The Keltner List, translated to hockey, applied to Chris Osgood
1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in hockey? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in hockey?
No
2. Was he the best player on his team?
No. Wasn't the best on an average Isles team (Yashin, Peca, Aucoin) were better than him. Wasn't the best in St-Louis, either.
3. Was he the best player in hockey at his position? Was he the best player in his conference at his position?
It was a tough era in which to be the best at first, but I wouldn't rank him better than Mike Richter for the first half of his career. Problem is -- Richter was never close to be the best at this position at that time. Later, Jose Theodore outplays him on a rather consistent basis. As far as conference is concerned, Osgood was never a better goaltender than anybody the Stars had at any point during his career, except for one season, where Osgood (on a good year) was better than Moog (on a pretty bad year).
4. Did he have an impact on a number of playoff races?
He had an impact on AT LEAST one SC. Pretty good in 07-08.
5. Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime?
If he's past his prime? Certainly.
6. Is he the very best player in hockey history who is not in the Hall of Fame?
No
7. Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame?
His numbers (GAA, SV%) are quite similar to Ed Belfour, who will be a HHOF'er (but Belfour obviously played 200 more games, and started his career in a high-scoring era) . Numbers-wise (if you disconsider games played), he has a better case than Curtis Joseph, if anything.
8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?
Unless he sustains a career-ending injury in the next days, Osgood will reach 400 wins. Whether that "mark" is enough is something for debate, though. (See, Curtis Joseph). I don't know if it's really a number, but he was a starter for two SC winning teams.
9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?
There is evidence that Osgood is somewhat worst than his Wins figures suggest. I say "somewhat", because he played for average teams that "remained" average during his tenure. As a whole, he was outplayed (statistically) by Garth Snow with the Islanders.
10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?
Certainly not.
11. How many Hart-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an Hart Trophy? If not, how many times was he close?
A bit problematic, due to the fact hat Osgood is a goalie. He had no Hart seasons (using Theodore as the bench mark). Didn't have any Vezina seasons either as a starter. I don't think he was close to the Vezina in 95-96 -- his selection on the 2nd AST isn't that puzzling, but he shouldn't have been there.
12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?
You could say that he had two fringe AST-type seasons. 95-96 and 07-08. Problem in 95-96 was "performance", problem in 07-08 was that he BARELY led his team for games played. To earn an AST in this team, you need an unreal season (see Plante, Jacques). In 95-96, the guy who got the 1st AST berth was.... well, I don't think we need to get there. Suffice to say that Osgood was the best to earn a spot. In 07-08, The goalies who got the nod were Evgeni Nabokov (not a HHOF) and Martin Brodeur (a 1st ballot).
In 95-96, the 1st AST had two HHOF'ers, two future first ballots, and Paul Kariya. The 2nd AST had one HHOF'er, Eric Lindros, John Leclair, Alex Mogilny and Vlad Konstantinov.
In 07-08, the skaters were
1st : Lidstrom, Phaneuf, Ovechkin, Malkin and Iginla. So one lock, one already locked (Ovie), one who has a pretty good case (Iggy), Malkin (can't tell, really) and Phaneuf (hell, no).
2nd : Campbell, Chara, Thornton, Zetterberg, Kovalev. Chara has the better case, and Campbell/Kovalev have no case at all.
13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win their conference?
They would likely be out of the playoffs, actually.
14. What impact did the player have on hockey history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?
None, but I guess he made the birdcage somewhat fashionnable.
15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?
Certainly.
The Keltner List, translated to hockey, applied to Grant Fuhr
(will be finished later).
1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in hockey? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in hockey?
No. Best player during his career was Gretz, Lemieux.
2. Was he the best player on his team?
Yes. Best player on the 1991-92 Leafs - 19th in the League, out of the playoffs. In 95-96, MacInnis was a better player than Fuhr.
3. Was he the best player in hockey at his position? Was he the best player in his conference at his position?
Certainly the better player in his conference. For the league, well, Fuhr had the "advantage" to play more than Roy, Beezer or even Barasso did. I think Roy was always superior to Fuhr, but Fuhr was certainly having the most "interesting" seasons. So let's say yes.
4. Did he have an impact on a number of playoff races?
Maybe the Oilers were winning anyways, but there's no way to know (and please, don't use Moog as a reference). So, a weak YES.
5. Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime?
Yeah.
6. Is he the very best player in hockey history who is not in the Hall of Fame?
He's in. If he was out, he would be the best goalie out, but not the best player. (Howe and Tremblay were better).
7. Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame?
No goalie with 4 Cups is out. The closer contemporary goalies to Fuhr as far as stats are concerned are probably Barrasso and Moog. Both are out. Moog has no Cups. Barrasso has two, but didn't reach 400 wins.
8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?
I guess so. SV% is under .900, but he played in the '80ies.
9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?
I'd say -- dead even. Wasn't helped by playing for a very offensive minded team earlier on (and posted rather good numbers). But in the early 90ies, the guy was somewhat outplayed by his backups.
10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?
Answered before.
11. How many Hart-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an Hart Trophy? If not, how many times was he close?
Could never win the Hart in Edmonton. His best shot was his Vezina year, but that really came from the fact that he played A LOT. Numbers-wise, that's not a Hart season, or if it's the case, it has to be a pretty darn weak year.
12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?
2 AST. Competitors were Smith (his 2nd AST) and Roy (his 1st AST). Both are HHOF'ers.
13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win their conference?
It happened one, and they finished 19th overall (and 10th out of 11 in the conference). So, no.
14. What impact did the player have on hockey history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?
Resurgence of the workhorse goalie. I don't know for the "Black" factor... I mean, when I think Fuhr, I think "Oilers". I don't even think "Black".
15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?
The guy admitted his flaws... That's probably something that gives him a "plus" in the end.