Making Steve Larmer’s Hall of Fame Case
On June 24th the Hockey Hall of Fame will announce its newest inductees. There are many individuals who are worthy of consideration. Among those who have been passed over who should be in the Hall is Blackhawks legend Steve Larmer.
Larmer was, with Denis Savard and Doug Wilson, the identity of the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1980s. He didn’t miss a game for a decade, and each of his NHL seasons was followed by a playoff appearance.
Larmer won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy and was named the NHL “Man of the Year” by The Sporting News after the 1990-91 season. He played in 884 consecutive games and 13 consecutive postseasons.
But Larmer was a Blackhawk, playing most of his career in Chicago in the shadow of Savard. And he was a right wing, spending most of his career in the shadow of Jari Kurri’s incredible decade in Edmonton.
In 2014 when Blackhawks star Marian Hossa reached 1,000 points in his Hall of Fame career, Ken Campbell at The Hockey News compared Hossa’s career to Larmer’s. At the time, Campbell wrote of Hossa:
“Perhaps a better comparison would be Steve Larmer, another player who excelled at both ends of the ice without winning a Selke Trophy and won one Stanley Cup during his career. Despite the fact his name seems to come up every year, Larmer isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet and may never find his way there.”
Let’s compare Larmer to a few right wingers who are already in the Hall.
Martin St. Louis was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, his first year of eligibility. He played at a different time than Larmer (1998-2015) when scoring wasn’t as high. St. Louis scored 391 goals with 642 assists for 1,033 points in 1,134 games, less than one point per game. He won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with Tampa.
St. Louis has more individual accolades than Larmer. He won the Hart Trophy in 2004, was the winner of the Lady Byng three times and the Art Ross Trophy twice. He appeared in five All-Star Games.
Lanny McDonald was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 after a stellar career that included exactly 500 goals in 1,111 games. Like Larmer, he won one Stanley Cup (with the Flames in 1989).
However, McDonald averaged less than one point-per-game over his career, and had fewer game-winning, powerplay and short-handed goals than Larmer in spite of playing 105 more regular season games in his career. Larmer, a point-per-game player in his career, was also plus-204 against McDonald’s career plus-41.
Joe Mullen was inducted in 2000. He, like McDonald, reached the magical 500 goal mark just as his career was ending, scoring 502 total.
Mullen, like Larmer, was a point-per-game player throughout his career; Mullen registered 1,063 points in 1,062 games. And Mullen had more game-winning goals (73) than Larmer (60). However, Larmer had more powerplay goals and short-handed goals than Mullen.
Mullen won three Stanley Cups, one of which was with the 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins at the expense of Larmer’s Blackhawks. He also won the Lady Byng twice, and is remembered as one of the best American-born goal scorers ever. Mullen’s career point share (91.1) was just better than Larmer’s (88.1).
Cam Neely‘s named was called in 2005 after a career that was spent mostly in Boston. Obviously Neely played a more physical game than Larmer; he eclipsed 100 penalty minutes in a season six straight seasons, while Larmer never had more than 79 PIM in a season.
But Neely, like McDonald, was not a point-per-game player throughout his career. Neely was money when it counted most – 61 game-winning goals in only 726 career regular season games – but had only one short-handed goal in his career, and his total point share of 69.2 is among the lowest in the Hall. Also, Neely never won a Cup as a player.
Glenn Anderson was inducted in 2008, and benefited from playing on the dominant Oilers teams of the 1980s with Kurri, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. He won six Cups, five with the Oilers and one as Larmer’s teammate on the Rangers in 1994.
Anderson did not win a single individual award during his NHL career, and failed to reach the 500 goal plateau. He wasn’t a point-per-game player, either, finishing with 1,099 points in 1,129 regular season games.
Interestingly, Anderson finished with the same career point share as Larmer (88.1) and is the only right wing we’ve listed here that, like Larmer, had a career plus-minus over 200 (Anderson was plus-201, Larmer was plus-204).
