Does Dale Hunter Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

No, Dale Hunter does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

So why did we talk about him? Well, he’s 2nd All Time in Penalties in Minutes, for one thing. And there was a time when that, um, meant something.

Listen to us talk about Dale Hunter:

Career:

• 1980-99; 19 seasons, 16 quality
• Totals:
  • 323G, 
  • 697A for 
  • 1020P, 
  • +101 in 
  • 1407 Games (12th All Time at his retirement); 
  • 68.4 PS; 
  • 9:05* ATOI (final season only)
  • 2nd All Time in Penalties in Minutes (sigh)
• Draft: Hunter was drafted 41st overall in 1979 – in his draft year he is
  • 11th in Goals
  • 3rd in Assists
  • 6th in Points
  • 12th in Plus/Minus
  • 1st in PIM of course, 400+ ahead of second and over 1200 ahead of 3rd
  • 12th in Point Shares
  • Somehow 4th in Games Played
• Era: Of the 13 players to play in at least 1,230 games (15 seasons) between 1980 and 1999, Hunter is
  • 9th in Goals and GPG
  • 8th in Assists and APG
  • 10th in Points and PPG
  • 9th in Plus Minus
  • 11th in Offensive Point Shares (2nd last forward)
  • 8th in Defensive Point Shares (3rd forward)
  • 11th (3rd last) in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 19G, 41A for 59P, +6
• 3-year peak (1983-86): 80-game average of 24G,50A for 75P, +22
• No possess stats
• Playoffs: 42G, 76A for 118P, -22 in 186 Games (13th All Time at his retirement)
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey Reference:
    • 276G, 603A for 879P
    • 82-game average of 16G, 35A for 51P
    • Obviously not in the Top 25 of any Adjusted PG leaderboards
  • VsX:
    • Not in Top 250 in Goals so adjustment not available
    • 658A
    • 823P
    • Hunter is not in the Top 25 for any VsX PG leaderboards
• Trades:
  • Traded just before turning 27 with Clint Malarchuk (26) for Gaetan Duchesne (25) and Alan Haworth (27)
  • Traded at the trade deadline at 38 with a 3rd round pick (nobody) for a 2nd round pick (Charlie Stephens).

Accomplishments:

• Top 10 in PIM five times
• VsX Adjustment:
  • Best 7: N/A
  • Best 10:
    • Goals: N/A
    • Assists: 214th
    • Points: N/A
• 1 All Star Game appearance

Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘90 Capitals)
  • Top 6 Forward (by points, and led playoffs in PIM) on one Final Four (‘85 Nordiques)
  • Top 9 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘98 Capitals) and two Final Fours (‘82 Nordiques, ‘99 Avs)