Today I wanted to talk about the newest NHL award - the NHL Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the 2008 NHL Awards show the NHL, nicely keeping the new award top secret, named Gordie Howe as the inaugural winner of the NHL Lifetime Achievement award. As Jason Kay of The Hockey News suggested, the NHL did it right with Mr. Hockey, although I still think it would have been nice to name the award after him.Now comes the question - who else gets this award? There are quite a few deserving candidates, and the best part is they are all truly hockey's best of the best. After a number of years this award might be seen as important as the Hockey Hall of Fame, assuming they keep it more exclusive of course.
Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, and Vladislav Tretiak immediately sprung into my mind, but let's be a bit more realistic. These guys are relatively young. We need to honor a few other greats who, sadly, may not be with us much longer.
In 2009 the player who should be enshrined has to be Jean Beliveau. Beliveau is hockey's most elegant figure, both when he graced the ice and since he left it. He turns 78 later this year, and has had some serious health problems. We need to ensure Beliveau is duly honoured while we have the chance.Beliveau has always represented everything great about hockey - on and off of the ice. He is an elegant gentleman, and a true legend of hockey. For me, there is no more obvious choice to immediately follow Gordie Howe.
Brian Costello of The Hockey News has started campaigning last year for 83 year old Ted Lindsay. It will be interesting to see how the NHL handles that one, as Lindsay was the driving force behind the original formation of the players association and therefore was vilified by the NHL powers that be. Bobby Hull, 70, is in a similar boat for his defection to the WHA.
Scotty Bowman, almost 77, is another obvious candidate. While little is known about this lifetime achievement award, I'm sure there is no reason why a non-player can not get it.
Then there is Howie Meeker, who turns 87 later this year. He was a good player and coach, a great and innovative broadcaster and hockey icon. He's faded away in recent years, but in my books Howie is an obvious honouree. Somehow I think the NHL will not get to him in time.
Who do you think should be honoured with the NHL's Lifetime Achievement award in upcoming seasons? Should they honour more than one player at a time? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
2 comments:
There's no one more fitting. Not Bobby Hull, or Pocket Rocket, or Johnny Bower, or anyone, and we could list many who come second. Jean Beliveau absolutely deserves this recognition.He comes first.
Milt Schmidt is 91 and should be considered as well, although I doubt he has quite the same name recognition the others have. Glenn Hall would also be a good choice. But, yeah, Beliveau seems to be the obvious pick.
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