With the retirement of Eric Lindros has come a debate around whether or not he deserves to be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  The fact that there’s a debate about this makes the answer clear–Eric Lindros is not a Hall of Famer.

For someone to get into the Hall of Fame there should be no debate about it.  Scott Niedermayer?  Hall of Famer–no question.  Joe Sakic?  Hall of Famer–easy.  Eric Lindros?  Not so easy.  That’s precisely why he shouldn’t get in.  That’s not to say that Lindros was not a very good hockey player.  A Hart trophy, Olympic gold and silver medals, 372 goals and 865 points are proof that he was.  This is the Hall of Fame we’re talking about, though…not the Hall of Very Good.  Judging by how “welcoming” the Hall’s selection committee has been recently they might as well go ahead and change the name.

When I’m the NHL Commissioner (and it’s only a matter of time), the Hall of Fame will again replace the current Hall of Very Good.  It’s time to toughen up the standards for getting into the Hall.  With all due respect, “borderline” greats like Clark Gillies, Bernie Federko and Dick Duff getting inducted makes the honour less than it should be.  Look at it this way–if you were an actor that won a lifetime achievement award ou would be thrilled, until you realed that Brendan Fraser and Pauly Shore received the same honour.  Kind of takes the fizz out of the champagne, doesn’t it?  Currently, players must be selected to the Hall by 15 ouf of 18 members of the selection committee.  I think players should be selected unanimously.  A true legend of the game transcends debate.  It should be a no-brainer.

I also don’t understand how someone can be denied entry one year and then voted in another year.  That would mean that at least one member of the selection committee changed his mind on a player and now thinks he should be inducted.  Why?  What’s changed?  The Canadian dollar’s value can change from year to year, a retired player’s numbers cannot.  A player’s mark on the game does not typically change the longer they’re retired.  Why the change of heart among the committee members?

There have been too many “iffy” Hall of Fame selections in recent years.  All this does is water down the honour for those who are truly worthy.  We ned to toughen the Hall’s entry standards and make sure only the true legends of the game are enshrined.  It’s time to take the current Hall of Very Good and change it back to the Hall of Fame.

Eric Lindros was a very good hockey player.  When you think of him, however, do you think “hockey legend & one of the all time greats” or is it “good player, good career, but he never really lived up to the hype”?  If you’re like me it’s the latter of the two.  If you have to wonder whether or not he should be in the Hall, he shouldn’t be.  If he does go in, however, he should wear the jersey of the team he helped the most during his career.  Quebec Nordique fans would be proud.