Craig Ludwig is the best shot blocker I ever saw. But it is a small part of the game. Defense and two-way play is a bigger part of the game obviously, but there are those that did it good and those that did it elite (Fedorov, Messier, Yzerman) plus a ton other. Mike Modano would fall into the elite category. Obviously before him types like Beliveau or in recent years Datsyuk and to a lesser extent Toews. Goring would open up a door for others, and saying that doesn't mean I didn't like him or respect him as a player, it just means where do you stop from there?
Well, I myself love guys like Leo Boivin & Butch Goring, gimme a team with nothing but Butch Goring up front & Leo Boivins on the back end any day all day. These guys go right through the wall for you without asking, without expecting any thanks... so ya, I'd be thanking Butch with a place in the HHOF. He was that impressive to me as a player, human being. Total character guy. The glue that binds. There are other Islanders as well that you mentioned, omissions, should be in.... oh, and dont even think about trying to evict Jethro. You kiddin me?
Leo Boivin.... well well well.... just, come.... on..... Man. Give credit where its due. A lot more to Leo than just being the greatest Hip Checker the games ever seen. Tremendous player. Every bit as good as & better than some Defenceman who are in that you wouldnt dream of evicting. I used to love watching Leo. Total class act. A guy the Canadiens or Leafs wouldve loved to have had & who would have fit in beyond seamlessly... but far too valuable to the Bruins to be letting go. He & Bucyk for many years the heart & head, soul of that club during some pretty lean years but who showed up with a smile on their faces & played their guts out every single shift, game. You got more than your moneys worth watching Boivin perform, you got an education.
Burns for sure, your quite right an "emotional induction" and you know?.... I'm actually ok with that. Not going to get into the why's, hows' & wherefores... try & "sell you" on it. Understand where your coming from however philosophically, I have room in my HHOF for a guy like Pat Burns so no problem..... Ballard on the other hand, like Campbell, convicted of crimes, if you decided to re-write the HHOF Charter & Policies of both Induction & Expulsion whereby if someone has been convicted of a major crime before consideration then they shouldnt be, or if they commit some major crime after induction & should therefore be expelled, then sure, I'd vote yes to that. The Football Hall of Fame of course, they dont care, all that matters is what took place on the field, in the boardroom, not the courtroom. I disagree with that.
Now, Clarence Campbell, Harold Ballard, these guys didnt kill, rape or maim anyone (that we know of). Dedicated their lives to the game. Their in & thats that, the Hall certainly not apologizing for their misdeeds, just asking that you consider their good works & contributions to the game & society as a whole, and that on balance while flawed they should be remembered, honored for their good works.... they are interesting individuals, they did do many good deeds, served the game just as they made sure the game served them and that in honoring them in the HHOF with their own pulpits, knowing of them providing lessons in life to future generations.... As for the more recent player/builder inductions.... Im cool with the lot of them.... still lots of omissions, guys who hopefully will get in.
