By Sarah Kwak, SI.com
Before we begin to anoint the NHL’s future -- starting promptly at 7:15 p.m. on Friday with the selection of Steve Stamkos as the first pick of the 2008 draft -- it’s imperative to celebrate the league’s past. And in the case of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s newest class, announced this afternoon, this means remembering yet again the 2004-05 lockout.
The 17-member selection committee deliberated over a very familiar list -- namely those they snubbed last year since there were no new players eligible for this year’s class, thanks to the one-season interruption of play -- and ultimately chose a pair of forwards with plenty of achievements to their long careers: Igor Larionov (above) and Glenn Anderson.
Three-time Stanley Cup winner Larionov, who centered the Russian Five for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1990s, was a no-brainer to receive the honor this year after he failed to make the cut for the Class of 2007, one that included Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Mark Messier and Scott Stevens. The two-time Olympic gold medalist with the 1984 and ’88 Soviet teams, certainly has the numbers to back up his case: 644 points in 921 games during a fantastic 16-year NHL career. His induction will be another step toward recognizing the internationality of the league.
Larionov becomes just the fifth Russian to be enshrined in Toronto, joining former teammate Slava Fetisov, the Red Wings defenseman who was inducted in 2001. It isn't Larionov’s first Hall of Fame nod, though. The forward was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame earlier this year, in a class that included NHL superstar Mario Lemieux and the first three women (Geraldine Heaney and Angela James of Canada and Cammi Granato of Team USA).
Also earning a place in the Hall is Anderson, the former Edmonton Oiler who won six Stanley Cups, collected 1,099 points from 1980 to ’96 and went overlooked every year since 1999. Five players from the dynastic Oilers team -- Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, and Paul Coffey -- had already been inducted in the past.
"I guess the big question I don't have to answer anymore is 'why aren't you in?'" Anderson said in a conference call.
Along with Larionov and Anderson, the late Ed Chynoweth, the long-time president of the WHL and CHL, and former linesman Ray Scapinello also will be enshrined.
Among those who were eligible this year who didn't make the cut are fellow Russian Pavel Bure, whose 437 goals are more impressive given that his career was often dampened by injury, and forwards Adam Oates and Doug Gilmour. These players will likely have to wait quite awhile before they’re given much thought again. The Class of 2009 will be stacked with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille. It would come as no surprise if they were getting fitted for rings already.
What do you think of the committee's taps for Toronto?
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Comments (13) Add A Comment
My player picks in this order:
Larionov
Anderson - he is long overdue.
Oates
Gilmour
Next years inductees are already set with Stevie Y leading the class of '09 and Hull and Robitaille following him in. Amazing that all three played with the Wings.
GoWings1925
Waltham , MA
Total Comments (9)
thats because the wings are the best nhl franchise by far
dtownsportsfan
Casselberry , FL
Total Comments (18)
adam oates 15th all time (1420) points 6th all time assists(1079) no brainer
thowe33
Latham, NY
Total Comments (1)
Who cares it's hockey
defjunc
Phoenix , AZ
Total Comments (6)
why are you reading this then? you idiot.
canadiens bacon
Northfield , MN
Total Comments (13)
why are you reading this then? you idiot.
canadiens bacon | 06/17/08, 03:26 PM
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he's from Arizona...not much to cheer about there now or in the future.
Oates and Gilmour will get in..but it's going to be a couple years.
They both deserve to be there for sure.
mhwings
Total Comments (550)
Oates certainly, the guy has a trillion assists. but Gilmour? Why? he had a few allstar years + toronto fan favorite, but not all time great. There are better players who have not or will not get in.
pjdk28
Stony Brook , NY
Total Comments (48)
I think a guy that people are overlooking is Phil Housley. He does have the 2nd most points out of any U.S.-born player (trailing only Mike Modano) and has always been a top defenseman. Oates also needs to go in, as well as Pavel Bure.
Redwing19: retired
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35151)
I think Oates should have been in ahead of Anderson
TenRingsSTL
Total Comments (4218)
It's a crime Anderson wasn't in sooner!!! Oates should've been a no brainer!! Housley was an all star for YEARS!!! and what's wrong with Bure?? He dominated for years too. Lead the league in goals. and Gilmore again a rock star !!! I am soo surprised that the center of the universe ( toronto ) didnt just put him in with their power. Have they said why the rest did not get in??
Vancouvr Yan
Total Comments (1)
What about Dino Ciccerarelli? 608 goals (!), 1200 points? That's Hall-worthy. That's good for 44th all time. I don't think tehre's a doubt that Fedorov will make the hall (when he finally finishes), but he's currently 48th all-time, with only about 30 fewer games played.
And in term's of goal scoring, he's 16th all-time. Every person ahead of him on the list is either allready in the Hall, or will be (Shannahan, Jagr, Sakic).
Give my hometown boy the Nod. He deserves it.
WingsFaninCanada
Total Comments (3)
oates and bure yes, gilmour no.
oates simply because of the numbers and the fact that during his heyday, he did one thing (pass the puck) better than anyone else. bure because when he was on top of his game there was nobody better -- speed, skill, shot.
gilmour? i have a ton of respect for him as a player, a leader, and a winner. but frankly i would have forgotten all about him if his name never came up again. there's nothing about his game that's particularly memorable to me, and the numbers aren't there. i don't think he'll make it.
texaswings
Total Comments (49)
oops -- i stand corrected. gilmour does have surprisingly impressive numbers. nearly a point a game over 1400 career games. so i think he'll probably squeak in, especially given how he's loved in toronto and canada in general. not many all star games or major awards, however.
i still say he's basically a poor man's yzerman, but what the hell.
texaswings
Total Comments (49)
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