Andreychuk versus Shanahan

[yave1964]

Was not sure where to post this. Figured Andreychuk spent a huge portion of his career as a Sabre so it was a good a spot as any.

Brendan Shanahan was a God to me as a Wings fan, the final piece, the man who came over for underachieving Primeau who refused to buy into Scotty's system, Shanny defined heart and soul and led us to cups in 1997 and 1998 and won another with us in 2002. When he was passed over first ballot for the Hall I cried, screamed, held my breath and pouted. When he was added this year I felt a wrong had been righted.

Dave Andreychuk captained the Lightning to their only cup win ever in 2004, was notorious as a battler in front of a net and while he had weaknesses was a hell of a player.

CAREER TOTALS

GAMES GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PIM'S PPG"S TEAMS CUP"S

Shanahan 1524 656 698 1354 2489 237 5 3

Andreychuk 1634 640 698 1338 1125 274 6 1

Extremely similar numbers, Shanny was more of a scrapper and a nasty piece of work, in the corners, Andreychuk is THE ALL TIME LEADER IN POWER PLAY GOALS. Anyone ever. Not Wayne or Mario or anyone else, Andreychuk, and nobody active is pushing him for the record. He planted his big butt in front of the net and flicked and screened and deflected and drilled in rebounds better than anyone ever.

Shanahan broke 100 points once with 102. Andreychuk never did but he peaked at 99 with 45 goals, the year before he scored fifty.

Nobody in the top 25 in goals scored is excluded from the Hall. Now that he is retired Andreychuk has developed a reputation as a guy who couldn't skate who was pushed out by his teammates in front of the net and they just shot the puck in off of him on the power play. Shanny has stayed vocal and personable and heavily involved in the game, and I certainly feel that Shanny deserves the honor it is getting harder not to consider Andreychuk.

[goalnut3133]

@yave1964 Nice explanations & comparison. Yes, I agree with stats like those, Andreychuk should be a contender for HOF...274 PPG's?? That's unbelievable. Funny also how their Assists are identical. I'm not versed on the criteria of eligibility for HOF, how is he left out? Not enuff Cups? Or is it also some political thing (like in Academy Awards..haha)?

[yave1964]

@goalnut3133

He is on the outside because he finished off his career by being a part timer, a third line player and power play specialist who stumbled til he was 43 and for the last eight years he scored a never ending series of 35-40 points a season until they ripped his skates off of him at the age of 43 and told him no more.

I am not necessarily advocating him for the hall, he has stats for his career that don't embarrass him when you compare him to hall of famers like Shany and Dino Ciccarelli, and his numbers are better than quite a few like Nieuwendyk.

The case against him is simple. He was never a star, he just plodded along year after year putting up mediocre numbers but he played so long that his numbers added up to one hell of a nice career, it kind of snuck up on you. He is 14th all time in goals scored, nobody inside the top 25 or even more is outside looking in at the hall. He is number on all time in power plays. I really don't know. IMHO he has to be the hardest case out there. I placed this here because Sabre fans will remember his peak, and I want their opinions as well.

[goalnut3133]

@yave1964 Thanks for that yave! This is a really interesting case you make for him. Yah 43, geeze I thought Jagr was bad enough, I'm embarrassed for him when I watch him sometimes, like he needs a walker on the ice! Yah I was hoping to hear from Sabres' fans POV as well...