There are two major differences between three of these four right wingers and Larmer. One is their place in the Hall of Fame. The other: their number has been retired. Neely’s number hangs in the rafters in Boston, Anderson’s number was retired by the Oilers and no Flames player will ever wear McDonald’s number again. Only Mullen, whose career was split pretty evenly between St. Louis, Calgary and Pittsburgh, hasn’t had his number retired.
Hopefully Larmer ends up in the hall where he deserves to be this year. Obviously his credentials speak to that end. Be great to see him and Hossa go in together, as Hoss no doubt will go in and doesn’t deter Larmer’s chances. Roenick and Campbell on the ballot as well this year.
It’s a G-D travesty that Larms isn’t in the Hall. No other player embodies the NHL spirit to me. He was, is, and always will be, my hockey hero.
my favorite athlete in my life in any sport. did everything a hockey player is asked to do and excelled at all phases of the game. tough as nails. never missed a game as a blackhawk.
it is time for rocky to put larmer’s sweater in the rafters and throw the tremendous influence he has in hockey behind larmer being voted in the hof. he deserves to be in before hossa. not saying he was better than hossa, but his career ended quite a long time ago. certainly they both belong.
@ tab
great article.
time for the same article in support of doug wilson. his sweater belongs in the rafters of the uc and the hof. can you imagine the numbers he would have put up if surrounded by the same talent keith has had around him.
You’re not gonna believe this but I watched Cam Neely get into an altercation at a diner. I thought things were going to get pretty serious. The whole place came to a stand still. Cam ended up spitting in this guys food. It was kinda funny actually. I bet I’m the only one who recognized it was Cam Neely.
If Rocky won’t put his sweater in the rafters, why would the HOF elect him to their even more elite club? I think both Rocky and the HOF suck if they don’t honor Larmer. He was so underrated as a player, and is now not being recognized for all of his accomplishments. Maybe, if he would have whined and spit into someone’s food, he would have gotten noticed. Class act all the way! I hate when players who deserve it, don’t get recognized. I wish we had a Steve Larmer on this team!
@ t ivan.
no one who knows anything about hockey and saw larmer play underrated him. perhaps if he had roenick’s personality it would be different to the general public.
the only thing i can think of for his sweater not being in the rafters is the contract squabble before he was traded. rocky made amends with others. time to set things straight with larmer.
This is an unbelievably stupid discussion and travesty. Larmer absolutely is deserving, both on statistical and heart-and-soul merit. Draw yourself a hockey player. If he doesn’t look a lot like Larmer then what do you have? Why can’t we get this done?
No-brainer, of epic proportions.
Larmer never missed a game until Wirtz pimped him. His career was then cut short by injury. Regardless thereof, Martin St. Louis in the Hall of Fame ahead of Larmer, Doug Wilson and others is a joke. Good point made above that his number has to get retired as soon as practicable for him to have a better shot.
Pat Foley’s “Laaaaarmer” empathic call better than his Bannerman. And we got to hear it more frequently.
Emphatic call, typo above.
@Ian…I’m just saying he was underrated with the national media, and not in my mind or others in Chicago hockey. I loved Larmer! He always answered the bell and produced consistently. Damn shame he is not being recognized with the other all-time greats, because he was a great one! He is the Ron Santo of the NHL, probably even more deserving!
Tommy lol, most of the time you’d have been right, i woulda assumed it was me too.
Agree outside of Chicago and Blackhawk fan base, Larmer isn’t recognized for just how great a player he truly was.
Totally agree, Steve Larmer deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. In an era where top line wingers were rarely two way players, Larmer was elite. The old boys club and Bill Wirtz never appreciated his union leadership either which might have been a reason at the time for his exclusion. Rocky needs to fix this. Start with hanging up number 28 and number 24, Doug Wilson! Both elite players and classy as well on and off the ice.
This is a wonderful topic where we all get along nicely. No bickering Life is beautiful. :)
iceman
the only problem is there are so few of us commenting. are we really the only ones who comment here to have had the pleasure of being hawks fans during larmer’s career?
and wilson as well?
were any of you around for the 61 cup? i had the pleasure of watching those games on our new, state of the art black and white tv.
