This summer, Last Word On Sports covered thirty teams in thirty days, selecting one player from each team that is currently not in the Hall of Fame and made a case for each of them. After the series came to a conclusion, we took to a quick straw poll to find out whom you thought deserved to be in the final round. The results were close and we selected 12 players that received more votes than the rest.
Today, we share with you those players that made the final cut and now the power is in your hand; In this final vote, you the reader decides which one player deserves to be in the Hall of Fame over all the others.
Here are the final 12 candidates, click their names to read the full article.
The Best of the Best of the Rest
Theoren Fleury, Calgary Flames
“His career average of more than a point per game (1084 games, 1088 points in the regular season, 77 games, 79 points in the playoffs) is very good, and his 455 career goals are just outside of the magic 500 number. His seven all-star game appearances certainly help the cause as well, as will his 35 career short-handed goals, tied for 9th all-time.
Also, Fleury is one of only seven players to have scored 1000 points and recorded 1800 penalty minutes in his career. For Hall voters who value toughness combined with skill, there is no question about Fleury.
However, a major and perhaps unforgivable factor working against Fleury is the fact that he never led the league in any major offensive category during his career, nor did he ever win an individual award.
The Stanley Cup championship also helps his campaign, as does his record internationally. Fleury would win gold at the IIHF World Juniors in 1988, as well as gold in the Canada Cup in 1991, and gold in the 2002 Olympics. Collectively, he scored 38 points in 44 senior-level international matches.”
Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
“As recently as this month, his list of achievements added yet another notch with the announcement that he, along with LeClair and Eric Desjardins, would be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame during the 2014-15 season. Lindros and LeClair will receive their ceremony before the game against the Minnesota Wild on November 20th, while Desjardins will get his before the game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 19th.
While the lack of a Stanley Cup and longevity issues would hurt someone’s chances in making the Hockey Hall of Fame, an exception can be made for Lindros. Some may even say Lindros should already be in there. His point totals alone, as well as what he did for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 90s, was one of the biggest storylines in the NHL. His achievements and accolades confirm what everyone already knows — Lindros was one of the greats of his time and arguably the best powerforward of his team… maybe ever. His behavior off the ice, not wanting to sign with teams that draft him and even on the ice, with recent stories circulating of a charity poster ripping incident, have left hockey fans with a soured opinion on Big E. Yet in the same breath, his $5 million dollar donation to the London Health Sciences Centre is one of the biggest personal donations by a sports figure from Canada and is often left out of the conversation when talking negatively about the man. Same goes for his participation in the Habitat for Humanity event, where Lindros helped built homes on Mother’s Day back in 2010.
Sure he’s met his fair share of low moments, both in hockey and outside of the sport, but Lindros has done so much good for the game and outside of it that it’s hard to count him out of the equation. After all, players don’t get left out of the Hall of Fame just because they didn’t want to play for a team. The Hall recognizes a player’s career in hockey, both on and off the ice and Lindros has done more good than bad in both situations. In fact, his career speaks for itself that Lindros has not just done good things, but great things because, whether you like him or you hate him, Eric Lindros is one of the greats of all time.”
“Kariya was famous for his exciting, skilled play. He was an unbelievably quick skater, with elite puck-handling and passing talents. He was always an offensive threat, and was able to read plays amazingly. Even though he was always seen as more of a playmaker, Kariya was forced to adjust a little when he joined the Ducks, who lacked a true goal scorer. He improved his shot, demonstrating his lightning-fast release. As a captain, Kariya was often the hardest-working player on the team, always trying to get better.
Of course, some hockey fans who aren’t familiar with Kariya as a Ducks legend, might still recognize him from one infamous moment. Midway through the second period of game six of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final series in which the Ducks trailed 3-2, Devils captain Scott Stevens elbowed Kariya hard in the head, long after he’d passed the puck away. He was knocked out cold, and lay immobile on the ice for several seconds, before waking up suddenly. He was taken to the dressing room, and then proceeded to shock the world by returning to the Ducks’ bench, before the end of the second period. It was assumed that he’d be out at least for the rest of the game, if not the series. In fact, medical staff were prepared to take him to hospital, until Kariya himself insisted he wanted to play.
