Sakic, Shanahan are sure things for HHOF

[doniceage]

TORONTO -- Two names should be automatic, and then it will get real interesting -- as it always does when the selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame gathers in Toronto -- when this year’s inductees are announced on Tuesday.

Joe Sakic will require very little time for the 18-member committee to sign off on. He’s hockey royalty, with 1,641 points (625 goals, 1,016 assists) -- ninth all-time -- two Stanley Cups and an Olympic gold medal.


http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/tag/_/na...-of-fame-class

[xelloss1012]

Surprised that Shanny was passed over for Bure and Oates (who have been left waiting indefinitely).

[centrehice]

Surprised that Shanny was passed over for Bure and Oates (who have been left waiting indefinitely).

Shanny should be passed over for Housley, Vinny Damphousse and Pat Verbeek as well. Just because you are eligible, you should still have to wait your turn.

Seems that you can only score over 500 goals or be the first American Born Defenseman to ever get 1,000 points and wait indefinitely, yet guys like Neely, Bernie Federko and Clark Gillies that didn't get half that amount went straight in.

Simply not fair.

Dino's wait until last year was a travesty, but at least they got it right, and he's in.

[maradona]

IMO Shanny should have got in instead of Sundin.

[centrehice]

What people are forgetting is that Shanahan was the NHL chief Player Representative for the NHLPA, and then losing that position to retirement, was immediately hired by the League itself.

The NHL by waiting probably one year ( he will go in next year) did not want to give the viewpoint of Nepotism to anyone by getting Shanny in, simply because a portion of Hockey society would have made the very same Nepotism comment.

Astute judgement by the HOF Selecting Committee, as Shanny is and always has been a lock for the Hall.

You have a battle next year as you have Shanny, Roenick, Tkachuk, Niedermayer, Housley, Nolan, Mogilny, Bondra, Cujo.

The problem is not who should be selected, the problem is that the list is too small to begin with.

Eligibility should be based on no minimum, and perhaps a maximum of 6-8 players if need be.

The HOF selection committee has come up with bizarre number of only 4 players per year. I have no idea how this number was achieved or what the premise or purpose is behind it.

[30ranfordfan]

Agree totally with the comments about the PA / League. Keeping Shanahan out this year was to avoid those calls. He'll go in next year.


Similar to the issue they're in with Burns. While I'm not totally convinved he really is one of the all time great coaches - there is certainly a valid argument to be made that he is. Not trying to debate that for either side. When the selection comittee got ripped for not putting him in before he died, I'm going to assume that they decided that they would now wait at least 5 years before doing it - there is no rush anymore.... and they would look like total fools to have done it right after he died.


If I recall, there is no minimum for number of players being inducted. They could send nobody in a given year - I just don't think that's ever happened.

The max of four..... no idea where it came from. I can only guess that by limiting the number to four - you can make sure that at the ceremony everyone gets an appropriate amount of attention. If 8 guys got in, there's a very good chance that at any ceremony ,one or two of them would eclipse the others in terms of fame - so the day would end up being all about them. By limiting it to four guys, there's a much smaller chance of this happening.

What people are forgetting is that Shanahan was the NHL chief Player Representative for the NHLPA, and then losing that position to retirement, was immediately hired by the League itself.

The NHL by waiting probably one year ( he will go in next year) did not want to give the viewpoint of Nepotism to anyone by getting Shanny in, simply because a portion of Hockey society would have made the very same Nepotism comment.

Astute judgement by the HOF Selecting Committee, as Shanny is and always has been a lock for the Hall.

You have a battle next year as you have Shanny, Roenick, Tkachuk, Niedermayer, Housley, Nolan, Mogilny, Bondra, Cujo.

The problem is not who should be selected, the problem is that the list is too small to begin with.

Eligibility should be based on no minimum, and perhaps a maximum of 6-8 players if need be.

The HOF selection committee has come up with bizarre number of only 4 players per year. I have no idea how this number was achieved or what the premise or purpose is behind it.

[DeanCrandall]

Niedermeyer and Chelios get in next year, Shanny likely in 2013.

So whose the 4th ?
Lindros ? Blake ? Roenick ? BrindAmour ? or maybe finally Andreychuk ?

[DeanCrandall]

I like the 4 per year, no rush to be inducted, and some years the class over the past 10 years has been weak. Be nice to fill in those classes with guys like Roenick and Andreychuk who have been patiently waiting.

If everyone so concerned about 4 or that so much talent is being passed on, explain Mark Howe making it in 2011.

[centrehice]

Niedermeyer and Chelios get in next year, Shanny likely in 2013.

So whose the 4th ?
Lindros ? Blake ? Roenick ? BrindAmour ? or maybe finally Andreychuk ?

Brind' A Mour won't get into the Hall. There are at least 100 players more eligible than him as we speak.

Anybody with 500 or more goals will eventually all get in. Anybody with 1,000 or 1,100 points will eventually get in.

Anybody with 2 Conn Smythe's will get in.

[mooneyes]

Housley!!! Sick skills! His outlet passes to Selanne were unbelievably quick and accurate. Not only did he have quick hands and feet, but a quick decision maker, no hesitation at all! When he saw the open man, the puck was on his stick in a blink of an eye. Unfortunate he doesn't get the recognition he deserves,but to see him play first hand, an amazing talent. Teemu had a lot of help getting all those break-away goals!