Is Big Buff a HOFer if he never plays another game?

[The Guvnah]

My initial thought is no.

Career numbers: 869 GP, 177 G, 348 A, 525 PTS, 1094 PIM... five 50 point seasons and two 20 goal seasons as a D-man. Cup winner.

Not earth-shattering numbers but not bad either. I start to argue with myself a little bit though.

Buff has been one of the most dominant players in the game from a physical standpoint. He reminds me a bit of a D-man version of Eric Lindros. Very few players have been able to put together the physical gifts with the high end skill the way he has. His performance during Chicago's Cup run in 2010 was nothing short of legendary. He then blossomed into a true #1 D in Winnipeg and laid hits and put up points like few could outside of those named Chelios or Stevens. What do you think?

[MZac]

Without putting a ton of thought into it I think yes. The cup is there. PPG as a d man of his era is there. The intangible ability to dominate the game physically is there. He's a likeable character which shouldn't play a role but it can when it comes to voting. I like his chances.

[Rylant]

He is going to have a tough time getting the votes. Since 2000, these are the defencemen that have been inducted. Fetisov, Languay, Bourque, Coffey, Murphy, MacInnis, Stevens, Leetch, Mark Howe, Chelios, Niedermayer, Blake, Housley, Lidstrom, Pronger, and Zubov. I just don’t see him on the same level as any of these inductees. How long did Byfuglien play forward? I wonder how that would factor in.

Rylant

[Axeman33]

I'd say hes a fantasy HOF player but not a real life one.

[The Comish]

Not even close to a Hall of Famer in my opinion. Granted, I think the HHOF should have a higher standard than it currently does. Byfuglien was a fantasy beast, but I like my HHOF defensemen to have won at least one Norris and been in contention for at least one or two more.

[2014olympicgold]

Without putting a ton of thought into it I think yes. The cup is there. PPG as a d man of his era is there. The intangible ability to dominate the game physically is there. He's a likeable character which shouldn't play a role but it can when it comes to voting. I like his chances.

His highest Pts/Game was in 2011-12 where it was 0.80ppg. And he only played 66games. He's never been over 56pts, career -8, played over 75games only 6/14 seasons, no international success, only award is the Stanley Cup

He's not a HOF. It would cheapen HOFers if he enters.

[ericdaoust]

Hard no for me.

[hockeyrobot]

Hard no for me.

A very hard no.

[Pengwin7]

It's a (easy) no for me.
He just wasn't a game-breaker as a defenseman.
Let's be honest... he was a role-player for that CHI cup team.
He's had several years as the D1 for Winnipeg and they just really haven't had enough playoff success for him to qualify, IMO.

[chuckcouples]

Not even close. He's only finished top 10 in the Norris Trophy once in his career (7th). He's never been one of the best dmen in the league nor has he played long enough to be an all time leader in any stats so there's no way he should be getting any Hall of Fame votes 5 years after his retirement.

[Hoopo]

The HHOF is silly and leads to silly conversations. The supposed "standards" don't apply to everyone, and one of those is apparently a Cup, which is a team accomplishment, and one that many inductees accomplished in an era where pretty much 1 in 6 NHLers won it in any given year. It's not and never has been a museum that honors just Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr. It's the Hall of *Fame*. It's there to honor players that were very good/great, had remarkable careers, and/or meant a lot to the game and especially to fans.

Buff never played for a team I ever particularly liked and has smacked down and given headaches to a number of my favorite players over the years. He was one of the most notable and entertaining players of his era. He could steamroll anyone, sometimes 2 at a time, and still put up great offensive numbers. IMO there should be an entry at the Hall for Buff that is just an installation full of screens playing gifs of his greatest hits. I'd almost suggest he's even a fan favorite outside of the fanbases of teams he's played for. I'd have no issue with him getting in. He's a legend to me.

[The Comish]

The HHOF is silly and leads to silly conversations. The supposed "standards" don't apply to everyone, and one of those is apparently a Cup, which is a team accomplishment, and one that many inductees accomplished in an era where pretty much 1 in 6 NHLers won it in any given year. It's not and never has been a museum that honors just Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr. It's the Hall of *Fame*. It's there to honor players that were very good/great, had remarkable careers, and/or meant a lot to the game and especially to fans.

Buff never played for a team I ever particularly liked and has smacked down and given headaches to a number of my favorite players over the years. He was one of the most notable and entertaining players of his era. He could steamroll anyone, sometimes 2 at a time, and still put up great offensive numbers. IMO there should be an entry at the Hall for Buff that is just an installation full of screens playing gifs of his greatest hits. I'd almost suggest he's even a fan favorite outside of the fanbases of teams he's played for. I'd have no issue with him getting in. He's a legend to me.

I agree with you about the whole "gotta win a Cup" to qualify for the HHOF being dumb. Winning a Cup is definitely a check in the positive box, but for me, you HAVE to stand out amongst your peers in the era you played in. That's why I give added weight to players who win individual awards, especially Hart and Norris trophies. You have to stand out amongst your peers. A guy like Daniel Alfredsson stands out for me as a guy who was a very good hockey player, but not good enough to go to the HHOF in my opinion. Swedish HHOF, sure. Should the Sens retire his number? Already done. Still not enough for me to think he's worthy of the HHOF. There are plenty of people who think Alfie should be in. Same with Byfuglien. My two cents.

[Canucks13]

Easy no