Dan Boyle – Defence – 1998/99-2015/16
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 1998 by the Florida Panthers, Boyle debuted during the 1998/99 season. Boyle scored 605 points (163G, 442A) in 1093 games, as well as 81 points (17G, 64A) in 130 playoff games, for the Florida Panthers (1998/99-2001/02), Tampa Bay Lightning (2001/02-2007/08), San Jose Sharks (2008/09-2013/14), and New York Rangers (2014/15-2015/16).
Boyle won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He earned Second Team All-Star honours in 2007 and 2009, and played in two All-Star Games, representing San Jose in 2009 and 2011. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Silver at the 2005 World Championships and Gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Though he was somewhat undersized, Boyle went on to be a heavily-relied on defenceman throughout his career. Failing to reach 30 points in either of his first two full seasons, Boyle busted out in his third with 53 for the Lightning, and while he only followed that up with 39, that season was 2003/04, when Boyle and the Lightning won the Stanley Cup. Boyle would be back as an offensive force after the lockout, with seasons of 53 and 63 points, latter his career high. After an injury-shortened 2008 season, he was traded to San Jose, where he would crack 50 points three times in a row and come up just short of 50 in a fourth, all the while helping keep the Sharks as perennial Cup contenders, although they never won a Cup. An excellent goal-scoring defenceman with seven double-digit goal seasons under his belt, he had 12 goals as late as 2014, his last season in San Jose, and 10 as late as 2016, his second with the Rangers and last in the NHL. Boyle never won a Norris Trophy, but many don’t, and it’s hard to fault him for that considering just how few different defencemen won the award during the 17 years he played.
Carl Brewer – Defence – 1957/58-1964/65, 1969/70-1971/72, 1979/80
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brewer debuted during the 1957/58 season. In the NHL, Brewer scored 223 points (25G, 198A) in 604 games, as well as 20 points (3G, 17A) in 72 playoff games, for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1957/58-1964/65, 1979/80), Detroit Red Wings (1969/70), and St. Louis Blues (1970/71-1971/72). In the WHA, Brewer scored 25 points (2G, 23A) in 77 games, as well as four points (0G, 4A) in 12 playoff games, for the Toronto Toros (1973/74).
Brewer won the Stanley Cup in 1962, 1963, and 1964 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He earned Second Team All-Star honours in 1962, 1965, 1970, and First-Team honours in 1963. He played in four All-Star Games, representing Toronto in 1959, 1962, and 1964, and Detroit in 1970.
Brewer was a mainstay on the Maple Leafs blueline during their 60s dynasty, winning championships in 1962, 1963, and 1964. Brewer earned Second Team All-Star honours in 1962 and 1965 with Toronto and 1970 with Detroit, the latter after a career-best 39-point season, and First Team honours in 1963. In addition to his NHL career, he also had success at various points in other endeavours, adding some name-brand credibility to the nascent WHA in the early 70s, leaving Detroit in 1970 to work with the KOHO stick company, and scoring 18 points in 20 games with HIFK Helsinki in 1969, eventually being inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 for his efforts. He retired in 1980 following a brief comeback with Toronto.
Danny Briere – Centre – 1997/98-2014/15
Drafted in the first round, 24th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, Briere debuted during the 1997/98 season. Briere scored 696 points (307G, 389A) in 973 games, as well as 116 points (53G, 63A) in 124 playoff games, for the Phoenix Coyotes (1997/98-partway through 2002/03), Buffalo Sabres (partway through 2002/03-2006/07), Philadelphia Flyers (2007/08-2012/13), Montreal Canadiens (2013/14), and Colorado Avalanche (2014/15).
Briere played in two All-Star Games, representing Buffalo in 2007 and Philadelphia in 2011. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Gold at the 1997 World Juniors and the 2003 and 2004 World Championships.
