the “Gold Dust Twins” but along with his partner Gus Mortson, he provided the defensive backbone for the Toronto Maple Leafs for many years. Like Mortson, Thomson was a very rugged player but he was a better passer then his defensive partner and he…
Dave Ellett averaged nearly half a point per game over his 1,129 Game NHL career, most of which was spent with the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ellett, who was a two-time All-Star, was part of the leadership contingent for the Leafs team in the early 1990’s, which…
Don Beaupre may have lost more games than he won, but considering he played two seasons for a horrific Ottawa Senators expansion team early in his career, perhaps we can cut him some slack on that one.
Art Chapman is easily forgotten by many as his greatest exploits took place for the New York Americans, a team that has not existed in close to a century, however this is a two time Assists leader who in the mid 1930’s was in the upper echelon of playmaking ability. …
One of the fastest players of his day, Hec Kilrea began his career with the Ottawa Senators where in the 1929/30 season he had a 58 Point season over a 44 Game campaign, which was good enough for fifth overall that year. Kilrea won a Stanley Cup with the Senators…
Petr Sykora enjoyed a very nice career in the National Hockey League where the gifted two way player where he played 1,017 Games and more importantly won two Stanley Cups. Sykora won the first with the New Jersey Devils, the team where he had three consecutive 65 Point Seasons (1988-89…
Considered one of the early tough guys in North American hockey, Ken Randall would lead the NHL in Penalty Minutes in the inaugural season of the National Hockey League. Randall would play both Right Wing and Defense and he was a two time Stanley Cup Champion with Toronto (1918 &…
A fifteen-year veteran of the National Hockey League, Keith Primeau probably would have had a few more had it not been for post concussion syndrome. Primeau was known to be a player who was good at almost every aspect of his game (not necessarily great, just very good) and he…
Cliff Ronning was considered by some to be a flashy player in terms of his skill though he always seemed to be overshadowed by bigger names. Ronning’s best run was with the Vancouver Canucks where he had four 60 Point seasons and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals in…
A member of the Montreal Canadiens 1916 Stanley Cup Championship team when it was won when they were in the National Hockey Association, Bert Corbeau would have a few distinct firsts in the NHL. Corbeau was the first player to play for both the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs,…
Already a Stanley Cup Champion (with Chicago) when Dustin Byfuglien was traded to the Thrashers in what would be their last year in Atlanta, he was moved back to his natural blueline position and essentially became a more valuable hockey player. In that lone year in Atlanta, Byfuglien scored 53 Points and…
Brian Gionta was a good two way player over his sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League and everywhere he went he was lauded for his leadership. This includes his pre-NHL days where he was the captain of his Boston College team that would win the NCAA Championship.