The Stanley Cup Playoffs, the best time of the year, is in full swing and I couldn’t be happier. Well, I guess if the B’s were up 3-0 on the hated Habs, I’d be happier. I missed the first two games because of outstanding commitments elsewhere which also meant I couldn’t wear my new ’71-’72 Derek Sanderson Bruins jersey which directly led to the Beantown Boys dropping the first two. No fear though, I caught Game 3, donned the jersey and all was right in the NHL.

In other news, I officially passed my graduate school comprehensive exams and in a couple of months, I will receive my Master’s in Library and Information Science. I have also just found a job as the head librarian at a high school about 30 minutes from here. A huge raise and 11 weeks of vacation? Yes, please.

A few cards have recently found their way into my collection, but I want to analyze some HOF classes first. Last update, I looked at the ’82, ’83, and ’84 classes, kicking out Jacques Lemaire and Bernie Parent and inducting Cournoyer, Ullman, Gilbert, Dryden, Hull, Mikita, and Phil Esposito.

Click below for previous write ups:

1961-1966
1967-1970
1971-1973
1974-1976
1977-1978
1979-1980
1981
1982-1984

1985
Gerry Cheevers
Bert Olmstead
Jean Ratelle

First up is Cheese. It hurts to say, but I think Cheevers is a bit overrated. He played, by my standards, just eight complete seasons in the NHL. During that time, he was very good, accumulating a 206-80–60 record. However, he also split duties in about half of those seasons, with teammate Eddie Johnston being almost as good. He never won an individual awards and was named to only one All-Star Game; he was never named an NHL All-Star 1st or 2nd Teamer. He did win two Stanley Cups including a brilliant performance during the 69-70 finals. It should be noted that he jumped to the WHA for four seasons where he put up decent numbers. Sure, he finished in the top-1o in wins eight times, but only finished as high as 6th in GAA in any given season. I can’t in good conscience put him in and leave Parent out, so Cheevers is out. If we are going by goalie masks, he’d be in though.

Olmstead played 13 seasons for the Hawks, Habs and Leafs. Over the course of his career, he never finished in the top-10 in goals, but did finish in the top-10 in assists four times (leading twice and setting the record in 55-56) and points four times. He never won any individual awards, but was named to NHL All-Star 2nd Team twice. He also won four Stanley Cups. He was known as a heavy hitter, but that isn’t enough to make up for pretty good numbers. Olmstead is out.

Gentleman Jean Ratelle played for 18 seasons in the NHL. During his career, he finished in the top-10 in goals three times, assists six times, and points seven times. He had back-to-back 40+ seasons and tallied 100+ points twice. He was very good for a very long time, averaging nearly a point-per-game for his career (1267 points/1281 games). He is in the top-50 all-time for goals, assists, and points. When he retired, he was 6th all-time in points. He won two Lady Byngs and one Ted Lindsay Award but no Stanley Cups. Lastly, he had an awesome head of hair. I am putting him in because he was just so good for so long (see Bucyk, John).

Inducted: Jean Ratelle
Kicked out: Gerry Cheevers and Bert Olmstead

1986
Leo Boivin
Dave Keon
Serge Savard

Boivin is a head scratcher. 17 seasons manning the blue line with no stats, records, or hardware to show for it. He was supposedly a big bodychecker, but I need more. I am keeping him out for all these reasons, but none more than the fact that he doesn’t have a certified autographed card.

Keon played 18 seasons, mostly with the Maple Leafs. During that time, he only finished in the top-10 in goals three times and points twice. He did win the Calder Trophy, two Lady Byngs, and the Conn Smythe to go along with four Stanley Cups. He was named to the NHL All-Star 2nd Team twice as well. On any given season, you could pencil Keon in for about 55 points. His stop with the Hartford Whalers almost earns him an automatic induction into the Hall, but I am keeping him out. He was good for a long period of time as opposed to Ratelle who was VERY good for a long period of time.

Lastly, we have Serge Savard. He fits into my debate about whether he was good because he was on the Habs or were the Habs good because of Savard?  Bluelines are also tough to judge because their stats don’t necessarily pop out (unless you are Bobby Orr). He was named to the NHL All-Star 2nd team once and won a Conn Smythe. He only played in four All-Star Games, which is a little telling. His seven Cups are impressive, but those don’t count for much in my book, especially those Montreal Cups. I am keeping Savard out.

Inducted: No one
Kicked out: Leo Boivin, Dave Keon, and Serge Savard

That is all for today and remember, the guys I kick out aren’t bad players. They just don’t fit in my Hockey Hall of Fame.

Now, let’s look at some cards.

This one was a redemption that finally arrived…

2010-11 Donruss Tough Times Autograph #1 Joey Kocur /250

ENFORCER! Love this set and am looking forward to the 70′s edition in Pinnacle.

Next is a fun card I picked up at my local card shop…

2010-11 Panini Crown Royale Voices of the Game Autograph #10 Darren Pang

Who doesn’t love the Panger? Hey Darren, look a the camera. This is a cool set and my only complaint is that Andy Brickley wasn’t a part of it.

This last card was a leftover from the card show I went to where I picked up all those mid-80′s OPC for $2. I forgot to scan it in, so without further delay…

1877-78 O-Pee-Chee WHA #1 Gordie Howe

This celebrates his 1,000th goal although that is a bit misleading. If you combine his NHL and WHA totals, he sits at 975. Apparently they added in his junior goals with the SAHA and USHL leagues in the 1940′s. Whatever, it’s a cool Gordie Howe card in an Aero’s jersey. And check out the dudes on the bench, are those clear plexi-glass boards? NICE! I can’t tell if the back is off-centered top to bottom. I’ve been some with the copyright on the bottom and others on the top. It’s tough to tell with these crazy WHA sets.

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