At 5’9”, Briere represents the ideal of the modern NHL, one where skill rules even in a smaller player, but he did so during an era where that wasn’t the ideal. He entered the NHL as the NHL entered the Dead Puck Era, and was a 30-goal scorer as soon as 2002. That season was the beginning of a solid decade of high performance that is the main reason Briere is on this list. Following that 32-goal 60-point season, Briere had seasons of 24 goals and 58 points in 2003, 28 goals and 65 points in 2004, 25 goals and 58 points in 48 games in 2006, 32 goals and 95 points in 2007, 31 goals and 72 points in 2008, 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games in 2009, 26 goals and 53 points in 2010, 16 goals and 49 points in 2012. Briere never won a Stanley Cup, but came very close. He co-captained the Sabres when they won the 2007 President’s Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference Final, and he was with the Flyers during their 2010 Cup run. Briere’s career averages are hurt by a period between 1997/98 and 2000/01 where he hadn’t yet emerged offensively and a period between 2012/13 and 2014/15 where his scoring went away in his late career. That less impressive full-career-average, and his lack of hardware will surely be obstacles to consideration for the Hall.
Rod Brind’Amour – Centre – 1989/90-2009/10
Drafted in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, Brind’Amour debuted during the 1989 playoffs. Brind’Amour scored 1184 points (452G, 732A) in 1484 games, as well as 111 points (51G, 60A) in 156 playoff games, playing for the St. Louis Blues (1988/89-1990/91), Philadelphia Flyers (1991/92-partway through 1999/00), and Carolina Hurricanes (partway through 1999/00-2009/10).
Brind’Amour won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 2006 and 2007. He earned All-Rookie honours in 1990. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Gold at the 1994 World Championships.
Brind’Amour may fall in a category many call “Hall of Very Good,” a designation implying that their play doesn’t make them Hall of Fame worthy. I’m not sure how this applies to Brind’Amour. He was an All-Star as a player, and he did earn some hardware, namely his two Selke Trophies. He’s a Stanley Cup winner, and as a team captain no less. He was a highly productive offensive player during his career, essentially maintaining strong numbers through his penultimate season as a player. And he’s a 1000-point scorer. The parallels are there to Patrice Bergeron, who many expect to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.
Neal Broten – Centre – 1980/81-1996/97
Drafted in the second round, 42nd overall, in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota North Stars, Broten debuted during the 1980/81 season. Broten scored 923 points (289G, 634A) in 1099 games, as well as 98 points (35G, 63A) in 135 playoff games, for the Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars (1980/81-partway through 1994/95, part of 1996/97), New Jersey Devils (partway through 1994/95-partway through 1996/97), and Los Angeles Kings (part of 1996/97).
Broten won the Stanley Cup in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils. He played in two All-Star Games, representing Minnesota in 1983 and 1986. Internationally, he represented the United States, winning Gold at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
If there are any American readers, Broten’s name will surely stand out among the more iconic names to them. As mentioned, Broten was part of the Gold Medal winning American team in 1980, and of course, that was the year of the Miracle on Ice, when an American team consisting of collegiate players went up against a team of nominal amateurs from the Soviet Union, with four consecutive Golds up to that point, and won, going on to beat Finland for the Gold Medal. One consideration I made for this piece is including players with iconic careers in international hockey. Broten ought to be considered worthy of Hall induction when one takes his involvement in the Miracle with his NHL career. The summer before his trip to the Olympics, he wound up being drafted by Minnesota, but the pick was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Dave Semenko. Semenko may be beloved by Oilers fans for his stint as Wayne Gretzky’s bodyguard, but imagine if that trade doesn’t get done how Broten’s and the Oilers’ fortunes change. As it stand, he is a two-time All-Star with over 900 career points under his belt and a Stanley Cup, so he ought to deserve consideration.
Jeff Brown – Defence – 1985/86-1997/98
Drafted in the second round, 36th overall, in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, Brown debuted during the 1985/86 season. Brown scored 585 points (154G, 431A) in 747 games, as well as 65 points (20G, 45A) in 87 playoff games, for the Quebec Nordiques (1985/86-partway through 1989/90), St. Louis Blues (partway through 1989/90-partway through 1993/94), Vancouver Canucks (partway through 1993/94-partway through 1995/96), Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes (partway through 1995/96-partway through 1997/98), Toronto Maple Leafs (part of 1997/98), and Washington Capitals (part of 1997/98).
