To be fair, they wouldn't have had a chance for the Cup if he didn't come in for Hasek in game 4 vs the Preds, and play lights out that playoff year. - Hockeytown4life
Does every goalie who takes his team to the Stanley Cup deserve to be in the HoF?
Im not sure how you have anyone in multiple top 10 categories in their profession not be considered as something special. The "team he played behind" argument, would also be saying many goalie like Fuhr, Dryden and even to an extend Roy/Brodeur out of the hall considered who played in front of them, should be not considered either?
Im sure Roy was able to advance his later year stats playing behind Blakes, Footes and Bourques and having Sakics, Forsbergs in front of him.... same for Brodeur with Stevens and Niedermayers. Seems like solid teams for years and years too -- so if we agree that all 3 of Roy, Brodeur and Osgood had similar paths, notably Brodeur and Osgood... how can you even go down the team in front. I am not saying by way of skill, but situation.
Reality is this.... as much as I did not think of it during his career, he was always in the top 10 in the league by way of goalies... sometimes #4, sometimes #10 but he was always an effective, relevant goaltender and his longevity of being able to consistently put those numbers had a lot to do with why he should be in the hall.
