THN Top 10 reasons Sundin is not a Hall of Famer

[sprague11]

I'd wager that it reads something like:

"A fierce international competitor, Mats Sundin put up consistent numbers desptie playing with some of the most notorious one-trick ponies and bums in hockey"

I don't think he's a first balloter, but he's likely getting in. Stastny had the luxury of playing with the very talented Michael Goulet as for a number of years as well as the under-rated Anton Stastny. Sundin has the misfortune of Jonas Hoglund, Sergei Berezin, a Washed-up Mikael Renberg and an inconsistent Nik Antropov.

 

[sholi2000]

Of course any bio on the Hockey Hall of Fame site is going to read favourably - what are they going to put, that he had a few great years in a watered down down, goal crazy NHL?

I do agree Sundin won't get in his first chance... but he will get in... especially if there's more classes like this years... I've got the ticket order form sitting on my desk here... not sure I want to pay $500 to see Glenn Anderson, Ed Chynoweth, Igor Larionov and Scampy go in the Hall...

Cory

Yikes, that list is not impressive at all. Ok, Sundin gets in then. Congrats Mats, you may retire now.:dance:

 

[will-411]

Yikes, that list is not impressive at all. Ok, Sundin gets in then. Congrats Mats, you may retire now.:dance:

Oops - I forgot to add Mike Emrick too this year!

I'm really surprised they didn't offer a ticket discount this year...

Though the Hall of Fame game is Canadiens Legends vs. All-Star Legneds. I wonder which team Gary Leeman will play for...

Cory

 

[GrimUSMC]

If Stastny's in, then Sundin gets in.

Wait, Statsny won the Calder, and had 6 consecutive 100 point seasons to start his career, and 7 overall in 14 seasons. And he only played 977 games, was the first rookie to top 100 points in the NHL, and has a 1.27 PPg average. So to say if he got in Sundin is in is not a valid argument.


Bill

 

[leafs4_cup]

Once again, you really can't compare 80's numbers to 90's numbers. I just checked out Bernie Nicholls' numbers from 81-93 and he averaged 1.19 points per game during that span including a 70 goal, 150 point season...is he a HOFer too?

 

[DredJAw]

This is the HHoF criteria:
“Playing ability, sportsmanship, character and their contribution to the team or teams and to the game of hockey in general.”

Under playing ability:
When you couple Sundin’s record as a Leaf: all time leading scorer of a franchise that’s been around for 90 years, 2nd leading Leafs playoff scorer (done in a lower scoring era), one of the best win% of any Leafs captain along with a variety of other Leafs records as well as:

9 All Star appearances
4th overall in NHL Scoring while he was in the league
Top scorer and top ppg in the six Best on Best Tournaments in his era
Only 3 time Best on Best All Star forward during his era (along with All Star in all WCs he fully participated in)
Top 10 in NHL GWGs
Record for NHL OT goals
1 SEL Championship
3 World Championship Golds (one as Captain)
Captains 1 Olympic Gold
17 straight 20+ goal seasons (even Gretzky didn't do that)
Etc

They cannot ignore what this man has done in international play – particularly when he was up against the best players in the world. The HHoF won’t ignore that.

Beyond the playing ability criteria
And when they couple his playing ability record with this part of Sundin’s hockey career: “ sportsmanship, character and their contribution to the team or teams and to the game of hockey in general.”, Sundin has a very strong case.

 

[King17]

Pretty bold prediction but you never know. It's true he played not really getting anywhere with the leafs but look at the team. Guys have gotten into the hall riding on the coatails of the team that aren't half the player(Anderson!!!!) .Sundin and great goaltending got the leafs there best sucess. Sundin had no one to play with him

Oh Forgot......He did have that Superstar Hoglund!!!!!


It's 50/50 if he makes it sooner rather than later but I do believe he will be a hall of Famer


Dean

Couldn't agree more Dean..Don't forget the last few years he been surrounded with talent Antropov and Pony:|:|:|.

I think the main reason ppl hate on Sundin is the fact that he plays for the Leafs.

 

[sprague11]

Wait, Statsny won the Calder, and had 6 consecutive 100 point seasons to start his career, and 7 overall in 14 seasons. And he only played 977 games, was the first rookie to top 100 points in the NHL, and has a 1.27 PPg average. So to say if he got in Sundin is in is not a valid argument.


Bill

Stastny tailed off big time from his heyday though while Sundin has been remarkably consistent. History might not remember it, but Stastny accomplished a lot in the NHL thanks to Brother Anton, Michel Goulet and Dale Hunter. Don't get me wrong, Stastny was great and rightfully a HOF'er, but he had a far better supporting cast than Sergei Berezin and Alex Ponikarovski. Sundin's best winger in is time with toronto was a washed up Alex Mogilny. Up until the last couple years the Sundin-led leafs fared far better in the playoffs than any Stastny-led Nordiques team.

Had Sundin had anything close to a Michael Goulet in his time with Toronto he would have cracked 100 points easily. I know it's apples and oranges but both are still fruit.

 

[GrimUSMC]

Once again, you really can't compare 80's numbers to 90's numbers. I just checked out Bernie Nicholls' numbers from 81-93 and he averaged 1.19 points per game during that span including a 70 goal, 150 point season...is he a HOFer too?

I see your point, but it wasnt extremely difficult for someone to put up 100 points in a season in the 90's. As we turned the century, it wound down, but I still fell its hard to ignore that he has only had 1 100 point season. ONE! I have nothing against him, and nothing against the leafs, I just dont see him being a hall of famer. I agree with what Trish had said, in that yes he may have been consistent, I dont see how he gets in over Pavel Bure. Bure crossed that line and was undoubtedly the Best gol scorer in the league for a few years. That is better then a year in year out 80 point scorer. I dont feel that should be rewarded with a nod to the hall.


Bill