I think he will make it into the HOF question is how long it takes. Better question is if he deserves it, which personally I am not that sure on or lean towards no with.
I think he deserves to be in the Hall one day.
He wont get in straight away but after a few years he will.
He didnt get his due during his hayday because of playing on a horrible
Kings team and because of injuries.
But he belongs in the Hall
Carl Brewer is the only other defenseman with 4 1st or 2nd all-star selections not in the Hall. Call Blake's Norris win a joke but the truth is despite all of that he still has one 1st team all-star and three 2nd team all-stars. Plus a Cup, plus an Olympic Gold and to top it all of he was a fixture at the Olympic/World Cup teams for 10 years. Just try to remember say around 2001 when you would mention the top defensemen in the game. Lidstrom, Pronger and then..........who? Bourque maybe in his last year. After that I cant think of anyone else but Blake. And this is how it was for at least 5-6 years.
I think he deserves to be in the Hall one day.
He wont get in straight away but after a few years he will.
He didnt get his due during his hayday because of playing on a horrible
Kings team and because of injuries.
But he belongs in the Hall
He got a Norris playing for that "horrible Kings team." I'd certainly call that "getting his due."
He's definitely not first ballot, but he might get in eventually. He's the true borderline case among dmen. I wouldn't be upset either way.
Carl Brewer is the only other defenseman with 4 1st or 2nd all-star selections not in the Hall. Call Blake's Norris win a joke but the truth is despite all of that he still has one 1st team all-star and three 2nd team all-stars. Plus a Cup, plus an Olympic Gold and to top it all of he was a fixture at the Olympic/World Cup teams for 10 years. Just try to remember say around 2001 when you would mention the top defensemen in the game. Lidstrom, Pronger and then..........who? Bourque maybe in his last year. After that I cant think of anyone else but Blake. And this is how it was for at least 5-6 years.
In 2001, Stevens was also ahead of Blake (unless you just looked at stats).
In 2001, Stevens was also ahead of Blake (unless you just looked at stats).
He was a 2nd team all-star that year along with Blake. But all around I liked Blake's contribution to the Avs Cup win. That and the fact that Stevens had a good couple of years around that time (2000 with the Smythe and 2001) but wasnt among the best for the same time frame that Blake was
Played in 7 all-star games
Nominated to 1st and 2nd NHL all-star team 4 times
Norris Trophy
Stanley Cup
Olympic Gold
777 points in 1270 NHL games with 1680 career PIMS
145 playoff games
Yes, not on the first ballot but I think he gets in on the 2nd ballot.
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
Played in 7 all-star games
Nominated to 1st and 2nd NHL all-star team 4 times
Norris Trophy
Stanley Cup
Olympic Gold
777 points in 1270 NHL games with 1680 career PIMS
145 playoff games
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