Most people know that Edmonton Oilers superstar Glenn Anderson is a Hockey Hall of Famer. But did you know before he began his NHL career he was an Olympian in 1980? And did you know he tried to return to the Olympics in 1994, but was roadblocked in controversy? Anderson, of course, was one of the all time great clutch scorers and big part of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty in the 1980s. His speed was second to none, as he showed in Canada Cup tournaments against the mighty Soviets. And the bigger the game meant the better Anderson would play. But before pretty much everybody knew who Glenn Anderson was, he was a relatively anonymous player with the Canadian Olympic team in 1980 at Lake Placid.
In an era with no NHLers at the Olympics and just a bunch of seemingly nobodies representing Canada, Anderson dreamed of being a nobody.
"I was never interested in the NHL. I'd lie in bed and dream about playing in the Olympics."
Though Anderson's destiny was NHL greatness, he always yearned for the international game. His stint with the Canadian national team in the 1979-80 season after dropping out of the University of Denver was key to all of this. He got to travel through Europe and parts of Asia. He discovered he loved to travel and experience new cultures.
"I see all of this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons. The more knowledge I can gain about the world, the better. You can't put a price tag on that. Life is really short. You should experience it to its fullest."
Anderson was lured to the Canadian national team partly because childhood friend Ken Berry was there. They were part of a tight-knit group of Vancouver kids that included Michael J. Fox. The other influence was Marshall Johnston, the 1960s regular on the Canadian national and Olympic teams was Anderson's coach at the University of Denver. Anderson had a strong showing in the Olympics, though statistically he was not one of Canada's leaders. Yet he was described as "Canada's heart and soul," and played with obvious passion for the cause. Canada finished a disappointing sixth. "God, I cried for two hours straight after we lost (6-4) to the Russians," Anderson says. "We were winning going into the third period." Anderson opted to sign with the Oilers the next season, though he was really torn about returning to school. His Hall of Fame resume suggests he made a wise move. Anderson attempted to return to the Olympics in 1994. He began the NHL season by signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs with a handshake agreement with general manager Cliff Fletcher that Anderson would be loaned to the Canadian Olympic team at the appropriate time. Fletcher was good to his word, but neither side quite understood the rules. In order for Anderson to be released for the Olympic games, he would have had to clear NHL waivers - something that clearly would not have happened. Fletcher and the Leafs petitioned to have a special exemption in this case, but reportedly two American owners refused to grant it, mostly to hurt Canada's Olympic chances. The Canadian government even got involved with Liberal Member of Parliament John Nunziata meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, but nothing could be arrange. Anderson was not able to compete in the 1994 Olympics.
"There's this unfulfilled self-imagery," he explains. "Fourteen years ago, I thought we'd do better. But the success that I expected was not there."
Instead, the Leafs traded Anderson to the New York Rangers where he was reunited with several ex-Oilers teammates including Mark Messier. Together they won another Stanley Cup.
For the most part that was the end of the road for Anderson. He did reappear in the NHL with St. Louis and even Edmonton a couple of years later, but he was off to play for the Canadian national team for parts of two seasons now that he was able to do that. He also briefly played for club teams in Germany and Switzerland.
``It's giving me a chance to travel the world, see how different societies live,'' said Anderson. ``The heart and desire with which the kids play has inspired me, given me a second wind.
With blazing speed Glenn Anderson became a dangerous clutch goal scorer playing on Mark Messier's right wing with the Edmonton Oilers and later the New York Rangers. He also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues.
Anderson was a big part of the Oilers dynasty during the 1980’s, collecting five Stanley Cup rings. He picked up a 6th ring while playing with Messier and the New York Rangers in 1994. Glenn scored a career total of 498 goals, just falling shy of the magical 500 mark. "Andy" also added 601 career assists for 1099 points in 1129 games. Included in his totals were two 54 goal seasons and 3 100 point seasons.
