I hope so... we'll find out today. If it wasn't for his injury soaked career he would be a sure thing (thanks Ulf). No one played the game like he did before him or after him.

OK well there is my attempt at some hockey talk... goodluck Cam.

I hope so... we'll find out today. If it wasn't for his injury soaked career he would be a sure thing (thanks Ulf). No one played the game like he did before him or after him.

OK well there is my attempt at some hockey talk... goodluck Cam.

id love to see him at the podium, and ulffy come from the left side and take him out

Neely gets into it with Ulf Samuelsson in this 1993 game; it was Samuelsson who delivered the hit that injured Neely’s leg, forcing him out of a 1991 playoff series against the Penguins and setting off a chain reaction of other injuries throughout the rest of his career.

Neely may be the only supposed "tough guy" who's biggest fight was with Claude Lemeiux. Neely really picked to the toughest of the bunch to fight. He was nowhere near as good as he's purported to be. He played during an offensive era where any player with a decent scoring touch could score 50 goals. Case in point, Bernie Nichols did twice (I think) and Mike Gartner, Joe Mullen and many other mediocre offensively gifted players. Neely also never won any major award or the Stanley Cup, despite playing with God's gift to defense (at least in Bostonians minds) Ray Bourque. The thing that really kills me are the clowns who claim he was the first power forward. Apparently, they don't count Gordie Howe as a power forward. He got in for two reason: this years list of first balloters was terrible, and the Neely Foundation.

If he wants to find Ulfie, he can find him at Avon Old Farms in CT, he coaches there.

Neely's career lasted 726 games, more than enough to define a player. It's more games played than Sid Abel (612) and just a few less than former Bruin Bill Quackenbush (744). In those 726 games Neely had the numbers in relation to his games played -- 395 goals, 299 assists and 694 points. As a Bruin alone, his numbers are staggering -- 524 games, 344 goals, 246 assists, 590 points and a +140. The Bruins had a couple of very good teams in that time, but certainly never a GREAT one. During the 1993-94 season, he scored his 50th goal in his 44th game that season. Only Wayne Gretzky reached 50 goals in a season quicker. From the start of the 1989-90 season through the 1993-94 season, Neely scored 176 goals in 216 games.

I understand, my friends, that projecting statistics is an inexact science, and I believe in the case of Neely, not even necessary. I think his actual numbers stand alone. But, estimating on the side of caution, it is my belief that Neely would be entering this season as a 37-year-old with 700 goals. And with weight training and nutrition now part of the NHL scene, Neely would STILL be a strong and vibrant goal-scoring force. So, my friends, it is clear that this man, No. 8, had the offensive firepower we associate with Hall of Famers. And if that's all he did, he would worthy of induction.

But, as we know, there was more. He was a relentless forechecker, and insane body checker, and one of his era's better fighters. He set tone with his physical play. He made buildings rock. He lifted teammates with his checks and won games with his goals. A former NHL player told me over the summer that Neely was "the only player I was EVER actually AFRAID of as the game was going on."

As I look at the fine players who have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the past few years, I see players who couldn't match his physical game, and others who couldn't match his goal-scoring prowess. NEELY DID BOTH. And he did it in the clutch, when it mattered most - 57 goals and 89 points in 93 playoff games.

And he did it with class. Class in terms of fighting guys his own size, not resorting to cheap hits, and hitting with purpose. He showed courage and love of the game as he battled his serious injuries. He showed perseverance in dealing with the death of both his parents. He didn't dive, take cheap shots or flop. He was the kind of player who could have played in any era. Mothers and fathers named sons after him and he was a new generation of Bruins fans' Terry O'Reilly. He gave his heart, soul, hip, quad and knee to the Bruins, until every bit of hockey life was sucked out of him.