Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Hal Wright Chevrolet-Cadillac-GMC-Buick on the Sunset Strip in Owen Sound.
The Hockey Hall of Fame inductees for 2013 were announced last week.
Alphabetically, Chris Chelios, Geraldine Heaney, Scott Niedermeyer, Brendan Shanahan & Fred Shero will be enshrined this Fall.
As always, there is no shortage of debate pertaining to those who were confirmed and to those many feel should be included.
For me, the issue I have is with Brendan Shanahan.
Based on ability, based on achievement and based on what everybody who knows him tells me, there’s no doubt in my mind he qualifies and is a solid and deserving choice.
However, if this were MY Hockey Hall of Fame, Shanahan would never be considered.
In 1996, as CAPTAIN of the Hartford Whalers, Shanahan requested a trade TWO games into the season and essentially bailed on his teammates.
There are worse crimes in pro sports, but quitting on your teammates, putting your need to be on a championship contender ahead of the other 24 guys on the roster, well, that isn’t Hall of Fame material in my book.
Shanahan was eventually traded to the Detroit Red Wings where he was an integral part of 3 Stanley Cup winners, a key factor I’m sure in his selection to the Hall of Fame.
I wonder how Brendan Shanahan’s teammates on the 1996 Hartford Whalers view the induction.
I’m Fred Wallace