Does Tim Horton Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Tim Horton is now famous for Tim Horton’s than he is for hockey. But, while he was alive, he was reputed to be the strongest player in the league. He won four Stanley Cups (leading the Leafs in points one layoff) and is one of the greatest D in Leafs history.

But is also a bit of a proto Brad Park: he was a runner up in Norris trophy voting twice, with four other Top 4 finishes, but never won the award. He was also a minus on a couple of the Cup winning teams he played for.

So, does Tim Horton belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Listen here:

Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 1977: Alex Delvecchio, Tim Horton

Tim Horton’s Career:

  • NHL: 1949-1974, 24 years, 21 quality
  • Totals:
    • 115G (15th/10th D All Time at his death),
    • 403A (7th/5th D All time at his death – Orr, Harvey, Gadsby, Pilote) for
    • 518P (7th/4th D All Time at his death – Orr, Gadsby, Harvey),
    • +191* (12th All Time, 6th D, at his death) in
    • 1445 Games (3rd All Time – Howe, Delvecchio – 1st D, at his death);
    • 131.7 Point Shares (5th All Time – Howe, Kelly, Beliveau, Hull – 2nd/1st D, at his death)
    • At his death, Horton was 1st All Time in Defensive Point Shares by 17.6
    • At his death, among D, he was 12th/8th in Offensive Point Shares
  • Per Game: At his death, among D, Horton was:
    • 9th/6th All Time in APG (11/8 qualifying players)
    • 7th/4th All Time in PPG  (last among qualifying players – Orr, Harvey, Gadsby);
    • Horton doesn’t qualify for GPG but if the qualifier is lowered so he does (100G), he was 20th/13th All Time (last among qualifying players)
  • Era: Of the 14/12 D to play in at least 820 games between 1949 and 1974, Horton is
    • 4th/2nd in Goals
    • Last in GPG (5/3 players, doesn’t actually qualify)
    • 6th/4th in Assists
    • 6th/4th in APG (8/6 qualifying players)
    • 4th/2nd in Points
    • Last in PPG (5/3 qualifying players)
    • 1st in Plus Minus
    • 6th/4th in Offensive Point Shares
    • 1st in Defensive Point Shares (by 17.9)
    • 2nd/1st in Point Shares
    • 1st in Games
  • 82-game average: 7G, 23A for 30P, +11*
  • 3-year peak (1963-66): 70-game average of 9G, 19A for 28P, +16; 7.2 PS [Horton’s 3 best seasons are 16 years apart and he has 5 similar 3 year peaks]
  • Playoffs:
    • 11G (t-10th/6th All Time at his death)
    • 39A (t-6th/5th All Time at his death – Harvey, Orr, Pilote, Tremblay)
    • 50P (t-6th/5th All Time at his death – Orr, Harvey, Tremblay, Pilote);
    • -12 in
    • 126 Games (t-15th All Time at his death, 5/4th D – Talbot, Harvey, Pronovost)
    • Per Game: At his death, among D, Horton was
      • Last in playoff GPG (doesn’t actually qualify, 8/4 D – Tremblay, Roberts, Bouchard)
      • Last in playoff APG (7/5 qualifying D – Pilote, Tremblay, Harvey, Stanley)
      • 7th/4th (2nd last) All Time in playoff PPG (doesn’t actually qualify, 8/6 players – Pilote, Tremblay, Harvey)
    • Era: If the 18/16 D to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1949 and 1974, Horton is
      • 5th/3rd in playoff Goals
      • Last in playoff GPG (doesn’t actually qualify, 5 players)
      • 5th/4th in playoff Assists
      • Last in playoff APG (7 qualifying players)
      • 5th/4th in playoff Points
      • 6th/4th (2nd last) in playoff PPG (doesn’t actually qualify, 7/5 players)
      • Last in playoff Plus/Minus
  • Adjustment for Era:
    • Hockey-Reference:
      • Totals:
        • 124G,
        • 451A for
        • 575P
      • Per Game: Horton is not in the Top 25 in Adjusted APG or PPG among D (Horton doesn’t qualify for GPG)
      • 82-game average: 7G, 26A for 33P (+3P per 82 games)
    • VsX:
      • Totals:
        • Goals: doesn’t qualify
        • 612A
        • Points: doesn’t qualify
      • Per Game: Horton is not among the Top 25 in VsX Adjusted APG
  • Trades:
    • Traded at 40 to the Rangers for a player to be named later (Denis Dupere)
    • Waived at 41
    • Waived at 42

Tim Horton’s Accomplishments:

  • Top 5 in Norris voting 6 times
  • All Star:
    • 1st Team All Star three times
    • 2nd Team All Star three times
    • 7 All Star Game appearances
  • Top Player:
    • Top 10 Player (by PS) three times (‘54, ‘62, ‘65)
    • Best Defensive Player (by DPS) twice (‘54, ‘63)
    • Top 5 seven times (‘59, ‘62, ‘65, ‘66, ‘68) – t-6th most All Time
    • Top 10 thirteen times (‘53, ‘55, ‘60, ‘61, ‘64, ‘71) t-2nd most All Time (Lidstrom)
  • No offensive accomplishments
  • Plus/Minus:
    • Led the league in Plus/Minus once
    • Top 5 twice
    • Top 10 three times
  • VsX Peak: doesn’t qualify


Tim Horton’s Great Teams:

  • NHL:
    • Best Skater (by points) on one Champion (‘62 Leafs)
    • Best D (led playoffs in plus/minus) on one Champion (‘63 Leafs)
    • Best D (by points) on one Champion (‘67 Leafs) and two Final Fours (‘54 Leafs, ‘71 Rangers)
    • Top 2 D (by points) on one Runner Up (‘59 Leafs) and two Final Fours (‘65, ‘66 Leafs)
    • Top 4 D (by points) on one Champion (‘64 Leafs), one Runner Up (‘60 Leafs) and one Final Four (‘61 Leafs)
    • Injured on one Final Four (‘56 Leafs)
    • Reserve on one Final Four (‘50 Leafs)

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