1) At first glance the title sounds absolutely ridiculous, but its exactly what several of our sources have related to us independantly. To those not sure what we're getting at earlier today the NHL released this years group of Hall of Fame selections to be enshrined in the fall in Toronto. The list includes very worthy selections such as no-brainers Joe Sacik and Mats Sundin. Pavel Bure, Adam Oats certainly are not unworthy, but the glaring ommission of a 600 goal scorer? Brendan Shanahan, who helped the Wings win three Stanley Cup championships, however, was not picked in his first year of eligibility.Shanahan is only player in NHL history to eclipse 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. Shanahan scored 658 goals and 1,354 points in a 21-season career spent with the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers and Wings. He won Stanley Cups with the Wings in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
2) Almost everyone prior to the selections being announced universally expected he and Sakic to get in on their first tries. Sakic was a admitted but Shanny was ommited, but why?? When we first heard about it we were shocked as well so we did some digging and what we heard shocked us. Apparently the NHL asked Shanny to "take one for the team" so to speak here. Evidently Gary Bettman approached Brendan a few months ago asking him to be the face of the league when the CBA negotiations start to get contentious. Instead of Bettman who has huge negatives within the public, Shanahan is generally well regarded among the fans and his peers. The decision to "snub" him was known to Shanahan ofcourse and the reason we are hearing is that Bettman and the owners figured that they didn't want their front man to be getting Hall of Fame induction at a time when the seaason may be in the balence (next fall). Sounded convoluted and dumb to us as well, but multiple sources told us the same story and that combined with the inanity of one of the best players of his generation being overalooked we flt we had to share what we heard. Perhaps the truth will come out in time.
As always, keep it here for all the latest
1 comment:
1)Interesting development FR2. We don't dispute your usually accurate sources, but this is amazing that the NHL would ask and Shanahan himself would allow himself to be "snubbed" for this purpose
2) That certainly doesn't bode well for there being a season 2012-2-13!
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