The Back Check

By: The Back Check
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  • Bill and Riley debate which NHL players belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame and which don't. Episodes every few weeks.
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Hockey
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Episodes
  • E98 Episode 98: Part 1 of the Class of 1966

    E98 Episode 98: Part 1 of the Class of 1966
    Dec 18 2023
    Episode Notes Part 1 of 3 on the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 1966, featuring Toe Blake: 1934-48; 14 seasons, 12 quality Totals:235G (7th All Time at his retirement),294A (2nd All Time at his retirement - Cowley) for 529P (t-2nd All Time at his retirement - Cowley) in577 Games (18th All Time at his retirement);52.6 Point Shares (25th All time at his retirement);At his retirement, Blake was 18th All time in Offensive Point SharesPer Game: At his retirement, Blake wasT-8th All Time in GPG (14 qualifying players)2nd All Time in PPG (4 qualifying players - Cowley, Stewart, Syd Howe);Blake doesn’t qualify for the APG leaderboard but if we lower the qualifier so he does (250A), at his retirement, Blake was2nd All Time in APG (5 qualifying players, Cowley, Boucher, Watson, Syd Howe)Era: Of the 13 skaters to play in at least 492 games (6 modern seasons) between 1934 and 1948, Blake is1st in Goals (by 31)1st in GPG2nd in Assists2nd in APG2nd in Points2nd in PPG2nd in Offensive Point Shares5th/4th Forward in Defensive Point Shares (9/8 qualifying Forwards)5th in Point Shares2nd in Games Played82-game average: 34G, 42A for 75P3-year peak (1942-45): 50-game average of 28G, 39A for 67PPlayoffs:25G (t-3rd All time at his retirement - Richard, Drillon)37A (1st All Time at his retirement) for62P (1st All Time at his retirement by 9P) in58 playoff Games (20th All Time at his retirement)Per Game: At his retirement, Blake was4th All Time in playoff GPG (Richard, Kennedy, Drillon - 7 qualifying players)2nd All Time in playoff APG (Lach - 3 qualifying players: Cowley)1st All Time (by .4) in playoff PPG (2 qualifying players: Apps)Era: Of the 46 skaters to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1934 and 1948, Blake isT-2nd in playoff Goals2nd in playoff GPG1st in playoff Assists1st in playoff APG (by .09)1st in playoff Points1st in playoff PPG (by .25)15th in playoff Games Played Frank Brimsek: 1938-43; 1945-50; 10 seasons, all as a starter Totals:252W (3rd All Time - 1st American - at his retirement - Broda, Thompson),182L (5th All Time - 1st American - at his retirement - Worters, Broda, Roach, Thompson),80T (3rd All Time - 1st American - at his retirement - Broda, Worters; 5th American All Time - Vanbiesbrouck, Miller, Barrasso, Quick);40 SO (11th All Time - 1st American - at his retirement);95.4 Point Shares (3rd All Time - 1st American at his retirement - Broda, Thompson) in31,230 Minutes (3rd All Time - 1st American at his retirement - Broda, Thompson) over514 GamesAverages:2.70 GAA (12th All Time at his retirement - 17 qualifying players)Era: Of the 14 goalies to play in at least 82 games between 1938 and 1950, Brimsek is1st in Wins1st/last in Losses2nd in Ties1st/last in Goals Against6th in GAA2nd in Shutouts1st in Minutes2nd in Point Shares1st in Games PlayedSeason average: 25-18-8; 4 Shutouts; 9.5 PS82-game average: 40-29-13; 6 Shutouts; 15.2 PSPlayoffs:32W (2nd All Time at his retirement - Broda, behind by 23),36L (t-1st/last All Time at his retirement);2 SO (t-16th All Time at his retirement) in4395 Minutes (2nd All Time at his retirement - Broda, behind by nearly 1400) over68 playoff Games (2nd All Time at his retirement - Broda, behind by 23);Averages:2.54 (t-10th All Time/last among qualifying players at his retirement)Era: Of the six goalies to play in at least 20 playoff games between 1938 and 1950, Brimsek is2nd in playoff Wins (behind by 19)1st/last in playoff Losses1st/last in playoff Goals AgainstT-4th (2nd last) in