Honest, It was genius Honest, sure genius. I mean where did you come up with a scam like that? guy tricks some sucker into picking up his tab and gets away with it scott free?
No, in the movie, they catch up to him half mile down the road and slit his throat! It was a good one.
Tommy, thats why I would trade 12 20 other to draft a player like 28. Only reasoning for saying that. HHNL deep quality player.
A two way player with Thrussels.
Bye, I was at the 80 Olympics game, have a craig poster, when I was very young and my first time/age wise when I got into sports was mid 80s. Loved the Blackhawks and Indian head sweater since.
morrison
i was around for the sixties olympics. gold medal that year and stanley cup the next. hard to beat that for a kid in his pre teen years.
Baffling that Larmer’s 28 is not in the rafters. The ruggedness, point production and repeated playoff stats that Tab listed are undeniable. If by some chance there is an animosity issue of some sort involved, it should be put aside, by both sides, in the spirit of the franchise’s history and what Chicago hockey fans recognize as something important. If there is no animosity issue, as soon as some schedule for next season is determined a Steve Larmer night with a sweater retirement should be a top priority.
I earned it the hard way with Blackhawks not winning in 80s ealry 90s when I was high school and Kentucky basketball not winning in ealry 90s. Even though I enjoyed Earnhardt 7 championships.
Then I wwas rewarded when I was in college with Kentucky winning like 3 times. Still had to wait until I had been working for 10 yrs before 2010. Man I raised my arms uo for every guy on the roster and yelled his name for every one on the roster. My arms were tired but it was worth it.
I was still drinking beer when my staff showed up for work the nest morning.
That feeling you have like 24-36 hrs later where you feel like your on another planet because your still hungover and not awake for being about 12hrs off normal sleep time and your going to bar/restaurant one after another just to have one beer at each stop and your walking but you cant feel your legs.
Those times are undescribable. Felt like I was walking on water.
@Big Mo – If I knew that we could get a Steve Larmer for #12 and #20, I would make that trade in a heartbeat. If we could gel #12 and #20 into one player, we could come up with a lesser version of Steve Larmer. The think I noticed about #12 to start the 2019 season was that he came in out-of-shape, and was playing catch-up all season long. He needs to learn that you have to be in top shape for camp, and not use camp to get in shape. Camp is now used to sharpen your skills and get in rhythm with your teammates. I love #20 as a player, but he is just not worth $6M. Maybe I’m wrong, and I don’t see all the subtle things that he does on the ice, but he’s so talented, I keep wanting more and he doesn’t give it.
Yea to me if were not keeping 20 long term then fine then we need to add a ufa player like Tafolli/similiar. Not htat we have to spend 6m just have a better player then 20-per say instead of fill in spot with green rookie prospect. Those guys rookie prospects can make there own spots. We need both spots filled both ways.
So add a Tafolli with 20 caphit or were weeding for better players and not getting the better players. Until we have good two players like 19 81, combining 12 20 are the next best thing.
So to take a shot at a top 10/15 draft pick for a Larmer/82 kind-style of player is worth it. Now you could say why not just do that with our top 5/10 pick, we should. I say take 2 shots with s top 5/10/15 picks for that kind of player. If there isint 2 to go for then it doesnt have to be this draft, the 21 draft though needs to have more of that style player to do it in that draft. As I see 12 being just as valuable now/next draft/draft after that.
Then we keep 12 longer and see.
Not saying theres a 28 or 81 in this draft or thpse draft, just need those kind of player style wise though. Thats why you would upgrade from 12 and 20 only to get better like going from 24 to 81 kind of thing.
I was there for Larmer’s career in the old Stadium and his follow up time in Calgary with with the NY Rangers. One of the steadiest (albeit not flashy) two way forwards in the team. While I think he’s a borderline Hall of Famer, I’d like to see him get in. But the elephant in the room is this…Larmer supremely pi$$ed off the All Powerful Dollar Bill Wirtz, and I can’t help but think this has really crippled Larmer’s chances. If Rocky extended an olive branch to Larmer and threw his weight around in the league, I’m certain Larmer would get into the Hall. But Rocky hasn’t been willing to do that. All I can assume is that Rocky also holds a grudge. Don’t for a minute underestimate the power of the Wirtz family in the NHL.
