Yes, I am going to be holding a contest, but I’ll get to that in a bit. First off, I want to share this recent oddball eBay pickup.

In my quest to snag certified on-card autographs of all Hall of Famers who have such a card, Woody Dumart is one of the hardest to find. According to my giant Beckett hockey guide, there are only a handful including a 1998 Bruins Alumni card which I’ve never seen, a 2001-02 Parkhurst card numbered to just 20 which has no price due to scarcity, and a 2004-05 Ultimate Memorabilia card. That card is made from a non-licensed Pre-Parkies set put out by Dr. Brian Price before In The Game got started. I actually purchased one of those cards, which can be seen here:

While it is uncertified, I have it on pretty good authority that it is real.

Anyways, I recently saw a five-card set on eBay for $20 from a 1994 event held in Kitchner, Ontario. Apparently, there was a collectibles show on October 9, 1994 called Kollectorfest, which was a part of Oktoberfest. The set features three Kitchner natives who volunteered their time: Dutch Hiller, Milt Schmidt, and Dutch Hiller. Each set was serial-numbered to 3000, which is on the title card. The seller on eBay stated that 100 of the sets were signed by Hiller, Schmidt, and Dumart and made available to attendees. The Beckett guide does not say anything about this, but I did find a fellow collector’s website who has a Dumart signed card from the set, so this may be legit. I am fairly certain these are legit and for $20, why not take the gamble, right?

So that is that!

Next up is a little Hockey Hall of Pretty Good fun. Last time, I looked at the class of 1981 which featured John Bucyk, Frank Mahovlich, and Allan Stanley. Bucyk and Mahovlich made the cut, but poor Stanley got the boot. Just so we’re clear, the players I kick out are not bad players. I’m fairly certain that 99% of NHLers would sell crack to nuns to have a career like Allan Stanley or Marcel Pronovost. A lot of these guys might get voted in when I open it up to that, but for now, I want the cream of the crop.

If you want to look at past classes, you can see them here:
1961-1966
1967-1970
1971-1973
1974-1976
1977-1978
1979-1980
1981

Same rules apply as before: seasons of less than 40 games played will not be taken into consideration for non-goalies; less than 30 games for goalies.

1982
Yvan Cournoyer
Rod Gilbert
Norm Ullman

First up, The Roadrunner. Question: Were the Montreal teams of the 60′s and 70′s great because of guys like Cournoyer or was Cournoyer great because of those 60′s and 70′s Montreal teams? Does that make sense? When a team becomes a dynasty, there is a tendency to overrate the players (see: Clark Gillies and the Islanders, Grant Fuhr and the Oilers). In my opinion, there are an inordinate amount of Habs in the Hall of Fame simply because they were on great teams; same goes for the Islanders and Oilers. Lets say Allan Stanley put up the numbers he did on those Montreal teams; would he be better known, more revered, etc?

So, back to Cournoyer: 14 seasons, 8 Stanley Cups. Amazing, right? Yes, amazing. He scored 20+ goals twelve times, 30+ goals six times, and 40+ four times. He finished in the top-10 in goals six times, but only in the top-1o in points twice. He won the Conn Smythe once, but no other individual hardware and he made four All-Star 2nd Teams. For his career, he is 67th overall in goals with 438. So my question is, is he overrated? Was he one of the top-1o wingers of his generation? What if he played on the Rangers during the 60′s and 70′s? Would they have won a couple of Stanley Cups and Montreal would have lost a few? I’m going to keep him in because he was considered the fastest player in the game, had good offensive skills, and had a great nickname, but I can just as easily be talked out of it. What do you all think?

Next up, Rod Gilbert. This guy almost proves my point. 14 seasons with the Rangers, zero Stanley Cups. He scored 20+ goals twelve times, 30+ goals fives times, and 40+ once. Five times he finished in the top-10 in goals and unlike Cournoyer, he finished in the top-10 in assists seven times. Also, he finished in the top-1o in points five times. Statistically speaking, he put up better numbers versus the rest of the league than Cournoyer. So, if Gilbert and Cournoyer switched teams (both played right wing), who would get more love? If I put Cournoyer in, I have to put Gilbert in.

