12/21/24
October 15, 2005
Brett Hull calls it quits: Facing dwindling ice time and feeling that his skills have eroded during the year-plus layoff, the #3 all-time goal scorer in NHL history decides to call it a career.
I guess they can re-retire his old man's number, and it wasn't like he had a lot of years left, but still.
posted by chicobangs to hockey at 05:15 PM - 17 comments
I always like Brett, he had a good sense of humor about a very violent game. And he was awesome at it.
posted by fenriq at 11:08 PM on October 15, 2005
I was kind of surprised especially with the way Gretzky had been talking in interviews about Hull being a team leader and an important emotional player. Yet another reason I'm still pissed about last season being cancelled. No Hull, no Messier...meh.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:17 PM on October 15, 2005
I'm glad he's decided to hang up the skates before being forced to do so against his wishes. However, this is going to make for a VERY interesting situation at the HOF voting in 3 years. I wonder if by being on a roster this season, he avoids being in the same nomination class as Messier, Francis, Stevens, MacInnis and Larionov. Considering the NHL only allows for 4 players to be elected each year to the HOF, a couple of sure-fire players are going to miss their chance. If he's in the same nomination class, I vote in Messier, Francis, Hull and Larionov.
posted by grum@work at 11:18 PM on October 15, 2005
Yep. Got him in the pool. Sigh.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:53 AM on October 16, 2005
I admit I thought about you when I first saw this, Weedy.
posted by chicobangs at 04:54 AM on October 16, 2005
Also, I suspect the NHL may make an exception to the 4-person ceiling that year. They'll almost kind of have to. They waived the waiting period entirely for Wayne & Mario, so there's a precedent, and this is certainly a special case. The PR would be great; think of the gala bash they could throw for something like this. Maybe open a new wing or launch something new as well, turn it into a once-in-a-generation event, which is kind of what the HoF should sometimes be about anyway. And remember, they won't have a ceremony at all the year before. It wouldn't surprise me to see an induction class of 6 or more people.
posted by chicobangs at 06:48 AM on October 16, 2005
Hull scored the greatest goal in Dallas Stars history1, so I'll always like the guy for that, but there was something about his microphone hogging ways that got on my nerves. A definite Hall of Famer. 1: Stanley Cup Finals, Dallas vs. Buffalo, game 6 overtime winner. Obligatory defense of the shot: A player in possession of the puck could enter the crease.
posted by rcade at 08:48 AM on October 16, 2005
And remember, they won't have a ceremony at all the year before. Though there would not be any "fresh" nominees I can't see them not inducting new members. After all, the inductees this year were Murray Costello (builder), Cam Neely (retired in 1996) and Valeri Kharlamov (killed in a car accident in 1981).
posted by gspm at 10:09 AM on October 16, 2005
A player in possession of the puck could enter the crease. Hull was not in possession of the puck when he entered the crease. He had a foot in the crease, then tapped a rebound in. You can forget about the Pierzynski stuff, that was the mother of all blown calls. Hell, it gave the Cup, right there.
posted by qbert72 at 02:22 PM on October 16, 2005
It doesn't matter...both Brett Hull and Dominick Hasek would win a legitimate Cup together 3 years later in Detroit, so the non-goal is moot now... As for Hully retiring...I hate to see him go. One of the greatest to lace them up, and one of the great characters of the game. I cannot remember one interview with him that wasn't entertaining. I'm just glad he realized his skills were diminishing, and didn't try to drag his career out one more season, a la Paul Coffey...
posted by MeatSaber at 04:25 PM on October 16, 2005
Schilling in skates?
posted by yerfatma at 04:44 PM on October 16, 2005
Hull was not in possession of the puck when he entered the crease. He had a foot in the crease, then tapped a rebound in. His first shot bounced off Hasek, he kicked the rebound out of the crease to his stick, then scored. A player in possession of the puck can take it back out of the crease while he remains in it. I can, and will, diagram this if necessary.
posted by rcade at 08:16 PM on October 16, 2005
Never, ever try to convince a Sabres fan using facts. Just won't work.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:53 PM on October 16, 2005
I'm not a Sabres fan, I'm just friends with one, and he still hasn't swallowed the Hull goal. Had to stick up for him. rcade, there's no need to diagram, but if you've got a video replay somewhere on your hard drive, that would be really cool. A player in possession of the puck can take it back out of the crease while he remains in it. You'd also need to provide reference for this. Good thing the stupid crease rule is gone.
posted by qbert72 at 11:50 PM on October 16, 2005
Brett Hull had a few controversial goals that won huge championships, the aforementioned Stanley Cup skate in the crease, but also the borderline high-stick that deflected a goal in the 1996 World Cup when United States shocked Canada late in Montreal.
posted by the red terror at 08:43 AM on October 17, 2005
ALSO, who can forget Brett Hull's great interviews with Kornheiser and Wilbon, when Hull said he entertained the thought of being NHL Commish. What's the first thing you'd do as commissioner, they asked. Hull replied that he would eliminate teams from the league, too many bush-leaguers spoiling the attraction, he reckoned. But, you're a player right now, they said, how does the NHLPA feel about this view? Hull shrugged his shoulders. He never could hide a secret. Miss him already...
posted by the red terror at 08:46 AM on October 17, 2005
His bio and career stats.