Anderson was a skating contradiction. He played with reckless abandon, fearlessly crashing the net, doing whatever it took to score a goal. Yet at the same time there were periods of time where he was criticized for being lazy and uninterested. His mind would drift during regular season games, but he was all business come the playoffs. In addition to his 6 Cup rings, Anderson scored 93 career playoff goals (5th best in NHL history), 121 assists for 214 points (4th best in NHL history) in 225 playoff contests. Seventeen of his playoff goals were game winners.
Glenn briefly played Major Junior Hockey in the WHL, and spent a year with the University of Denver of the WCHA. But most of his pre-NHL training came with the Canadian National Team in 1979-80. Like most players on the national team the youngster with speed to burn was a little known prospect at that point. The team however did feature future NHL standouts Paul MacLean and Randy Gregg, as well as serviceable future pros Tim Watters, Jim Nill and Kevin Primeau.
Long before NHLers participated in the Olympics, the national team of prospects represented Canada's hopes against the "amateur" powers such as the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Canada played well in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, and with a little more puck luck could have staged their own Miracle on Ice. Unfortunately the record book's 6th place finish does not adequately reflect that. Anderson scored 2 goals and 4 points in thattourney.
Anderson made his NHL debut the following season and instantly drew two comparisons to big name celebrities. One was Guy Lafleur. A early newspaper report had a Oilers scout quoted as comparing Anderson to the most electrifying player in hockey at that time, although the Oilers management was quick to dismiss the comments as they didn't want to place extra pressure on the youngster. They insisted the comment referred to his skating ability.
Anderson also had an uncanny resemblance to popular Hollywood comedian Robin Williams. His teammates called him 'Mork' after the famous Williams TV character. However Anderson hated that nickname and grew a beard to shed himself of the resemblance.
Number Nine let his play do the speaking as his rookie season rolled on. He excelled and finished the year scoring 30 goals in just 58 games. The Hockey News named him as the player of the week late in the season, and his teammates stopped calling him Mork and just called him Andy.
Tim Burke of the Montreal Gazette became a big fan of Anderson's and even published an article comparing him to Rocket Richard. As if Guy Lafleur skating comparisons weren't tough enough, even being mentioned in the same breath of Rocket Richard is quite numbing.
While no one has or likely ever will come close to being what Rocket Richard was, the comparison had good merit in that Anderson would be a poor man's Richard. Anderson was a great player from the blueline in. He had a flare for scoring exciting and big goals and was at his best in big games, especially the playoffs. He played a similarly reckless style - yet no one can be compared to Richard.
Glenn took his fine rookie season to the next level in the following years. He scored a career high 105 points (38 goals and 67 assists) in 1981-82. He nearly equaled that in 1982-83 when scored 48 times and had 104 points. He also was a strong part of the Oilers fantastic first run at the Stanley Cup - scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 18 games while falling just short to the New York Islanders.
Glenn just missed the 100 point level in 1983-84 when he scored 99 points but he did set a career high with 54 goals. That spring the Oilers captured their first Stanley Cup. Anderson played a nice role in that victory - scoring 6 goals and 17 points in 19 games.
After a strong showing in the 1984 Canada Cup, Anderson got off to a slow start in the 1984-85 season. He finished the season strong but by season's end his scoring totals slipped to 81 points (including 42 goals) in 80 games. He had perhaps his strongest playoff in the spring of 1985 - scoring 10 goals, 16 assists and 26 points in 18 games as the Oilers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.
Anderson, who was best known as Mark Messier's right winger although he spent a lot of time in his early career on the left side as well, missed 8 games in the 1985-86 but he equaled his career high 54 goals and added 48 assists for 102 points. However his Oilers stumbled in the playoffs and were out in just 10 games. Andy had 8 goals in those 10 contests!
Anderson scored 35 and 38 goals in the following two years, both of which saw the Oilers win the Cup. However in 1988-89 - the first year without Wayne Gretzky - Anderson fell to just 16 goals and 64 points. It was an unusual blip for Anderson, who continued to play with his usual linemate Mark Messier.