playoff GAAt-4th/last in playoff Shutouts2nd in playoff Minutes (behind by nearly 800 minutes)2nd in playoff Games Played (behind by 14) Babe Pratt: 1935-47; 12 seasons, 11 quality by DPS Totals:83G (17th/7th D All Time at his retirement),210A (2nd/1st D All Time at his retirement - Clapper) for293P (5th/2nd D All time at his retirement - Clapper, Goodfellow, Hollett, Siebert) in518 Games (12th/8th D All Time at his retirement);64.7 Point Shares (15th All Time at his retirement, 9th/7th D)At his retirement, Pratt was 8th/7th All Time in Defensive Point SharesAt his retirement, Pratt was the 12th/6th D All Time in Offensive Point SharesPer Game: Obviously Pratt doesn’t qualify for any Per Game leaderboards but, if we lower the qualifiers so he does (75G, 200A, 275P), at his retirement, among D*, Pratt wast-16th/10th D All Time in GPG1st D All Time in APG (2 qualifying players - Clapper)4th/1st D All Time in PPG (4 qualifying players - Schmidt, Goodfellow, Clapper)Era: Of the 15 D* to play in at least 328 games (4 modern seasons) between 1935 and 1947, Pratt is5th/2nd in Goals7th/2nd in GPG1st in Assists (by 42/49)2nd/1st in APG1st in Points5th/2nd in PPG3rd/2nd in Offensive Points Shares1st in Defensive Point Shares2nd in Point Shares1st in Games82-game average: 13G, 34A for 47P3-year peak (1942-45): 50-game average of 16G, 32A for 48PPlayoffs:12G (3rd/1st D All Time at his retirement - Schmidt, Clapper),17A (3rd/2nd D All Time at his retirement - Hollett, Colville) for29P (t-2nd/2nd ...
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    54 mins
  • E97 Episode 97: Hall of Fame Class of 1967

    E97 Episode 97: Hall of Fame Class of 1967
    Nov 20 2023
    Episode Notes Turk Broda: 1936-43, 1945-52; 14 seasons, 11 as a starter, 1 as a 1A Totals:304W (1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1950 to 1958)222L (2nd All Time at his retirement)102T (19th All time, 1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1949 to 1955);61 SO (6th All Time at his retirement);120.4 PS (1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1950 to 1956) in38,182 Minutes (1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1950 to 1955) over629 Games (1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1950 to 1955)Averages:2.53 GAA (11th All Time at his retirement)Era: Of the 11 goalies to play in at least 164 games (2 modern seasons) between 1936 and 1952, Broda is1st in Wins (by over 50)1st/last in Losses1st in Ties (by over 20)1st/last in Goals Against4th in GAA1st in Shutouts by over 201st in Minutes (by nearly 7,000)1st in Games (by 115)Season average: 22-16-7; 4 SO; 8.6 GPS82-game average: 40-29-13; 8 SO; 15.7 GPSPlayoffs:60W (17th All Time, 1st All Time at his retirement by nearly double - held the record from 1947 until 1969)39L (1st All Time at his retirement)13 SO (9th All Time, 1st All Time at his retirement by 44% - held the record from 1950 through 1969) in6,387 Minutes (19th All Time, 1st All Time at his retirement by nearly 2,000 - held the record from 1943 until 1970) over101 Games (20th All Time, 1st All Time a this retirement by 49% - held the record from 1943 until 1968);7th All Time at his retirementEra: Of the 9 goalies to play in at least 20 playoff games between 1936 and 1952, Broda is1st in playoff Wins (by nearly double)1st in playoff LossesThe only goalie to record a Tie1st/Last in playoff Goals Against3rd in playoff GAA (with 3 ½ times as many GP as 1st place and over four times the GP of 2nd)1st in playoff Shutouts (by nearly double 2nd)1st in playoff Minutes (by nearly 2000)1st in playoff Games (by 49%)Adjustment for Era:2.68 Adjusted GAA (22nd All Time)Trades:Traded just before his 22nd birthday by Detroit to Toronto for cash - our Greatest Maple Leaf Trade of All Time Neil Colville: 1935-42 (as Centre), 1944-49 (as D); 12 seasons, five seasons quality as a forward and a further three as a D by modern standards of PPG/DPS Totals:100G,166A for266P in465 Games;36.8 Point Shares;Per