Does Clark Gillies Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Clark Gillies has four Stanley Cups and two 1st All Star Team selections.

But he has a career PPG of .73 despite playing in the ’80s and his best offensive season was exceeded by that of 3 teammates. He only led the Islanders in playoff scoring once.

Does he really have enough of a resume to be in the Hall of Fame?

Listen to us discuss his case here:

Clark Gillies’ Career:

• NHL: 1974-88; 14 seasons, 10 quality
• Totals:
  • 319G
  • 378A for
  • 697;
  • +245 in 
  • 958 Games;
  • 55 PS
• Draft: Drafted 4th overall in 1974, Gillies is
  • 6th in Goals
  • 7th in Assists
  • 6th in Points
  • 3rd in Plus/Minus
  • 12th in Point Shares
  • 7th in Games
• Era: Of the 19 players to play in at least 902 games (11 modern seasons) between 1974 and 1988, Gillies is
  • 8th in Goals and GPG
  • 12th in Assists and APG
  • 11th in Points and PPG
  • 4th in Plus/Minus (behind 2 teammates)
  • 11th in Offensive Point Shares
  • 8th in Defensive Point Shares (2nd forward, behind a teammate)
  • 12th in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 27G, 32A for 60P, +21
• 3-year peak (1976-79): 80-game average of 37G, 45A for 82P, +44
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 47G (23rd All Time at his retirement)
  • 47A for
  • 94P,
  • +18 in
  • 164 Games (6th All Time at his retirement)
  • Per Game: Gillies isn’t remotely near the Top 25
  • Era: Of the 62 players to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1974 and 1988, Gillies is
    • 10th in Goals
    • 24th in GPG
    • 24th in Assists
    • 42nd in APG
    • 18th in Points
    • 34th in PPG
    • 31st in Plus/Minus
    • 4th in Games Played
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 261G
    • 314A for
    • 575P
    • 82-game average: 22G, 27A for 49P (-13P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: Obviously Gillies isn’t in the Top 25
  • VsX: Doesn’t qualify for the adjustment
• Trades: 
  • Waived at 32

Clark Gillies’ Accomplishments:

• Never a Top Player by Point Shares
• Goals:
  • 35 goals three times
  • 30 goals six times
  • 25 goals seven times
  • 20 goals eight times
• Assists:
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in APG once
  • Single-season totals:
    • 50 assists twice
    • 40 assists three times
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 10 once
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 10 once (3 teammates ahead of him)
  • Single-season totals:
    • 90 points once
    • 80 points twice
    • 70 points four times
    • 60 points five times
    • 50 points seven times
• Plus/Minus:
  • Top 5 once
• All Star:
  • 1st Team All Star twice
  • 1 All Star Game appearance
• VsX Peak: Doesn’t qualify for the adjustment.

Clark Gilles’ Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player (by points) on one Runner Up (‘84 Islanders)
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on three Champions (‘80, ‘81, ‘82 Islanders) [Gave up Captaincy prior to the 1979-80 season, it’s worth pointing out] and two Final Fours (‘75, ‘77 Islanders)
  • Best Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘76 Islanders)
  • Injured (missed 20 games) on one Champion (‘83 Islanders)
• Canada/World Cup:
  • Top 6? Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘81 Canada)