DINO!!! Yeah. For all the cheap shots and golaie sticks he took in front of the net he deserves it.
Speaking of time, didn't Dino enjoy the pleasures of an underage girl in the back of a limo?
Did he serve any time for that stunt?
More importantly, is professional hockey returning anytime soon?
Ah, that brings back the good old days. Sitting in the second balcony at the old Chicago Stadium, after walking up 105 stairs and having the beer vendor right at the top, with a beer for me and pops.
I don't know if he's Hall of Fame material or not(I know Scotty couldn't stand him). His one big knock is no titles, and he took some dumb penalties that helped cost us our shot at the cup. On the same note, he helped turn the Red Wings around from their 89-90(missed playoffs) and 90-91(third place in division) rebuilding years. Dino always gave 100%, and was always a force on the power play. He'll always be well regarded in Detroit, much like he was in Minnesota.
If I had to pick two players - I'd pick Rick Tocchet and Mike Vernon. If three - Tocchet, Vernon, and either Sergei Makarov(partially based on his USSR stats) or Dino. Tocchet was a scorer, but also an enforcer. Makarov was the top right winger with the Red Army before defecting. He was a 32 year old "rookie" with Calgary, which hurts his chances. He couldn't play into his 40's like Fetisov or Larionov. As for Mike Vernon, he was a top goalie with the Flames for years(wins cup in 89) playing in Fuhr's shadow in Alberta. With the Red Wings, he ended the 42 year Stanley Cup drought.
On the first ballot list, I think Mike Vernon has a good shot, largely due to his 89 and 97 Cup performances. Beezer was a very good goalie, but couldn't win the cup. Ray Ferraro, Pat Verbeek, Rick Tocchet, Gary Suter, and Steve Duchesne were the best players of that group and merit consideration since they have done everything for their career, but they wern't superstars for most of it. Tocchet might have been if he wasn't injured as often as he was. Suter and Duchesne were very good defensemen, but not stars. Ferraro was oftentimes the best player on a bad team. Bob Probert is a sad case. He was possibly talented enough to make it if he didn't drink and snort coke all the time. He's the Steve Howe or Darryl Strawberry of hockey.
Of the rest
Glenn Anderson had the benefit of being on great teams(5 Edmonton and 1 Rangers Cup). He was an average player after he turned 30, but an elite player in Edmonton. How much was him, and how much was Gretzky or Messier? The same can be said of Bernie Nichols with LA(Gretzky again).
Bellows was stuck in Minnesota for most of his career. Another very good, but non superstar player. Same with Steve Larmer, Dave Taylor, Brian Propp, Brent Sutter(who was better than his stats), and Bobby Smith. That said, how different were most of them from Joe Mullen or Bernie Ferderko who were inducted? Andy Moog was a very good goalie for years as Grant Fuhr's backup, and with Boston as a starter. Dale Hunter is an interesting case. He was a good scorer, great enforcer and a very good all around player. I don't think he has a prayer of getting in though based on that infamous cheap shot on Pierre Turgeon.
Sergei Makarov is certainly a player to consider as well. If Vlachislav Fetisov is worthy of the HOF based largely on his Soviet Career, Makarov is another that should be considered since it's not the "NHL hall of fame".
BTW - Is Esa Tikkanen elgible yet? I'm surprised his name wasn't on the elgibility list.