While the NHL badly trails the NFL, NBA and MLB when it comes to producing and harboring disreputable characters, the passing of Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz is a reminder that the NHL has had and its share of crooks. Anyone unfamiliar with the Wirtz story might want to get their hands on Mark Weinberg's biography: Career Misconduct.
Wirtz, like fellow felon Harold Ballard, is among the (dis-)Honoured Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Another of hockey's most disreputable figures, Alan Eagleson, has thankfully been expelled from the Hall.
Hockeydirt proposes that Wirtz, Ballard and Eagleson be nominated as the founding members of the NHL Hall of Shame.
Who else "deserves" to be recognized as hockey's most infamous characters? We're looking for idea. Here are a few possibilities:
Who else deserves consideration?
Craig MacTavish?
Posted by: chris | October 09, 2007 at 07:08 AM
Dan Quinn? If the charges were dropped, I'm not sure his inclusion would be fair. I have no idea (as we all don't) about the details of the incident, but it's not quite right to have a GUILTY flag over his head if he has no record.
Billy Tibbetts - No brainer
Posted by: Jes Golbez | October 10, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Are you guys fucking idiots?
dino cic, heatly????
Get a fucking clue. I'm not reading USA today anymore!!!!
Posted by: get a grit . com | October 16, 2007 at 09:31 PM
owner of the LA Kings who ended up in jail......what's his name?
Mac(something)
also, how about Rick Tocchet?
and who can forget Bobby (Clubber) Clark
Posted by: dh | October 18, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Colin Campbell
Posted by: mike | October 30, 2007 at 02:40 PM
ur links are the same for Mike Danton & Dany Heatley
Posted by: fan | November 05, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Doug gilmore
Posted by: DK | November 07, 2007 at 08:18 AM
Why danny Heatley?
Posted by: Goon | November 14, 2007 at 07:02 AM
Why Heatly? Doesn't the name Dan Snyder ring a bell with anyone?
Anyway, what about Ulf Samuelsson?
Posted by: DMG | November 21, 2007 at 08:08 AM
I am not so sure I would put Danny Heatly on the list.
Sure he was the driver in an accident that killed team mate dan snyder the snyder family forgave Heatly and to include him in the same list as a bunch of criminals is a disservice.
Posted by: Eric Burton | November 28, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Sean Avery, Steve Ott, Daniel Carcillo. Just for being punks
Posted by: Brent | December 09, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Kevin Lowe for trading Ryan Smyth.
Ryan was the brother, son, friend, the guy next door - what hockey is about to everyone who watched. He loved the game and made you love it as well. T
Posted by: ida_parker@yahoo.ca | January 12, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Chris Pronger - just because!!!
Posted by: IEP | January 12, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Theres no way Danny should be on there, look at him now..
Posted by: Tyler | March 21, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Pronger
Posted by: john | March 25, 2008 at 09:15 AM
you can put a host of names on this list, but every one should start with bill wirtz. no one in possibly the history of sports has ruined a franchaise like he has. it is truly shameful what this man has done. add the fact that the nhl has not made him accountable and there is no equal, we are just talking about who is number two on the list.
Posted by: jacques dolbeau | October 09, 2008 at 07:24 PM