The 80s and early 90s were really the heyday of the offensive defenceman. Many scoring blueliners thrived besides the usual examples. One such example was Brown. After scoring 34 points in 52 games across the 1986 and 1987 seasons, he broke out and would reach at least 50 points (or be on pace for at least 50) each season from 1987/88 through 1995/96, with seasons of 52, 68, 54, 59, 59, 78, 66, 31 (in 33 games), and 55 points, respectively, with success coming in Quebec, St. Louis, Vancouver, and Hartford. Brown unfortunately lacks in career achievements outside his offensive production. He was named to the All-Star Game in 1992, but didn’t play in the game. He played in the 1994 and 1998 Stanley Cup Finals for Vancouver and Washington, respectively, but needless to say came out on the losing side both times. He also won no postseason All-Star honours or major awards. Brown’s career was cut short as well. He suffered a season-ending back injury in his first game of the 1996/97 season, and the following year, scored a meagre 28 points in 60 games between the relocated Carolina, Toronto, and Washington, before retiring not longer after turning 32. Another Hall Of Very Good candidate, the brevity of his career compared to similar scoring defencemen and his bare trophy case will do more to keep him out of the Hall than his sustained peak of excellence will to get him in.
Dustin Byfuglien – Defence – 2005/06-2018/19
Drafted in the eighth round, 245th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Byfuglien debuted during the 2005/06 season. Byfuglien scored 525 points (177G, 348A) in 869 games, as well as 50 points (21G, 29A) in 66 playoff games, for the Chicago Blackhawks (2005/06-2009/10), and Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets (2010/11-2018/19).
Byfuglien won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in three All-Star Games, representing Atlanta and Winnipeg in 2011, 2015, and 2016.
Before we begin here, included on this list are players who retired in 2019. Ordinarily, a player must have not played in three seasons in order to be eligible for induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and astute readers will notice that it’s been only two years since 2019. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided there would be no 2021 induction class, which means 2019 retirees will be eligible for induction by the time they announce the next induction class, which makes 2019 retirees eligible, hence Byfuglien and others being on this list. Technically, Byfuglien isn’t actually retired, but he sat out last season due at least in part to injuries, agreed to a mutual contract termination between this season and last, and is now 35 years of age without a contract after having not played during the last two seasons. For all intents and purposes I am treating him as retired. With that in mind, I think he has a pretty decent case. For the entire 2010s he was a star defenceman for the Thrashers/Jets franchise, with five 50-plus point seasons, along with two more 40-plus point seasons and one additional 30-plus point season, under his belt, and three All-Star appearances. He never won any major individual awards, but he also has a Stanley Cup from his time in Chicago, played forward for Chicago, making him a notable swingman, and was reliably a double-digit goal scorer throughout his career. He showed personality on the ice, and he was very unique, being quite mobile for his size and being a very effective skill player despite his physical play style. I think he deserves Hall consideration, and that’s not just as a fan of him and the team he played for.
Brian Campbell – Defence – 1999/00-2016/17
Drafted in the sixth round, 156th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Campbell debuted during the 1999/00 season. Campbell scored 504 points (87G, 417A) in 1082 games, as well as 44 points (9G, 35A) in 107 playoff games, for the Buffalo Sabres (1999/00-partway through 2007/08), San Jose Sharks (part of 2007/08), Chicago Blackhawks (2008/09-2010/11, 2016/17), and Florida Panthers (2011/12-2015/16).
Campbell won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player in 2012. He earned Second Team All-Star honours in 2008, and played in four All-Star Games, representing Buffalo in 2007 and 2008, Chicago in 2009, and Florida in 2012. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Silver at the 1999 World Juniors.
