Keep in mind that Nicholls lacked the longevity of Gartner and Goulet. Gartner's in because he did what nobody else has ever done (all the 30 goal seasons, most of them consecutively), and one of the top five leading goal scorers in NHL history when he retired. Goulet was, at his peak, the best offensive left winger in the game. Four straight 50-goal seasons, three more 40 goal seasons, and multiple all-star team selections.
And, while he rarely played on the same line as Gretzky in his 150-point season, he enjoyed a lot of power play time with the Great One.
The fact is, with the exception of one season, when a significant chunk of his points came on the PP with Wayne, Nicholls never did anything to stand out from the rest of the league. He was a highly-talented offensive player with some good talent around him, but was rarely placed in the top 10 centres in the game in the mid-to-late 1980s. (Not even in the class of a Savard, Yzerman, LaFontaine, Francis, Stasny or Hawerchuk). A great offensive player? Yes. A player who distinguished himself from everyone else and deserving of a Hall spot? No.
And trust me on this one: there will be many players who will score more than Nicholls, and not get in. Pierre Turgeon, anyone? 1,000 points is no longer the treshold to qualify for the Hall. Turgeon will finish with 1,300 or 1,400 points. He'll never get in.
And, while he rarely played on the same line as Gretzky in his 150-point season, he enjoyed a lot of power play time with the Great One.
The fact is, with the exception of one season, when a significant chunk of his points came on the PP with Wayne, Nicholls never did anything to stand out from the rest of the league. He was a highly-talented offensive player with some good talent around him, but was rarely placed in the top 10 centres in the game in the mid-to-late 1980s. (Not even in the class of a Savard, Yzerman, LaFontaine, Francis, Stasny or Hawerchuk). A great offensive player? Yes. A player who distinguished himself from everyone else and deserving of a Hall spot? No.
And trust me on this one: there will be many players who will score more than Nicholls, and not get in. Pierre Turgeon, anyone? 1,000 points is no longer the treshold to qualify for the Hall. Turgeon will finish with 1,300 or 1,400 points. He'll never get in.
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