Game: Coville obviously doesn’t qualify for any leaderboards, but if the qualifiers are lowered so he does, at his retirement Coville was not on any leaderboards; however at his departure for WWII, he wasT-7th All Time in APGT-13th All Time in PPGEra: Of the 38 skaters to play in at least 246 games (3 modern seasons) between 1935 and 1942, Colville is10th in Goals7th in GPG7th in Assistst-3rd in APG10th in PointsT-4th in PPGT-8th in Offensive Point Shares18th (9th/6th Forward) in Defensive Point Shares13th in Point Shares29th in GamesOf the 16 D to play in at least 164 games (2 modern seasons) between 1944 and 1949, Colville is11th in GoalsT-10th in GPG13th in AssistsT-8th in APGT-13th (3rd last) in PointsT-10th in PPG12th in Offensive Point Shares14th (3rd last) in Defensive Point Shares14th (3rd last) in Point Shares13th in Games82-game average: 18G, 30A for 47P3-year peak:As a forward (1938-41): 48-game average of 17G, 22A for 39PAs a D (1945-48): 60-game average of 5G, 11A for 16PPlayoffs:7G,19A (t-13th All Time at his retirement, t-4th All Time at his departure for WWII - Apps, Syd Howe, Boucher) for26P (t-12th All time at his departure for WWII) in45 GamesPer Game: Colville doesn’t meet any PG requirements (obviously), but if they are lowered so that he does, at his departure for WWII, Coville was2nd All Time in playoff APG (Cowley - ahead by .09)T-8th All Time in playoff PPGEra:Among the 74 skaters to play in at least 20 playoff games between 1935 and 1942, Colville isT-27th in playoff GoalsT-36th in playoff GPGT-3rd in playoff Assists5th in playoff APG6th in playoff PointsT-12th in playoff PPGT-14th in playoff GamesColville only played 6 playoff games once he switched to D and he scored a single pointAdjustment for Era:Hockey Reference:151G,283A for434PAdjusted 82-game average: 27G, 50A for 77P (+30P per 82 games)Per Game: doesn’t qualify for the leaderboardsVsX: Doesn’t qualifyTrades: Never traded Harry Oliver: 1926-37; 11 seasons, 5 quality by modern standards of PPG Totals:127G,85 A for212P;39.1 Point Shares in465 Games;At his retirement, Harry Oliver was 22nd All Time in Offensive Point SharesT-25th Forward All Time in Defensive Point SharesPer Game: Oliver does not qualify for any PG leaderboards but if we lower the qualifiers so he does (125G/75A/200P), at his retirement he still doesn’t make the Top 25Era: Of 30 skaters to play in at least 410 games (5 modern seasons) between 1926 and 1937, Oliver is15th in Goals15th in GPG22nd in AssistsT-22nd in APG17th in Points18th in PPG14th in Offensive Point SharesT-13th Forward in Defensive Point Shares18th in Point SharesT-15th in Games82-game average: 22G, 15A for 38P3-year...
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    51 mins
  • E96 Episode 96: Hall of Fame Class of 1968

    E96 Episode 96: Hall of Fame Class of 1968
    Oct 16 2023
    Episode Notes Bill Cowley’s Career: NHL: 1934-47; 13 years, 11 quality by modern standards of PPGTotals:195G (16th All Time at his retirement),354A (1st All Time at his retirement, by 62, i.e. 21% more than 2nd - held the record from 1943-44 to 1950-51) for549P (1st All Time at his retirement - held the record from 1946-47 to 1950-51) in549 Games (t-25th All Time at his retirement);57.1 Point Shares (20th All Time at his retirement)At his retirement, Cowley was 12th All Time in Offensive Point SharesPer Game:At his retirement, Cowley was1st All Time in APG (only qualifying player)1st All Time in PPG (only four qualifying player)If the goals qualifier is lowered so he qualifies (150), and the assists (250) and points qualifiers (400) are lowered so other players qualify, at his retirement Cowley wasT-17th All Time in GPG1st All Time in APG (5 qualifying players, ahead of Blake by .13)1st All Time in PPG (12 qualifying players)Era: Of the 40 skaters to play in at least 492 games (6 modern seasons) between 1934 and 1947, Cowley is11th in GoalsT-7th in GPG1st in Assists (by 62)1st in APG (by .13)1st in Points1st