The Hall of Fame Weekend

Well, it's here and gone. The Hall of Fame Weekend. This was the second time the Leafs played in the Hall of Fame Game, though maybe the first annual one. (Even the Leafs forgot that when Mario Lemieux was inducted, the Penguins played the Leafs that weekend to honour the Magnificent One).

It would be a real kick in the butt for Toronto if Kerry Fraser inducted Wayne Gretzky just around the corner from where Fraser handed him his last Conference Championship and last trip to the Cup finals.

But it's also a time to celebrate. We must celebrate the wonderful careers of Andy van Hellemond and Scotty Morrison. Ironically it was Morrison who van Hellemond had to beg to allow him to ref in the NHL.

But most of all, we are left to wonder. We look at today's game, and wonder who will grace the Hall with their presence in the future? With the dillusion of talent in today's game, will we be seeing some players get in who wouldn't even come close to the likes of Richard, Howe and Orr? I'm sure guys like Kariya, Lindros, Selanne and Jagr will get in, but how about players like Primeau, Yashin, Fleury and Tkachuk who are just okay players who think they're more? Would you really want to see a guy like Yashin in the Hall? How about Marshall Johnston as a Builder?

Will Don Cherry ever be in the Hall as a Builder, or even a Broadcaster? He sure deserves it. He is a crusader of the game, trying to save it (well except for junior hockey. He's trying to kill that). Will Alan Eagleson ever get allowed back in?

Will superstars like Jagr, Lindros, Hasek or Kariya get the 3-year waiting period waived when their careers end? We'll see how they unfold, but they are coming along greatly. Are Sheldon Kennedy or Steve Chiasson going to get in as sentimental picks? Okay, those guys are easy nos, just like Prince Charles getting bypassed for William to become King. It should be interesting to see, in the age of all this media, whether the public is going to dictate who gets into the Hall. Hockey's Hall people are actually pretty sensible, so I know our Hall is in good hands.

But, if Gretzky's getting in, shouldn't Kurri be inducted with him? Apparently, the Hall people really aren't sentimental. In fact, will Kurri ever get in? How about Ciccarelli, whose whole career was spent in front of the other team's net, as most people would say, goal-sucking. Standing there waiting for deflections and rebounds. Hey, I'm like him. We're both lazy players. I, on the other hand, never bought out an OHL team, threw the season, and moved the team to Sarnia.

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