Does Rick Martin Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Rick Martin is one of the most dominant goal scorers in NHL history – he is 11th All Time in Goals Per Game. Yet he is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In this episode we discuss his case and why he’s not already inducted.

Listen here:

Career:

  • NHL: 1971-82; 11 seasons, 9 quality
  • 384G, 317A for 701P, +14 in 685 games
  • Martin is 11th All Time in GPG (8th All Time at his retirement)
  • Draft: In his draft class (1971), Martin, drafted 5th overall, is 
    • 3rd in Goals
    • 8th in Assists
    • 5th in Points
    • 11th in Plus/Minus
    • Despite being 9th in Games Played
  • Era: Of the 160 players to play in at least 500 games between 1971 and 1982, Martin is
    • 5th in Goals
    • 4th in GPG
    • 35th in Assists
    • 43rd in APG
    • 13th in Points and PPG
    • 98th in Plus/Minus
    • 8th in Offensive Point Shares
    • 17th in Point Shares
  • 82-game average: 46G, 38A for 84P, +2
  • 3-year peak (1973-76): 56G, 42A for 98P, +2
  • No possession stats
  • Playoffs: 24G, 29A for 53P, -6 in 63 games played
  • Adjusted: 
    • Hockey Reference:
      • 341G, 285A for 626P
      • 82-game average: 41G, 34A for 74P
      • Martin is not on any adjusted PG leader-boards (Top 25)
    • Hockey’s Future VsX:
      • Not in the Top 25 in Totals or PG
  • Traded after an injury that turned out to be career-ending for two draft picks.

Accomplishments:

  • Top 5 in Calder voting
  • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) twice (‘74, ‘75), Top 10 three times (‘72)
  • Single-season goal totals:
    • Scored 50 goals twice (1 of only 14 players ever at his retirement),
    • 45 goals four times (1 of only 7 players at his retirement),
    • 40 goals five times (1 of 9 players at his retirement),
    • 35 goals seven times (1 of only 8 players at his retirement),
    • 30 goals eight times (1 of 14 players at his retirement),
    • 25 goals nine times (1 of only 21 player at his retirement)
  • Tallied 40 assists once
  • Single-season point totals:
    • Scored 90 points once,
    • 80 points three times,
    • 70 points six times,
    • 60 points eight times,
    • 50 points nine times
  • Top 5 in Goals twice, Top 10 five times
  • Top 5 in GPG twice, Top 10 five times
  • Top 10 in Points twice
  • Top 10 in PPG twice
  • 1st Team All Star twice, 2nd Team All Star twice
  • 7 All Star Game appearances
  • Hockey’s Future VsX Adjusted Peak:
    • Goals: 
      • 48th Best 7 Seasons
      • 72nd Best 10 Seasons
    • Assists: Not on leader-board
    • Points: 
      • 163rd Best 7 Seasons
      • 187th Best 10 Seasons

Great Teams:

  • Best Player? (by points) on one Runner Up (‘75 Sabres), 
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘80 Sabres)

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