Which of the 7 'big' names get into the Hall this year?

[RedRockit 0]

Cool I just remember hearing stories about how they had to sneak Fetisov out under cloak during some tournament or something like that.

Hmm, I wish I knew that story, sounds so "Bond, Slava Bond"!!

From Fetisov's own HOF page:

http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/halloffame/fetisov.html

"Fetisov has always been a man of principle. He broke the barrier that held back Soviet players from competing in the NHL when he joined the Devils in 1989. But he did not defect, he did not run away under the cover of night. He waited for the proper clearances from his government and persevered in a battle that had beaten down others before him.

Upon arriving in North America, he battled again to eradicate the preconceived notions about Soviets that made him an outcast and a target wherever he played. Again, he won. Fetisov treasures those victories as much as any trophy or award in his overflowing trophy case.

"It was not easy, it sounds easy, but you always have to fight for everything and I fought for everything I have in hockey," said Fetisov. "I also won the biggest fight away from hockey. That was the fight against communism, the fight for freedom of choices.

"I won that fight, but it was not easy. I was all alone, I was not allowed to do anything and I kept battling until I won. I had a big name, which hockey gave me, and that was all. It was probably the hardest fight of my life, but I won. I think winning that battle has opened the door for many European players, especially Russians. "

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Never forget that many of "our' Russians, and those Russian athletes in any other sport that competed internationally, were also prey to the Russian mob as well (one reason I never thought that Fedorov himself was greedy, he did what he had to do).

Edited June 26, 2007 by RedRockit

[HuntsVegas Baby 0]

Doesn't Dino own a club in Shelby Township?

Edited June 26, 2007 by HuntsVegas Baby

[Firsov 0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Larionov

[amberlynn25 9]

Doesn't Dino own a club in Shelby Township?

yes club 22 on 22 mile. hes lives in sarnia. he bought a house from nathans friends dad.

[CenterIce 83]

I say Francis, Messier, and Larionov are locks. I think MacInnis is the other in.

[Dano33 41]

Agreed

Messier

Francis

Larionov

And

DINO CICCARELLI!!!

How have they kept him out?

1232 Games, 608 goals, 1200 points and most importantly 1425 PIM!

Hell yeah, Dino is the man

[Yzerman#19 17]

My HOF ballot would look like this:

1. Messier

2. Stevens

3. Larionov

4. Francis

Larionov may likely get passed over unfairly this year though. Seeing as it's mostly biased Canadians that get to vote on this. Just look at how many times Herb Brooks was passed over before he was finally put in.

Edited June 27, 2007 by Yzerman#19

[poolerman 0]

Messier - Stevens - Francis -McInnes are a lock

Igor has an international and NHL experience but

the other guys all played in NHLand were stars in the NHL at their PEAK

IGOR wasn't and he's russian.. I like Igor but not a chance

My View is that he takes Francis's place but itwon't happen

Messier - Stevens - Francis -McInnes are a lock

Igor has an international and NHL experience but

the other guys all played in NHLand were stars in the NHL at their PEAK

IGOR wasn't and he's russian.. I like Igor but not a chance

My View is that he takes Francis's place but itwon't happen

[eva unit zero 271]

Messier and Francis are two of the top five scoring players of All-Time. No way they aren't first ballot. Larionov was a great player in the NHL, but before he came to the NHL he was considered one of the five best centers in the world for a decade. He should be in. After that you have MacInnis, Stevens, Lemieux, and Oates. Lemieux had some nice playoffs, but was never a star in the NHL and probably shouldn't even be in this discussion. Oates had some good years, but never really shone through as a star player and was always a tier below. Which leaves Stevens and MacInnis. MacInnis won a Norris and a Smythe, and was close to the Norris on six other occasions. Stevens never won a Norris, and was only a contender for the honor on a couple of occasions. MacInnis had the better career, and so he gets the fourth spot.

1) Messier

2) Francis

3) Larionov

4) MacInnis

Those are my picks.

[Vincanni 1]

1. Messier

2. Stevens

3. Francis

4. MacInnis

-------------

5. Larionov

6. Oates

7. D-Bag

My thoughts exactly, though I could argue Igor below Oates keeping this stricter to what has been done solely in the NHL. Could also swap him for MacInnis if I were to take international play further into my decision process.

Good topic by the way.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Don't give me the "Canadian bias BS". The people who vote are well versed on the subject of hockey and have seen the marque games Lari played on the world AND NHL stage. I'm not saying this as a Wings fan, but as a hockey fan- Lari will be recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation, hands down. He may have entered the NHL older then most, but he put up damn good numbers given the situation he was in. And, above all, the HHOF understands the international hockey politics enough to know what it would mean to snub one of Russian hockey's greatest players.

I mean honestly, what did you think Fets was let in for? Just his NHL career?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Cicarelli isn't getting in anytime soon because of off the ice issues.

1. Messier

2. Larionov

3. Stevens

4. MacInnis

Larionov damn well better be getting in, he paved the way for Russian players in America, had amazing vision and passing ability, and as was previously said, was a huge member of a lot of the Russian national teams.

Dino not getting in is a TRAVESTY!!!! Simply F-ed up.

Larionov being on most folks list is HOMERISM at its finest.

If Larionov had won all his cups in Vancouver or New Jersey not a one of you would put him ahead of MacInnis.

1. Messier

2. Francis

3. Stevens

4. MacInnis

Those are your 4. If they let in 5 Igor would be the 5th in a virtual tie with Oates.

Lemieux is never getting in. Won't happen.

