Bill Quackenbush played D for the Red Wings and Bruins for 14 years. He never won a Cup and he was not much of a scorer. (D didn’t score much before Red Kelly and Doug Harvey.)
But his career mostly predates the Norris. And he made three 1st All Star Teams and five total. That puts him in elite company.
So, does Bill Quackenbush belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen here:
Bill Quackenbush’s Career:
- NHL: 1942-1956; 14 seasons, 13 quality by DPS
- Totals:
- 62G,
- 223A (3rd/4th D All Time at his retirement – Kelly, Harvey), for
- 285P (8th/9th D All time at his retirement) in
- 775 Games (5th All Time at his retirement – Clapper, Richard, Bouchard, Schmidt – 2nd/3rd D);
- 68.7 Point Shares (15th All Time at his retirement, 7th/8th D);
- At his retirement, Quackenbush was 6th All Time in Defensive Point Shares;
- At his retirement, Quackenbush was the 14th/18th D in Offensive Point Shares
- Per Game: Quackenbush doesn’t qualify for the leader-boards but if we reduced the qualifier to 50G, 200A and 250A, at his retirement, among D, he was
- 4th All Time (last among qualifying players) in APG
- 13th All Time (last among qualifying players) in PPG
- Era: Of the 12 D to play in at least 492 Games (six modern seasons) between 1942 and 1956, Quackenbush is
- 3rd in Goals
- 3rd/last among qualifying players in GPG (doesn’t actually qualify)
- 3rd in Assists
- 3rd/last among qualifying players in APG (doesn’t actually qualify)
- 2nd in Points
- 4th/last among qualifying players in PPG (doesn’t actually qualify)
- 4th in Offensive Point Shares
- 2nd in Defensive Point Shares
- 2nd in Point Shares
- 1st in Games
- 82-game average: 7G, 24A for 30P
- 3-year peak (1947-50): 60-game average of 6G, 16A for 22P; 5.9 PS
- Playoffs:
- 2G,
- 19A (tied 5th D All Time at his retirement – Harvey, Hollett, Bouchard, Kelly) for
- 21P (8th D All Time at his retirement) in
- 80 Games (t-11th All Time at his retirement, 3rd/4th D – Bouchard, Kelly)
- Per Game: Quackenbush doesn’t qualify for any leader-boards but if the qualifier is lowered to 20P, at his retirement, among D, Quackenbush was
- 7th? All Time (last among qualifying players) in playoff PPG
- Adjustment for Era:
- Hockey Reference:
- 73G,
- 314A for
- 387P
- Per Game: doesn’t qualify
- Adjusted 82-game average: 8G, 33A for 41P (+11P per 82 games)
- VsX: Doesn’t qualify
- Hockey Reference:
- Trades:
- Traded at 27 with Pete Horeck (26) to the Bruins for Lloyd Durham (21), Pete Babando (24), Clare Martin (27) and Jimmy Peters (26)
Bill Quackenbush’s Accomplishments:
- Lady Byng (‘49)
- All Star:
- 1st Team All Star three times
- 2nd Team All Star twice
- 8 All Star Game appearances
- Top Player:
- Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘46)
- Top 5 Defensive Player (by DPS) twice (‘45, ‘49)
- Top 10 six times (‘46, ‘48, ‘53, ‘56)
- No Offensive Accomplishments
Bill Quackebush’s Great Teams:
- NH:
- Best Player (by points) on one Final Four (‘55 Bruins)
- Best D (by points) on one Runner Up (‘53 Bruins) and one Final Four (‘52 Bruins)
- Top 2 D (by points) on one Runner Up (‘49 Wings) and two Final Fours (‘46 Wings, ‘51 Bruins)
- Top 4 D (by points) on two Runner Ups (‘45, ‘48 Wings) and two Final Fours (‘47 Wings, ‘54 Bruins)
- Injured on one Final Four (‘44 Red Wings)