Neely vs. Lindros

Ever since my last post regarding my feelings on the now retired Eric Lindros and more specifically whether or not he's HHOF material, I've heard a few people chirping about another key power forward from the early '90s who has already entered into the hall of fame despite his "low" career point total (which was one of my arguments with Lindros). First off, let me say this - anyone saying anything bad about Cam Neely, well... that's pretty much sacrilege.

The unknowledgeable and inexperienced may see comparable 'power forwards' with comparable career point totals, but what they miss is the Essence of Neely. Cam Neely was a scoring power forward. Although his style of play and opposing teams focused on shutting him down (since he was always a scoring threat) caused his career to shortened by injuries, Neely is still looked about as one of the game's elite goal scorers in his time. And we're talking playing in the time of Gretzky, Lemieux, Hull etc. The Golden Age of Hockey (in my books).

But Neely didn't score a lot of goals you say? Although Neely never achieved the 500 goal plateau he did have 395 career goals – in just 726 games played!!! What does that mean? It means that Neely scored .57 goals per game. Gretz potted .60gpg; Hull - .58gpg. Dionne - .54gpg. Essentially, Neely ranks up there with the greatest goal scorers of all time. Where is Lindros on this list you might ask, well his 372 career goals in 865 games give him a .43gpg.

Throw in Neely’s fierceness; competitive drive (two Cup finals, losses to Edmonton both times); and Bill Masterson trophy for coming back from shaky knees and still scoring 50 goals in 49 games during the 1992-1993 season and you start to understand the “Essence of Neely”. That tally, according to the nice people over at the HHOF, is the third fastest ever.

And by the way, Neely’s 55 post-season goals is also a Boston franchise record.

Goodbye Eric, let me know how the gas prices go

Eric Lindros could have been, would have been and perhaps should have been a 'hall of famer' had he played a little longer and put up a little more in the way of NHL points.

By the end of this season, he'll likely be out of the NHL's Top 100 point leaders, passed by the likes of Alex Kovalev and Markus Naslund. Lindros didn't reach the 500 goal plateau; he didn't get 1000 points; nor did he play in 1000 NHL games. He only netted 100 points once in his career, although 70 points during a lock-out shortened 1994-1995 season wasn't too shabby.

Although Lindros was the “first” in the long line gritty but talented power forward types who got drafted in the early '90s it doesn't make him the best - see Peter Forsberg. Oddly enough Lindros and Forsberg will forever be linked together. From being drafted in the same year and subsequently traded for each other, to retiring in the same year (pending Forsberg's wonky ankle). Even further still, by way of Lindros' holding out and forcing the Nordiques to deal him to the Flyers, it loaded up a Quebec/Colorado franchise with Forsberg and friends allowing Peter to have his name engraved on the beautiful trophy that Eric was never able to win - The Stanley Cup.

Lindros certainly had the talent to put up NHL points and make it into the all the fame however, it was his style of play and believing he was physically indestructible which let to his down fall, with injuries limiting his career and playing time. Lindros' potential went unfulfilled in the NHL and although it's unfortunate, it’s how it is.