[HuntsVegas Baby 0]

I'm really surprised nobody jumped on the "How did Cam Neely get it"

[eva unit zero 271]

I'm really surprised nobody jumped on the "How did Cam Neely get it"

Everyone pretty much agrees Neely didn't deserve it. I mean, if you say Neely deserves it, the you open the thing to a whole bunch of guys with similar accomplishments. Neely was a second-team RW four times, a first teamer never, and never scored 100 points in the most offensive era of the NHL. Using Neely as the selection criteria, Markus Naslund, John Leclair, Paul Kariya, Kevin Stevens, Keith Tkachuk, and Pavel Bure should all pretty much be locks for the HOF should they retire today. Now, those guys were all great players, but to argue that any of them is a lock for the HOF is laughable. Neely, just like Clark Gillies, was undeserving of the honor but got in anyway.

[Opie 308]

I think the issue with Neely was empathy, everyone felt like he had so much talent and he tried so many times to come back, he even scored 52 in 50 (or something like that) games I think. I think that is what got him in, I am not justifying the selection but saying I think the voters had soft hearts that year.

Using Neely as the selection criteria, Markus Naslund, John Leclair, Paul Kariya, Kevin Stevens, Keith Tkachuk, and Pavel Bure should all pretty much be locks for the HOF should they retire today.

4 possibly 5 of those guys could make it, not first ballot but they have shots. Bure is almost an exact replica of Neely, not play wise that is a joke to compare them that way. But situationally they both had some great years (in an offensive league) and had injuries shorten their careers.

[eva unit zero 271]

I think the issue with Neely was empathy, everyone felt like he had so much talent and he tried so many times to come back, he even scored 52 in 50 (or something like that) games I think. I think that is what got him in, I am not justifying the selection but saying I think the voters had soft hearts that year.

The HOF isn't supposed to recognize what you COULD have done. If it did, Alexandre Daigle would be in. Neely was a decent player who had a couple good seasons but was not good enough or around long enough to justify his selection. People often justifty it 'but what about how he used dominant physical play to score?' and that's a valid thought, until you realize that giving him credit for using his body to score as well as for his actual numbers is basically double-counting his stats. If you talk about his dominant physical game making him an offensive force and then he still only puts up the numbers he did, how is that deserving?

4 possibly 5 of those guys could make it, not first ballot but they have shots. Bure is almost an exact replica of Neely, not play wise that is a joke to compare them that way. But situationally they both had some great years (in an offensive league) and had injuries shorten their careers.

Bure is a much better candidate than Neely. Bure had better career stats in a shorter career, and scored 50 goals five times and 60 twice, and twice scored over 100 points. Bure was also a bona fide Hart candidate, something Neely never was.

[Production Line 1]

I love Larionov for what he did for the Wings, but no way he deserves to be ahead of Messier, Stevens, Francis or MacInnis.

1. Messier

2. Stevens

3. Francis

4. MacInnis

-------------

5. Larionov

6. Oates

7. Turtle

I agree, if Igor played his whole career in the NHL he would of been a lock. White boy Adam will get in sometime. The turtle might possibly get in sometime,I prefer not.

[eva unit zero 271]

I agree, if Igor played his whole career in the NHL he would of been a lock. White boy Adam will get in sometime. The turtle might possibly get in sometime,I prefer not.

Lemieux had worse numbers than Neely in 400 more games, scored 40 goals once and broke 80 points once. Just as far as quality of play goes, he does not deserve consideration. Not even considering his cheap-shots that defined his career.

[Production Line 1]

I agree, if Igor played his whole career in the NHL he would of been a lock. White boy Adam will get in sometime. The turtle might possibly get in sometime,I prefer not.

After my freind Yzerman#19 pointed out to me. I change my opinion, take out Stevens and put in Larionov...I forgot that this is thr HOCKEY hall of fame not the NHL Hockey hall of fame...

[Lou_Siffer 1]

No Hall for Oates!

[Kira 451]

I hope Igor gets in. Claude Lemieux getting in would be almost an insult to Wings fans. Take a hike, Clod.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I truly believe that people mentioning Igor in the top 4 are homers.

I cannot see how he gets in over Stevens, Francis, Macinnis, or obviously Messier. Adam Oates even has a better shot. I'm sorry, I loved Iggy, but even the biggest fan should consider reality and realized that others had more successful careers in the NHL. Igor's Russian play was brilliant, and if the NHL hall of fame was based on international play as well, then he'd be a shoe in.

[Opie 308]

I truly believe that people mentioning Igor in the top 4 are homers.

I cannot see how he gets in over Stevens, Francis, Macinnis, or obviously Messier. Adam Oates even has a better shot. I'm sorry, I loved Iggy, but even the biggest fan should consider reality and realized that others had more successful careers in the NHL. Igor's Russian play was brilliant, and if the NHL hall of fame was based on international play as well, then he'd be a shoe in.

It is HHOF that means Hockey Hall of Fame not NHL Hall of Fame, International Stats and play does count.

[toby91_ca 620]

I truly believe that people mentioning Igor in the top 4 are homers.

I cannot see how he gets in over Stevens, Francis, Macinnis, or obviously Messier. Adam Oates even has a better shot. I'm sorry, I loved Iggy, but even the biggest fan should consider reality and realized that others had more successful careers in the NHL. Igor's Russian play was brilliant, and if the NHL hall of fame was based on international play as well, then he'd be a shoe in.

There are guys in the HOF as players, who never played a single NHL game.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Oh okay, I guess I was completely oblivious to this. I thought the Russians always went to the "Russian Hockey Hall of Fame." I always thought it was North American bound only.