Why isn't Adam Oates in the HHOF?

[ZMan17]

If there's been threads about this before, sorry.

While I was a bit too young to actually see him play (in his prime at least), from everything I've heard, read and seen about him I really can't understand why he isn't in the HHOF. I mean, he 1420 points in 1327 games, 90+ assists twice, 6th all-time in assists and 7th in ppg in regular season and was also apparantly a clean player, so am I missing something? I never heard about him not getting along with the press or anything, so I'm pretty much clueless. Anyone have any ideas why he still isn't in?

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[GKJ]

He'll be in, it's just not his time yet.

 

[kmad]

Because the selection panel is not a good selection panel.

Kevin Lowe was four votes from being inducted last time around. What?

 

[jepjepjoo]

Every time Adam Oates' HHOF worth is brought into question, I like to bring this up:

Adam Oates scroring finishes: 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 10th
Steve Yzerman scoring finishes: 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 7th, 10th

On topic: I have no idea.

 

[SidGenoMario]

Because the hall is worthless.

 

[WPGFAN]

He should be in...hopefully it won't be too long until he get's the call.

 

[Big Phil]

Because the selection panel is not a good selection panel.

Kevin Lowe was four votes from being inducted last time around. What?

How do you know that? The committee is supposed to be very tight lipped on this type of thing. It is supposed to be a private vote. Do you know a member of the 18 panel committee that told you this? Seriously, do you?

By the way, that would be short sighted to add Lowe into the HHOF. Too many arguments against him getting in there.

Anyway, Oates should be in by now. There are people who would assume Roenick had a better career and the main reason for that is because Roenick was better in tune with the media. Overall, Oates had the better career but you'd never know it

 

[Epsilon]

I'm wondering if there's someone influential on the panel who has it in for Oates a bit.

The HHOF selection committee is way too small, and given their backgrounds and personal relationships way too susceptible to the potential of a few strong, respected voices controlling the process.

 

[Hardyvan123]

Every time Adam Oates' HHOF worth is brought into question, I like to bring this up:

Adam Oates scroring finishes: 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 10th
Steve Yzerman scoring finishes: 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 7th, 10th

On topic: I have no idea.

I think Oates should be in but in no way was he nearly as good as Stevie Y, who IMO gets a bit overrated sometimes on these boards but was flat out great during his playing days.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

He should be in, but:

1). His reputation was a guy who was in it for money, no to win. Feuded with multiple GMs, holdouts, demanded trades, etc.

2) No Cups, which makes #1 look worse.

3) Generally a quiet and/or grumpy guy with the media

4) given the HHoF panel is basically NHL insiders and media members, the fact that Oates wasn't particularly like by either GMs or the media hurts him, despite the fact that he was clearly a better player than some guys already inducted

 

[jkrx]

There is possibly 10-20 threads involving this discussion.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Because he doesn't have enough friends on the voting committee. That is his downfall as a player - he could take some notes from Dick Duff.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Because the selection panel is not a good selection panel.

Kevin Lowe was four votes from being inducted last time around. What?

There are 17 people on the committee. 4 votes away is a very wide margin. I think they need 75% approval thus, 13 votes.

If Lowe was 4 votes away he got 9/17 or only 53%. That isn't very close.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

He should be in, but:

1). His reputation was a guy who was in it for money, no to win. Feuded with multiple GMs, holdouts, demanded trades, etc.

2) No Cups, which makes #1 look worse.

3) Generally a quiet and/or grumpy guy with the media

4) given the HHoF panel is basically NHL insiders and media members, the fact that Oates wasn't particularly like by either GMs or the media hurts him, despite the fact that he was clearly a better player than some guys already inducted

And there is the answer.

Well stated.

 

[RabbinsDuck]

I'm wondering if there's someone influential on the panel who has it in for Oates a bit.

The HHOF selection committee is way too small, and given their backgrounds and personal relationships way too susceptible to the potential of a few strong, respected voices controlling the process.