That led to a fascinating display of heroics. Kariya, after coming back into the game, and being unconscious on the ground just a few minutes before, carried the puck up ice into the Devils’ zone, and roofed it behind Martin Brodeur. The moment produced one of the most famous play-by-play calls of all time, with the shocked Gary Thorne’s “Paul Kariya! Off the floor, on the board!”.”
Tom Barrasso, Pittsburgh Penguins
“Selected 5th overall in 1983, Tom Barrasso became the highest picked goaltender in the history of the NHL at that time, much to the surprise of scouts around the league. The solitary goaltender who stopped pucks at ease and held the promise of being a franchise player had won Buffalo over. Since then, the aforementioned Fleury beat him out by being selected 1st overall by the Penguins, as did Rick DiPietro by the New York Islanders. Kari Lehtonen was selected 2nd overall back in 2002 and Roberto Luongo was selected just a pick before Barrasso (4th) in the 1997 draft.
He achieved many accolades during his career but one that is often overlooked is something Barrasso accomplished that no other goaltender had done before, no goaltender has done since and likely will never happen again. Barrasso went straight from the American high school hockey program to the National Hockey League, skipping the college and major junior hockey levels. What is even more astounding is the fact that he won the Vezina and Calder trophy while making the NHL First All-Star Team — as a rookie.
Barrasso had bested Harry Lumley by becoming the youngest goaltender to win a game in 1983-84 at the age of 18. The following year, Barrasso and Sabres back-up Bob Sauve were the recipients of the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded to the team with the fewest goals allowed. This time, Barrasso was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.”
Jeremy Roenick, Chicago Blackhawks
“Jeremy Roenick played in nine NHL All Star Games, and was voted to the All-Tournament Team in the 1991 Canada Cup. He also earned a silver medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics for his efforts in Salt Lake City. Although Jordan Schroeder recently broke his record of most points as an American in World Junior Championship history in 2010, J.R. remains at #2 all-time. That same year, Roenick was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
Despite his countless contributions to the game of hockey, he still lacks the honor of being selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He certainly has my vote, however. Simply put, Roenick was hands-down one of the best Americans to ever play in the NHL. He inspired Americans to pursue an interest in the sport that has since grown immensely throughout the 50 states. I realize that he doesn’t have a Stanley Cup ring or a Hart Trophy to show for it, but there is no doubt in my mind that he should be recognized for his impeccable career.
J.R. revolutionized the power forward role, expressing his constant determination and persistence. He became one of the biggest hitters of his time, utilizing his body as a wrecking ball against unsuspecting opponents to generate timely hits. Combine that with soft hands that allowed him to perform head-spinning dekes, and you have the ideal all-around hockey player you would love to have on your roster.
He will forever be a Chicago Blackhawks great, but time will tell if Jeremy Roenick will make it into the Hall of Fame.”
Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars
“He’s certainly got the championships on his resume as well. Two Stanley Cups with two different teams, as well as a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in 1989 and gold at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. He’s especially beloved in Russia, not just for his Olympic gold, but also for being the second-highest scoring Russian defenseman in NHL history, just 25 points behind Gonchar.
One knock on Zubov could be his play in the defensive zone, where he didn’t have the same dominating impact as more physical players, however Zubov relied more on his speed, quick transition skills, and elite passing to make plays in his own end, attributes that are much less flashy than the huge hits by Stevens and Blake, but no less effective. He may also get hurt by his lack of individual hardware; he never garnered an individual NHL award (he was a finalist for the Norris only once), and has just one year-end NHL Second-All Star team to his credit, however he did play in three all-star games.
However, during a time when offense from the blueline was often overlooked, Zubov was a unique and sublime talent that quietly did his job brilliantly and brought the goods year after year. Not only was he one of the greats for the Stars, he was one of the greats anywhere in hockey, period. When considering the best of the rest for the Dallas franchise, nobody beats Zubov.”