Campbell is pretty much here for his career in between the two lockouts. Campbell had established himself as an NHL regular by the time the 2004 lockout rolled around, but the offensive defenceman had yet to crack 20 points in a season. That changed after the lockout with Campbell’s only double-digit goal season and two straight 40-point seasons, the latter seeing Campbell help lead the Sabres to a President’s Trophy and Eastern Conference Final. He reached the peak of his production with 62 points as he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, but not before wearing the “C” as team captain for a spell as part of their rotating captaincy program. Campbell would finish the inter-lockout era strong, finishing with 52 points in his first year with the Blackhawks, and finishing his second by assisting on Patrick Kane’s Stanley Cup clinching goal for the Blackhawks in their first Cup win since 1961. He was traded after a down year to Florida, with whom he tied for second place in the league in points by a defenceman with 53 and won the Lady Byng Trophy as the league’s most gentlemanly player. He would close out his career with four more decent seasons in Florida and one more with Chicago. If we have to talk about why he may not deserve Hall induction, Campbell’s case essentially relies on five strong seasons out of six in the middle of a 17-year career, and that may not be enough for the Hall, as packed as that period is with accomplishments.
Herb Cain – Left Wing – 1933/34-1945/46
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Maroons, Cain debuted during the 1933/34 season. Cain scored 400 points (206G, 194A) in 570 games, as well as 29 points (16G, 13A) in 67 playoff games, for the Montreal Maroons (1933/34-1937/38), Montreal Canadiens (1938/39), and Boston Bruins (1939/40-1945/46).
Cain won the Stanley Cup in 1935 with the Montreal Maroons and in 1941 with the Boston Bruins. He was the point-scoring leader in 1944. He earned Second-Team All-Star honours in 1944.
Cain is one of the more obscure stars of the NHL’s earlier days as far as the modern day is concerned, but he had an excellent career. Obviously he won two Stanley Cups, but that’s not all. Among those to lead the NHL in points before the inception of the Art Ross Trophy in 1948, Cain had the best season with 82 points in only 48 games. Only Elmer Lach the next season came anywhere close. Until Gordie Howe finished the 1950/51 season with 86 points, Cain’s 82 points stood as the league’s all-time single-season points record. While he isn’t in the Hall of Fame, once upon a time he seemed to have garnered some consideration. His Wikipedia page includes an image of a telegram he received in the 1960s from the NHL Old-Timers Team congratulating him for his nomination.
Randy Carlyle – Defence – 1976/77-1992/93
Drafted in the second round, 30th overall, in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carlyle debuted during the 1976/77 season. Carlyle scored 647 points (148G, 499A) in 1055 games, as well as 33 points (9G, 24A) in 69 playoff games, playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1976/77-1977/78), Pittsburgh Penguins (1978/79-partway through 1983/84), and Winnipeg Jets (partway through 1983/84-1992/93).
Carlyle won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenceman in 1981. He earned First-Team All-Star honours in 1981, and played in four All-Star Games, representing Pittsburgh in 1981 and 1982, and Winnipeg in 1985 and 1993. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Silver at the 1989 World Championships.
Perhaps at some time in the past, Carlyle wouldn’t be considered for the Hall at all. After all, he never won a Stanley Cup, only won one Norris Trophy, and never reached the 90-point mark, having several seasons below 50 points even during his peak years, and having several seasons of decline before retiring in only his mid-30s. With the 2020 induction of Doug Wilson, perhaps it may be time to re-examine. Carlyle topped 50 points five times, including 1981, when he scored 83 points and won the Norris Trophy, and the 75-point season that followed. From the 1981/82 season through the 1983/84 seasons, Carlyle was the Penguins’ captain. He also co-captained the Jets from the 1989/90 season through the 1990/91 season along with Thomas Steen, and Dale Hawerchuk during 89/90. The fact that Carlyle failed to even get 30 points in the season he was traded to Winnipeg, sandwiched between two seasons of 50+ points, as well as two sub-50 seasons in 1986 and 1987 and the major decline that followed his 1988 season, hurt Carlyle’s case, as do the lack of so much as a Final appearance, but he is also now the only defenceman eligible for the Hall of Fame to have won a Norris Trophy who has not yet been inducted.