On separate subject, look for Danny Wirtz to be named permanent President to replace McDonough.
Mo with the cap staying flat, might be more market for Saad at tdl on an expiring contract. Contending teams are going to be in tough adding 6m caphit in off season, but at tdl where only responsible for 25% of it give or take, may make him more moveable. Having an expiring contract, limits the return too, the downside of tdl.
ian, ivan, & mo
how do you denigrate a larmer in the hall of fame article by segueing into a discussion of 12 & 20?
general bt
you are absolutely right about the old man wirtz grudge and also the significance of the wirtz influence in the league. rocky made things right with the other ambassadors. why not larmer?
Wasnt thinking of stuff like that just the overall idea. You think of things nobody else does like that or says out loud. I would like to keep 12 20 just when thinking of what to do thats only way to add top 10/15 pick with a ping pong ball attached. I say add ufa like Soupy Hoss Kopy Madden others and do these things. Not one then say oh hey we have to keep making magic happen at draft every few yrs or else.
Do both and donot put starin on one or other. Thats not fair and how do you Fing do that. You cant. So lets do both. You know what I am sayiong.
I am not all in for sell high man tallity. Just how I would bweing GM with where were at where were going back to top 5 team roster wise. How do you add those kind of players without top 5 picks. Only way is that way or to upgrade a 24 into a 81. I got a feeling that Bowman and crew are doing this. Wether they stay or not they have to do this now. They must now you now.
Who ever is going to be long term wise/not talking about th eplayers needs to di this no matter what. Gotta do it now is key for that stuff. Then bring in our next Q and kick arss and take names.
Were not we have been talking about this for several threads. Theres no general public discussion board. Its one after another as a theme then just goes into overall thoughts that are continuing.
Tab lets people speak there peace in any language. Just do not swear or use inproper words because big brother is listening. Disguise the words into coverups.
BBB thought when the conversation turned to olympics and 61 cup, that the thread was open for other discussions.
@Random Thoughts…since we really can’t discuss games, we delve into hypotheticals. We started out with why Larmer should be in the HOF and in the rafters, and then we compared two of our forwards who are expected to do more for the team, the way Steve Larmer did. We discussed that Saad has more natural abilities than Larmer, but is not a comparable player for whatever reason. So, Big Mo suggested that we trade #12 and #20 to get a high pick, and draft a player who could develop into a Larmer type. It all goes back to the fact that we wish the #12 and #20 would be more like Larmer, so we wouldn’t have to trade them.
Larms was a pleasure to watch play hockey at Chicago Stadium. Loved that guy. Consummate team player that was highly skilled, and showed up to play every game. It remains a mystery that his sweater is not hanging high above the ice at the UC. He should have finished his outstanding career in Chicago, but like all of you watching him hoist the Cup even though it was with Rangers was heartwarming.
Steve Larmer should be on the HOF ballot and should gain entry based on what he brought to his teams and the NHL.
I still have my 28 Larmer pin.
Lets Go Hawks!
Sorry but the Hawks and the Habs do ot deserve to be in the playoffs. NHL is wrong on this one.
Mike Futa is available Rocky!
I would keep 12 and 20 if we can get roster HHNl deep with them. If not then I only trade them each for top 10/15 pick. Those picks should not be any worse then them and could be better.
I look at it like this. I would trade 12 or 20 or both if were getting a better player then them. Just like 24 for 81 in 2010. That kind of thing. Not to just do it for sell high thinking.
Hull agree Blackhawks and Habs don’t belong in this year playoffs. Likely the TV networks wanting them in, playing a role in it.
Futa make an excellent GM, but kinda thinking like the general that Danny Wirtz stays in McDonoughs role and that maybe he is ok with Bowman left where he is for time being anyways.
Its going to be hard to get better players then 12 20. Only way is to draft top 5/10/15 or get a Tafolli ufa wise where caphit is similiar and player is better overall like 24 to 81. We need players like 20 but if we can get a player like 20 that scores/hits more. I mean whats wrong with 20 that poeple want to trade him.
