Does Phil Housley Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Phil Housley has some of the most impressive career offensive totals of any NHL defenceman, especially an American.

He is also -53 for his career.

Should the Hall of Fame inducted a player who appears, on first glance, to have not been very good in his own end?

We discuss in our latest episode. Listen here:

Phil Housley’s Career:

• NHL: 1982-2003; 21 seasons, at least 19 quality
• Totals:
  • 338G (4th D All Time),
  • 894A (20th All Time, 5th D, 1st American)
  • for 1232P (4th D, 2nd American excluding that traitor Brett Hull),
  • -53 (Among all NHL players to play in at least 1400 games since 1967-68, Housley has the 3rd worst plus minus) in
  • 1495 games;
  • 170.7 PS (17th All Time)
  • Housley is 23rd All Time in Defensive Point Shares
• Per Game: 20:52 ATOI (since 1998-99); Among defensemen, Housley is
  • 8th All Time in GPG,
  • 10th in APG and
  • 9th in PPG
• In his draft class (1982), Housley, drafted 6th overall, is
  • 8th in Goals
  • 2nd in Assists
  • 3rd in Points and Games Played
  • 14th worst in Plus/Minus
• Era: Of the 21 players to play in at least 1250 games between 1982 and 2003, Housley is
  • 15th in Goals and GPG
  • 9th in Assists and APG
  • 11th in Points
  • 12th in PPG
  • 3rd last in Plus/Minus
  • 8th in Offensive Point Shares
  • 6th in Defensive Point Shares
  • 3rd in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 19G, 49A for 67P, -3
• 3-year peak (1989-92): 92-game average of 24G, 62A for 86P, -2; 11.4 PS
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 13G,
  • 43A for
  • 56P,
  • -23 in
  • 85 games
  • Era: Of the 74 D to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1982 and 2003, Housley is
    • 21st in playoff Goals
    • 13th in playoff Goals Per Game
    • 21st in playoff Assists
    • 9th in playoff APG
    • 23rd in playoff Points
    • 11th in playoff PPG
    • 70th in playoff Plus/Minus
    • 68th in playoff Games
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 308G,
    • 840A (22nd All Time) for
    • 1148P
    • Adjusted 82-game average: 17G, 46A for 63P (-4P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: Among D, Housley is
      • 9th All Time in Adjusted GPG
      • 11th All Time in Adjusted APG
      • 10th All Time in Adjusted PPG
  • VsX:
    • 315G,
    • 905A for
    • 1,066
    • Per Game: Not in the Top 25
• Trades:
  • Traded at 26 with Scott Arniel (27), Jeff Parker (25) and a 1990 1st Rounder (Keith Tkachuk) to Winnipeg for Dale Hawerchuk (27) and a 1990 1st Rounder (Brad May)
  • Traded at 29 to St. Louis for Nelson Emerson (26) and Stephane Quintal (25)
  • Traded at 30 with a 1996 2nd Rounder (Steve Begin) and a 1997 2nd Rounder (John Tripp) to Calgary for Al MacInnis (30) and a 1997 4th Rounder (Didier Tremblay)
  • Traded at 31 with Dan Keczmer (27) to New Jersey for Tommy Albelin (31), Cale Hulse (22) and Jocelyn Lemieux (30)
  • Waived at 34
  • Waived at 37
  • Traded just after his 39th birthday to Toronto for a 2003 9th Rounder (Chris Porter) and a 2004 4th Rounder (Karel Hromas)

Phil Housley’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Norris voting four times
• Top 5 in Calder voting
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Player (by PS) three times (‘84, ‘90, ‘92)
  • Top 10 Defensive Player (by DPS) twice (‘85, ‘90)
• Goals:
  • 30 goals once (1 of only 9 D ever),
  • 25 goals three times (1 of only 5 D),
  • 20 goals seven times (1 of only 6 D),
  • 15 goals thirteen times (only Ray Bourque has done it more frequently)
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in Assists three times
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in APG twice
  • Single-season totals:
    • 70 assists once (1 of only 9 D ever),
    • 60 assists three times (1 of only 9 D),
    • 50 assists six times (1 of only 9 D),
    • 40 assists thirteen times (1 of only 6 D)
• Points:
  • 90 points once (1 of only 8 D ever),
  • 80 points three times (1 of only 7 D),
  • 70 points six times (1 of only 7 D),
  • 60 points twelve times (1 of only 4 D),
  • 50 points fourteen times (1 of only 6 D)
• All Star:
  • 1st Team All Rookie
  • 2nd Team All Star once
  • 7 All Star Appearances
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: doesn’t qualify
    • Assists: 105th All Time
    • Points: doesn’t qualify
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: doesn’t qualify
    • Assists: 84th All Time
    • Points: 191st All Time

Phil Housley’s Great Teams

• NHL:
  • Top 4 D (by points) on one Stanley Cup Runner Up (‘98 Capitals)
• Olympics:
  • Top 2? D (by points) on one Olympic Runner Up (‘02 USA)
• World Cup:
  • Injured or reserve on one World Cup Champion (‘96 USA)