Joe Sakic played for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche(same franchise)for so many years that even though i "hated" the Avalanche(being a natural rival,of the Red Wings),i deeply respected Joe... the 1996 Stanley Cup win,over the Florida Panthers was memorable,because the last game of the series,went into three overtimes,and was,i believe,a 1-0,win,for the Avalanche... i was a Quebec Nordiques' fan,and was sad to see them leave Quebec City(they still need a top flight arena,in town),but the first year,in Denver,they won the Stanley Cup,and being a true hockey fan,i was happy,for the "Nordiques",and yet.i was sad that the Red Wings lost to them,in an upset... i watched the three overtime game,while living up in Reno,Nevada,on the couch... what a memory!!!!!! along with Peter Forsberg,he was the heart(and captain)of the Avalanche,and i loved the Avalanche/Red Wings memorable rivalry,that honestly both teams hated each other,because "you" knew,back then,that the Red Wings had to get through the Avalanche,and the Avalanche had to get through the Red Wings to have a legitimate chance at the Stanley Cup... Congrats,Joe!!!!!
Pavel Bure was known as the,"Russian Rocket",and was a delight to watch... he played,not as many games as the rest of the inductees,but he played for the Vancouver Canucks,Florida Panthers,and the New York Rangers,during his NHL career,and scored 60 goals,twice,in his 12 year career,and yet did not get along with Vancouver Canucks' front office brass(or the coach),and also played a number of years,in Moscow,with his hometown Red Army team... a assortment of injuries(including a chronic knee injury)cut short his career,and yet,on the ice he was gritty,and very skillful with the puck,and he had talents that not many NHL players ever had... on pure talent,only Wayne Gretzky was more talented,in my opinion,and that is saying something...
Mats Sundin played with three teams(Quebec Nordiques,Toronto Maple Leafs,and the Vancouver Canucks),but was best known for his years,with Toronto... when you played Toronto,you had to shut down Sundin,or he would "kill" your chances to win... he scored 564 goals,and 785 assists,for 1,349 points,in 1,346 games(a true point a game player),which is very rare,indeed... he was a hard nosed player,but had a magnificent touch around the net,and with the puck... he never won the Stanley Cup(best chance,with Toronto,1993,when Wayne Gretzky scored a hat trick,in beating Toronto,in seven games,in Western Conference finals,as the Los Angeles Kings lost to Montreal Canadiens,in five games,for the Stanley Cup),but was a bulwark,for Toronto,and was one of the best players,in the NHL,period...
Adam Oates was a pure passer,helping different players to win NHL scoring titles(Brett Hull,in St. Louis:three straight seasons of 70+ goals,including a 86 goal season(NHL record for right wingers),in 1991-1992,and Peter Bondra,in Washington)... he also helped Cam Neely score 50 goals,in 49 games,for the Boston Bruins... there are eight players to have 1,000 assists,let alone 1,000 points,in NHL history... Oates is one of that group... in the 1990's,he had more assists than anyone,except Wayne Gretzky... one of the worst trades in Red Wings' history was on the day that they traded Oates,to the St. Louis Blues(he was signed as an undrafted free agent,by the Red Wings,right out of RPI)... he literally torched the Red Wings,along with Hull,for years,and he played for seven teams(getting to two Stanley Cup Finals;1998 Florida Panthers,lost to Red Wings,in a sweep,and the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals,also losing out,this time,to the New Jersey Devils)... to all the inductees,i applaud all your careers,and you deserve the nod to the Hockey Hall of Fame...
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