Content provided in partnership with

This class holds its own

Sporting News, The, Nov 15, 2004 by Kara Yorio

The defense can rest now--with honored members' jackets and Hall of Fame rings.

On Monday, former NHL defensemen Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Although past years have brought debate over the caliber of players being honored, there was not one question about this class.

Any Hall of Fame is a hotbed for controversy. Who should be in? Who shouldn't? Which group of players inducted together was the best? This year, it's that last one that comes into play.

Not considering the Wayne Gretzky year--the man in a class of his own was his own class in 1999--where does the 2004 induction class stand compared with those of the past 25 years?

Most Popular Articles in Sports: The first family: Archie, Peyton and Eli are incredibly famous, immensely ...; The growing gap: driving distances are skyrocketing on the PGA Tour. So why ...; Which pistol caliber for self defense? Four different people come to four ...; Drag racing - National Hot Rod Association; The world's most popular .22: the Marlin Model 60 just keeps on ticking; More »

In 1979, Bobby Orr, Henri Richard and Harry Howell entered the Hall. In '83, Ken Dryden, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita went in. In '84, Phil Esposito, Jacques Lemaire and Bernie Parent entered. In '88, Tony Esposito, Guy Lafleur and Brad Park entered along with Buddy O'Connor. In 1997, it was Mario Lemieux and Bryan Trottier.

It's an argument because there is no answer. Without a doubt, this year's group consists of three of the best offensive defensemen to play in the NHL. We might never again see their style and level of production on a blue line.

Bourque played in 19 straight All-Star Games, starting 12 times. He was a five-time Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defenseman. Only Orr (eight) and Doug Harvey (seven) have more. He won the Calder Trophy as the 1980 rookie of the year and helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2001. In 1,612 career games, he had 410 goals and 1,169 assists. He had 41 goals and 139 assists in 214 playoff games. He retired in June 2001 with the all-time lead in goals, assists and points for defensemen.

Coffey was an All-Star eight times. He won three Norris trophies and helped win four Stanley Cups, three with the Oilers and one with the Penguins. He had 396 goals and 1,135 assists in 1,409 games. In the playoffs, he had 59 goals and 137 assists in 194 games. He is second all-time to Bourque in goals, points and assists.

Murphy was a three-time All-Star who helped win four Stanley Cups, two with the Penguins and two with the Red Wings. In 1,615 games, he had 287 goals and 929 assists. In 215 playoff games, he had 37 goals and 115 assists. He was the fourth defenseman in history to reach 1,000 points.

Jim Gregory, chairman of the Hall's selection committee, says it's one thing to compare players whose careers crossed, but comparisons of different eras are impossible.

"It's a different kind of game, different people, different athletes," Gregory says.

Of Bourque, Coffey and Murphy, Gregory says, "They're in a superelite group. They're All-Stars and members of the Hall of Fame, and you have to leave it at that."

That's enough. And for one three-day weekend in the fall of 2004, there was a reason to praise the NHL game, not bury it.

SPEED READ

* Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine competed in an Ironman triathlon last weekend to help his charity, the Companions in Courage Foundation (cic16.org), which installs interactive playrooms in children's hospitals. Concussions ended LaFontaine's career prematurely, but he considers himself lucky and is compelled to help children. All NHL players should find such perspective.

INSIDE DISH

Predators C/W Sergei Zholtok died last week in Latvia, apparently because of a cardiac problem. Last season, Zholtok missed games because of fatigue and dizziness and was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. He was cleared to play in November, however, and then after the season signed to play with Riga in Latvia, his native country, during the lockout. He was 31.... In the past couple of weeks, some players have disagreed with the union stand, saying a form of a salary cap might be OK. But a recent union meeting appears to have changed their minds--or at least silenced their opinions. Those who spoke out had a point: A cap might hurt third- and fourth-line players more than the top guys who get big money, as union executive director Bob Goodenow says, but those lesser-paid players will have a harder time withstanding a lockout the longer it goes. To truly work for the entire union, Goodenow must remember that.... NHL players in Europe aren't welcomed with open arms by everyone. Those whose jobs have been taken by the locked-out players are starting to speak publicly--one even called the NHL players "scabs." The European teams, though, are happy with ticket sales. The NHL players should be aware that they could have a greater risk of injury in facing players who are trying to prove themselves, somewhat like the situation in NHL preseason games.... At the end of last season, Devils C Scott Gomez talked about playing for his home-state Alaska Aces of the ECHL but was cautioned against it because of the injury risk. It didn't take long for Gomez to suit up. He played his first game October 30.--K.Y.

(S) For the latest news on the CBA, visit msn.foxsports.com, keyword: NHL.

This class holds its own

Sporting News, The, Nov 15, 2004 by Kara Yorio

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: News

Most Popular Articles in Sports

Most Popular Publications in Sports