When the discussion was first opened up about who would get the nod this year — before the selections were announced — I looks up a few interesting numbers. For a base comparison I used another famous Hall of Famer that played an injury shortened career; Cam Neely.

Before anyone takes this the wrong way, I love watching old clips of Neely, so don’t argue as if I’m saying he should not be in the HoF. I’m not saying that at all.

Here are the numbers:
Neely: 13 seasons (7 good years of 65+ games)
Bure: 13 seasons (6 good years of 65+ games)
Both: never won a championship (as a player)
Neely: 5 all star selections
Bure: 6 all star selections
Neely: better playoff success (points)
Bure: better international success (medals)
Neely: three 50 goal seasons (including one 50 in 44 games)
Bure: three 50 goal seasons plus two 60 goal seasons
Neely: .544 goals per game
Bure: .623 goals per game
Neely: More games played, less points
Bure: Less games played, more points
Neely: electrifying power forward and scorer
Bure: electrifying skater and goal scorer
Neely: Played in high-scoring 80s and clutch and grab 90s (83-96)
Bure: Played in clutch and grab 90s-00s (91-03)

Based on this simple comparison, it’s hard to take seriously any arguments that Bure should have been excluded.