The Tampa Bay Lightning’s only Stanley Cup captain, Dave Andreychuk was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres from the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and played his first NHL season in 1982-83. He went on to play 11 seasons in Buffalo before being traded on February 2, 1993, with Daren Puppa, and a 1993 first-round pick Kenny Jonsson to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for future Hall of Fame member Grant Fuhr and a conditional 1995 fifth-round draft pick. He played for the Leafs until the 1995-96 season when he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, where he stayed until 1999. After New Jersey, he had short stints with the Boston Bruins (1999-2000), Colorado Avalanche (2000), and Buffalo Sabres (2000-01), before settling with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

His best seasons offensively were in 1992-93 and 1993-94 with Toronto, where he posted 99 points in each season. The 1993 and 1994 playoffs also saw Andreychuk and the Maple Leafs advance to the Conference Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks, respectively.

In the 2001-02 NHL season, Andreychuk made a shocking move which would pay dividends in the long run. Rather than sign with a Stanley Cup contender, he signed with the lowly  Lightning, where he brought some much needed veteran leadership. The Bolts missed the playoffs and Andy refused trades to contenders, stating his work with the team was not finished. In 2002-03, Lightning head coach John Tortorella appointed Andreychuk the captain, (succeeding Vincent Lecavalier, who was stripped of the captaincy after the 2000-01 season).

Andreychuk went 22 years without being on a Stanley Cup championship team, tying the NHL record with Ray Bourque for the longest career drought. In the 2003-04 NHL season, Andreychuk and the Lightning defeated the Calgary Flames in seven games to win the Cup at last, in front of the home crowd in Hockey Bay USA.

On January 10, 2006, Andreychuk was waived by the Lightning, bringing an end to his career.  On October 1, 2006, Dave rejoined the Tampa Bay Lightning as a Community Representative.  He is one of the highest scoring left wingers in NHL history.  On November 28, 2008, he was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame.  He holds these NHL records:

• 5th most games played in NHL history with 1639.
• 11th most goals scored in NHL history with 640.
• Tied with Denis Savard for 23rd in league history with 1338 points.
• Holds the record for most NHL career power play goals with 270.
• 1991-92 NHL Power Play Goals Leader with 28.
• 1992-93 NHL Power Play Goals Leader with 32.
• Oldest player to a make Stanley Cup Finals debut: 40 years, 7 months.
• Played in NHL All-Star Game in 1990 and 1994.

Andreychuk is considered by many to be a borderline Hall of Fame candidate.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  His career accomplishments stand up to Hall of Fame scrutiny very well.

Here are seven players’ career statistics. You decide which one is the Hall of Famer.

Answers:

A) Gilbert Perrault HOF
B) Cam Neely HOF
C) Yvon Cournoyer HOF
D) Bernie Federko HOF
E) Bob Gainey HOF
F) Michel Goulet HOF
G) Dave Andreychuk Up for Induction in 2010.  (Surprise!)

Career statistics

The 2010 Hall of Fame class seems to be set.  Yzerman, Hull, and Robitaille are the front-runners, and should be. Others in the discussion for the fourth, and final spot are Doug Gilmour and Brian Leetch.  I would make a case for the Lightning’s Andreychuk.

The Hockey Hall of Fame’s listed qualifications for a nominated player are listed as:  A three year minimum playing career, good playing ability, sportsmanship, character and the players contribution to the team or teams, and to the game of hockey in general.  That means that Tiger Williams, Bob Probert, Tie Domi and Stu Grimson are in!!  The Hall needs to change its “vague and subjective” qualifications and antiquated voting methods.  The most players that can be inducted in any year are four.  This needs to change, too.  Letting Cam Neely in changed everything as far as the future nominees are concerned.  I realize that you can’t select players solely on numbers, but some benchmarks need to be set.  The character of the player should be a low priority.  Cam Neely shouldn’t be in just for being a “good” man, nor should Dino Cicarelli be held out because of his “questionable character.”  I hate to say it, but look at the LPGA Hall of Fame induction qualifications.  The LPGA’s qualification requirements are much more stringent, and objective than those of any other Hall of Fame.  They use a point system for regular wins and major wins. Score 27 points and you are in.

 Are the answers 500 goals, 1,000 points, and a ten-year career?  I don’t know.  That is quite, another discussion for another time, puckheads.  That being said, SteveYzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Andy (as I’ve already argued) are in!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Hockey, NHL-East, Tampa Bay Lightning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.