Why is Harry Watson in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Harry Watson won five Cups. And, uh, he was on some leader-boards when he retired in 1957. And, um, he was a pretty good scorer a couple of times.

This, it appears, was enough to get him inducted into the Hall of Fame nearly 40 years after he retired.

Listen to us discuss Harry Watson’s Hockey Hall of Fame case here:

Not that Harry Watson.

Harry Watson’s Career:

• NHL: 1941-43, 1945-57; 14 seasons, 9 quality by modern standards of PPG
• Totals:
  • 236G (12th All Time at his retirement),
  • 207A for
  • 443P (19th All Time at his retirement) in
  • 809 Games (3rd All Time at his retirement);
  • 45.3 PS
• Per Game: At his retirement, Watson was
  • 25th All Time in GPG
• Not drafted
• Era: Of the 17 players to play in at least 656 games (8 modern seasons), between 1941 and 1957, Watson is
  • 5th in Goals
  • 6th in GPG
  • 12th in Assists
  • 13th in APG (though he doesn’t qualify for the APG leader-boards)
  • 6th in Points
  • 9th in PPG (though he doesn’t qualify for the PPG leader-boards)
  • 7th in Offensive Point Shares
  • 10th (4th forward) in Defensive Point Shares
  • 12th in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 24G, 21A for 45P
• 3-year peak (1946-49): 60-game average of 25G, 20A for 45P
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 16G (t-25th All Time at his retirement),
  • 9A for
  • 26P in
  • 62 Games
  • Era: Of the 60 skaters to play in 41 playoff games between 1941 and 1957, Watson is
    • 16th in playoff in Goals
    • 20th in playoff GPG (though he doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
    • 43rd in playoff Assists
    • 47th in playoff APG (though he doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
    • 28th in playoff Points
    • 29th in playoff PPG (though he doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
    • 25th in Games
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 292G,
    • 292A for
    • 584P
    • 82-game average: 30G, 30A for 59P (+14P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: obviously not on any leader-boards
  • VsX:
    • 395G
    • Assists: doesn’t qualify
    • Points: doesn’t qualify
• Trades:
  • Transferred at 19 to the Red Wings in a dispersal draft
  • Traded at 23 to the Maple Leafs for Billy Taylor (27)
  • Traded at 31 to the Black Hawks for cash

Harry Watson’s Accomplishments:

• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Offensive Player (by OPS) twice (‘46, ‘47)
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Goals once
    • Top 10 in twice
  • GPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in GPG once
    • Top 10 twice
  • Single-season totals:
    • 25 goals once
    • 20 goals four times
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in Points once
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in PPG once
• All Star:
  • 7 All Star Games
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 151st All Time
    • Assists: doesn’t qualify
    • Points: doesn’t qualify
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 141st All Time
    • Assists: doesn’t quality
    • Points: doesn’t qualify

Harry Watson’s Great Teams:

• Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘46 Red Wings)
• Top 6 Forward (by points) on three Champions (‘47, ‘48, ‘49 Leafs) and one Final Four (‘52 Leafs)
• Role Player (by points) on one Champion (‘43 Red Wings) and two Final Fours (‘50, ‘54 Leafs)
• Injured (missed over 50% of the games) on one Champion (‘51 Leafs)