Lorne Carr – Right Wing – 1933/34-1945/46
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Rangers, Carr debuted during the 1933/34 season. Carr scored 426 points (204G, 222A) in 580 games, as well as 19 points (10G, 9A) in 53 playoff games, for the New York Rangers (1933/34), New York Americans (1934/35-1940/41), and Toronto Maple Leafs (1941/42-1945/46).
Carr won the Stanley Cup in 1942 and 1945 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He earned First-Team All-Star honours in 1943 and 1944.
Carr was another older name in NHL history who isn’t in the Hall but who may deserve consideration. While he wasn’t a goals or points leader at any point, he earned All-Star honours twice and won two championships. He was also an early scorer of numbers fans today would consider modern, with seasons late in his career of 27 goals and 60 points and of 36 goals and 74 points.
Wayne Cashman – Left Wing – 1964/65, 1967/68-1982/83
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins, Cashman debuted during the 1964/65 season. Cashman scored 793 points (277G, 516A) in 1027 games, as well as 88 points (31G, 57A) in 145 playoff games, for the Boston Bruins (1964/65, 1967/68-1982/83).
Cashman won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972 with the Boston Bruins. Cashman earned Second-Team All-Star honours in 1974 and played in one All-Star Game, representing Boston in 1974. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning the 1972 Summit Series.
Cashman’s point scoring doesn’t quite jump off the page like some other stars with the Bruins during his tenure with them, but he has a nice list of accomplishments with them. Cashman played on a line with Bruins scoring stars Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge during the early part of his stint there, acting as the line’s physical powerhouse as the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. In 1974, the year the Bruins lost to the first of the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Cups, Cashman parlayed career highs of 30 goals and 89 points into an All-Star Game appearance representing Boston and Second Team All-Star honours. Following Hall of Fame teammate John Bucyk’s retirement in 1977, Cashman was named team captain, and he would lead the Bruins to two more Stanley Cup Final appearances, losing to Montreal in both 1977 and 1978, before retiring himself in 1983.
Shawn Chambers – Defence – 1987/88-1999/00
Drafted in the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft by the Minnesota North Stars, Chambers debuted during the 1987/88 season. Chambers scored 235 points (50G, 185A) in 625 games, as well as 33 points (7G, 26A) in 94 playoff games, for the Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars (1987/88-1990/91, 1997/98-1999/00), Washington Capitals (1991/92), Tampa Bay Lightning (1992/93-partway through 1994/95), and New Jersey Devils (partway through 1994/95-1996/97).
Chambers won the Stanley Cup in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils and in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. Internationally, he represented the United States, winning Gold at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Chambers is definitely not a player that sticks out as a Hall of Fame candidate. His career was fairly short and even at his peak offensively his production was quite modest. But it’s my list so I decide what constitutes “fame.” Anyone reading this who is familiar with video games, especially EA Sports’ NHL series will recognize Chambers as the owner a rating of 1 in NHLPA Hockey ‘93, the record-holder for lowest-rated video game athlete ever. He may also be recognized as the North Stars player being deked out by Mario Lemieux for a Stanley Cup-winning goal in the Hockey Night in Canada intro used from 2008/09 until 2013/14. Thing is, things like that have immortalized him to an extent. His main argument in favour of being inducted is his unique story. Chambers was drafted in the Supplemental Draft, an extension of the main Entry Draft where teams selected college players who were no longer eligible for the Entry Draft, abolished in 1995 with the new CBA. The Supplemental Draft did bring forth some notable NHLers, such as John Cullen, Steve Rucchin, and… um… Bob Kudelski, but Chambers is probably the most successful player to come out of it, being not only the only Supplmental Draft pick to have two Stanley Cups, but the only one to have won any Cups.
