Who really belongs in the Hall of Fame?
Every NHL player's case analyzed
Harry Oliver was a WCHL star who mostly didn’t have the same kind of success in the NHL, except during the 1927 playoffs when he led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup.
When we discuss Harry Oliver’s Hall of Fame case, the big thing we struggle with is, was he a big enough star in the WCHL?
Listen to us talk about it here:
Continue reading “Does Harry Oliver Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”
Neil Colville was one of the great passers of his era and a member of the last Ranger team to win a Stanley Cup for half a century. He was likely on pace to be one of the better forwards of his era, at least in terms of total assists. When he got back from WWII, however, he was converted to D, and his offensive production fell off a cliff.
We’re a little mystified why Colville is in the Hall of Fame. Listen to us discuss his Hall of Fame case here:
Continue reading “Should Neil Colville Be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”Chuck Rayner was one of the better goalies of his era.
But…he wasn’t the best. And given lack of accomplishments, and the relative brevity of his career compared to some other, bigger names, as well as how high the Hall of Fame’s standards on goalies have grown stricter, it’s really hard to understand why Rayner is in the Hall of Fame when some other goalies aren’t.
Listen to us talk about Chuck Rayner’s Hall of Fame case here:
Continue reading “Does Chuck Rayner Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”Art Coulter was a D who played right before the Original Six but who was inducted in the 1970s.
His Hall of Fame case is based on his end-of-season All Star Team finishes and once being Top 3 in Hart voting. But they took forever to induct him.
Listen to us discuss Art Coulter’s mysterious Hall of Fame case here:
Continue reading “Does Art Coulter Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”Billy Burch won the Hart in a year when he was the 3rd best offensive player on his own team and the 6th best overall. That’s basically his only case for Hall of Fame inclusion.
But what if he did something else?
Listen to us talk about Billy Burch’s Hall of Fame case here:
Continue reading “Does Billy Burch Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”Ace Bailey was briefly the best forward in the league. But he had only really great year and three good years. And he didn’t perform well in the playoffs
Listen to us talk about Ace Bailey’s Hall of Fame case:
Continue reading “Does Irvine Ace Bailey Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”Harry Howell was the career leader in Games Played by a D at his departure for the WHA. And he won the Norris, of course. And he made 1st All Star Team.
But that’s it. That’s his whole Hall of Fame case.
So, does Harry Howell really belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
Listen here:
Continue reading “Does Harry Howell Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”
We don’t know exactly what happened between 1987 and now, but the standards for goalie admission got a lot stricter. (Well, we do know that goalie stats got better.) It’s so hard to get admitted into the Hall of Fame as a goalie now, but when Ed Giacomin was inducted, it seems like it was less hard.
Why?
Giacomin has good traditional stats, such as wins. And it’s arguable he was the Most Valuable Goalie in the league for four seasons.
But he was never the best goalie in the league by Save Percentage, Goals Saved Above Average or even GAA – that Vezina is for total Goals Against – and his peak only lasted about four years. The rest of his regular season career is not outstanding (especially as he got older).
Additionally, his playoff numbers aren’t great.
So does Ed Giacomin actually belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen to us discuss it here:
Continue reading “Why is Ed Giacomin in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”
Clint Smith set the single-season record for assists in the ’40s. So of course he should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Right?
Well, he did it during World War II, when talent in the league was quiet watered down. He doesn’t have a lot of other accomplishments. And he doesn’t have the Cups that many other “veterans committee” inductees of the ’90s have.
So, does Clint Smith belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen to us try to sort it out here:
Continue reading “Should Clint Smith be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”
Brad Richards has a Conn Smythe, two Cups, a World Cup and had a couple pretty good regular seasons.
But his regular season numbers are pretty inconsistent. And he was never considered one of the top players in the league.
So, does he belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen to us talk about him here:
Continue reading “Does Brad Richards Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?”