Anderson returned to his usual form in 1989-90 - scoring 34 times and collecting 72 points. The Oilers went on a bit of an unexpected playoff run and won the Stanley Cup for the 5th time in 7 years. Anderson played a big role - scoring 10 goals and 22 points in the 22 post season games.
Anderson spent 12 years for the Oilers before he was traded with star goaltender Grant Fuhr (and Craig Berube) to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Vinnie Damphousse, Peter Ing, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson and cash. The Oilers were being forced to dismantle as economic woes hit them hard. Toronto's new GM Cliff Fletcher wanted Anderson for his veteran leadership and playoff savvy.
Anderson's scoring tailed off once he left Edmonton. He only cracked the 20 goal level once and often spent more time in Europe or with the Canadian National Team than in the NHL.
Late in 1994 he was traded to the New York for Mike Gartner. Andy played thirty-five games as a Ranger and went on to win a Stanley Cup with them.
After playing with the Canadian Nats and teams in Germany and Finland, Glenn spent a brief time in St. Louis in 1995, before he left to play in Germany.
He wanted to finish his career with the Vancouver Canucks, who were a strong contender and also Glenn's hometown. The Canucks signed him but first he had to pass through waivers. Glen Sather upset Canucks boss Pat Quinn by taking Anderson. Rumors persisted that Sather was returning a jab at Quinn who earlier in the decade snapped up the Oiler's Randy Gregg from waivers. Anderson reluctantly returned where he played 17 games in his second Oiler stint where he was then put back on waivers and claimed by the St Louis Blues.
Anderson had always expressed an interest in playing hockey in Europe, which is where he returned to in 1996-97 for one final season of hockey. Anderson's speed was a big asset for various Team Canada squads in International events. Anderson participated in the 1980 Olympics before joining the NHL. He also participated in 2 Canada Cup tournaments, 2 World Championships, and Rendez Vous '87. He had once stated he would like to have played in the Soviet Elite Leagues.
Glenn Anderson was a very nice player on a very strong team. In some ways that helped his status in the hockey world, but in other ways it kept him in the shadows and from greater individual acclaim.
After waiting several seasons, Anderson was finally rightfully inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008, although his former Oilers co-horts couldn't understand why he was not inducted earlier.
"I don't even think there should be a debate about him," said Glen Sather, the Oilers architect.
"I was there for most of his accomplishments and he's achieved many more huge results than guys that are in the Hall. It kind of astounds me that every time I've seen his name mentioned that he hasn't been one of the guys who have been elected automatically."
"He was the kind of player who, the bigger the game, the better he performed. Just based on his credentials in the playoffs alone I think he's a guy who really qualifies."
Former teammate Kevin Lowe was also critical that Anderson did not share a place in the hallowed hall along side Wayne Gretzky, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier much sooner.
"Those five guys, to a man, would say it's ridiculous that Anderson is not in the Hall because they all view him on the same level as themselves," said Lowe. " When I sat in that dressing room with all those great players, when I looked around the room and we were in a big game, the one guy I thought would score the big goal was Anderson, and to his credit he did.
"Maybe, to his fault, a lot of the lesser games were less important to him. He would have scored 600 goals had they been. But anyone who has won championships recognized that Anderson was one of those big-game players. He has all the stats to support it."
He is a 6 time Stanley Cup champion. He is the 4th highest scorer in NHL playoff history, with 93 goals, 121 assists and 214 points. He was a true clutch scorer, scoring 5 sudden death overtime goals. Who is he? Hockey Hall of FamerGlenn Anderson, today's Stanley Cup Playoff Legend.
He is a 6 time Stanley Cup champion. He is the 4th highest scorer in NHL playoff history, with 93 goals, 121 assists and 214 points. He was a true clutch scorer, scoring 5 sudden death overtime goals. Who is he? Hockey Hall of FamerGlenn Anderson, today's Stanley Cup Playoff Legend.