I'm thrilled Larionov is now a member and thought the committee needed at least one Russian member for some time.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Expectations

I'm thrilled Larionov is now a member and thought the committee needed at least one Russian member for some time.

So we should expect the election of Viktor Tikhanov?

 

[tony d]

Yeah, he makes it in some day. 1 of the best playmakers of any time.

 

[Epsilon]

So we should expect the election of Viktor Tikhanov?

Tikhanov should clearly be a HOFer, especially given that they elect guys from junior hockey into the builder's category. He will probably never get in due to personal stuff though.

 

[SidGenoMario]

People also don't know what they're talking about in general in regards to Adam Oates. Numerous times I've heard the media compare him to compilers, as someone who was nothing special but managed to compile decent numbers. They really don't have a ****ing clue.

 

[sushi45]

You could argue that not having a SC is holding him back

 

[RECsGuy*]

You could argue that not having a SC is holding him back

The HHOF inducts individuals, NOT teams.

 

[Big Phil]

You could argue that not having a SC is holding him back

Stastny, Perreault, Park, Ullman, Sittler, Salming, Ratelle, Gilbert, Dionne, Hawerchuk, Lafontaine, etc...............as for goalies you've got Giacomin and Esposito if you don't want to count a third stringer role in 1969. Chris Dingman has more rings combined than that group. Who would you induct into the HHOF?

Bottom line is this. Oates was a fine playoff performer. That wasn't his downfall at all. He had a better career than Lafontaine for sure. Even in Lafontaine's best season (1993) Oates was only 6 points behind him. Oates also had a string of about 5 years where he was among top players in the game. Then even after that he was always a very relevant playmaker, leading the NHL in assists twice late in his career.

He was quiet though. That's his downfall. He didn't do commercials, he didn't offer up a classic sound bite.

I will go as far as saying that out of those above names I posted (non-goalies) he is at least on par, if not better, than Sittler, Lafontaine and Gilbert. He's close to a few others there too. I mean when is the HHOF going to cut him some slack?

 

[SidGenoMario]

Only Gretzky had more points than Oates in the 90's.

25 people had more points than Ciccarelli in the 80's.

Just sayin'.

 

[bluemandan]

He should be in, but:

1). His reputation was a guy who was in it for money, no to win. Feuded with multiple GMs, holdouts, demanded trades, etc.

2) No Cups, which makes #1 look worse.

3) Generally a quiet and/or grumpy guy with the media

4) given the HHoF panel is basically NHL insiders and media members, the fact that Oates wasn't particularly like by either GMs or the media hurts him, despite the fact that he was clearly a better player than some guys already inducted

I came to post "Because he was a jerk" but you put it better than I did.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Downfall

Stastny, Perreault, Park, Ullman, Sittler, Salming, Ratelle, Gilbert, Dionne, Hawerchuk, Lafontaine, etc...............as for goalies you've got Giacomin and Esposito if you don't want to count a third stringer role in 1969. Chris Dingman has more rings combined than that group. Who would you induct into the HHOF?

Bottom line is this. Oates was a fine playoff performer. That wasn't his downfall at all. He had a better career than Lafontaine for sure. Even in Lafontaine's best season (1993) Oates was only 6 points behind him. Oates also had a string of about 5 years where he was among top players in the game. Then even after that he was always a very relevant playmaker, leading the NHL in assists twice late in his career.

He was quiet though. That's his downfall. He didn't do commercials, he didn't offer up a classic sound bite.

I will go as far as saying that out of those above names I posted (non-goalies) he is at least on par, if not better, than Sittler, Lafontaine and Gilbert. He's close to a few others there too. I mean when is the HHOF going to cut him some slack?

Downfall. All the bolded names you list have one thing in common. They were the best or amongst the top 2 players on their team(s) year in year out. This is not the case for Oates unless injuries removed a star Oates would be 3rd. Such players unless they contribute to team success are viewed as piggy backing the star players.