The Hockey Hall of Fame once again celebrated the best of the game by inducting five more influential figures on November 9.  This year’s inductees are:

BRETT HULL
This guy hardly needs an introduction as he is considered by many hockey fans to be one of the greatest players of all time.  Brett Hull, son of Bobby Hull, started his NHL career in 1986.  During his 20 years on the ice, he played for the Calgary Flames, St Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Phoenix Coyotes.  He amassed 741 goals (3rd all-time), 650 assists (48th all-time), 1391 points (19th all-time) and played 1269 games (43rd all-time).  He scored 50 goals in 50 games twice in his career - a feat that only he and Wayne Gretzky have pulled off multiple times.  He won the Lady Byng Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, The Lester B Pearson Award, and two Stanley Cups.

STEVE YZERMAN
Many will remember Steve Yzerman simply as “The Captain”.  He joined the NHL in 1983 and played his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings.  During the 1986-87 season, Yzerman was named captain of the team and remained there for the next two decades, thus becoming the longest serving captain of any North American major league sporting team.  It was this tenure that gave him his nickname.  Over his 23-year career, he won the Lester B Pearson Award, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Frank J Selke Trophy, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Lester Patrick Trophy, and four Stanley Cups.  He retired having scored 692 goals (8th all-time), 1063 assists (7th all-time), 1755 points (6th all-time), and 1514 games (12th all-time).

LUC ROBITAILLE
Luc Robitaille is perhaps most well known for his fourteen seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, but he played forward for more teams than one.  He joined the NHL in 1986, and during his 20 years on the ice, he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers.  He retired in 2006 as the highest scoring left winger in the NHL.  During his career, he gathered 688 goals (10th all-time), 726 assists (44th all-time), 1394 points (20th all-time), and played in 1431 games (20th all-time).   He was also awarded the Calder memorial Trophy, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles, 2007 Great Ones Award from the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation, and one Stanley Cup.

BRIAN LEETCH
Brian Leetch is the only defenseman in the Class of 2009 and is thought of by many as one of the best defensive players in NHL history.  He is especially remembered for his skating and playmaking abilities.  He joined the NHL in 1987, and played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins.  During his 18-season career he played 1205 games, amassed 247 goals, 781 assists (33rd all-time), and 1028 points.  He was also awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy twice, the Calder Memorial Trophy, the HS Player of the Year, HS Rookie of the Year, HS MVP Award, and is the only American player to be awarded the Con Smythe Trophy.

LOU LAMORIELLO
Many people know Lou Lamoriello as the CEO, president, and general manager for the New Jersey Devils and for good reason.  He joined the franchise in 1987 and has earned the honor of being the longest serving GM in the league with a single franchise.  He also briefly served as the team’s coach from 2005-2007.  When Lamoriello joined the Devils, he seemingly turned the team around, helping them post their first winning season in franchise history.  During his 20 year stint, the team has made it to the playoffs in all but two seasons, and appeared in four Stanley Cup finals - three of which they won.

Congrats to all inductees this year.

And now we jump from legends to legends in the making.  Don’t forget to check out all of the NHL action going on this week and be sure to put down a wager at BetUS as they will be offering odds on all of these upcoming games:

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

• Sabres @ Capitals
• Maple Leafs @ Lightning
• Senators @ Devils
• Flyers @ Islanders
• Canadiens @ Penguins
• Rangers @ Panthers
• Thrashers @ Red Wings
• Bruins @ Wild
• Blues @ Stars
• Predators @ Avalanche
• Kings @ Oilers
• Coyotes @ Flames
• Hurricanes @ Ducks
• Blackhawks @ Sharks

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26

• Blue Jackets @ Senators
• Kings @ Canucks

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27

• Devils @ Bruins
• Sabres @ Flyers
• Avalanche @ Wild
• Penguins @ Islanders
• Blackhawks @ Ducks
• Thrashers @ Hurricanes
• Maple Leafs @ Panthers
• Flames @ Red Wings
• Rangers @ Lightning
• Blues @ Predators
• Sharks @ Oilers
• Stars @ Coyotes

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28

• Islanders @ Devils
• Capitals @ Canadiens
• Flyers @ Thrashers
• Flames @ Blue Jackets
• Hurricanes @ Sabres
• Senators @ Bruins
• Rangers @ Penguins
• Lightning @ Stars
• Panthers @ Predators
• Red Wings @ Blues
• Wild @ Avalanche
• Oilers @ Canucks
• Blackhawks @ Kings

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29

• Coyotes @ Ducks
• Sharks @ Canucks

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