He is a 6 time Stanley Cup champion. He is the 4th highest scorer in NHL playoff history, with 93 goals, 121 assists and 214 points. He was a true clutch scorer, scoring 5 sudden death overtime goals. And at long last we can now recognize him as a chartered member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
You can watch the events live on the NHL Network (Canada and US) at 7:30 PM EST or on tape delay on TSN (Canada) at 9:30 PM PST. Rebroadcasts on TSN and ESPN Classic are scheduled throughout the week.
With blazing speed Glenn Anderson became a dangerous clutch goal scorer playing on Mark Messier's right wing with the Edmonton Oilers and later the New York Rangers. He also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues.
Anderson was a big part of the Oilers dynasty during the 1980’s, collecting five Stanley Cup rings. He picked up a 6th ring while playing with Messier and the New York Rangers in 1994. Glenn scored a career total of 498 goals, just falling shy of the magical 500 mark. "Andy" also added 601 career assists for 1099 points in 1129 games. Included in his totals were two 54 goal seasons and 3 100 point seasons.
Anderson was a skating contradiction. He played with reckless abandon, fearlessly crashing the net, doing whatever it took to score a goal. Yet at the same time there were periods of time where he was criticized for being lazy and uninterested. His mind would drift during regular season games, but he was all business come the playoffs. In addition to his 6 Cup rings, Anderson scored 93 career playoff goals (5th best in NHL history), 121 assists for 214 points (4th best in NHL history) in 225 playoff contests. Seventeen of his playoff goals were game winners.
Glenn briefly played Major Junior Hockey in the WHL, and spent a year with the University of Denver of the WCHA. But most of his pre-NHL training came with the Canadian National Team in 1979-80. Like most players on the national team the youngster with speed to burn was a little known prospect at that point. The team however did feature future NHL standouts Paul MacLean and Randy Gregg, as well as serviceable future pros Tim Watters, Jim Nill and Kevin Primeau.
Long before NHLers participated in the Olympics, the national team of prospects represented Canada's hopes against the "amateur" powers such as the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Canada played well in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, and with a little more puck luck could have staged their own Miracle on Ice. Unfortunately the record book's 6th place finish does not adequately reflect that. Anderson scored 2 goals and 4 points in thattourney.
Anderson made his NHL debut the following season and instantly drew two comparisons to big name celebrities. One was Guy Lafleur. A early newspaper report had a Oilers scout quoted as comparing Anderson to the most electrifying player in hockey at that time, although the Oilers management was quick to dismiss the comments as they didn't want to place extra pressure on the youngster. They insisted the comment referred to his skating ability.
Anderson also had an uncanny resemblance to popular Hollywood comedian Robin Williams. His teammates called him 'Mork' after the famous Williams TV character. However Anderson hated that nickname and grew a beard to shed himself of the resemblance.
Number Nine let his play do the speaking as his rookie season rolled on. He excelled and finished the year scoring 30 goals in just 58 games. The Hockey News named him as the player of the week late in the season, and his teammates stopped calling him Mork and just called him Andy.
Tim Burke of the Montreal Gazette became a big fan of Anderson's and even published an article comparing him to Rocket Richard. As if Guy Lafleur skating comparisons weren't tough enough, even being mentioned in the same breath of Rocket Richard is quite numbing.
While no one has or likely ever will come close to being what Rocket Richard was, the comparison had good merit in that Anderson would be a poor man's Richard. Anderson was a great player from the blueline in. He had a flare for scoring exciting and big goals and was at his best in big games, especially the playoffs. He played a similarly reckless style - yet no one can be compared to Richard.
Glenn took his fine rookie season to the next level in the following years. He scored a career high 105 points (38 goals and 67 assists) in 1981-82. He nearly equaled that in 1982-83 when scored 48 times and had 104 points. He also was a strong part of the Oilers fantastic first run at the Stanley Cup - scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 18 games while falling just short to the New York Islanders.