That he ll be 31 by the time were deep again?
12 will be/should just as good if not better during the next 3 yrs so see his value staying same/going up if theres a trade for a top pick there.
Hopefully if Danny Wirtz does stay in McDonough’s role, one of his first moves is to put Larmer and Wilsons 28 and 24 up where they belong, no need to be.
Mo those guys either are part of the top 6 for the foreseeable future or they will not be around in 3rd line roles for salary they will want.
Not for sure though this top 5/10 pick 77 19 88 are top 6. Makes you wonder who its going to be.
Kurachev Barratt other can be good 3rd line quality players.
Man are BoQ Dach Mitch others going to come on and good. So we need to add to the wave with moar young wavers like that. We got this draft top 5 skill draft player. Maybe another draft after that. Thats 5 of them so you can see why I am looking at making 5 into 6 or 7 with trades that make sense.
Then add your 11 80 81 67 27 91 ufa wise when its time.
If the Hawks are out in 4 games in the playoff (24teams) then they will move one spot on the Draft day And have more chance to get a better pick ;)
And YES Larmer should be in Hall off Fame .
does anyone have any injury updates? It’s been so long its hard to know if anyone was out that could potential play if this season happens….actually can’t even really remember who was injured or out…..de haan? shaw? boqvist? etc?
Gander Boqvist and Cagguila were day to day, so would think they are ok to go. Dehaan may be ready was speculated, but doubt Seabrook or Shaw (no comments his progress at all) will be ready. Smith back surgery would think he needs awhile yet to be ready.
JMHO, but besuming the season leaves me totally flat. Kind of like Oktoberfest with only non-alcoholic beer. No thanks. Let me know when the real deal is back.
JMHO, but resuming the season leaves me totally flat. Kind of like Oktoberfest with only non-alcoholic beer. No thanks. Let me know when the real deal is back.
***fixed***
Thats it right there. You can have a shorter season like 2013 where you start late and then play a full in rythem season into playoffs and its the same 7 game series same time spand same gap between reg season and playoffs same sch with 7 games in 14 dyas total same thing .
To do anything different just doesnt count. Thats like playing the 82 games/or 55 games then waiting 3 mths/vacation/mandatory 90 day break then lets play playoffs.
Stop with the fools gold. Whatever happens this season doesnt count. Its another 2005 yr. Call it a lockout season and then make the deal at next cba mandatory.
Looks like it’s happening whether we like it or not. The players put alot of input around the safety issues of getting it done right and being fair to all teams. So not just Bettman dictating what happens. Still serious doubts remain abbout safety and will likely be brutal to watch from a hockey purist point of view. If done safely from virus concerns and helps maintain the normalcy of the league after this and doesn’t screw up draft for some teams, then tolerating this summer and fal may be for the best in the long haul.
I wonder what happens if during the playoff a team has a few case of covid 19 .
Will they wait till they are negative and give them a Quarantine ans wait for 14 days to restart the série .
And iff another player or Coach has a positive result later during the playoff…will they wait till the quarantine Is over or will they play without a few players .( 14 days without skating ).
A few things to think about also iff the No 1 goalie is out because of the same virus.
The specialists say that around 40 to 50% of the people will be positive overall.
So how many players so far had it ?
2010 that’s definitely a concern and players have said in the media that should all be considered, so hopefully there are means to be on it quick if something like that were to happen.
Said people were not immune even if they already had it. Would be funny to watch teams play without starting goalies and certain players for 14 days. Same for coaches. Whatever they do I hope it blows up in there face because they should not be playing until next season. Want to see team in conference finals and finals not be allowed to have there starting goalie for entire series.
Mo… I totally agree with you ..and the risk is very high that it will happen
I can see the news ….Oilers loose without their best players That are in Quarantine
Or ..Bruins without Rask for next 14 days.
Or. NHL decide to stop the rest of the season because ……….
And I really think that many players will get hurt because didn’t play for 2-3 months
Ect ect ect .
Anyway the cap will be touch badly next year and it’s clear that many teams will be touch By the Covid 19 for many years.
