Who really belongs in the Hall of Fame?

Should Clint Smith be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

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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:

Why is Bob Pulford in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Bob Pulford is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. If you’re a Leafs fan, like one of us, you probably never asked “why?”

Pulford led the playoffs in assists when the Leafs last one a Stanley Cup. He also led the league in Short-Handed goals three times. That’s basically his case.

Don’t believe us? Read on. Or listen to us talk about Bob Pulford’s Hall of Fame case here:

Does Lanny McDonald Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

66 goals in season. A classic Old Guy Who Won a Stanley Cup. Scored 40 goals three seasons in a row for the Leafs. That mustache.

Sounds like he should be in, right? But McDonald was not a point-a-game player and he actually only had 4 really good seasons. (Seriously.)

So does Lanny McDonald belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Listen to us discuss his case here:

Is Bob Gainey the Greatest Defensive Forward of All Time?

Bob Gainey does not have your conventional Hockey Hall of Fame case, his offensive numbers are worse than a defensive defenceman. (Of the NHL players who are +200 for their career, Gainey has the lowest PPG of any forward.)

But, as legend has it, the Selke Trophy was invented for Bob Gainey. Until Bergeron won his most recent Selke, nobody had as many Selkes as Gainey. And then he has that Conn Smythe too.

In this episode, we talk about Bob Gainey’s Hall of Fame case:

Why is Woody Dumart in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Woody Dumart was a member of the famed Kraut Line. He won 2 Stanley Cups as a member of the Bruins.

But that’s basically it. He had one very good offensive season and the only reason he may have been inducted is he played a very long time.

Why is Woody Dumart in the Hockey Hall of Fame? We discuss here:

Is Marcel Dionne one of Greatest Centres of All Time?

Marcel Dionne’s regular season numbers are absolutely incredible, yet he’s rarely talked about as among the greatest forwards or even centres of all time.

Why is that?

Well, a lot has to do with his playoff numbers, which are, um, awful.

Listen to us talk about Marcel Dionne’s Hall of Fame career and where he ranks All Time:

Is Billy Smith one of the Greatest Goalies of All Time?

Billy Smith’s playoff accomplishments are legendary.

But are his stats good enough for him to be discussed among the greatest NHL goalies ever?

Listen to us discuss Billy Smith’s Hockey Hall of Fame case and where he ranks all time:

Hall of Fame class of 1993: Edgar Laprade, Guy Lapointe, Steve Shutt and Billy Smith

Does Steve Shutt Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

5 Cups, scored 60 goals, Steve Shutt probably belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame, right?

Well, Shutt probably wasn’t as good as you remember: not a point-per-game player and all his best years came playing with Guy Lafleur.

So, does Steve Shutt actually belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Listen here:

Is Guy Lapointe one of the Geastest Defencemen of All Time?

Is Guy Lapointe one of the greatest defencemen of all time?

He never won a Norris, but his career partially overlapped with Bobby Orr’s. And he won 6 Stanley Cups and a Canada Cup.

So where does he rank all time?

Listen to us discuss Guy Lapointe here:

Why is Edgar Laprade in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

There are few more controversial inductees than New York Rangers centre Edgar Laprade.

If you don’t know about the controversy, it’s because Laprade was inducted in the early 1990s, before internet hockey Hall of Fame discussion really took off.

But, make no mistake, Laprade’s case is slight. (To put it mildly.) We really don’t know why he’s in.

If you know, please comment below.

And listen to us try to figure out why Laprade is in the Hockey Hall of Fame here: