He may be a jerk, he may not be the most likable guy in NHL history, but he's a bonafide first-ballot HHOFer. IMO, one of the top 10 defencemen ever. Three Norris Trophies. Five-time first-team all-star. Two-time second-team all-star. One of the top 50 players ever. Two Stanley Cups.
Larry Murphy got in on the first ballot. Unless it's an incredibly deep first ballot, Chelios will get in.
I'd say it's unlikely a ballot could be put together without Chelios in the top 4, regardless of when he retires. Dominik Hasek is the only active player who I'd rate as clearly better all-time than Chelios. Lidstrom, Jagr, Sakic, and a few others are debatable.
Chelios better than Jagr? I saw Chelios play a lot in Montreal and he was a big star but not a superstar. Off ice activities got him traded at this peak. He was reputedly hammered at the 86 parade and the 90 (?) incident where he was caught by Burns breaking curfew during the playoffs with Corson etc (Someone will remember better than me).
Chelios is not on Choochs top 20 list since 1971. Jagr is in the top 5.
Quite, quite easily a 1st ballot HOFer
Agreed. This one is easy. Without question.
I'd say it's unlikely a ballot could be put together without Chelios in the top 4, regardless of when he retires. Dominik Hasek is the only active player who I'd rate as clearly better all-time than Chelios. Lidstrom, Jagr, Sakic, and a few others are debatable.
your kidding right? i respect your opinion but chelios has done a lot more then hasek did over a lot longer span too mind you...
Agreed with that. Unless Chelios wins atleast 1 Hart trophy, there is no comparison.Chelios has tenure but he hasn't accomplished more than Hasek. Not even close.
I always thought it was because of a bum knee. I remember the Habs saying that it was so bad that he would have a hard time skating backwards for the rest of his career. Was he that poorly thought of in Montreal?Chelios better than Jagr? I saw Chelios play a lot in Montreal and he was a big star but not a superstar. Off ice activities got him traded at this peak. He was reputedly hammered at the 86 parade and the 90 (?) incident where he was caught by Burns breaking curfew during the playoffs with Corson etc (Someone will remember better than me).
Chelios is not on Choochs top 20 list since 1971. Jagr is in the top 5.
Chelios is a definite lock for the HOF. He'll get in on the first ballot. He's in that definite lock group with players like Messier, Hull, Francis, Robitaille, Hasek, Stevens, Lidstrom, Sakic, Jagr, and Larionov.
I always thought it was because of a bum knee. I remember the Habs saying that it was so bad that he would have a hard time skating backwards for the rest of his career. Was he that poorly thought of in Montreal?
I disagree, not to knock him, he is a sensational player but those guys seem to just be on a higher level than him. Maybe I havent seen him play all that much but those guys just seem to be I guess leaders, and I dont equate Chelios to a leader. He will definitly get in, there is no question, but I think it all depends on who is a canidate, because if its any of those guys I dont see him getting in first round. Just my opinion.
Malefic74 said:Others thought he was a bum and should be shipped on the next bus or thrown under it. Not entirely coincidentally he was an American-born english speaking player, so no doubt the French media felt he was the antichrist incarnate.
I never remember a negative word about Langway. He wanted to move back to the US for personal reasons. He wasn't the Langway in Mtl that he became in washington, but he got no fan or media abuse. I still maintain that Chelly got little on ice criticism as well.Was this also the case with Rod Langway?
As for Chelly, there should be no doubt. His contributions to Team USA should not be overlooked. For those who want to include him in the grossly-overpublicized Nagano room-trashing incident, he did write a check out of his own pocket to cover the damages. Whether or not he was directly involved is immaterial. It demonstrated leadership.