Does Harry Lumley Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Harry Lumley belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame because he was the All Time Wins Leader at his retirement. But, was he really that good?

Most of his career, the league didn’t track shots. Once, they did, Lumley’s numbers started not looking so good (though he was getting old).

We discuss his career here:

Harry Lumley’s Career:

• NHL: 1943-60, 16 seasons, 13 quality
• Totals:
  • 330W (1st All Time at his retirement)
  • 239L (10th All Time, 1st at his retirement)
  • 142T (7th All Time, 1st at his retirement);
  • 71 Shutouts (12th All Time; t-5th at his retirement)
  • 133.6 Point Shares (19th Goalie All Time, 1st at his retirement);
  • -22.3 Goals Saved Above Average (only 17% of his Games – 2nd last of only 7 goalies at his retirement, minimum 250 games) in
  • 48,038 Minutes (1st All Time at his retirement by over 9500)
  • 803 Games (1st All Time at his retirement by 161)
• Per Game:
  • .905 SV% (only 17% of his Games – 2nd last of only 7 goalies at his retirement, minimum 250 games)
  • 2.74 GAA (18th All Time at his retirement)
• Era: Of the 12 goalies to play in at least 205 games between 1943 and 1960, Lumley is
  • 1st in Wins
  • 1st (Last) in Losses (by 120!!!)
  • 1st in Ties
  • Last in Goals Against
  • 6th (2nd last among qualifying goalies) in Save Percentage (only 136 Games)
  • 7th in GAA
  • 6th (2nd last among qualifying goalies) in Saves (only 136 Games)
  • 6th (2nd last among qualifying goalies) in Shots Against (only 136 Games)
  • 6th (2nd last among qualifying goalies) in GSAA (only 136 Games)
  • 1st in Minutes
  • 1st in Point Shares
  • 1st in Games (by 161)
• 82-game average: 34-34-15; 7 SO
• Season average: 21-21-9; 4 SO
• 3-year peak (1952-55): 70-game average of 28-26-16; 10 SO; 2.04 GAA; 14.7 GPS
• Playoffs:
  • 29W (5th All Time at his retirement)
  • 47L (1st All Time – last – at his retirement);
  • 7 SO (t-7th All Time at his retirement);
  • .887 SV% (18 Games [Note that the records on Hockey Reference conflict]);
  • 2.56 GAA (12th All Time at his retirement, 16 qualifying goalies);
  • 16.6 GSAA (17 Games, 3rd All Time at his retirement, 6 qualifying goalies) in
  • 4775 Minutes (2nd All Time at his retirement, behind by 1612) in
  • 76 Games (2nd All Time at his retirement, behind by 25)
  • Era: Of the 11 goalies to play in at least 20 playoff games between 1943 and 1960 Lumley is
    • 4th in Wins
    • 1st (last) in Losses (by over double 2nd)
    • 1st (last) in Goals Against
    • Last in Save Percentage (Massive asterisk)
    • 6th in GAA
    • 6th in Saves (Massive asterisk)
    • 6th in Shots
    • 3rd in GSAA
    • 4th in Shutouts
    • 1st in Minutes
    • 1st in Games
• Adjusted for Era:
  • 3.01 GAA
  • Doesn’t qualify for other adjustments
• Trades:
  • Traded at 26 with Pete Babando (24), Al Dewsbury (24), Don Morrison (26) and Jack Stewart (33) to the Black Hawks Bob Goldham (28), Jim Henry (29), Metro Prystai (22) and Gaye Stewart (26)
  • Traded at 28 to the Leafs for Cal Gardner (28), Ray Hannigan (25), Gus Mortson (27) and Al Rollins (25)
  • Traded at * with Eric Nesterenko (22) to the Black Hawks for cash – our 14th worst Leafs trade ever
  • Traded at 26 to the Bruins for cash

Harry Lumley’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Hart voting three times
• Vezina (‘54)
• All Star:
  • 1st Team All Star twice
  • 3 All Star Game appearances
• Top Player:
  • Best Player (by PS) twice (‘54, ‘55) – t-10th most All Time
  • Top 5 Player seven times (‘46, ‘48, ‘49, ‘50, ‘53) – t-10th most All Time
  • Top 10 Player nine times (‘45, ‘47)
  • Best Goalie (by GPS) twice (‘54, ‘55)
  • Top 5 Goalie eleven times (‘45, ‘46, ‘47 ‘48 ‘49, ‘50, ‘53, ‘56, ‘60) – t-3rd most All Time (Hall, Sawchuk)
  • Top 10 Goalie fifteen times (‘51, ‘52, ‘58, ‘59) – t-3rd most All Time (Sawchuk, Plante)
• Wins:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Led the league in Wins twice
    • Top 5 eleven times – t-4th most All Time (Sawchuk, Brodeur, Hall)
    • Top 10 fifteen times – t-6th most All Time
• Shutouts:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Lead the league in Shutouts three times – t-10th most All Time
    • Top 5 twelve times – 4th most All Time (Sawchuk, Plante, Hall)
    • Top 10 fifteen times – t-5th most All Time (Sawchuk, Plante, Worsley, Hall)
  • Single-season totals:
    • 10 shutouts twice – 1 of only 15 goalies ever
    • 5 shutouts six times – 1 of only 24 goalies ever
• Shots Against (last four seasons only):
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Shots twice
    • Top 10 four times
• Saves (last four seasons only):
  • Totals:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Top 5 in Saves once
      • Top 10 three times
  • Percentage:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Top 5 in Save Percentage once
      • Top 10 four times
• Goals Against:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Led the league in Goals Against twice
    • Top 5 in Goals Against thirteen times – most All Time
    • Top 10 in Goals Against fifteen times – 2nd most All Time (Sawchuk)
  • GAA:
    • Leader-boards:
      • Lead the league in GAA twice – t-9th most All Time
      • Top 5 eleven times – t-3rd most All Time (Hall, Plante)
      • Top 10 fourteen times – t-5th most All Time (Sawchuk, Plante, Hall, Roy)
    • Single-season:
      • Under 1.9 once
      • Under 2 twice
      • Under 2.5 seven times
  • GSAA (last four seasons only): No leader-boards, no notable totals
• Minutes:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Led the league in Minutes four times – t-7th most All Time
    • Top 5 twelve times – t-most All Time (Sawchuk, Hall, Brodeur)
    • Top 10 fifteen times – t-2nd most All Time (Sawchuk)
  • Single-season totals:
    • +4000 minutes four times – 1 of only 10 goalies ever
• Adjusted Peak: Doesn’t qualify (due to Save Percentage not being tracked)

Harry Lumley’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player? (led playoffs in games, wins, losses, shutouts, minutes – played every game) on one Champion (‘50 Red Wings)
  • Best Player? (led playoffs in games, losses, goals against, GAA, minutes – played every game) on one Runner Up (‘45 Red Wings)
  • Best Player??? (set single-season record in Save Percentage – played every game) on one Final Four (‘56)
  • Best Player? (led playoffs in shutouts – played every game) on one Final Four (‘46 Red Wings)
  • Best Player? (led playoffs in losses – played every game) on one Final Four (‘54 Leafs)
  • Starter (led playoffs in games, losses, goals against, minutes – played every game) on two Runners Up (‘48, ‘49 Red Wings)
  • Starter (played every game) on one Final Four (‘59 Bruins)
  • Starter (led playoffs in losses – played every game) on one Final Four (‘55 Leafs)
  • Backup (lost job as starter after one game) on one Runner Up (‘58 Bruins)