04/19/24
June 28, 2007
Messier leads new class into Hockey Hall : The Hockey Hall of Fame is set to welcome one of its finest classes ever. Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens will go in as players this fall, while NHL executive Jim Gregory will enter as a builder.
posted by commander cody to hockey at 05:14 PM - 14 comments
Congratrulations to them all. I remember Francis and Messier playing for so long that I still expect them to suit up this fall.
posted by sickleguy at 05:53 PM on June 28, 2007
As a lifer Ranger fan, Messier seems like an obvious choice...He is the only player to win the cup twice as a captain. I was at game 7 in MSG back in 94, and Messier lifted the cup and a franchise. He is an integral reason of why I became a die-hard, obsessed, crazed, devout hockey fan...and more importantly Ranger fan. (keep in mind I was 12 in 94) I don't think he is ready to compete to be my GM, but June 14 will live forever in my mind and my heart. What he did for the NY, the fans, and the nhl is sheer poetry. Until I see the blueshirts lift the cup again, he will always be my captain.
posted by NYRBeeker16 at 06:10 PM on June 28, 2007
I had a Caps ticket plan when they drafted Scott Stevens..playing along side Rod Langway really helped Scott become a fantastic defenseman..The day he left Washington..the team lost one of the best players ever to wear their uniform.
posted by terpsez11 at 06:24 PM on June 28, 2007
All of these no brainer elections. Does an Adam Oats have a shot at ever getting in?
posted by HATER 187 at 09:52 PM on June 28, 2007
If NHL 94 and the mighty computerized Bruins of the day had anything to do with it, I hope so.
posted by jmd82 at 11:02 PM on June 28, 2007
Oates has a shot. If Michel Goulet can get in - I can't see how Oates doesn't. Too many players in this Hall (not a huge complaint - but c'mon). All good choices. Too bad MacInnis' career ended so abruptly. He was still delivering the goods. Hell - he was, what, only a couple years away from turning 40 and being signed to a three-year contract by the Leafs. See? Too young.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:25 AM on June 29, 2007
Does an Adam Oats have a shot at ever getting in? Oates gets in if there is an opening in the voting ballot in the next couple of years. Michel Goulet isn't the worst player induction to the HHOF. I reserve that right for this guy. Never had 40 goals. Never had 60 assists. Never had 100 points (obviously). Never won an individual award. He was a quality player who happened to play on some teams that had other GREAT players, collected some rings and somehow got into the HHOF.
posted by grum@work at 08:53 AM on June 29, 2007
Grum, my nomination for worst player induction to the HHOF has to be Bob Pulford. He's your guy with worse stats.
posted by tommybiden at 09:02 AM on June 29, 2007
Grum, my nomination for worst player induction to the HHOF has to be Bob Pulford. He's your guy with worse stats. Even though he was inducted as a player (and yes, he's a terrible choice for that), I think that his dabbling in coaching/GM/operations might have helped his cause. If we go strictly by historical record and skill, then Pulford is definitely a bad induction.
posted by grum@work at 11:48 AM on June 29, 2007
I guess no one had more assists in the '90s than Adam Oates. I read that on Wikipedia so I'm suspicous of that little tidbit. Can anyone confirm or deny?
posted by NoMich at 12:58 PM on June 29, 2007
If NHL 94 and the mighty computerized Bruins of the day had anything to do with it, I hope so. Then surely Vladimir Ruzicka and Dmitri Kvartalnov are in.
posted by qbert72 at 01:34 PM on June 29, 2007
I guess no one had more assists in the '90s than Adam Oates. No one except for Wayne Gretzky. I think it is quite feasible seeing as Oates is sixth on the all time assists list. I'm actually rather suprised he wasn't inducted this year.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:20 PM on June 29, 2007
HA! A reread of Oates' Wiki entry shows that wing wang is right. I would love to claim that I had just woken up when I posted my previous comment, but alas, I'm just a dork.
posted by NoMich at 04:02 PM on June 29, 2007
While this year's class looks fantastic, I think I can say in all honesty that I'm nearly as happy about the fact that Claude Lemieux didn't get selected as I am for those that did. I have an idea of another building for him and it involves bars and a warden. Congrats to esp go out to Al.