Glenn just missed the 100 point level in 1983-84 when he scored 99 points but he did set a career high with 54 goals. That spring the Oilers captured their first Stanley Cup. Anderson played a nice role in that victory - scoring 6 goals and 17 points in 19 games.
After a strong showing in the 1984 Canada Cup, Anderson got off to a slow start in the 1984-85 season. He finished the season strong but by season's end his scoring totals slipped to 81 points (including 42 goals) in 80 games. He had perhaps his strongest playoff in the spring of 1985 - scoring 10 goals, 16 assists and 26 points in 18 games as the Oilers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.
Anderson, who was best known as Mark Messier's right winger although he spent a lot of time in his early career on the left side as well, missed 8 games in the 1985-86 but he equaled his career high 54 goals and added 48 assists for 102 points. However his Oilers stumbled in the playoffs and were out in just 10 games. Andy had 8 goals in those 10 contests!
Anderson scored 35 and 38 goals in the following two years, both of which saw the Oilers win the Cup. However in 1988-89 - the first year without Wayne Gretzky - Anderson fell to just 16 goals and 64 points. It was an unusual blip for Anderson, who continued to play with his usual linemate Mark Messier.
Anderson returned to his usual form in 1989-90 - scoring 34 times and collecting 72 points. The Oilers went on a bit of an unexpected playoff run and won the Stanley Cup for the 5th time in 7 years. Anderson played a big role - scoring 10 goals and 22 points in the 22 post season games.
Anderson spent 12 years for the Oilers before he was traded with star goaltender Grant Fuhr (and Craig Berube) to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Vinnie Damphousse, Peter Ing, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson and cash. The Oilers were being forced to dismantle as economic woes hit them hard. Toronto's new GM Cliff Fletcher wanted Anderson for his veteran leadership and playoff savvy.
Anderson's scoring tailed off once he left Edmonton. He only cracked the 20 goal level once and often spent more time in Europe or with the Canadian National Team than in the NHL. Late in 1994 he was traded to the New York for Mike Gartner. Andy played thirty-five games as a Ranger and went on to win a Stanley Cup with them. After playing with the Canadian Nats and teams in Germany and Finland, Glenn spent a brief time in St. Louis in 1995, before he left to play in Germany. He wanted to finish his career with the Vancouver Canucks, who were a strong contender and also Glenn's hometown. The Canucks signed him but first he had to pass through waivers. Glen Sather upset Canucks boss Pat Quinn by taking Anderson. Rumors persisted that Sather was returning a jab at Quinn who earlier in the decade snapped up the Oiler's Randy Gregg from waivers. Anderson reluctantly returned where he played 17 games in his second Oiler stint where he was then put back on waivers and claimed by the St Louis Blues.
Anderson had always expressed an interest in playing hockey in Europe, which is where he returned to in 1996-97 for one final season of hockey. Anderson's speed was a big asset for various Team Canada squads in International events. Anderson participated in the 1980 Olympics before joining the NHL. He also participated in 2 Canada Cup tournaments, 2 World Championships, and Rendez Vous '87. He had once stated he would like to have played in the Soviet Elite Leagues.
Glenn Anderson was a very nice player on a very strong team. In some ways that helped his status in the hockey world, but in other ways it kept him in the shadows and from greater individual acclaim.
After waiting several seasons, Anderson was finally rightfully inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008, although his former Oilers co-horts couldn't understand why he was not inducted earlier.
"I don't even think there should be a debate about him," said Glen Sather, the Oilers architect.
"I was there for most of his accomplishments and he's achieved many more huge results than guys that are in the Hall. It kind of astounds me that every time I've seen his name mentioned that he hasn't been one of the guys who have been elected automatically."
"He was the kind of player who, the bigger the game, the better he performed. Just based on his credentials in the playoffs alone I think he's a guy who really qualifies."
Former teammate Kevin Lowe was also critical that Anderson did not sharea place in the hallowed hall along side Wayne Gretzky, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier much sooner.
