Completely Random HHOF Thought - Non-Wings

[toby91_ca 620]

I was reading something on the Player's Tribune this morning and someone's name came up and got me thinking. Warning, this is not a new thought at all, or shouldn't be, but I still haven't been able to quite figure it out.

See the stat lines below for 3 different players. 2 of these players are in the Hall of Fame, 1 is not. Can you guess the one that isn't?

GP G A PTS PPG Awards, etc.

Player A 760 372 493 865 1.14 Hart, Pearson, 8-time All Star

Player B 726 395 299 694 0.96 Masterton, 4-time All Star

Player C 958 319 378 697 0.73 2-time All Star

Also, scoring was much higher during the years Players B and C played in the league (there is some overlap with B and C and with B and A).

Anyway, I know you shouldn't look at others in the HOF and say "if he's in shouldn't he be in?" - I do think the person that is not in should be there regardless, but the fact that he's not and the other two players here are continues to boggle my mind.

[kickazz 5,459]

Player A? Aka Eric Lindros

Edited March 14, 2016 by kickazz

[toby91_ca 620]

Yes.....Lindros, Neely and Gillies

[kickazz 5,459]

Lindros will get in eventually I think.

I thought he would have gotten in this past year..

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Lindros should definitely be in the HHOF, I think it's only a matter of time. The guy was so dominant for a period of time, and his PPG average speaks for itself. He carried the Flyers to the 97 finals, won a Hart trophy, etc. When you stack him against the other two it looks even more obvious.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Lindros will get in for sure. Neely getting in before him was kind of a shock considering that Lindros had a better career that also ended early. I'm guessing his attitude and the expectations everyone had before his career even started hurt him. His attitude doesn't have a great reputation.

Gillies made it in a different era and played on the top line on 4 straight Cup winners. In retrospect, he wouldn't get in nowadays, but they don't remove people from the HOF (only the WWE does that).

Here's another one. Will Sergei Makarov (likely the best winger of the 1980's) ever get into the HHOF?

[kickazz 5,459]

Lindros attitude likely has to do with it.

It's NHL's way of payback. "You're going to have to wait till you get your honors"

[toby91_ca 620]

Gillies was inducted in 2002...so not exactly a different era. I do understand that he's in basically because of the line he played on and team that won 4 straight, but it still doesn't make any sense in my mind. He basically got the HOF the same way Kunitz made it to Team Canada.

The only reason I even used the comparison is because I felt the only argument you could make against Lindros is shortened career.....which isn't valid due to these and other examples.

[toby91_ca 620]

Makarov I'm not sure about. He deserves to be there probably, but voters are clearly biased to NHLers.....which they should be in my mind because that's where the best players are.....if you are not playing against the best, hard to judge. That said, for most of his career, the NHL was almost entirely North American players.

It didn't keep others out, like Larionov though....and his NHL stat line is not overly inspiring. I think the difference is probably Igor being part of 3 cups with the Wings....better known in NA?

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Gillies was inducted in 2002...so not exactly a different era. I do understand that he's in basically because of the line he played on and team that won 4 straight, but it still doesn't make any sense in my mind. He basically got the HOF the same way Kunitz made it to Team Canada.

The only reason I even used the comparison is because I felt the only argument you could make against Lindros is shortened career.....which isn't valid due to these and other examples.

I feel like there are differences from 2002 to now. I can't see a Gillies type making it now. Today's inductees from the 80's are guys that put up inflated stats, like Housley and soon to be, Andreychuk. Gillies isn't the type to make it in 2016. Big numbers are more valued now, especially from the 80's.

That brings me to Makarov. Makarov was a pretty good player as soon as he came to America. He was in his early 30's and had to adjust to a new league/country. At that time, players in their early 30's weren't as well conditioned as they are nowadays. He handled it very well. He dominated the Russian league and was great in international competitions. Like I said, he made an impact in the NHL. Unfortunately, a few years into his career he was already in his mid 30's. It's not the NHL Hall of Fame, but the Hockey Hall of Fame. His overall career needs to be more respected by the voters. He's easily the best retired player not in the Hall right now. Instead, they give it to Phil Housley this past year.

Edited March 14, 2016 by GMRwings1983

[chaps80 1,591]

Lindros attitude likely has to do with it.

It's NHL's way of payback. "You're going to have to wait till you get your honors"

Yeah ever since he spurned the Nordiques after they drafted him first overall he's been labelled as a spoiled self entitled douchebag. I don't recall that happening any other time. Crosby, Ovechkin, Fleury, Kane, Tavares, etc. were all happy to play for the teams they were drafted by even though they sucked at the time. Lindros did have a great career though, no denying that. The package the Nords got from Philly for him also turned them into an instant playoff team/future cup winner.

[Number19 159]

Yeah ever since he spurned the Nordiques after they drafted him first overall he's been labelled as a spoiled self entitled douchebag. I don't recall that happening any other time. Crosby, Ovechkin, Fleury, Kane, Tavares, etc. were all happy to play for the teams they were drafted by even though they sucked at the time. Lindros did have a great career though, no denying that. The package the Nords got from Philly for him also turned them into an instant playoff team/future cup winner.

It's not unheard of in other sports. Eli Manning QB of the Giants did the same thing (wouldn't play for San Diego) and honestly no one really seems to care. I don't know what that says about Hockey or Football fans, but Lindros isn't the only guy to have ever done this. I'd say he gets in eventually. The guy was a household name for a good 5 or so years. Not many Hockey players get to that level of fame or notoriety. Maybe 4 or 5 a generation.

[Jacksoni 418]

I feel like there are differences from 2002 to now. I can't see a Gillies type making it now. Today's inductees from the 80's are guys that put up inflated stats, like Housley and soon to be, Andreychuk. Gillies isn't the type to make it in 2016. Big numbers are more valued now, especially from the 80's.

That brings me to Makarov. Makarov was a pretty good player as soon as he came to America. He was in his early 30's and had to adjust to a new league/country. At that time, players in their early 30's weren't as well conditioned as they are nowadays. He handled it very well. He dominated the Russian league and was great in international competitions. Like I said, he made an impact in the NHL. Unfortunately, a few years into his career he was already in his mid 30's. It's not the NHL Hall of Fame, but the Hockey Hall of Fame. His overall career needs to be more respected by the voters. He's easily the best retired player not in the Hall right now. Instead, they give it to Phil Housley this past year.

Agreed. Should be in, and before Housley. Those who don't know where they stand regarding Makarov look him up on youtube.