Good luck Bettman ..to find a safe solution to the crisis….
Not be routing against us problem with 5-12 seeds playing is we could be EDM and DAL and be in the division finals. That would make the draft pick worse.
You cant have bys and 3 game win series and teams not playing in 1st round. Teams will be not up to speed. Its all wrong.
That would make it a joke like baseball/football is format wise.
What makes hockey and college sports real is every team has to play the same anount of games in the same time frame and win the same amount of games to win. Anything else is a joke.
You’d seriously wish players to get ill with this virus. Unbelievable you guys.
Not wishing people get sick just thats its stupid to do that and they should have it blow up on them making it a joke. Every player who gets it should be ok/I wouldnt want anyone dieing from this and thats part of my reasoning. Every other sport canceled in the spring these need to.
I am for every fall sport being played and starting a mth late but not messing up the flow of the game season sch a normal playoff format.
No 3 mth vacation/mandatory breaks then go full speed and think noone getting hurt. Its just stupid and you cant have 24 teams in playoffs until there is 48 in the league.
I think a role for Mike Futa will give a real boost to the organization in player personnel. Also, it puts some pressure from within on Bowman with someone who has a proven track record., a hockey man…and who can eventually take over.
Well, good news, seems like the Gravel and Peeters potential is out the window. Thx Stan and Kelley for your keen scouting in the goalie department.
Drafting a goalie in the 1st round would be a set back. The team at the moment needs skill, sie and speed up front. Bowman lost his opportunity the last 5-7 years to draft a good goalie in the 2nd or 3rd round when the team was loaded. Again, no vision by the GM. They need to draft a real prospect in the 3rd round not the 6th or 7th but the real issue is does this GM or Kelley haver an eye to draft a real goalie prospect? So, far the answer is a BIG GRAVEL NALIMOV PEETERS, etc.. NOOOOOOO.
Ian …I don’t wish players to get hurt …Philip Daneaut here in Montreal said it takes a few months to get in shape before the training camp usaly (for the regular season )…now ..everybody will play to reach the playoff right from the start …then you will see a lot of player playing for their new contract
It will be very dangerous to get hurt because they will not be in their best shape to restart the short season and playoff . And NO …i don’t wish to see players injured but it will probably happen to many compare to a normal season and that’s to bad .
I hope I am wrong .
Morrison could you do the embed link I cant for some reason. https://youtu.be/iv13jbki5c0
I found a video of Cam Neely committing attempted murder. The guy had a track record yet Larmer is not in the hall of fame.
This what it is here?
Well there going to do this and make a big mistake. Whatever they do on rules of suspending players/coaches/maintenance crews for 14 days would like it to blow up in their face because they should have just cancelled the season like every other spring sport did.
Now this will mess up the 21 season and that will be short like 40-50 games season.
Doesnt matter to us with not being a top 5 team yet.
Though this is very bad for the Blackhawks and could ruin our top 10 pick. By having to play EDM and DAL and being able to beat those teams compared to others in conference we ll be picking 15-22 now and thats is no good for the future of the team and wasted a good top 5/10 pick quality player.
Unless we dive in the 5 games against EDM.
This is the worst thing that could happen to us on a yr we were getting another top 5/10 skill draft player.
This is worse then any team system that doesnt work. You have to have the players.
Mo which ones cancelled, Basketball having talks on how they will finish the year. Baseball planning how to start year, nascar and ufc started, golf and tennus coming soon. Football planning how their season will start. Anyone with a tv deal trying to honour it best they can.
I see the Hawks 3 or 2 and out. Not only them but many others that were on the bubble. Franchise and players alike know that there isn’t 100% agreement on what should go on. I will enjoy watching but what happens happens. Asterick Cup. Hope no injuries.
Larmer was a HOF player. Soft hands and gritty round the net
Very good in his own end and good on the PK too.
Vote him in.
Hawks make playoffs if play resumes? Cool.
Who cares whether they deserve it or not.
I remember a lousy Hawk team in the late 89’s that got in on an OT goal during the last reg season game. Crappy record. Undeserving according to some.
