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.
One of the most interesting Hall of Fame cases belongs to Adam Foote, a player who was never an All-Star in his professional career and never finished higher than tenth in Norris Trophy voting. Despite this, there is no doubt that Foote carried significant value for every team he played…
From Savonlinna, Finland, Tuukka Rask was drafted in the First Round (21st Overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he never played there as he was traded to Boston for fellow Goalie Andrew Raycroft. It was a deal that historically would favor the Bruins, the team in which Rask played his entire…
The last survivor of the Original Six, Wayne Cashman, made the most of what he had. Cashman was not considered a gifted skill player, but he was an adept grinder and the last guy you wanted to fight for a puck in the corners. He was also known as one…
Mats Naslund was a star with the Montreal Canadiens throughout the 1980s, and while Patrick Roy received the bulk of the Habs' offensive credit for the shocking Stanley Cup win in 1986, it was Naslund who was the offensive star of the team. The Swedish star was a Second Team…
Rick Nash was the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, and he would quickly prove to the Columbus Blue Jackets that they made a good selection. As a sophomore, Nash would put he puck in the net 41 times, which was enough to win the Maurice Richard trophy…
Possibly one of the most versatile players in NHL history, Doug Mohns spent the first half of his career as a defenseman with the Boston Bruins. In Beantown, Mohns had a flair for offense and was able to help his team at that side of the ice. Later, Mohns was…
Just how incredible was 2004 for Brad Richards? The product of Prince Edward Island won the Conn Smythe Award (with 7 Game Winning Goals) as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping to bring the Tampa Bay Lightning their first taste of hockey’s holy grail. That regular season also…
Like many Canadians of his era, Flash Hollett was a two-sport athlete (Lacrosse and Hockey). Thankfully for the Boston Bruins, Hollett, who focused on hockey, was among the first defensemen comfortable with rushing the ice. Flash held some of the early scoring records for defensemen. Because Hollett achieved his greatest…
A three-time postseason NHL All-Star from the 1930s, Cecil Dillon is a forgotten star from the era. The first-ever Ohio-born player in the NHL helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1933 and led the playoffs in scoring. Dillon would also finish in the top five in…
The Montreal Canadians are one of the most successful franchises in NHL history, and Jean Guy Talbot is a significant part of that success. Talbot was a member of seven Stanley Cup wins and would play in six All-Star Games. A somewhat forgotten member of those teams, Talbot was also…
As one of the toughest members of the 1970s Boston Bruins (which really says something), Terry O’Reilly was a rough enforcer who was able to score. The emotional leader of Boston was a rugged protector of skilled players, but he himself enjoyed a pair of 70-point-plus seasons and was an underrated…
Although Brian Rafalski did not enter the National Hockey League until he was 26, he still managed to achieve a 500-point career, which is a very respectable total for a defenseman. He spent most of his career with the New Jersey Devils, where his powerful shot and defensive skills were…
A very good goalie that lost out on the Hart trophy to Wayne Gretzky in 1981, Mike Liut seemed destined for a stellar career after his impressive 1980-81 season. That year, he won the Lester B. Pearson award (MVP as selected by their peers) and would be the starting goalie…
It did not take long for the number two choice of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft to establish himself as a force on the Vancouver Canucks. Trevor Linden would be named the Canucks captain at the age of 21, and his nickname of “Captain Canuck” could be one of the…
A star for the Chicago Blackhawks and the United States National Team, Tony Amonte enjoyed a solid career. His career zenith was as a Blackhawk, where the consistent American Right Winger enjoyed a five-year stretch without missing a game and was among the best players in the Windy City. A…
It is always impressive when a man plays 964 games in the National Hockey League. What made Doug Jarvis’ 964 games so special is that he played them in a row, setting the “iron man” mark for consecutive games played. Jarvis didn’t just play in those games: he was a…
Called the “second goalie” for his penchant for throwing himself in front of the puck to stop any offensive burst, Bob Goldham was one of the premier defenders of his era. Goldham's career started a little late because he was a member of the Canadian Navy during World War II.…
While Gordon “Red” Berenson would win a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1965, he really did not have much to do with that title. Unable to find a permanent spot on their roster, he would be traded to the New York Rangers. Still, it was when he was…
When you have a nickname of “Old Hardrock,” you get an idea of just what type of Defenseman Gus Mortson was. From Northern Ontario, he was paired with another youngster, Jim Thomson, and they would become the ”Gold Dust Twins”.
Milan Hejduk played 1,020 Games in the National Hockey League, all with the Colorado Avalanche, which is a franchise record. A solid scorer who accumulated 805 Points, the Czech-born star would assist the Avs in winning the Stanley Cup in 2001. Two years later, Hejduk would have his best individual…