Debate: Joe Thornton HHOF worthy?

[LadyStanley]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/38367/hall-of-fame-debate-joe-thornton

LeBrun puts up the arguments on both sides, but believes he should be. ESPN panel voted 67% for his induction.

And that's without a Stanley Cup (yet).

Click to read more...

 

[Verviticus]

pros: "he's a hall of famer in every reasonable definition"

cons: "The knock against Thornton is his perceived lack of playoff performances"

well that was an easy argument. who are the stupid 33% at ESPN?

 

[Zac Rinaldo*]

he's a hall of famer

 

[TF97]

He's definitely a Hall of Famer.

 

[OrrNumber4]

As disappointing a player as he is, and as puffed up as his talents are by some, he's still a hall-of-famer. No question about it.

 

[Alwalys]

there is no debate. though it is a handy way of knowing whether someone is a complete hack.

 

[Led Zappa]

 

[Mafoofoo]

Must've been a slow day at the office for this to get written. Of course he's a Hall of Famer.

 

[Pavelski2112]

The guy is top-40 all-time in points, top-20 in assists. He'll hit 1300 points this year.

Only player outside of Lemieux and Gretzky to have two consecutive 90+ assist seasons.

First ballot HHOFer, and anyone who says otherwise is just bitter.

 

[Hold the Pickles]

Patty could make it, Thorntons a lock

 

[KarlssonsGroin]

There is no debate

 

[The Nemesis]

I don't see how this is a debate. the HOF is an individual accomplishment, a lack of championships or post-season success is a team issue. There's nothing in Joe Thornton's career that doesn't scream HOF-calibre unless you're going to be anal about stanley cups (which is dumb for an individual, as I said.)

also lol at ESPN playing a point/counterpoint or for/against type article with 1 person. Was Burnside or Pronman too busy to type up a couple hundred words as devil's advocate?

 

[hohosaregood]

The guy is top-40 all-time in points, top-20 in assists. He'll hit 1300 points this year.

Only player outside of Lemieux and Gretzky to have two consecutive 90+ assist seasons.

First ballot HHOFer, and anyone who says otherwise is just bitter.

Eh more of a compiler

 

[The Nemesis]

To add to the whole "Joe Thornton is not a winner" BS, he's got Olympic gold, World Cup gold, WJC gold, and World Championship silver, and a big reason he doesn't have more World Championship hardware is that his teams almost always make the playoffs.

But herp derp derp he doesn't win!

 

[hohosaregood]

To add to the whole "Joe Thornton is not a winner" BS, he's got Olympic gold, World Cup gold, WJC gold, and World Championship silver, and a big reason he doesn't have more World Championship hardware is that his teams almost always make the playoffs.

But herp derp derp he doesn't win!

Don't forget the Spengler Cup.

 

[Barrie22]

Don't forget the Spengler Cup.

And his world championship mvp.

 

[Bowie22]

1st ballot.

 

[rangerssharks414]

First ballot HoFer in my opinion... I don't see an argument that he isn't a first ballot guy.

 

[Led Zappa]

I don't see how this is a debate. the HOF is an individual accomplishment, a lack of championships or post-season success is a team issue. There's nothing in Joe Thornton's career that doesn't scream HOF-calibre unless you're going to be anal about stanley cups (which is dumb for an individual, as I said.)

also lol at ESPN playing a point/counterpoint or for/against type article with 1 person. Was Burnside or Pronman too busy to type up a couple hundred words as devil's advocate?

To add to the whole "Joe Thornton is not a winner" BS, he's got Olympic gold, World Cup gold, WJC gold, and World Championship silver, and a big reason he doesn't have more World Championship hardware is that his teams almost always make the playoffs.

But herp derp derp he doesn't win!

 

[SactoShark]

Hall of Regularseason Famer

 

[Coily]

Hope he doesn't get choked up during his acceptance speech.

 

[stator]

I believe there are too many hockey analyst that debate just because they want to.

Thornton a HHOF? Yes, unquestionable.

 

[SJGoalie32]

Yep

He absolutely belongs in the HOF. First ballot. Without any doubt.

His play supports it. His stats support it. The hardware he's accumulated over his career supports it. A Cup would be nice, but he certainly doesn't need it.


I may have my own complaints with certain aspects of Joe Thornton's game that I wish he did slightly differently, but for me it's like complaining that Dan Marino or Brett Favre throw too many interceptions. Wondering if they couldn't have been even greater had they been a little less careless at times with the ball doesn't mean those guys weren't still great players or that they don't belong in their HOF (with or without a ring). It's okay to have some critiques of an individual player, even great ones. A player doesn't need to be perfect to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Nobody is perfect. A player just needs to be great. And Joe Thornton is undeniably great.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Brett Favre did throw too many interceptions though

Jumbo Joe is a HOFer.

 

[Satastic]

He's getting into the Hall of Fame. Absolutely no doubt in my mind