Kevin Biestra Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 The Edmonton Oilers have created a team Hall of Fame. Their inaugural inductions a few years ago were their retired jerseys... Gretzky, Fuhr, Coffey, Anderson, Messier, Kurri and Lowe, along with Glen Sather and Rod Phillips. They have inducted something like two per year since then. The first time, Lee Fogolin (kind of their Orland Kurtenbach) and Ryan Smyth, then Charlie Huddy and Doug Weight, and now Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish. I think the next ones up will be Esa Tikkanen and Bill Ranford (should already be in) and maybe Andy Moog and Craig Simpson. I think Kelly Buchberger and Shawn Horcoff will probably get in on longevity. I know we mostly aren't huge Oilers fans round these here parts but anyway... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PureQuickness Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 31 minutes ago, Kevin Biestra said: The Edmonton Oilers have created a team Hall of Fame. Their inaugural inductions a few years ago were their retired jerseys... Gretzky, Fuhr, Coffey, Anderson, Messier, Kurri and Lowe, along with Glen Sather and Rod Phillips. They have inducted something like two per year since then. The first time, Lee Fogolin (kind of their Orland Kurtenbach) and Ryan Smyth, then Charlie Huddy and Doug Weight, and now Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish. I think the next ones up will be Esa Tikkanen and Bill Ranford (should already be in) and maybe Andy Moog and Craig Simpson. I think Kelly Buchberger and Shawn Horcoff will probably get in on longevity. I know we mostly aren't huge Oilers fans round these here parts but anyway... It's good to recognize players for their contributions to hockey, regardless of which team they played for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Biestra Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 (edited) 15 hours ago, PureQuickness said: It's good to recognize players for their contributions to hockey, regardless of which team they played for. Yeah I was glad to see Randy Gregg get the honor. I was happy when we acquired him for a cup of coffee at the end of his career in the early 90s. The Canucks actually picked up several respectable players with very good careers in a similar way around then...Andrew McBain, Tom Fergus, Ryan Walter, Mike Ridley, Jimmy Carson, Esa Tikkanen, Mel Bridgman, Dan Quinn, Paul Reinhart etc. Gregg had an interesting story...became a doctor during his career like Ken Dryden became a lawyer. Always made him unique. I've also always been kind of interested in how other teams honor their past heroes. Former Canucks coach and Pat Quinn buddy Rick Ley was actually one of the WHA's top defensemen and had his number retired by the Hartford Whalers. Most people just remember him here as the guy who took over the bench after 1994 and who Pat had to fire shortly thereafter. Edited August 7 by Kevin Biestra 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PureQuickness Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 1 hour ago, Kevin Biestra said: Yeah I was glad to see Randy Gregg get the honor. I was happy when we acquired him for a cup of coffee at the end of his career in the early 90s. The Canucks actually picked up several respectable players with very good careers in a similar way around then...Andrew McBain, Tom Fergus, Ryan Walter, Mike Ridley, Jimmy Carson, Esa Tikkanen, Mel Bridgman, Dan Quinn, Paul Reinhart etc. Gregg had an interesting story...became a doctor during his career like Ken Dryden became a lawyer. Always made him unique. I've also always been kind of interested in how other teams honor their past heroes. Former Canucks coach and Pat Quinn buddy Rick Ley was actually one of the WHA's top defensemen and had his number retired by the Hartford Whalers. Most people just remember him here as the guy who took over the bench after 1994 and who Pat had to fire shortly thereafter. I remember Rick Ley. What a short-lived coaching career. If I remember, the team wasn't very good and he wasn't a great coach either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Biestra Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 (edited) 8 minutes ago, PureQuickness said: I remember Rick Ley. What a short-lived coaching career. If I remember, the team wasn't very good and he wasn't a great coach either. The team performed somewhat poorly but it was immediately after the 1994 run when expectations were pretty high so it was pretty disappointing. Ley took over literally to start the season right after the 1994 run so Pat Quinn could focus on management...and a little over a year later Pat had to step back in. Wasn't all on Rick Ley. Bure had a really bad season by his standards. Wasn't even on pace for 40 goals in a full length season. Ronning underperformed and so did Adams. McLean and Linden carried the water to get to the playoffs. Kay Whitmore had a tough year as a backup...literally didn't win one game. Edited August 8 by Kevin Biestra 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PureQuickness Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 1 hour ago, Kevin Biestra said: The team performed somewhat poorly but it was immediately after the 1994 run when expectations were pretty high so it was pretty disappointing. Ley took over literally to start the season right after the 1994 run so Pat Quinn could focus on management...and a little over a year later Pat had to step back in. Wasn't all on Rick Ley. Bure had a really bad season by his standards. Wasn't even on pace for 40 goals in a full length season. Ronning underperformed and so did Adams. McLean and Linden carried the water to get to the playoffs. Kay Whitmore had a tough year as a backup...literally didn't win one game. Yeah, maybe that's what it was. I remember they were such a mediocre team. I could've sworn that I remember Rick Ley's frustrated face on the bench and how the team didn't seem to respond to his coaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Biestra Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 3 minutes ago, PureQuickness said: Yeah, maybe that's what it was. I remember they were such a mediocre team. I could've sworn that I remember Rick Ley's frustrated face on the bench and how the team didn't seem to respond to his coaching. Something was off and he didn't seem to connect with or inspire them for whatever reason. 1994-95 was sort of like a replay of 1993-94 with the uninspired regular season and then the Canucks had a good first round...won in seven over the Blues who had a much better regular season, then got swept in a "close sweep" series against Chicago where I think Chelios just wrecked them if I remember right. Murray Craven and Diduck were both on the Hawks now, just one year later. The Canucks had already let some players go they should have kept and Ronning would soon join them. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 I notice once Geoff Courtnall left, he helped Trevor keep the team working well together. Once he was gone, the team wasn't quite the same. Courtnall and Larionov were a lot more valuable that people realize. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 It’s pretty arrogant and self serving for a team to have their own HOF. I don’t like it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Biestra Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 7 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said: I notice once Geoff Courtnall left, he helped Trevor keep the team working well together. Once he was gone, the team wasn't quite the same. Courtnall and Larionov were a lot more valuable that people realize. Yeah Cliff Ronning was once asked who the best teammate he ever had was and he said Geoff Courtnall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBatch Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 On 8/8/2024 at 12:30 PM, Ghostsof1915 said: I notice once Geoff Courtnall left, he helped Trevor keep the team working well together. Once he was gone, the team wasn't quite the same. Courtnall and Larionov were a lot more valuable that people realize. The vets had a lot to do with the run to the final in 94. Courtnall, Adam's, Babych, Brown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBatch Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 On 8/8/2024 at 4:59 PM, Snoop Hogg said: It’s pretty arrogant and self serving for a team to have their own HOF. I don’t like it at all. Provinces have them, as do other organizations. Ring of Honour, call it what you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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