Does George Hay Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Whether or not you think George Hay belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame depends a lot on how much weight you put on a player scoring at a point-per-game pace in the Western Canada Hockey League. It’s worth noting that Hay lost the scoring race to both Duke Keats and Bill Cook in different WCHL seasons – i.e. he was never clearly the best offensive player in the WCHL/WHL. Nor was he ever a true star in the NHL: His brief NHL career isn’t particularly distinguished compared to the careers of his contemporaries, given the size of the NHL at the time.

Listen to us talk about George Hay:

Career:

  • NHL:
    • 1926-33; 6 seasons, 3 quality by modern stands of PPG
    • 74G, 62A for 136P in 240 Games; 28 PS
    • Era: Of the 59 players 29 or over to play in at least 82 games between 1926 and 1933 Hay is
      • 3rd in Goals
      • 9th in GPG
      • 4th in Assists
      • 12th in APG
      • 2nd in Points
      • 9th in PPG
      • 2nd in Offensive Point Shares
      • 5th in Point Shares
    • 48-game average: 15G, 12A for 27P
    • 3-year peak (‘27-’30): 44-game average of 18G, 12A for 30P
    • Playoffs: 2G, 1A for 3P in 8 games 
    • Adjusted: 144G, 293A for 437P
    • Adjusted 82-game average: 50G, 100A for 149P
    • Trades:
      • Traded at 29 with Percy Traub (30) for cash
      • Bought into the NHL.
  • WCHL:
    • 1921-26; 5 seasons, all quality
    • 104G (2nd? All Time), 48A (4th?) for 152P (2nd?) in 130 Games
    • If the qualifier is set at 90 games played (3 seasons) Hay is probably 2nd All Time in GPG, 5th All Time in APG and 3rd All time in PPG for the WCHL
    • 30-game average: 24G, 11A for 35P
    • Didn’t bother to calculate a 3 year peak
    • Playoffs: 2G, 2A for 4P in 10 Games

Accomplishments:

  • NHL:
    • Top 5 in Hart voting once (‘28)
    • Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘28)
    • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) once (‘28)
    • Scored 20 goals once
    • Top 5 in Goals once
    • Top 10 in GPG once
    • Top 5 in Assists once, Top 10 twice
    • Top 5 in Points once, Top 10 twice
    • Top 5 in PPG once
    • Apparently made the “unofficial” All Star team in 1927
  • WCHL:
    • Top 5 in Goals three times, Top 10 most likely all five seasons
    • Top 5 in PPG twice, Top 10 most likely all five seasons
    • Top 5 in Assists probably three times, Top 10 most likely all five seasons
    • Top 5 in APG probably three times, Top 10 most likely all five seasons
    • Top 5 in Points four times, Top 10 all five seasons
    • Top 5 in PPG four times, Top 10 all five seasons
    • 1st Team All Star four of five seasons

Great Teams:

  • Best Player? On one WCHL Champion (‘22 Capitals)

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