That team went to the WCF before losing to Calgary.
Didn’t the Hawks beat a similar team in the 2010 SCF?
I mean the spring sports which are the sports that finnish in the spring. I consider baseball golf summer sports and tennis golf are 12 mth sports sort of so they donot have a fall or spring season/finnish. So like ncaa cancelled winter finnish and spring sports thats what I mean by spring sports.
Just to see all the spring sportrs cancel I waned to see every spring sport cancel to be fair to them all. Start with fall sports and any summer sports just do half/partial season starting in the fall.
Basically no sports until after labor day. Except nascar and tennis because noone is touching or within 12 ft of each other.
Roamn, yea this wont be like the Stanley Cup. It would be more like a World Cup event or a poor mans Olympics.
Just have a team that deserves to win like TB win and then it would be fine.
No posts on this site in 10 days? Come on, Tab.
@ Morrison
Who cares where the Hawks pick? There’s no real huge standout franchise type players in the top 5 anyway this season. A top 10 pick can be a bust just like a late first rounder could be a perennial all star caliber player. They likely weren’t drafting in the top 8 anyway. Does it really matter anyway considering the way Bowman has drafted in early rounds anyway? Plus, they could still end up with a top 10 pick as it is, and if they do that player would likely be 2-3 years away anyway. This horsecrap lockdown is gonna set the NHL big time for years as it is.
News from today
Maximum 6 players will be allowed to practice at the facility at the one time .
Every players will be test 2 times per week.
I would always rather pick 9th then 22nd. When were reloading young core.
24-36 mths is what were talking about being a top team again.
Yes it’s likely a draft pick from late first round is years away. I’d rather see some clever trading for more help now or soon rather. Course you cant force another team to trade. I would have much rather the Blackhawks have used what was deHaan cap space to grab a terrible contract with a prospect or draft pick. Multiple teams nearing cap trouble or otherwise would benefit from added space. Yes I’m aware we got deHaan for nothing who should be not terrible…if he wasnt injured all the time. I love Shaw but that should have been two third rounders not two seconds given injury history. Some Habs fans will tell you Shaw was the best player on the Canadians, granted it wasnt even a playoff team.
Anyway found another clip of Cam Neely attempting to ….well you tell me what was gonna happen
https://youtu.be/hm3iwINTF90?t=77
Six players can practice at a time on a 200 ft by what 100ft surface, yet you can line up directly 6ft apart. So 33 people can stand in 200ft to enter a building that is more likely smaller than any hockey venue. Great…..
They could do the DET rule and play 3 on 3 for the playoffs then they would be 6 ft apart.
Thats what this is a 3 on 3 joke.
When I first experienced a hockey game it was at the Chicago Stadium in 1982 against the Minnesota North Stars. It’s hard to forget sitting on the glass between the blue line and center ice with a view of the player bench while rocking a fedora my grandpa made me wear or the noise that was absolutely deafening. For weeks prior to going my Grandfather had prepared me for the experience by explaining the game and its finer points and telling me about all the great players the Hawks had in the past and current lineup. He said he had a new favorite player and he couldn’t wait to see him shine. “You watch Joey. Denis Savard is the best!” He was so excited he almost sounded like a kid.
I saw something special that day on November 14th 1982. The players moved so fast and seemed so large. It was intense, exciting and a little scary but amazing. Denis Savard was great to see, but there was another player on the ice that night and he was the smallest giant I had ever seen. He was the model of a two-way player my Grandfather enjoyed watching. This man was everywhere offensively and defensively. He commanded the puck often and he moved it with grace and skill. He could steal the puck with ease and on this night it seemed he could score at will. He scored three times. He became my favorite player and to this day he still is.
In 1961 an iron-man was born. For now he shall remain nameless because as the time has passed since his unceremonious departure from the organization and his retirement in 1995 it seems as though the most classy and best run organization in the NHL since 2006 seems to have forgotten it.