in PPG10th in Offensive Point Shares31st in Defensive Point Shares (20th Forward)16th in Point SharesT-25th in Games Played82-game average: 30G, 52A for 82P3-year peak (1942-45): 50-game average of 32G, 48A for 80PPlayoffs:12G (t-31st All Time at his retirement),34A (2nd All Time at his retirement - Blake) for46P (3rd All Time at his retirement - Blake, Maurice Richard) in64 playoff Games (11th At his retirement)Per Game: At his retirement Cowley was3rd All time in playoff APG (nearly 50% of the leader) - Lach, BlakeCowley doesn’t qualify for the playoff GPG and PPG leaderboards, if we lower the qualifiers for goals (10) and points (30) and if we lower the qualifiers so that others qualify for GPG (20), at his retirement Cowley wasT-46th All Time (3rd last among qualifying players) in playoff GPGStill 3rd All Time in playoff APGT-8th All time in playoff PPGEra: Of the 44 skaters to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1934 and 1947, Cowley isT-16th in playoff GoalsT-22nd in playoff GPG2nd in playoff Assists2nd in playoff APG (behind by .11)2nd in playoff Points (behind by 16)T-5th in playoff PPG6th in playoff GamesAdjusted for Era:Hockey-Reference:252G,555A for807P82-game average: 38G, 83A for 121PPer Game: 2nd All Time in Adjusted APG (Gretzky)6th All Time in Adjusted PPGVsX:365G820A982PPer Game:t-22nd All Time in VsX Adjusted GPG3rd All Time in VsX Adjusted APG (Joe Primeau, Boucher)4th All Time in VsX Adjusted PPG (Bryan Hextall, Charlie Conacher, Bill Cook)If the qualifier is set to 410 Games, Cowley ist-21st All Time in VsX Adjusted APG2nd All Time in VsX Adjusted APG (Boucher)Still 4th All Time in VsX Adjusted PPGTrades:Never traded but acquired by Boston in the St. Louis dispersal draft Bill Cowley’s Accomplishments: Hart (‘41, ‘43)Top 5 in Hart voting a further two timesArt Ross* (‘41)Back Check MVP (‘41, ‘43)Back Check Best Player (‘41, ‘43, ‘44)All Star:1st Team All Star four times2nd Team All Star onceTop Player:Top 5 Player (by Point Shares) once (‘41)Top 10 twice (‘43)Best Offensive Player (by OPS) once (‘41)Top 5  four times (‘39, ‘43, ‘44, ‘45)Top 10 eight times (‘37, ‘38, ‘40)Goals:Leaderboards:Top 5 in Goals onceTop 10 four timesGPG leaderboards:Top 5 in GPG onceTop 10 three timesSingle-season totals:30 goals once25 goals three times (1 of only 13 skaters ever at his retirement)Assists:Leaderboards:Set the single-season Assists record (broke the previous record by 10) and held it for three seasonsLed the league in Assists three times (t-3rd most all time - Gretzky, Orr)Top 5 six timesTop 10 eight timesAPG leaderboards:Set the single-season APG record (broke the previous record by .14) in 1938-39, broke his own record in 1940-41, broke it again in 1943-44 and held that record until 1970Led the league in APG five times (4th most all time - Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr)Top 5 seven timesTop 10 ten times (t-9th most all time)Single-season totals:40 assists four times (most all time at his retirement)Points:Leaderboards:Led the league in Points onceTop 5 six timesTop 10 eight timesPPG leaderboards:Led the league in PPG four times (t-7th most all time)Top 5 five timesTop 10 seven timesSingle-season totals:70 points twice (1 of only 5 players ever at his retirement - Richard, Lach, Max and Doug Bentley)60 points four times (only player ever at his retirement)VsX Peak:Best 7 Seasons:Goals: 115th All TimeAssists: 9th All TimePoints: 19th All TimeBest 10 Seasons:Goals: t-130th All TimeAssists: 11th All TimePoints: 28th All Time Bill Cowley’s Great Teams: NHL:Best Player? (set the single playoff record in assists - broke the previous record by 57% - and set the single playoff record in points) on one Champion (‘39 Bruins)Best Player? (by points) on one Final Four (‘38 Bruins)Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘43 Bruins) and one Final ...
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    39 mins

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