"Those five guys, to a man, would say it's ridiculous that Anderson is not in the Hall because they all view him on the same level as themselves," said Lowe. " When I sat in that dressing room with all those great players, when I looked around the room and we were in a big game, the one guy I thought would score the big goal was Anderson, and to his credit he did.
"Maybe, to his fault, a lot of the lesser games were less important to him. He would have scored 600 goals had they been. But anyone who has won championships recognized that Anderson was one of those big-game players. He has all the stats to support it."
The Hockey Hall of Fame will be welcoming players Igor Larionov and Glenn Anderson as well as builder Ed Chynoweth and referee/linesman Ray Scapinello.
''The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these four hockey legends as Honoured Members,'' said Jim Gregory of the Hockey Hall of Fame. ''Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved.''
Igor Larionov was a no-brainer, and as far as I'm concerned he should have been in last year's class ahead of everyone but Mark Messier. He truly was 'The Professor,' one of the most intellectual players in the history of the sport. He is an absolute legend in Russia and Europe, transcending the game in his fight for perestroika freedoms. All of today's young Russian superstars - Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk etc - consider Larionov as a role model.
"It's very touching to know that I will be celebrating one of the top accomplishments in my hockey career by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. So many great players from the 1900s to the current day are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. This truly is a great honour."
It was interesting to listen to TSN/NBC analyst Pierre McGuire discuss Anderson's inclusion on Team 1040 radio in Vancouver. McGuire said it was no easy feat to get Anderson in this year either, suggesting two selection committee members worked long and hard to garner support.
"It's a great phone call to receive from Jim Gregory," said Anderson. "It is an honour to go in and join many of my Edmonton Oilers' teammates, I know they have been very supportive, which means a lot."
Passing On Oates, Others - I'm a bit surprised only two players were inducted today. On one hand I'm pleasantly surprised, on the other hand I'm disappointed.
Today was a rare chance to clear the docket a bit. Apparently the line has been drawn on guys like Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour, Dino Ciccarelli and Pavel Bure, at least for the next few years. I would have thought consensus would have at least one of these guys met the Hall's weak recent drawing-line of guys like Bernie Federko and Clark Gillies.
I say a few years because there probably will not be a lot of debate about the Hockey Hall of Fame induction class of 2009. First time eligible players will include four shoo-ins: Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, and Brian Leetch. Eric Lindros and Joe Nieuwendyk are due up in 2010. And, if they retire this summer, Scott Niedermayer, Peter Forsberg, Teemu Selanne and Dominik Hasek are the likely class of 2011.
It looks like the only way players like Oates, Ciccarelli, Bure and Gilmour will get in the Hall in the next few years is if they purchase a ticket like the rest of us.
Tough To Get 75% Of The Vote - In order to get induction into the Hall, potential inductees must achieve 75% of the votes by the 18 member selection committee.
It was surprisingly hard to lobby enough votes for some inductees. Some worthy candidates had to wait a few extra years. Others never made it.
The WWHHOF debate was and remains completely open to the public, with debates archived, and visible voting results. The Hall in Toronto offers no accountability no such transparency, so we don't know who were and how many candidates were eligible for the final votes. But I can assure you they, like us, suffered from political voting. Some committee members would rather waste their vote on a player they know does not have a chance to earn induction rather than give it to a more deserving guy who is on the bubble. Either that or the votes were split so that several deserving players were close but not close enough when the votes were tallied.
And I think that's what happened today. Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour, Dino Ciccarelli and Pavel Bure all have the credentials to meet the Toronto Hall's low standards. But they are also bubble players because of various drawbacks and warts.
I suspect all four of these players will get in one day, but not any time soon. Just like Glenn Anderson.
Enough about who did not get in though. This day belongs to those who did. GreatestHockeyLegends.com congratulates Igor Larionov, Glenn Anderson, Ray Scapinello and the family of the late Ed Chynoweth.
"Completely baffles me why Glennie's not in by now ... nobody scored bigger goals for us than he did in the playoffs," said Grant Fuhr in an interview with Edmonton Journal's Jim Mathieson. Anderson had 73 game-winners in the regular season, an Oilers record, and 12 more in the playoffs.
