Does Denis Savard Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Denis Savard put up some gaudy regular season point totals in the ’80s and some impressive playoff numbers to boot.

But was he ever really among the best players in the league?

Listen to us discuss whether or not Denis Savard belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame:

Denis Savard’s Career:

• NHL: 1980-97; 17 seasons, 16 quality
• Totals:
  • 473G,
  • 865A (24th All Time, 13th at his retirement) for
  • 1338P (17th All Time at his retirement),
  • +103 in
  • 1196 Games;
  • 105.2 PS
• Per Game:
  • 20th All Time in APG
  • 19th All Time in PPG
• Draft: Drafted 3rd overall in 1980, Savard is
  • 3rd in Goals
  • 3rd in Assists
  • 3rd in Points
  • 8th in Plus/Minus
  • 6th in Point Shares (4th Forward)
  • 5th in Games Played
• Era: Of the 14 players, to play in at least 1,148 games (14 seasons) between 1980 and 1997 (12 of whom are in the HOF), Savard is
  • 7th in Goals and GPG
  • 7th in Assists and APG
  • 7th in Points and PPG
  • 10th in Plus/Minus
  • 9th in Offensive Point Shares (7th Forward)
  • 10th in Defensive Point Shares (4th Forward)
  • 9th in Point Shares (6th Forward)
• 82-game average: 33G, 59A for 92A, +7
• 3-year peak (1987-90): 80-game average of 37G, 80A for 117P, +3 [Savard’s best 3 seasons are 6 years apart]
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 66G (21st All Time, 15th at his retirement)
  • 109A (19th All Time, 10th at his retirement) for
  • 175P (17th All Time, 8th at his retirement),
  • +17 in
  • 169 Games
  • Per Game:
    • 25th All Time in Playoff PPG
  • Era: Of the 166 skaters to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1980 and 1997, Savard is
    • 11th in Goals
    • 24th in GPG
    • 7th in Assists
    • 18th in APG
    • 6th in Points
    • 14th in PPG
    • 42nd in Plus/Minus
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 398G,
    • 725A for
    • 1123P
    • 82-game average: 27G, 50A for 77P (-15P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: Not in the Top 25
  • VsX:
    • 415G
    • 801A
    • 1060P
    • Per Game: Not in the Top 25
• Trades:
  • Traded at 29 to Montreal for Chris Chelios (28) and a 1991 2nd Rounder (nobody)
  • Traded at 34 to Chicago for a 1996 6th Rounder (Xavier Delisle)

Denis Savard’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Hart voting twice
• Top 5 in Calder voting
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘88)
  • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) once (‘88)
  • Top 10 Offensive Player four times (‘82, ‘83, ‘86)
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in Goals once
  • Single-season totals:
    • 45 goals once
    • 40 goals three times
    • 35 goals six times
    • 30 goals seven times
    • 25 goals eleven times
    • 20 goals twelve times
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists three times
    • Top 10 in Assists five times
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG four times
    • Top 10 in APG seven times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 80 assists three times (1 of only 6 players ever)
    • 60 assists five times
    • 50 assists nine times (1 of only 23 players ever)
    • 40 assists eleven times
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Points twice
    • Top 10 in Points five times
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG twice
    • Top 10 in PPG seven times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 130 points once (1 of only 23 players ever)
    • 120 points twice (1 of only 15 players ever)
    • 110 points four times (1 of only 12 players ever)
    • 100 points five times (1 of only 18 players ever)
    • 90 points seven times (1 of only 17 players ever)
    • 80 points nine times (1 of only 25 players ever)
    • 70 points eleven times
    • 50 points thirteen times
• All Star:
  • 2nd Team All Star once
  • 7 All Star Game appearances
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 188th All Time
    • Assists: 40th All Time
    • Points: 65th All Time
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 153rd Al Time
    • Assists: 45th All Time
    • Points: 71st All Time
• Playoffs:
  • Led 8 playoffs series in Points (t-9th All Time)
  • Top 3 in Points in 13 career playoff series (t-17th All Time)

Denis Savard’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player (by points) on three Final Fours (‘82, ‘83, ‘85 Black Hawks)
  • Best Skater (by points) on two Final Fours (‘89, ‘95 Blackhawks)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘90 Blackhawks)
  • Role Player? (by points, missed 6 games) on one Champion (‘93 Canadiens)