Does Fern Flaman belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Flaman was an old-school defender who rarely scored, so we can’t evaluate his career based on his numbers.

But he had a stretch of Top 5 Norris finishes, including a few Top 3 finishes, and some 2nd All Star Team appearances that suggest he was really well regarded near the end of his career.

So, does Fernie Flaman belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

List to us talk about him here:

Fern Flaman’s Career:

• NHL: 1944-61; 17 seasons, 14 quality
• Totals:
  • 34G,
  • 174A (14th D All Time at his retirement) for
  • 208P (18th D All Time at his retirement),
  • -16 [2 seasons] in
  • 911 Games (6th All Time at his retirement, 2nd D);
  • 61.9 PS (18th D All Time at his retirement);
  • Flaman was 7th All Time in Defensive Point Shares at his retirement
• Not drafted
• Era: Of the 11 D to play in at least 656 games (8 modern seasons) between 1944 and 1961, Flaman is
  • 10th (2nd last) in Goals
  • 10th (2nd last) in GPG (obviously doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
  • 7th in Assists
  • 9th (3rd last) in APG (again, doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
  • 8th in Points
  • Tied for Last in PPG (doesn’t qualify for the leader-board)
  • 6th (2nd last among qualifying players) in Plus/Minus
  • 10th (2nd last) in Offensive Point Shares
  • 5th in Defensive Point Shares
  • 8th in Point Shares
  • 2nd in Games
• 82-game average: 3G, 16A for 20P
• 3-year peak (1954-57): 6G, 23A for 29P
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 4G,
  • 8A for
  • 12P in
  • 63 Games
  • Era: Of the 22 D to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1944 and 1961, Flaman
    • 11th in playoff Goals
    • 12th in playoff GPG (doesn’t qualify for the leader-boards)
    • 13th in playoff Assists
    • 13th in playoff APG
    • 14th in playoff Points
    • 18th in playoff PPG
    • 8th in playoff Games
• Adjusted for era:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 40G
    • 225A for
    • 265P
    • 82-game average: 4G, 20A for 24P (+4P per 82 games)
  • VsX: doesn’t qualify
• Trades:
  • Traded at 23 with Leo Boivin (18), Phil Maloney (23) and Ken Smith (26) to Toronto for Bill Ezincki (26) and Vic Lynn (25)
  • Traded at 27 to Boston for Dave Creighton (23) – our 23rd worst Leafs trade of All Time

Fern Flaman’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Norris voting five times
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Defensive Player (by DPS) four times
• All Star:
  • 2nd All Star team three times
  • 6 All Star Game appearances
• VsX Peak: doesn’t qualify

Fern Flaman’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Skater? (by points) on one Final Four (‘52 Leafs)
  • Best D (by points) on two Runners Up (‘57, ‘58 Bruins) and one Final Four (‘49 Bruins)
  • Top 2 D (by points) on one Champion (‘51 Leafs) and one Final Four (‘55 Bruins)
  • Role Player (by points) on four Final Fours (‘47, ‘48, ‘54, ‘59 Bruins)