If the Hockey Hall of Fame was to let in a goon, who would be the most deserving candidate?

[Staniowski]

The rules of the HHOF - the criteria set forth - really disqualify goons, so there's really no chance of this happening.

The main criterion is playing ability.

You've got the dirty guys who can play.

You've got the guys who can fight, who can play.

But guys who can't play are out of luck.

 

[Albatros]

Isn't there a clear distinction between goon and enforcer? Goon I think of someone like Trevor Gillies or Link Gaetz, whereas an enforcer is supposed to be more involved in actual hockey related things.

Link Gaetz was actually pretty good at hockey, definitely pro quality even without fighting. Not really in the same basket with Gillies & co. even if he was as wild as anyone.

 

[The Panther]

Zdeno Chara, Emile Bouchard, and sortof goons who could enforce at times like Serge Savard and Brandon Shanahan.

-- Chara will obviously be in the Hall in about 1 year
-- Bouchard is already in the Hall
-- Savard is already in the Hall
-- Shanahan is already in the Hall

Can you imagine the outrage of someone like Tom Wilson got in?
The highlight videos shown at the ceremony would be more then todays world could handle.

Not sure about that -- did you see the Chris Chelios number-retirement video in Chicago? Was awesome.

The problem, of course, with this topic is that there are dozens and dozens of players who straddle the line between "aggressive good player" and "enforcer / goon".

 

[Jumptheshark]

I think the HHOF have honored players in pretty much every role except for goons/enforcers.

I think it would be awesome if they were to give a goon or two his due.

Which one would you put in the Hall of Fame if you had to put one in? Bob Probert? Tiger Williams? Marty McSorley? Or someone else entirely?

Probert actually has a case for the HAll

 

[Voight]

Probert actually has a case for the HAll

No he doesn't.

 

[adsfan]

Isn't there a clear distinction between goon and enforcer? Goon I think of someone like Trevor Gillies or Link Gaetz, whereas an enforcer is supposed to be more involved in actual hockey related things.

I never cared for the "Missing Link". Definitely a goon. He was banned from TWO minor leagues IIRC.

 

[GMR]

If you're looking for the best at being a goon? probably Probert

If you're looking for the goon who was the best at hockey? Terry O'Reilly

Gillies was better than O’Reilly at playing and fighting. But he’s not usually considered a goon. Same with Ferguson.

Probert is the answer but he could play as well.

For goons who weren’t great players I’d induct Dave Brown.

Or, if you’re looking for pretty much the craziest dude on and off the ice, go with Steve Durbano.

Goldie Goldthorpe was also pretty out there from what I’ve heard.

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

There's some confusion among guys who are power forwards vs enforcers vs goons.

Guys like Shanahan, Tocchet, Gillies, Neely, O'Reilly were good fighters but they had more value on the ice than in the penalty box.

Enforcers would be Probert, McSorley, Kocur, Simon, guys who could take a regular shift, were there to keep the flies off primarily but could contribute other than just fighting.

And then obviously goons are just there to fight. Not really NHL level players and might play 3 minutes if they're lucky. Worrell, T. Gillies, McGrattan, Scott.

 

[Bench Clearer]

Derek Boogard started a hockey fight school for kids, so he definitely belongs.

 

[carjackmalone]

Dale Hunter is the answer

 

[Crosby2010]

I never liked the term "goon". I always associated that term with guys who really couldn't play very well but were just there to fight. Not contributing in another aspect of the game. For example, Tie Domi was a superb 4th liner. This is a guy who can play on a team in 1984, 1994..........2024. Was good for 20 points in a season, hit a high of 29. Scored 15 goals at his best. Played 10 minutes a game, played in 98 playoff games. Protected the likes of Mats Sundin in ways people forget. Was a scary presence on the ice. But chipped in the way a normal 4th liner does. Did much more than that though in the broad sense of things.

Andrew Peters is a good example of a goon. Scored 7 (!) points in his career over 229 games. Never played in a playoff game, but played on teams who made deep playoff runs. Let that sink in. Averaged 3-4 minutes a game. Was only there to fight. That's a goon. Yeah I still love him going after Ray Emery, that will be always memorable but he was a goon. Brad May contributed, Matthew Barnaby although I hated him, contributed, Donald Brashear contributed offense as well until the last few years. Dave Schultz was a 35 point guy. But even a guy I loved like Stu Grimson, yeah, you can find someone like him in other places but who can actually play. He couldn't. Neither could Tony Twist. Those guys were goons. And there isn't a long list of them but they do exist. Most of the time there were enforcers on teams that could play well, but expansion and such added some players and these guys were thrown in, but you still want the Don Cherry model of having a balanced attack. This is why he had 11 20-goal scorers. He didn't have a guy on the bench who played three shifts and only fought. So that's my thought on the whole thing. No goon deserves the HHOF. But a guy who fought and protected his team but didn't put up elite numbers yet still had his moments.........................does he get in when you factor everything in?

Probably not I still don't think. John Ferguson tends to come to mind and 5 Cups to his name and plenty of playoff games attached to him. Thought of as an original enforcer brought in to protect the Habs' stars. I don't know if it is a coincidence that they started winning when he arrived, but they did. But he still isn't a HHOFer.

Probert is the closest to this, and while I don't call him a goon either, he still didn't put up elite offensive numbers. 62 points in 1988 and playing in an All-Star game despite leading the NHL in penalty minutes is quite impressive. Before Sergei Fedorov broke the single season Red Wings playoff points' record it wasn't Gordie Howe or Ted Lindsay or Stevie Y that held it. It was Bob Probert with 21! With everything he did by being a mere presence I think it makes him memorable and he did a heck of a lot psychologically for a team that doesn't show up on the stats sheet. For example his protection of Yzerman. Also being the champ for a long time in the ring. All of that points to a guy who was worth more than the modest points he put up, but you still can't put him in the HHOF. Marty McSorley for being Gretzky's protector would be my second choice if I had to pick one. Led the NHL in plus/minus one year.

Lastly, if you want to count Red Horner the NHL's original bad boy and a guy who was very much an enforcer as a "goon" since he led the NHL in penalty minutes 7 times. Well, he's literally a HHOFer as a defenseman. So maybe they already have one in there?