The Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2016 could be remembered as the one where the HHOF finally cleaned up its own backyard. Four individuals who almost certainly should have been enshrined much earlier have finally made it, better late than never, into the house of legends.
Eric Lindros – a generational talent whose career trajectory was irrevocably altered by injury – leads the list with Soviet icon Sergei Makarov and Los Angeles Kings legend Rogie Vachon joining him among the players. The HHOF will also honor revered coach and GM Pat Quinn, nearly two years after his death (and about two years too late for many fans, who might be excused for being bitter).
Before they were Hall of Fame classmates, Lindros and Makarov both did brief stints with the Dallas Stars – Makarov’s was especially so, since he only played six games with the team. The results were mixed at best, and in 2011, they both made a DBD list of the top five failed Stars reclamation projects. But the balance of their careers far outweighed the lost steps at the end.
Congrats to Dallas Stars alum Eric Lindros on his @HockeyHallFame induction! pic.twitter.com/EYCMblVVCp
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 27, 2016
Happy to be a part of the 2016 Hockey Hall of Fame induction. Congratulations to the fellow inductees.
— Eric Lindros (@88EricLindros) June 27, 2016
Allan Muir offers his perspective on this year’s inductees here. [Sports Illustrated]
Meet the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2016. Eric Lindros, Sergei Makarov, Pat Quinn and Rogie Vachon. #HHOF pic.twitter.com/bTy2pfqcQ3
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 27, 2016
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Sad, sad news: Trudy Daley, the mother of beloved former Star (and our favorite 2016 Stanley Cup winner) Trevor Daley, has died after a battle with cancer. She got her fondest wish, which was to see her son hoist the Cup. Stick tap to DBD’er kakerlak, who added this link in the comments. [Color of Hockey]
The Stars made qualifying offers to four key RFAs yesterday: Valeri Nichushkin, Jamie Oleksiak, Matej Stransky and Maxime Lagace. It was the final piece of a busy weekend, with free agency still to come.
6 picks, 1 trade, and a contract extension. Catch up with this weekend’s Draft Recap: https://t.co/PLOr5DZdsa pic.twitter.com/qC8RP58qNI
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 27, 2016
Ever wonder what NHL Draft weekend is like for the prospects and their families? A North Bay news site followed favorite son (and new Stars G prospect) Colton Point to find out. [BayToday.ca]
The Dallas Morning News shares 10 little-known facts about the Stars’ newest first-rounder, Riley Tufte – the latest NHL prospect to play with Type 1 diabetes. [SportsDayDFW]
The latest Stars Roundtable focuses on how the accomplishments of the past season have set new expectations for the next one.
Plus the Stars Sunday crew delivered their first post-draft, post-expansion, pre-free-agency podcast.
The new #StarsSunday (Episode 33 – June 26) is now posted:@DallasStars website: https://t.co/9yTiUeMsUg
iTunes: https://t.co/i10LjSRJR8
— Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) June 27, 2016
Lars Eller is about to go from bouncing up and down the forward line-up with the Montreal Canadiens to centering Nicklas Bäckström and Evgeny Kuznetsov with the Washington Capitals. He’s looking forward to it already. [Sportsnet]
Several teams wanted to make a deal for marquee blueliner Kevin Shattenkirk, but the St. Louis Blues may have priced him out of the weekend market, as the Boston Bruins discovered. (Spoiler alert: two first-round picks and David Pastrnak.) [CBS Boston]
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs got more than just LW Kerby Rychel in their latest trade: They got Templeton J. Rychel, too. Templeton is Kerby’s cat. He has his own Twitter account. It’s pretty amazing.
If you aren’t giving @TempeltonJ a follow, something is very wrong. https://t.co/EGlpLIljMP
— Pension Plan Puppets (@PPPLeafs) June 27, 2016
It’s official: Chicago Blackhawks agitator and Antoine Roussel arch-nemesis Andrew Shaw has signed a six-year, $23.4 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens. [Puck Daddy]
Not everyone is impressed.
People not thinking the Andrew Shaw contract is terrible makes me think I’m in some Sliders-esque alternate dimension where he’s worth it.
— June Dave Lozo (@davelozo) June 28, 2016
This is more like it: the Nashville Predators‘ six-year, $36 million re-signing of star forward Filip Forsberg.
Predators re-sign Filip Forsberg to 6-year deal https://t.co/gK2yQM482p
— HockeyNightInCanada (@hockeynight) June 27, 2016
The Caps declined to extend a QO to Michael Latta, whom they acquired in the Forsberg trade along with Martin Erat, who now plays in the KHL. It seems this is one of those hockey deals that has a clear winner and loser, but I dunno, what do you think? [NHL on NBC]
Matt Larkin takes on the question of what Forsberg’s new payday means for one of his nearest comparables: Tampa Bay Lightning forward and founding member of The Triplets Nikita Kucherov. [The Hockey News]
Also at THN: Steven Stamkos is the center of attention as 2016 free agency approaches. [THN]
Finally: Leafs center Brooks Laich has an Instagram account, but he probably should have a directorial deal at Paramount. This amazing IG video will show you why. Enjoy.