2012 Inductee Mats Sundin addressing the crowd after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2012.
(Photo by Matthew Manor/Hockey Hall of Fame)
The evening belonged to Joe Sakic, Adam Oates, Pavel Bure and former Leafs captain Mats Sundin, who were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame tonight in Toronto along with long time Buffalo Sabres announcer Rick Jeanneret and Globe and Mail writer Roy MacGregor, who were selected as the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award and the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award recipients for broadcasting and journalism.
Sundin, the all-time leader in most Maple Leafs offensive categories was appreciative of the honor being bestowed upon him.
"It's a very humbling and tremendous honor to be here today, there's so many people for me to thank that it would take me all night.”
He later reflected on the 13 seasons he spent in Blue and White. “Leaf fans, I will never forget what you have given me.”
The only unfortunate aspect to the lead up to this evening’s festivities was the fact that Sundin and the other inductees did not have a chance to be honored with the traditional Hall of Fame night at the Air Canada Center because of the ongoing NHL lockout.
Sundin is the latest in Leafs alumnus that have been selected for the Hall Of Fame, after Ed Belfour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Doug Gilmour were enshrined last season.
In looking at the potential selections over the next couple seasons, it is very possible that we see some or all of the following former Leafs players and coaches enshrined:
Dave Andreychuk - The “Puck-Chucker” might fall into the compiler category, as he played over 1600 games in his 24 year career, but he scored 50 goals two times, had 640 career goals, won a Stanley Cup with Tampa in 2004 and is the record holder for most power play goals in NHL history, it’s not a matter of if he will make it, but when.
Tom Barrasso – He played a grand total of four regular season games in Toronto in 2002, but the former Calder, Vezina and Jennings Trophy winner, who won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in the early 90’s is someone who may get in but might have to wait a few years.
Pat Burns – The three time Jack Adams Trophy winner with three different teams (Montreal, Toronto and Boston) represents a black eye to the Hall, as fans and media alike wanted him honored before dying of cancer in 2010. He is almost certain to selected posthumously.
Lorne Chabot – Chabot has been championed by buddy Jeff Marek of Sportsnet as deserving of selection to the Hall and I concur. He won two Stanley Cups with the Rangers in 1928 and Toronto in 1932, was chosen as the NHL Frist Team All Star and Vezina Trophy winner in 1935 and had 74 career shutouts in an 11 year NHL career.
Paul Henderson – The argument that Henderson’s career stats are not Hall of Fame caliber may be true(NHL – 236 G, 241 A, 477 Pts in 707 games / WHA – 140 G, 143 A, 283 Pts in 360 games), but his play in the 1972 Summit Series and scoring possibly the most important goal in Canadian hockey history should be determining factors.
Phil Housley – “Wowie” Housley as he was called in Buffalo also played four games(three in the playoffs) with Toronto at the end of his career. He is second only to Mike Modano in career points by an American born player and was selected as an All-Star seven times. Based on his statistics, he should be a shoo in, but his lack of defensive ability may keep him from making it until there is a year light on candidates.
Curtis Joseph – Cujo should be in the Hall of Fame with 454 career victories, but critics have continued to say that he is not worthy based on not winning a Stanley Cup. That argument loses validity if you consider that Sundin did not win one either and Joseph was much more responsible for the Leafs reaching the Conference Final two times in four years than the recently inducted Mats.
Eric Lindros – The “Big E” played only 33 games near the end of his career with the Leafs. His career was shortened drastically by concussion issues, but as with Hall of Famers in other sports like Gale Sayers or Kirby Puckett, a career shortened due to injury is factored in to any decision. Clearly Lindros was a dominant force up until his health difficulties, so again it is not a matter of if, but when.
Are there any other former Leafs that you think will get into the Hall or at least deserve consideration???
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