Linemate Mark Messier made a plea for Andy's inclusion last year when #11 was inducted.
"He's an obvious choice . . . other guys are deserving, too, but his numbers, coupled with everything else should get him in."
In the regular season he had 498 regular-season goals and 1,099 points, but it was in the playoffs where Andy made his mark. Anderson won six Stanley Cups, including all five in Edmonton. His career 214 playoff points trail only Gretzky, Messier and Kurri in NHL history.
Anderson has been eligible for debate since 1999 but has always been overlooked. This year marks his best chance, as there are no first time eligible players entering debate, thanks to the NHL lockout. The general rule of thumb is the first year players get the most consideration. The more time passes by, the less likely you will get into the Hall.
Successful candidates must get votes from at least 13 of the 17 voting members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. A maximum of four players may be inducted in one year.
Messier took the opportunity to campaign for his long time running mate.
"Glenn is an obvious choice," Messier said. "There are other guys who are also deserving, but Glenn's numbers, coupled with everything else, should get him in."
Messier isn't the only former Oiler who believes "Andy" deserves enshrinement. Almost every Oiler to a man has said so, including Gretzky, Coffey and Kevin Lowe.
"It's silly not to have Glenn in the Hall of Fame with the rest of these guys. I can't understand how it hasn't happened," said Glen Sather.
Anderson has been eligible for the Hall since the turn of the century. In only two years, 2001 and 2007, the Hall inducted the full allotment of 4 players. They had room to include Anderson if they wanted to, but chose the likes of Bernie Federko, Clark Gillies, and Dick Duff instead.
Why? That's a good question. He was just shy of 500 goals, but that can't be it. His character off the ice has been called into question, particularly involving a bitter and public child support legal case he had in 2002. If that's the case, the Hall may have wanted to wait until that has disappeared from memories.
Or how about this: Conventional wisdom suggests he was overshadowed by his Oilers teammates, but I almost wonder if the hall is afraid of inducting too many Oilers. I think there is a danger there, but the cut off probably should be after Anderson. He was too big of a player in too many big games. He should be let in, but not Kevin Lowe or Andy Moog or other Oilers heroes.
Whatever the case may have been in the past, now Anderson is stuck in a log jam of superstars eligible for retirement. We can probably expect 4 enshrinements each season for the foreseeable future, but that doesn't guarantee Anderson a spot either.
Anderson's best chance will be in 2008. Thanks to the lost season due to the 2004-05 lockout season, the class of eligibility for 2008 will be made up mostly of previously passed over retired greats. Anderson will be up against Adam Oates, Igor Larionov, Pavel Bure, Dino Ciccarelli, Doug Gilmour, Mike Richter, Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon. Others will champion for longer overlooked stars like Steve Larmer, Mark Howe, maybe even Phil Housley or Claude Lemieux. And of course I will call (again) for Sergei Makarov's inclusion. Larionov and Makarov together joining the Hall where Vladislav Tretiak and Viacheslav Fetisov already reside works out really nicely. And the Hall's selection committee recently expanded its European voice by including Jan-Ake Edvinsson and Peter Stastny.
2009 will be a tough year for any of these bubble players to get in. Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Luc Robitaille all become eligible, and are almost certainly all guaranteed first year enshrinement.
2010 also looks to be a banner crop. Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros, Pierre Turgeon, Peter Bondra and, depending on their decisions to return this year, Peter Forsberg, Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne will all possibly be eligible.
If Anderson or any of these bubble players is going to get in to the Hall of Fame, it's going happen in 2008 or not for a very long time. The good news is the Hall likely will realize this incredible logjam, and will look to make room in 2008. The players who don't get in then, may never do so.
He is a 6 time Stanley Cup champion. He is the 4th highest scorer in NHL playoff history, with 93 goals, 121 assists and 214 points. He was a true clutch scorer, scoring 5 sudden death overtime goals. Yet he is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