Keith Tkachuk, Arizona Coyotes
“His 52-goal campaign back in 1996-97 that saw him win the NHL goal-scoring race made him the first American-born player to do so, but he also became just the 4th player that year to hit both 50-goals and 200+ penalty minutes in the same season, which was a fine example of the type of player Tkachuk was over the years. Back in Phoenix, he still holds on to the franchise records for career game-winning goals with 40, and career penalty minutes with 1,508.
Keith Tkachuk served as the captain of the Winnipeg Jets starting in 1993 but was stripped at the start of the 1995-96 season when he signed a front-loaded offer sheet with the Chicago Blackhawks that would pay him $17 million over the course of 5 years, the first year earning him $6 million. The end result was the Jets matching the sheet instantly and ripping the C off his jersey, handing it to Kris King. It wasn’t until the last game of the playoffs when King suffered an injury and Tkachuk regained the captaincy. Tkachuk served as the team’s official captain until their move to Arizona and the entirety of his run with the Coyotes up until his trade in 2001.
The lack of a Stanley Cup win doesn’t help Tkachuk’s case for Hall of Fame hopes but he still has a laundry list of accomplishments; International success, personal success with 500+ goals and 1000+ points over his career, and regarded as one of the best US-born players of all time. That alone should be enough to earn Big Walt a spot in the Hall of Fame and it’s not a matter of IF it will happen, only WHEN.”
John Vanbiesbrouck, Florida Panthers
“So what does Vanbiesbrouck bring to the table that would make him Hall of Fame worthy? He has no Stanley Cup ring, little international success and just one Vezina trophy. On top of that, the Trevor Daly incident which included a racial slur by Vanbiesbrouck back in Sault Ste. Marie, while he was the head coach during the 2002-03 season, has left many with a sour taste in their mouth despite a sympathetic apology on Beezer’s behalf.
Well, Vanbiesbrouck does have that Vezina trophy, as previously mentioned. He has also appeared in four All-Star games and was even named Top Goaltender of the Skills Competition in 1997. Vanbiesbrouck is also just the 2nd American-born goaltender to reach 300 wins and in doing so, he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame back in 2007. Ranking 31st in the top 100 Ranger Greats book, Vanbiesbrouck also made an appearance on the cover of the video game NHL ’97.
Vanbiesbrouck also currently holds the Rangers all-time franchise records for most assists in a single season by a goaltender with 5 and most career assists by a goaltender with 25. On top of that, Vanbiesbrouck is the most winningest goaltenders among those born in America with 374 career victories and also leads all American-born in the shutout category with 40 career donuts. For Hall voters who like to acknowledge national contributions, that can certainly help his case.”
Mike Richter, New York Rangers
“Richter became the unquestioned number one goalie for the Rangers during that famed 93-94 season, using his incredible reflexes and agility to stymie teams and earn himself both an all-star appearance and the all-star game MVP in 1994. Richter started a whopping 68 games, and posted a 2.57 GAA, good for fourth in the NHL that Cup-winning season. In a year when eight of the top ten NHL point-getters broke 100, Richter was a stone wall. Undersized but agile, Richter was known for his focus and ability to rise to the occasion. He posted an incredible .921 save percentage and a 2.07 GAA with four shutouts in the ’94 playoffs. There was also that little thing known only as “Pavel Bure’s penalty shot” in game four of the Stanley Cup Final. Richter and company broke the curse surrounding the team after 1940 in Richter’s first season as a starting goalie, this was to be the start of something beautiful.
Richter continued to play incredibly well for a few more seasons, including leading team USA to a World Cup win in ’96, but the injury bug reared it’s ugly head. Whether it be concussions or ACL injuries, Richter battled through them all. He showed that same focus and toughness on the ice as he did off it while rehabbing. Richter stayed with the Rangers for his whole career, winning 301 regular season games and posting a career save percentage of .904 (3rd all-time in Rangers history). Richter was one of the best in a time where a 2.57 GAA was fourth best in the league. His 666 games played and 17379 saves remain records for Rangers goaltenders, while his record win total was surpassed by Henrik Lundqvist just this past season and his 24 shutouts rank 5th.
Mike Richter was more than stats to Ranger fans, though. He was everything New Yorkers idolize about their city and themselves.
