All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Lucky Luc's retiring in a week-and-half (since the Kings ain't making the playoffs):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12256817/

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Obviously he's Hall of Fame worthy - with his numbers how couldn't he, but with the large number of big names who filled their retirement papers already this year with likely a couple of more to come (Yzerman, Belfour, Hasek?) does Lucky Luc get in on the first ballot?

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Remembering that Lemieux's already in, at this point, it's only Hull that will be in the same class as Robitaille. Unless I'm missing somebody (no, not Palffy). Everybody you're probably thinking of - Messier, Stevens, MacInnis - will be a year ahead of Robitaille.

Yzerman will probably join him in that class, but I think that Hasek and Belfour will play another season.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

the interesting hall of fame case is igor larionov.

the max each year is four, and this year's other retirees -- messier, stevens, francis, macinnis -- will max out that group. larionov will be pushed back.

after this year, you get robitaille -- who was a 9th round draft pick -- and hull (a 6th rounder). they are first-ballot guys. its not expected that yzerman will continue and in addition to hasek and belfour (who may not be a first-ballot guy), what about the possibility of chris chelios? hes a definite immediate selection.

larionov will get in. he played into his 40s and is incredibly respected among the voters. very classy guy, centreman on one of the great russian lines of all time. independent thinker who adpated to the nhl game -- came over as a 29-year-old and played 16 years here.

the question is: how long will he have to wait? will someone (belfour) be held back one year or will all of these guys get in before he does?

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

For all he did for hockey -- not just the NHL -- Larionov should be leaps and bounds before Belfour.

It's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL (or Canadian) Hockey Hall of Fame.

(Same argument for why Paul Henderson shouldn't get in)

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Yeah, Belfour only has a Calder, two Vezinas and a Stanley Cup to his name. Larionov is eligible now and Eddie hasn't even retired yet so it's not an either/or choice.

And Paul Henderson doesn't belong in the HHOF but not for the reason you mentioned.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Mr R,

Larionov's cred--unstained by Lake Placid, integral to USSR whipping the shit out of i-don't-know-how-many first-ballot Hall of Famers in '81. Larionov vs Belfour, non-starter. Was Belfour ever one of the three best at his postion during his career? I dunno, the only place he had an edge on Hasek was in Chicago. Backseat to Roy, Brodeur. If he was ever third, he was never a danger to the top two. Larionov behind 99 in '81 and only 99 ... pretty safe bet until 66. And then he mighta been No. 3.

YHS, etc

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Mr. Miler
I never claimed that Psychogoalie was the best. But he'll go to the Hall based on his career.

I'm not sure what the original point of this was--having to choose between Larionov (absolute no-brainer) or Belfour.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Looking at Eddie the Eagle's trophy case and his two vezina trophies and four Jennings trophies I will make the arguement for at least two seasons he was the best in the business. I would also argue he was top three for a lot longer. Belfour's 457 wins put him in second place all time and his 75 shutouts speak for themself. If I had to choose between him and Patrick Roy, both in their prime, to win me a Game 7 I take Belfour everytime. I have watched him far to long to know doing otherwise would be foolish. How anyone could vote in Larionov over Belfour, one of the all-time greats, is beyond me. Not to take anything away from Larionov who was a hell of a player for a long time as well.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Beef, you know I love you now, right?

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

larionov is not eligible now. he retired before this season. he will not get in on the first ballot against the other four players who did not return this year.

if belfour retires this summer, it could be an either/or situation between he and belfour.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

I should know this but what is the waiting period for eligibility--unless your name is Lemieux or Gretzky?