Does Dave Keon Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

For some Dave Keon is perhaps the best defensive forward of the 1960s and one of the Greatest Maple Leafs of All Time.

For others, Keon’s per game numbers leave a lot to be desired. And his offensive numbers during the 1967 playoffs do not justify his Conn Smythe.

So, does Dave Keon belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

List to us discuss his Hall of Fame case here:

Dave Keon’s Career:

• NHL:
  • 1960-75, 1979-82; 18 seasons, 17 quality
  • Totals:
    • 396G (14th All Time at his departure to the WHA),
    • 590A (15th All Time at his departure for the WHA) for
    • 986P (15th All Time at his departure for the WHA),
    • +61 in
    • 1296 Games;
    • 86.5 PS;
    • At his departure to the WHA, Keon was 21st All Time in Offensive Point Shares
    • At hs departure to the WHA, Keon was the 15th Forward All Time in Defensive Point Shares
  • Per Game: doesn’t qualify
  • Not drafted
  • Era: Of the 15 skaters to play in 982 games (11 modern seasons) between 1960 and 1975, Keon is
    • 5th in Goals
    • 5th in GPG
    • 7th in Assists
    • 8th in APG
    • 5th in Points
    • 6th in PPG
    • 5th in Plus/Minus
    • 5th in Offensive Point Shares
    • 5th (3rd or 4th Forward) in Defensive Point Shares
    • 6th in Point Shares
    • 5th in Games
  • 82-game averages: 25G, 38A for 62P, +4
  • 3-year peak (tie):
    • 1961-64: 70-game average of 27G, 35A for 61P, +21
    • 1970-73: 78-game average of 32G, 36A for 68P, +10
  • No possession stats
  • Playoffs:
    • 32G (19th All Time at his departure to the WHA),
    • 36A for
    • 68P (23rd All Time at his departure to the WHA),
    • +68 (20th All Time at his departure to the WHA), in
    • 92 Games
    • Per Game: At his departure for the WHA 
      • 20th All Time in playoff GPG
      • 23rd All Time in playoff PPG
    • Era: Of the 33 skaters to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1960 and 1975, Keon is
      • 10th in playoff Goals
      • 8th in playoff GPG
      • 14th in playoff Assists
      • 12th in playoff APG
      • 11th in playoff Points
      • 9th in playoff PPG
      • 9th in playoff Plus/Minus
  • Adjustment for era:
    • Hockey-Reference:
      • 391G,
      • 584A for
      • 975P
      • 82-game average: 25G, 37A for 62
      • Per Game: doesn’t qualify
    • VsX:
      • 490G
      • 770A
      • 1064
      • Per Game: doesn’t qualify
  • Trades: drafted out of the NHL
• WHA:
  • 1975-79; 4 seasons, all quality
  • Totals: 
    • 102G,
    • 189A for
    • 291P,
    • +54 in
    • 301 Games
  • Maybe drafted into the WHA, maybe transferred
  • 82-game average: 27G, 50A for 78P, +14
  • 3-year peak (1975-78): 29G, 53A for 82P, +18
  • Playoffs:
    • 13G,
    • 23A for
    • 36P,
    • +8 in
    • 36 Games
  • Trades:
    • Traded at 35 to Minnesota for unknown compensation
    • Traded at 36 to Minnesota for Gary MacGregor (22)
    • Traded at 36:
      • with Mike Antonovich (25), Bill Butters (26), Jack Carlson (22), Steve Carlson (21), Jean-Louis Levasseur (27) and John McKenzie (39) to Edmonton for
      • with Jack Carlson (22), Steve Carlson (21), Dave Dryden (25), John McKenzie (39) to New England Danny Arndt (21) and Dave Debol (20)

Dave Keon’s Accomplishments:

• NHL:
  • Top 5 in Hart voting once
  • Conn Smythe (‘67)
  • Calder (‘61)
  • Lady Byng (‘62, ‘63)
  • All Star:
    • 2nd Team All Star twice
    • 8 All Star Game appearances
  • Top Player:
    • Top 10 Offensive Player (by OPS) four times (‘62, ‘63, ‘64, 71)
  • Goals:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in Goals three times
    • GPG leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in GPG four times
    • Single-season totals:
      • 35 goals twice
      • 30 goals three times
      • 25 goals seven times (1 of only 17 players ever at his departure to the WHA)
      • 20 goals eleven times (1 of 13 players ever at his departure to the WHA)
  • Assists:
    • 50 assists once
    • 40 assists twice
  • Points:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in Points twice
    • PPG leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in PPG twice
    • Single-season totals:
      • 70 points twice
      • 60 points seven times (six times at his departure for the WHA and 1 of only 18 players ever at that point)
      • 50 points thirteen times (twelve times at his departure for the WHA and 1 of only 10 players ever at that point)
  • Plus/Minus:
    • Top 5 in Plus/Minus once
  • VsX Peak:
    • Best 7 Seasons:
      • Goals: 94th All Time
      • Assists: 151st All Time
      • Points: 145th All Time
    • Best 10 Seasons:
      • Goals: 71st All Time
      • Assists: 120th All Time
      • Points: 120th All Time
• WHA:
  • Deneau (‘77, 78)
  • Goals:
    • 25 goals twice
    • 20 goals four times
  • Assists:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in Assists once
    • APG leader-boards:
      • Top 10 in APG once
    • Single-season totals:
      • 60 assists once
      • 40 assists three times
  • Points:
    • 90 points once
    • 70 points twice
    • 60 points four times

Dave Keon’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • MVP (Top 6 Forward by points) on one Champion (‘67 Leafs)
  • Best Player (by points, led playoffs in plus/minus) on one Champion (‘63 Leafs)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘65 Leafs)
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on two Champions (‘62, ‘64 Leafs) and two Final Fours (‘61, ‘66 Leafs)
• WHA:
  • Best Player? (by points) on one Final Four (‘79 Whalers)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Avco Cup Runner Up (‘78 Whalers)