Today the 2012 inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame were announced, getting in are Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Adam Oates and Pavel Bure. Notable ommissions are Brendan Shanahan (will get in eventually) and Claude Lemieux (the jury is out on him) as well as Pat Burns and Fred Shero into the builders category.
Sakic, Sundin and Oates were locks to get in, Bure was questionable due to his shortened career but definitely deserving as he was one of the top players in the league when he played.
What’s more surprising about this year’s class is who didn’t get in, rather than who did. There’s no question that Sakic, Sundin, Oates and Bure are Hall of Famers, and the same can be said about Brendan Shanahan. I don’t know how someone could argue that he is not a hall of famer.
Hall of Fame Inductees
TSN.ca: Sakic, Sundin, Oates and Bure to be inducted into HHOF. Pavel Bure was my favourite player growing up, I’m happy to see that he gets his due.
Globe and Mail: Joe Sakic headlines 2012 Hall of Fame inductees. One of the great captains of all time. His contributions to the 2002 Olympic team won’t be forgotten. (Hard to believe that was ten years ago)
Toronto Star: Maple Leafs great Mats Sundin elected to hockey hall of fame. But where does he rank among great Toronto Maple Leafs? Interesting to note that he did not win a single NHL award in his nineteen year NHL career. Interesting…yet not that surprising.
Hall of Fame Snubs
The Detroit News: Former Red Wing Brendan Shanahan a surprise omission from Hall of Fame. Hard to believe that the current NHL director of hockey operations and player safety didn’t get in with a resume of 656 goals (2nd most all time by a left wing), 2,000 penalty minutes and three Stanley Cups.
The thing about the voting process, as we’ve seen in baseball as well as hockey throughout the years, is that it doesn’t always make sense. Shanahan will get in eventually.
Hall of Fame Reaction Tweets
Personally, I think it’s ludicrous that Brendan Shanahan wasn’t a first-ballot HHOFer, and that Fred Shero and Pat Burns are still not there
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 26, 2012
Thrilled for Bure and Oates. Their HHOF call was long overdue. Stunned, however, Shanahan wasn’t first ballot. — Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 26, 2012
Another year & Pat Burns still isn’t inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. An ongoing & increasingly outrageous disgrace. — Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) June 26, 2012
Shanahan has more goals than every player inducted into the Hall this year… — James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 26, 2012
Breaking news: Brendan Shanahan has suspended the Hockey Hall of Fame 10 games for not inducting him into the 2012 Class. — Ezra Ginsburg (@ICEzzyG) June 26, 2012
Coaching News
Washington Post: Adam Oates named Capitals coach.This will be a day of celebration in the Oates’ household.
Washington Times: Capitals hire Adam Oates as new coach.The question we will be asking throughout the summer is can he get Alex Ovechkin back to his previous 50-goal level?
Vancouver Sun: Scott Arniel named head coach of Canucks AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves. He replaces the departed Craig MacTavish. Arniel previously coached the Canucks AHL affiliate when it was the Manitoba Moose from 2006-10 (remember the Moose?).
Free Agency
National Post: Caution in the air as NHL free agency arrives. Lots of uncertainty at this time of year with CBA negotiations looming. Who will be this year’s James Wisniewski? For all of your free agency news, stay tuned to the Illegal Curve Hockey Show this weekend from 9am-Noon on Saturday and 9am-12:30pm on Sunday LIVE from the Winnipeg Free Press News Cafe.