He was quick and agile, but he feared nothing. He was undersized, but he was the toughest guy on the ice. He was always ready for anything, but never let his nerves get the better of him. Seeing him between the pipes made you feel better about your chances before the puck even dropped. Rumor has it he also always folds his pizza, hates Times Square because of the tourists, refuses to put ketchup on his hot dog, and knows taxis have to take you to Brooklyn, no matter what they tell you. What Richter really did was help captivate a city, and bring a parade through the Canyon of Heroes, something New Yorkers will always remember.”
Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks
“Naslund’s qualifications for the Hall are debatable. While his 395 goals and 869 points in 1117 NHL games are nothing to sniff at, they’re below the threshold of what most people consider to be Hall eligible, however three 1st-team all-star nominations and the Pearson trophy certainly help his cause.
Internationally, an area where the HHoF also gives some credit, Naslund was productive, but not spectacular. He won silver twice at the IIHF World Junior Championships with Sweden (he was named a tournament all-star in 1993, scoring 24 points in just 7 games), medalled three times at the IIHF World Championships, and also made one appearance at the Olympics for Sweden in 2002. Collectively, he produced 21 points in 31 senior-level international matches.
But ultimately what it might come down to is the fact that Naslund never won a championship, either at the NHL level or internationally. The Stanley Cup combined with World Championship or Olympic gold is usually standard for entering the Hall, as are the 500-goal and 1000-point barriers. That Naslund had a lengthy career without reaching any of these accomplishments, doesn’t bode well for his chances. Still, he retired as one of the greatest Canucks of all-time, and is certainly the greatest Hall-eligible player in franchise history not currently in the Hockey Hall of Fame.”
Peter Bondra, Washington Capitals
“Not to be overshadowed by his superior offensive game, Bondra paid much attention to his defensive play as well. During the 90s when the Caps were known for their defense-first style, he was a regular on the team’s superb penalty kill unit.
In an era of relatively low goal scoring, Bondra was a two-time 50-goal scorer and finished off his career “quietly” with 503 goals and 389 assists for a combined total of 892 points in 1,081 games in the league. Over that span, he was selected to five NHL All-Star Games [’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, and ‘99] and won a gold medal with Slovakia at the 2002 World Championships in Sweden. Bondra is currently the franchise scoring leader in both points [825] and goals [472] for the Capitals as well.
Without a doubt, if there is one former Washington Capital who deserves to be recognized on a Hockey Hall of Fame ballot in the future, it’s Peter Bondra. The fact that his number has not yet been retired by the organization is enough of a travesty in itself. He’s a player who has often been compared to the likes of Pavel Bure, a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, and Alex Ovechkin, a shoe-in for future induction. He didn’t reach 1,000 points, and he never won a Stanley Cup. He was a young European kid who never came up through the North American system yet managed to become one of the most infectious offensive weapons the NHL has ever seen.”
“Housley was a 7 time all-star (in three different decades, no less) and was named to the NHL’s second all-star team in 1992, the same season he finished second runner-up in Norris trophy voting. Despite never winning a Stanley Cup, Housley was a member of the American team that won the World Cup in 1996 and was an assistant captain with Team USA when they won the silver medal at the Olympics in 2002.
Sure it was a different game back in the 80′s and 90′s in the National Hockey League, but 1200+ points (not to mention 11 straight seasons of 15+ goals and 60+ points to begin his career) as a defenseman in this league in any era is unbelievably impressive. His pedigree fits the credentials of a sure Hall of Fame caliber player, and the numbers speak for themselves. He bounced around a number of teams and carried his influence to each city he played for, but if Housley ever makes it to the Hall, should be as a Buffalo Sabre.
He’s been eligible since 2007 and fellow countryman Mike Modano just received the honor of getting in this past ballot. For next year’s ballot, Housley faces some tough competition with the likes of newcomers Sergei Fedorov, and Nicklas Lidstrom, but this writer believes that Housley should be enshrined and receive his long-awaited dues. When it comes to the Buffalo Sabres, Housley definitely defines the best of the rest.”
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