Newsworthy – 2012 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions

2000-01 UD – Mats Sundin

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee – Joe Sakic

1992-93 O-Pee-Chee – Pavel Bure

1990-91 Pro Set – Adam Oates

Sure signs I’m officially old:

Item #1: I’m experiencing my third NHL lockout as a fan.  This one is just so ridiculous, it’s laughable.  I feel bad for kids who just want to watch hockey.  I was a kid in 1994-95 and it was awful.

Item #2. These four guys are in the Hockey Hall of Fame now.  Congratulations and thanks for all the great years to Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, and especially to Mats Sundin.  Mats, you deserved better.

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Newsworthy – 2011 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions

1992-93 O-Pee-Chee - Ed Belfour

1994-95 Parkhurst Vintage - Doug Gilmour

1990-91 Pro Set - Mark Howe

1992-93 Upper Deck - Joe Nieuwendyk

Congratulations to Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe, and Joe Nieuwendyk on their induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame tonight.  Rumour has it Belfour was even wearing a tie, which he didn’t do at the Hall of Fame Game in Toronto on Saturday, a move that I respect the hell out of.

Now, quick, one-line memories of each of these four guys:

Mark Howe – Once wore his entire name on the back of his jersey when he played with these two guys, and also wore Cooperalls in the National Hockey League.

Ed Belfour – was “washed up” when he came to Toronto in Curtis Joseph’s shadow and then just absolutely ran the show – and some would say the city – for the Leafs for two years.

Joe Niewendyk – Game Seven, Patrick Lalime.  That is all.

Doug Gilmour – I simply cannot say it as well as this YouTube video which I have forced upon you at least once in a previous post, will surely again sometime.  Enjoy.

Congrats especially to 93.

Too Cool for Cardboard – Doug Gilmour

1992-93 Upper Deck - Doug Gilmour

A couple of days ago, Doug Gilmour, along with Ed Belfour, Joe Nieuwendyk, and Mark Howe, were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Leaf fans who watched him at his best know that he is fully deserving of the honour.

Doug Gilmour was the man – a legend among mere mortals, if you want to be more specific – in Toronto after he arrived from Calgary in January 1992.  1992-93 and 1993-94 were Gilmour’s best, and he was one of the top players in the league night after night, as well as deep into the playoffs those two years with the Leafs.

The card above, issued by Upper Deck in 1992-93, showed the world just how cool Dougie was, even before he really peaked.  Looking back though, you had to know that he’d end up in the Hall of Fame eventually.  I mean, look at that blend of cool and tough.  The leather jacket.  The jeans.  The biker t-shirts.  Unbelievable.  You know there’s a 6-pack of Molson product around there somewhere.

Congrats Dougie, and thanks for all the great years.

UPDATE: WATCH THIS VIDEO