"Bernie Nicholls was already a productive member of the Los Angeles Kings, but when the legendary Wayne Gretzky went Hollywood, Nicholls’ statistics reached the stratosphere. With attention paid toward the other star center, Nicholls set personal records. To this day, Bernie Nicholls is one of eight players to score 70 goals in a season and one of five to have scored over 150 points in a single season. Yet even with those accomplishments, it seems that Bernie Nicholls racked up his 1,200 + career NHL points quietly. He wasn’t flashy, he wasn’t gritty and he was not the darling of any fan base or media outlet. Still, with 1,200 career points, he has earned more than a healthy look for Hall consideration."
NHL: Who is a definite Hall of Famer playing today?
- Thread starter silentkisser
- Start date
1200 points where the majority is in the 80s, is like anybody getting 850-900 points who started their career after 1995.
There were years during Nicholls career where goals per game were over 4. And post his career as low as 2.5.
Not saying that no forwards at those point levels can’t get in .. many are. But they have to something more than points. Be it on top lines on great teams, or gdefenders, or have high peak levels in shorter careers, or have award / all star history.
None of which applies to Nicholls. He is like a Bobby Smith. Nice players but not even at the low standards of the Hall.
Then again people through Bernie Federko was a hall of famer and he is no better than the other two I mentioned. and he is often also considered amongst the worst hall of gamers. So who knows maybe he should be in.
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Tavares better add a cup to his résumé if he wants a chance
I think we can all agree that the Hockey Hall's criteria is a lot looser than then Baseball Hall. I mean, there are a bunch of guys in the Hockey hall that really shouldn't be, and a few that probably should (hello Paul Henderson?). Baseball is the toughest, I think. There are a bunch of really great players who were on the outside looking in and their eligibility expired. Some are getting in thanks to the veterans committee.
Speaking of the veterans committee.........Harold Baines?
Considering that the topic of the thread is definite hall of famers playing today, Nicholls is neither definite, nor is even playing today.
Why would his name even come into this discussion? Because darts has zero concept of being on topic.
Bernie Federko was a far better hockey player than Bernie Nicholls. Federko made other people better whereas Nicholls was great only when playing with other greats. I saw both of them play in person.
Federko played in obscurity in St.Louis, on poor teams, and consequently never made many headlines.
Other members have opened the door to talking about former players who are either in or not in the HHOF..
".and every one of those players deserve it more than Guy Carbonneau."
"have guys like Carbonneau in the HoF. (I think that Gainey is more worthy than Carbonneau.)"
"but Brad Park must have been high in the voting many times".
"Who are the Clark Gillies, Kevin Lowe, and Guy Carbonneau’s"
"keep on thinking though that Steve Larmer isn't in there"
"people through Bernie Federko was a hall of famer"
"hello Paul Henderson?"
"Daniel Alfredsson's chances"
"It separates him from a Randy Carlyle"
Question: Who is the member who mentioned Brad Park who is definitely not playing to-day (at least not in the NHL).
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Bernie Federko --- Class of 2002.
Does Bernie Federko belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? – Who really belongs in the Hall of Fame? (thebackcheck.com)
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Sure ... aware of all the arguments.
But all that matters, he's in and nobody is taking him out!
If you want to argue that Federko is better than Nicholls I’ll buy the argument. That is more than fair. He was also the face of a franchise for an extended period that Bernie was not.
Not sure if you are claiming that Federko was great and did not need others to be great. I would say neither was ever great.
I don’t think either met the low threshold of the hall of fame but agreed that if I have to pick one it is certainly Federko.
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Yes baseball was certainly tougher — until the veterans committee decided to add Harold Baines a few years ago in one of the most insane hall decisions ever.
Edit — just noted above that the Oracle beat me to the punch on Harold Baines.
His last 5 years have been crazy good. First or second team all star 4 times, top 11 in MVP voting every single year:
The thing is that he is not slowing down. He has not slowed down at all at the age of 31, 32 and now at 33. He probably has at least another 3 solid years in him to get some of those counting stats up.
He is a clown prick though but that won’t keep him out.
I think over time he will eventually get in. But by that time comes we could have long forgotten this conversation.
He was never a superstar by any means but here is a few things that I think can help when he is addressed by the committee
- He was the first face of a franchise which can sometimes be something that helps when you are near that borderline.
- Drspite Leafs fans hating him he actually has a good rep in the hockey community. In his last few years he won the “Clancy” and “Messier” awards. Are those awards that mean much. Nope , but it does show the media likes him and that help when you are being discussed by the HOF committee.
- Some solid showing in the Selke . A good rep as a complete plater which helps since he did not score 500.
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His odds are about the same as Marc Bergevin getting nominated in the builders category.