In today’s era of sport, fans are blessed or cursed (depends on how you look at it) with athletes like LeBron James, David Beckham or even Tiger woods. Organizations will throw money and attention at these sorts of athletes during their stardom and endorsements will follow them like lost puppies soon after. These men are darn near guaranteed a spot in their respective Halls of Fame. These men ooze personality and demand the attention of the media for every move they make on and off the pitch of sport they are committed to. These types of athletes will always overshadow the quiet understated demeanor of a hockey player.
Some men aren’t built for that sort of attention or don’t want it or in the case of fewer are simply overlooked.
In 1977, his first year in the OHL, he played 62 games and gathered 41 points. He was only 16. In fact he was the youngest player on that team and managed to score more points and have more ice time than over half the team that were at least 2 years older. In 78 and 79 for the Niagara Falls Flyers he played 66 and 67 games and scored 84 points and 114 points respectively. Those stats were only good enough in 1980 for a 6th round pick #120 overall.
Incidentally the draft class for 1980 included Denis Savard, Paul Coffey and Brent Sutter in the first round. In truth the way teams drafted back then were a lot different than what we might experience today. So it’s a curiosity what the knock was on him that caused teams to pass him up until the Chicago Blackhawks made the 120th choice.
In 1980 he was given a 4 game tryout that did not go his way and he was sent back to the OHL where he only scored 133 points in 61 games. In 1981 his second stint lasted only 3 games with 0 points and again he was sent down, this time to the AHL New Brunswick Hawks where he played 74 games with 82 points and 12 playoff points in 15 games.
I don’t care who you are but those are some impressive numbers and it makes one wonder what the Blackhawks organization did not see in him to let him stick around. Whatever the organizations reasoning for the roller-coaster ride they sent him on (more than likely to learn about how the professional game is played and show him some real ice time) something clicked.
He was not sent down during the 82-83 season. In fact he broke through the obstacles that held him back previously. It’s possible a coaching change by management played a huge factor in his success and stability in the lineup.
Orval Tessier who coached him in the AHL prior to his rookie season had somehow, after a less than stellar training camp, convinced the brass he should be a top line winger with Secord and Savard. That line combined for 297 points or almost 4 points a game between them.
He played a full 80 game season his rookie year and earned 90 points. By comparison Gretzky had 196 points, Savard 121 and rounding out the Top Ten list Glenn Anderson with 104 points.
In the 82 year history of the Calder Memorial trophy which honors the best rookies for the season, only 7 other proud members of the Blackhawks have earned it; Mike Karakas, Cully Dahlstrom, Ed Litzenberger, Bill Hay, Tony Esposito, Ed Belfour, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. That is pretty distinguished company for a 6th rounder who was often confused with his former junior teammate Steve Ludzik (66 games and 25 points) during his early years in Chicago. His rookie hockey card depicted Ludzik, while Ludzik’s depicted his.
He had proven himself it seemed. Finally. Yet he would continue to prove himself shift after shift, game after game by playing in 884 consecutive contests and 13 consecutive post seasons wearing a Blackhawks sweater, being a consistent 85-90 point player and earning the “Man of the year” award by The Sporting News in his only 100 point season in ’91.
There is no reason to ignore or forget a man or player like him and his contributions to the Indian Head sweater on and off the ice. Let’s make it right. Steve Larmer wore 28, lets retire 28. Steve Larmer deserves to have his # hanging from the rafters next to 1,3,9,18,21 and 35. Rocky Wirtz, Stan Bowman and John McDonough please #retire28. There is not a more deserving Blackhawk before him. 20+ years is long enough to wait for a place in those glorious rafters.
the Hall doesn’t always get things right, it’s their game and you gotta be invited to play. I’ve commented many times on Larmer being snubbed. It’s maddening and it’s wrong.
Not Retiring 28 gets me pissed even quicker . That is solely on the front office, there’s no outside influences like you see in Toronto. The team is screwing up
and looks ridiculous doing so. Retire the damn number and give Steve what he deserves AND earned. Played his ass off every night.
Steve has more class than the front office does. It’s that simple
Steve does not have the career, or even 1 season in CHI , without Orval Tessier.
Ask him about it.
Orval is another under appreciated former Hawk employee who deserved better