Norm Ullman, y’ever hear of him? Over 20 seasons, he finished in the top-1o in goals nine times (leading once), assists nine times, and points eight times. Career wise, he is in the top-50 in goals, assists, and points. He never won a Cup or individual awards, but was named a 1st Team All-Star and a 2nd Team All Star. Was he considered one of the best centers of his generation? Dunno. Was he feared? Dunno. Did he put up great numbers? Seems so. I have to put him in, but don’t feel good about it.

This was a tough year.

Inducted: Yvan Cournoyer, Rod Gilbert, and Norm Ullman
Kicked out: No one

1983
Ken Dryden
Bobby Hull
Stan Mikita

This is a pretty easy year.

Ken Dryden’s career was just filthy. Some argue he was a product of the Montreal system. I don’t care how good any “system” is, Dryden’s numbers go beyond that. Seven seasons, each with 30+ wins. Finished in the top-10 in wins, GAA, and shutouts in each of those seasons. Led the league in each of those categories four times. Five Vezina Trophies, a Calder Trophy, and a Conn Smythe. Six Stanley Cups! Obviously, this dude is in.

Bobby Hull is another no-brainer. 600+ career goals although he would have easily got to 700+ if he didn’t play seven seasons in the WHA. One of the most dominant players ever, in two different leagues. Yeah, he’s in.

Yet another shoe-in, Stan Mikita. One of the premier players of his era. 500+ career goals and nearly 1500 career points. Over 20 complete seasons, he finished in the top-10 in goals seven times, assists ten times (leading three straight years), and points nine times (leading four times). He won the Art Ross Trophy four times, the Hart Trophy twice, and the Lady Byng twice. Wish he won more than one Cup, but it doesn’t matter; he’s in.

Inducted: Ken Dryden, Bobby Hull, and Stan Mikita
Kicked out: No one

1984
Phil Esposito
Jacques Lemaire
Bernie Parent

Do I really need to get into Esposito’s stats? Five straight seasons of 50+ goals, four with 60+, and one with 70+. Career 717 goals (good for 5th) and 1590 points (good for 10th). Five time Art Ross Trophy winner and two time Hart trophy winner. In.

Ah, Jacques Lemaire. Or should I call him Yvan Cournoyer Jr.? Twelve seasons, eight Cups. YET, he never won an individual award, finished in the top-10 in goals and assists once and top-10 in points only twice. No NHL All-Star 1st or 2nd Team selections. Was he a defensive savant? I’ll put in Cournoyer, but not way am I putting in Lemaire. Maybe as a coach, though.

At the Richard Altman show, I wa looking to snag a Bernie Parent rookie. I saw one, but it was a bit too off-centered for my tastes and the price wasn’t right. I’m looking at his numbers now and am glad I didn’t pick it up. In elevent seasons, he finished with a winning record five times; he had 30+ wins four times. He had two REALLY GREAT years (73-74, 74-75) in which he won the Vezina, Conn Smythe, and Stanley Cup in each of those seasons. Other than that, he was at best, very good and at worst, mediocre. Before those two seasons, he had six losing seasons. He is a perfect example of two amazing seasons totally overshadowing a decent/very good career. I am kicking Parent out. Sorry Philly fans.

Inducted: Phil Esposito
Kicked out: Jacques Lemaire and Bernie Parent

That is it for this edition of the Hockey Hall of Pretty Good.

CONTEST TIME!

With the playoffs set to begin next week, I wanted to have a contest. It’ll be real simple and very much like my previous contest. There are 16 teams in the playoffs meaning this contest is limited to the first 16 participants.

Leave a comment with a number, 1-16. That number will correspond with a playoff team that will be randomly generated. Whoever wins the Cup, wins the contest. I may have a second place prize, but I’m not sure yet.

NOT FINE PRINT! READ!

In order for your number to be entered, you have to list three enforcers/goons that you think should be inducted into the inaugural class of the Hockey Enforcer Hall of Fame. Simple, right? Nod and say yes.

Now get to it!

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