Jonathan Cheechoo – Right Wing – 2002/03-2009/10
Drafted in the second round, 29th overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Cheechoo debuted during the 2002/03 season. Cheechoo scored 305 points (170G, 135A) in 501 games, as well as 35 points (16G, 19A) in 59 playoff games, for the San Jose Sharks (2002/03-2008/09) and Ottawa Senators (2009/10).
Cheechoo won the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2006. He played in one All-Star Game, representing San Jose in 2007.
When I said I was including on this list every player who led the league in goals or points, I meant it. His career is ultimately too brief, and his peak too small a part of his career, for him to be seen as Hall material in any respect. Numbers like his would be normal for someone who played before the Original Six era, but would also be spread out a little more over a larger number of seasons. His career production isn’t as good for the modern day period he played in, which includes the short-lived offensive stimulus of the mid-2000s. He did have more good seasons than he gets credit for though. He was just two goals short of 30 and three points short of 50 in 2004, and of course won the Rocket Richard in 2006 with 56 goals and 93 points. In 2007, the year he played in the All-Star Game, he scored 37 goals and 69 points, and even as late as 2007/08 he had 23 goals and 37 points. He did benefit majorly from the Sharks’ blockbuster 2005 acquisition of Joe Thornton, who won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies that season, but for what its’ worth, not everyone who played on a line with Thornton managed to get 56 goals or 93 points.
Dave Christian – Right Wing – 1979/80-1993/94
Drafted in the second round, 40th overall, in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, Christian debuted during the 1979/80 season. Christian scored 773 points (340G, 433A) in 1009 games, as well as 57 points (32G, 25A) in 102 games, for the Winnipeg Jets (1979/80-1982/83), Washington Capitals (1983/84-partway through 1989/90), Boston Bruins (partway through 1989/90-1990/91), St. Louis Blues (1991/92), and Chicago Blackhawks (1992/93-1993/94).
Christian played in one All-Star Game, representing Boston in 1991. Internationally, he represented the United States, winning second place at the 1991 Canada Cup and Gold at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
At first glance, Christian doesn’t seem like Hall of Fame material. He averaged an 82-game pace of 63 points during his career, played in one All-Star Game (1991 representing the Bruins), and won no major awards, accolades, or championships. At least at the NHL level that is. Prior to embarking on his NHL career, Christian was part of the Miracle on Ice, when an American team made up entirely of collegiate players managed to overcome a much more talented and experienced Soviet squad en route to a Gold Medal. Among Miracle on Ice alumni, Christian’s 773 points are the second most at the NHL level.
Wendel Clark – Left Wing – 1985/86-1999/00
Drafted in the first round, first overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Clark debuted during the 1985/86 season. Clark scored 564 points (330G, 234A) in 793 games, as well as 69 points (37G, 32A) in 95 playoff games, for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1985/86-1993/94, partway through 1995/96-1997/98, part of 1999/00), Quebec Nordiques (1994/95), New York Islanders (part of 1995/96), Tampa Bay Lightning (part of 1998/99), Detroit Red Wings (part of 1998/99), and Chicago Blackhawks (part of 1999/00).
Clark earned All-Rookie honours in 1986 and played in two All-Star Games, representing Toronto in 1986 and Tampa Bay in 1999. Internationally, he represented Canada, winning Gold at the 1985 World Juniors.
A criteria of mine for determining who could be considered famous enough for a Hall of Fame candidacy list is how, well, famous, they are. Some players make a major impact with their team, such that they, at least the way I see it, transcend their association with that one team. I’m not sure if my experience matches others’, but Clark is one such player for me, one of the names that I was more familiar with as a young child despite having not watched a lot of hockey at that time. He will always be associated with the Leafs specifically, but I’d say it’s pretty safe to assume he’s “famous.” The bruising former first-overall pick was an excellent goal-scorer throughout the late 80s and 90s, reaching 30 goals six times and 40 once. He never won a Stanley Cup, but let’s be real, he was a former first overall pick who played for Toronto in his prime and was their captain. That’s famous.
