If you get rid of Gartner then there needs to be a large purge of other players as well....which I know you dont have a problem with, im just saying it.
I personally dont have issues with players like Gartner, Gilles, etc being in the Hall....for me the criteria is and should be open-ended and looked at from many angles. I dont think having Gartner in the Hall diminishes the accomplishments of players like Orr, Mario, Howe.....but thats just my take
In Gartners you still have to consider the fact he played on arguable the most defensive team in the NHL (during his Cap days). The only other team that I can think of off the top of my head in that conversation is the Flyers, who he had to play against a lot as they were division foes
all this being said I take Dino over him every day of the week
That is why they vote. No two people are going to have the same opinion or criteria. Myself, I don't like the notion of a "Mendozza" (sp?) line for the HOF. Nor do I think it can be quanified purely in points.
For example, Andreychuk has more career goals than Mogilny. But which is more HOF worthy? At their best, AlMo blows Dave out of the water. I love Andreychuk and think he had a great career (vastly under-rated as a defensive player) and at his peak he was a borderline top-5 to top-10 LW in the legaue... but I don't think he was ever a dominant player. Mogilny didn't have the longevity, but in his prime he was on the shortlist for most dangerous goalscorers in the league. I would vote for Mogilny before Andreychuk even though the career numbers go the other way.
I think peak and accomplishments weigh in more than longevity.
His slap shot was incredibly accurate. He didn't shoot it as hard as Al Iafrate but I bet he could still crank it up to the 90's(easily if he had todays gear)Mothra: 'If you had read the title you would have noticed that the debate isnt who is the best goal scorer....its who is the most underrated'
roger that. but Gretz IS an underrated goal scorer which is ridiculous because he scored the most. not the best shot, not the hardest shot, but he shot the puck into the net the most, therefore he should be considered the best . Yet, he isn't by most.
Michel Goulet. It takes A LOT of talent to score 500+ goals with Dale Hunter as your regular center.
I remember him playing a lot with Stastny
Ron Francis - didn't come close to winning any scoring titles, but 500+ goals still isn't bad
I remember him playing a lot with Stastny
EDIT: Forgot to add...in either case Hunter was a pretty slick playmaker and they (Quebec) did a lot of damage on the PP
His regular center was Dale Hunter. He played with Stastny on the PP.