reckoning
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2005
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This has been mentioned a few times before, but I don`t think we`ve had a thread specifically on Mark Howe`s qualifications:
The case for him:
- Made the 1st All-Star Team 3 times, more than Salming, Langway, Savard, LaPointe, Murphy and several other HOFers. In fact, no other player at any position with 3 1st Team selections has been rejected by the Hall.
- Twice a Top 5 finisher in Hart Trophy voting.
- Generally considered the 3rd best defenceman of the 80s behind Bourque and Coffey.
- Generally considered the best defenceman in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers, one of the most successful teams of the last 40 years.
- Led his team in +/- 7 times in his career, only Bourque and Orr have done that more often. +400 over his career. His +85 in `86 hasn`t been bettered by anyone since then.
- Made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice.
- All-time top playoff point-getter in the WHA.
- Was often a target because of his last name, but unlike his father he never resorted to cheap shots or playing dirty.
- Had a great career after coming back from a near-fatal extremely gruesome on-ice injury. (If you don`t know the story, you`re better off that way)
The case against him:
- No Stanley Cups
- No Norris Trophies
- Less than 1000 games in the NHL
The way I see it, it`s a no-brainer. It seems ridiculous to hold the no Cups against him considering his playoff record is still better than Salming, Sittler, Perreault, Dionne, Gartner, Stastny, Hawerchuk and several other HOFers. Salming, Park and Murphy never won the Norris either, but that wasn`t held against them. His career NHL games are a little low only because he went to the WHA for the first part of his career. I feel that`s the real reason he`s not in the Hall, along with J.C. Tremblay as well.
In the book "The Rebel League" it mentions how Harry Sinden desperately wanted Howe on the Bruins, who held his NHL rights. They offered him a lot of money, as well as a front office job for Gordie. But Gordie wanted to keep playing and Mark wanted to stay with him. Mark Howe on the Bruins blueline in `79 may very well have put them over Montreal that year. Is Harry (a member of the selection committee) still holding a grudge?
The case for him:
- Made the 1st All-Star Team 3 times, more than Salming, Langway, Savard, LaPointe, Murphy and several other HOFers. In fact, no other player at any position with 3 1st Team selections has been rejected by the Hall.
- Twice a Top 5 finisher in Hart Trophy voting.
- Generally considered the 3rd best defenceman of the 80s behind Bourque and Coffey.
- Generally considered the best defenceman in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers, one of the most successful teams of the last 40 years.
- Led his team in +/- 7 times in his career, only Bourque and Orr have done that more often. +400 over his career. His +85 in `86 hasn`t been bettered by anyone since then.
- Made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice.
- All-time top playoff point-getter in the WHA.
- Was often a target because of his last name, but unlike his father he never resorted to cheap shots or playing dirty.
- Had a great career after coming back from a near-fatal extremely gruesome on-ice injury. (If you don`t know the story, you`re better off that way)
The case against him:
- No Stanley Cups
- No Norris Trophies
- Less than 1000 games in the NHL
The way I see it, it`s a no-brainer. It seems ridiculous to hold the no Cups against him considering his playoff record is still better than Salming, Sittler, Perreault, Dionne, Gartner, Stastny, Hawerchuk and several other HOFers. Salming, Park and Murphy never won the Norris either, but that wasn`t held against them. His career NHL games are a little low only because he went to the WHA for the first part of his career. I feel that`s the real reason he`s not in the Hall, along with J.C. Tremblay as well.
In the book "The Rebel League" it mentions how Harry Sinden desperately wanted Howe on the Bruins, who held his NHL rights. They offered him a lot of money, as well as a front office job for Gordie. But Gordie wanted to keep playing and Mark wanted to stay with him. Mark Howe on the Bruins blueline in `79 may very well have put them over Montreal that year. Is Harry (a member of the selection committee) still holding a grudge?