Former Flyer Adam Oates was one of four players named to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Oates, who enjoyed a 19-year career, played part of the 2001-02 season with the orange and black (see story).
Joining Oates at the induction ceremony in November will be Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin and Pavel Bure. Both Sakic and Sundin were elected in their first year of eligibility.
Its tough to argue against those who were selected. All were multi-time All-Stars and premier players at their peak. But as ProHockeyTalk points out, a number of big-name players missed the cut, including Erin Lindors in his third year of eligibility.
Of the members in this years class, Lindros is most comparable to Bure, a player with a similar career path that ended early due to injury problems.
In 13 NHL seasons, seven of which were spent with the Canucks, Bure recorded 779 points437 goals and 342 assistsin 702 games. A six-time All-Star, he led the league in goals three times. He played his last game at age 32.
Lindros, a seven-time All-Star who also played 13 years, racked up 372 goals and 493 assists in 760 games. For those who dont like to do math, thats 865 pointsan average of 1.14 points per game, slightly higher than Bures 1.11.
On top of that, in 1994-95, Lindros won the Hart Trophy as the leagues most valuable player. In a lockout-shortened season, No. 88 recorded 70 points in just 46 games, leading the Flyers to their first postseason in six years.
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Thats something Bure never accomplished in his Hall of Fame career.
Postseason numbers between the pair are similar as well. Lindros had 57 points in 53 games, while Bure had 70 in 64. Neither won a Stanley Cup.
Maybe there wasnt room for Lindros this year. Four players is the maximum number allowed for one induction class.
Maybe the perception still persists that Lindros never lived up to his hypehe was tagged with the nickname The Next One and was drafted first overall in 1992.
Or maybe Lindros will just have to put in his time. Bure last played in 2002-03, while Lindros retired at age 34 after 2006-07.
Lindros may or may not be a Hall of Famer. But its tough to argue he doesnt have Hall of Fame numbers.