Does Cam Neely Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Cam Neely is one of only 8 players to unofficially score “50 Goals in 50 Games”. (He did it in the Bruins’ 66th game of the season, so it doesn’t count in the NHL’s eyes.) And, when healthy, he was one of the most dominant goal-scorers of his era. On the Bruins…

But his career numbers are not as good as you think they are and, beyond some 2nd All Star Teams, he didn’t really get much acknowledgement as an elite player during his career.

So, does Cam Neely belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen to us discuss his case here:

Cam Neely’s Career:

• 1983-96; 13 seasons, 11 quality
• Totals:
  • 395G, 
  • 299A for 
  • 694P, 
  • +83 in 
  • 726 GP; 
  • 69.2 PS
• Neely is 14th All Time in GPG
• Drafted: Drafted 9th overall in 1983, Neely is
  • 5th in Goals
  • 15th in Assists
  • 9th in Points
  • 9th in Plus/Minus
  • 9th in Point Shares but
  • 28th in Games Played
• Era: Of the 159 players to play in at least 656 games (8 seasons) between 1983 and 1996, Neely is
  • 19th in Goals
  • 8th in GPG
  • 81st in Assists
  • 70th in APG
  • 41st in Points
  • 28th in PPG
  • 45th in Plus/Minus
  • 28th in Offensive Point Shares
  • 79th in Defensive Point Shares (20th Forward)
  • 37th in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 44G, 34A for 79P, +9
• 3-year peak (1991-94): 78G, 37A for 115P, +29 [Note: Neely never played a full season during this time]
• Playoffs:
  • 57G,
  • 32A for
  • 87P,
  • -3 in
  • 93 GP
  • Neely is 5th All Time in Playoff GPG
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 363G, 266A for 629P
    • 82-game average: 41G, 30A for 71P
    • Neely is not in the Top 25 Adjusted GPG
  • VsX:
    • 368G, doesn’t quality for assists or points
    • 42G per 82 games
    • Not in the Top 25 for VsX Adjusted GPG
• Trades:
  • Transferred on his 21st birthday to the Bruins with a 1987 1st Rounder (Glen Wesley) as compensation for the Canucks’ signing of restricted free agent Barry Pederson (25)

Cam Neely’s Accomplishments:

• Masterton (‘94)
• Disputed Back Check MVP (‘94)
• Disputed Back Check Best Player (‘94)
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘91)
  • Top 10 Offensive Player (by OPS) twice (‘90, ‘91)
• Goals:
  • 1 of only 8 players to score “50 Goals in 50 Games” [He is part of the unofficial list because he did it in his team’s 66th game]
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Goals twice
    • Top 10 in Goals four times
  • GPG Leader-boards:
    • Led the league in GPG once
    • Top 5 four times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 55 goals once
    • 50 goals three times
    • 40 goals four times
    • 35 goals six times
    • 25 goals eight times
    • 20 goals nine times
• Assists:
  • 40 Assists once
• Points:
  • PPG Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG once
    • Top 10 twice
  • Single-season totals:
    • 90 points twice
    • 70 points five times
    • 60 points six times
• Top 10 in Plus/Minus once
• All Star:
  • 2nd Team All Star four times
  • 5 All Star Game appearances
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 65th All Time
    • Assists: Doesn’t quality
    • Points: Doesn’t qualify
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 111th All Time
    • Assists: DQ
    • Points: DQ

Cam Neely’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player (buy points) on one Runner Up (‘90 Bruins)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘88 Bruins) and one Final Four (‘91 Bruins)
• Memorial Cup:
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on one Memorial Cup Champion (‘83 Winter Hawks)