As you know, there is a lockout going on that is affecting the NHL. However, that lockout does not extend to the Hall of Fame ceremonies, which saw four new members join the ranks of the best to play the game. Joe Sakic was the biggest name to enter, and with a resume that includes two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe, a Hart Trophy, and an Olympic gold medal, not to mention a reputation for delivering when the games count the most, it's difficult to make a case against him being a Hall of Famer. Further cementing his legacy was the fact that he spent his entire career with one franchise in Quebec/Colorado. Mats Sundin was the other first ballot Hall of Famer in this group, having started his career in Quebec before ultimately becoming the face of the Maple Leafs for their last good years to this point. He never reached a Stanley Cup Final, but does own a gold medal from the 2006 Olympics. he was never as appreciated in Toronto as Doug Gilmour or Wendel Clark, but he was quietly efficient in his time there, as his being honored by the team last season shows. Adam Oates was often the Robin to someone else's Batman, whether it was in St. Louis (Brett Hull), Boston (Cam Neely), Washington (Peter Bondra), or Anaheim (Paul Kariya). He never won any awards, and like another under-appreciated center in Ron Francis, was often overshadowed by his teammates, yet he never complained about his role. It's no surprise that the former college free agent from RPI found his way into a coaching job in the NHL with the Capitals, as his on-ice IQ was off the charts. Pavel Bure was the most dynamic player in this foursome, scoring 60 goals in two seasons and coming close in two other seasons. His career was curtailed by knee issues and a tumultuous falling out with Vancouver in the 1998-99 season. He would bounce from Vancouver to Florida to the NY Rangers. He is the "What could have been" of this group, as if knee problems didn't get in the way, he could have easily surpassed 600 goals for his career.
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