Claude Provost: Alone Among HHOF Exclusions

[CentreHice]

Claude Provost

Every other player (and executive, so I've learned) with at least 8 Cups is in the Hall of Fame.

Not only is Claude Provost the only player with 8 Cups to not be inducted....he won 9!

1956, 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66, 68, 69.

Charged with shutting down opposing superstars along the way, he was the "Bob Gainey" of his era. There was no one better in that role...as integral as any Hab has ever been. He would've owned the Selke Trophy had it been around. And he also managed 15 or more goals in 9 of his 15 seasons. Adding to those accomplishments, he was the first recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Way beyond time for his induction.

(Ironic that my link is from the HHOF site...because of the Masterton Trophy)

[GNick99]

I can remember him playing but his best hockey was before my time.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Sept 8, 2013 19:15:13 GMT -5 GNick99 said:

I can remember him playing but his best hockey was before my time.

He skated with the widest stride of any player ever and shut down and frustrated Bobby Hull like no other. I really liked him but I have a higher standard of entry. If it was up to me there would not be a single leaf in the hall.

[jkr]

He played on a lot of Cup winners but those offensive numbers aren't high enough for people to consider him.

[CentreHice]

Aug 11, 2014 11:58:17 GMT -5 jkr said:

He played on a lot of Cup winners but those offensive numbers aren't high enough for people to consider him.

And yet...compared to Bob Gainey, who played exactly the same role as a career Hab...

REGULAR SEASON

Provost played 155 fewer games and scored 15 more goals and 72 more assists for a .586 ppg.

Gainey scored .432 ppg.

PLAYOFFS

Provost played 56 fewer games....and scored the same amount of goals (25) and 10 fewer assists (38) for a .5 ppg.

Gainey scored .4 ppg.

STANLEY CUPS

Provost 9
Gainey 5

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From the ourhistory section on Canadiens.com:

Provost played a tough but clean style of hockey, earning the respect of the guys he was assigned to cover. He was penalized much less frequently than most of the more primitive defensive specialists around the league, averaging about 35 penalty minutes a year.

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The main difference? Provost couldn't win a trophy that didn't exist. He'd have owned the Selke in his era. Gainey's captaincy and a Conn Smythe also figure into it, no doubt.

But they can't use points as an argument against Provost. He also stepped up when injuries to key players hit the Habs in the early 60s. "In 1961-62, Provost picked up 33 goals, tops on the depleted roster that year. In 1964-65, Provost led the Habs in points with 64, earning a spot on the First All-Star Team." source Also noteworthy from that year's playoffs is that he scored the series winner in Game 6 OT in Toronto, preventing a possible 4-year Leaf run.

Add the Masterton Trophy...his induction wouldn't be out of line, IMO.