I'm trying to piece together some more AS voting from the McNeil days, which have some weak coverage. 1952, in particular, is almost tantalizingly illogical. I strongly suspect that McNeil was a very, very close 3rd that year.
I'm reading through a lot of 1952 articles. One from late February (so, quite late in the season at this point) that said that Sugar Jim Henry was washed up and sent to the minors for not being good enough and that he'll never get any recognition* or anything...but he's provided some spark for the Bruins this year. But, ultimately, seems like he snuck a weak 2-AS out of it.
But I found this article that matches the film on these guys...
THN Mar 29 1952 said:
If the game proved nothing else it did show that the Habs have the best clutch goaler in the National Hockey League in one Gerry McNeil. It was just about this time last season that the little guy started to show his real brilliance.
...
(On Al Rollins)...played some sensational hockey in the 14 games between the two teams he failed to impress on the shots he should have stopped with ease. Some of his saves bordered on the miraculous and others ranked with the boobs of the year.
That's consistent with goalies that just sort fall all over the floor. You have no idea what you're going to get.
They then proceed to draw out a play where young Doug Harvey scored on Rollins from beyond center haha
EDIT: * - In the next issue, Jack Adams and Tommy Ivan were consulted for creating an All-Consolation Team.
The criteria is:
In every case, the leading candidates are known and no winner will be surprise to the public. The names have been repeated often — Howe, Kelly, Lindsay, Sawchuk, Smith, Richard, Raleigh, Harvey, Buller, and the others.
Thus at this point dozens of earnest players tend to go unrecognized. As a modest recognition of their endeavors, today two teams are presented of players who have two basic qualifications: 1 —
None has a chance in the regular election; — 2 All are honest hockey workers in the medium salary range.
And, sure enough, Sugar Jim Henry was named to this "aw schucks" team haha
I suppose there's no chance that the NHL has the 2AS wrong all these years...but man, the writers and coaches are sure making it seem that way. The math of it all doesn't exactly quell the fear either...
