Bob Boughner

His nickname was a play on his surname, but it was also very fitting. Bob Boughner, aka The Boogeyman, was a rough and tumble defenseman who was willing and able to take on all the league's toughest customers. He was very aggressive and loved to hit. He was a great teammate who would come to the aid of his friends in an instant.

And his teammates loved him for it.

"He's a total team player, he's a very tough guy and he'd always be happy to be the first guy in there to fight for anybody," said Jarome Iginla.

Boughner was by no means a goon. He 630 games in the NHL because he was a reliable depth defenseman and great teammate, first and foremost. He played a very conservative role as a depth defensive blue-liner. He could draw short-term assignments against the other teams top lines, but was more comfortable in the fifth or sixth role.

Boughner provided next to no offense (15 career goals) and was pretty much strictly a chip-it-off-the-glass type of defender. But with his physical exuberance he could set the tone of the game and for his teammates, knowing exactly when to inject needed energy into the game.

Not that anything ever came easy for the big right-handed rearguard. A second draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings back in 1989, Boughner spent five years in the minors before finally getting his shot.

Boughner had captained the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to the 1990-91 OHL championship in his final junior season but Detroit had too many veteran d-men in the early 1990s. Paul Coffey, Doug Crossman, Brad Marsh, Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon blocked the way for any prospects.

The Wings actually let him walk after three years. He signed with the expansion Florida Panthers but still never got a shot.

Things changed when Ted Nolan, Boughner's coach in Sault Ste. Marie, became the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. Nolan was sure to give his former captain a chance to make the team.

"He called me a few times and told me he was going to try and trade for me and it eventually happened (Feb. 1, 1996) ... That was my huge break. If it wasn't for Teddy, who knows? I could still be down there," said Boughner.

After his Buffalo breakthrough, Boughner was picked up by Nashville in the 1998 expansion draft before moving on to Pittsburgh, then Calgary, Carolina and finally Colorado. He never stayed anywhere too long to get comfortable. But his many teammates always appreciated him on and off the ice.

Boughner returned to junior hockey after hanging up his NHL skates in 2006. He purchased the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL and named himself president and CEO as well as head coach. He turned the Spitfires around remarkably, leading them to back to back Memorial Cup championships in 2009 and 2010, making him one of the top coaching prospects in the game.

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Andre Savard

This is Andre Savard. For 790 games over 12 seasons he was a solid two way checking center able to provide some offense. He started in Boston with the Bruins and ended his career in Quebec where he starred as a junior, but he is best remembered as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Bruins drafted Savard 6th overall in 1973, behind a couple of gems like Denis Potvin, bob Gainey and Lanny McDonald. Savard had a monster year in Quebec, scoring 67 goals and 151 points in just 56 games. 12 of those points came in a single game!

That offense was not nearly so potent in the NHL. He topped 20 goals three times, including a 31 goal, 74 point campaign in 1980-81, but generally speaking he was regularly a 20 goal, 40 point 3rd line center.

Savard was buried behind some big names in Boston, with the likes of Phil Esposito and Jean Ratelle ahead of him on the depth chart. That led to a stalemate when contract time came in the summer of 1976. The result was Boston trading his rights to Buffalo for the rights of Peter McNab, who similarly was having troubles coming to a new contract.

Where he came to excel at the NHL level was as a checking center. The fans appreciated it, too. He was named the most popular player in Buffalo as well as the unsung hero and most enthusiastic player team awards. I remember him best on a very effective line with Craig Ramsay and Ric Seiling. He and Derek Smith were shoehorned into the second line center spot at times.

A serious knee injury ended Savard's career prematurely. In 790 NHL contests Savard scored 211 goals, 271 assists for 482 points. In 85 playoff games he added 13 goals and 31 points.

He went on to become a long time coach, scout and manager. He had short stints as head coach in Quebec and as general manager in Montreal.

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Phil Housley

One of the best offensive defensemen in the high scoring 1980s, Phil Housley played 1,495 regular-season games played, which set the standards for all American born players. Housley also retired as the highest scoring US born player with 1,232 points (338 goals and 894 assists).

Housley began his NHL career with Buffalo in 1982. The 6th overall draft pick from 1982 skipped college and went straight from high school to the NHL without missing a beat. In his rookie season he scored 19 goals and 66 points by as a defenseman. There was no sophomore jinx for Housley, as he improved to an incredible 31 goals and 77 points in season two. He did spend some time playing left wing however.

Scoring was never a problem for Housley. He was a superior skater, blessed with speed and agility, and a powerplay specialist. He was equally adept at rushing the puck or making the perfect first pass out of the zone. His small stature gave him trouble on one-on-one battles in the defensive zone, and he struggled early in his career with his defensive game, but there were very few defensemen better at the transition game.

Housley was a mainstay in Buffalo until 1990 when he was part of the Dale Hawerchuk trade with Winnipeg. Housley's offense only improved in Winnipeg. In his third year he and a rookie named Teemu Selanne formed a special chemistry. Selanne smashed NHL records with 76 goals as a rookie, and many of those goals were on assists from Housley. Housley had a career high 79 assists and 97 points that season.

Selanne would never again come close to the 76 goal mark. Part of that reason was because of the break up as Housley was traded to St. Louis in 1993-94. It should be noted that Housley held out and demanded the trade. The story at the time suggested Housley was not happy paying high taxes in Canada and wanted to return to his native United States. How accurate that story is is debatable, but Housley burned a lot of bridges in Canada with the hold out.

Housley never challenged the point totals he had achieved in Winnipeg or Buffalo. His stay in St. Louis was short, as he moved to Calgary then New Jersey. In 2000 he rejoined Calgary and enjoyed a bit of a renaissance. He finished his career with two seasons in Chicago and one game in Toronto.

Throughout his career Housley endeared himself to the international game as well. In 1982, Housley played in the world junior championships. Seven times he would skate for Team USA at world championships. He played in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. He was a member of the victorious 1996 World Cup of Hockey team and the silver medal winning Team USA at the 2002 Olympic games. He is a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame.

So the question out there is this: Is Phil Housley's career worthy of inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

I've really struggled with this. I've always been on the no side, and so far the Hall obviously has been too. Though he has been eligible for some time now, he's never really gotten serious discussion time. Now as the logjam of superstars is beginning to clear, Housley's name may get more consideration.

Over time his totals still really impress, and his offensive approach to the game is rare and missed. He made other players better, particularly the likes of Dave Andreychuk and Teemu Selanne. But the same passage of time has allowed many to forget the flaws in his game. He was not great - or at times in his career not even good - defensively. Early in his career he was a complete adventure in his own zone. He settled down over the years, but was always susceptible to lapses. Remember that 97 point season in '92/93? He was minus 14 on a good team. And he provided next to no physical game at all.

Housley never came close to winning a NHL award. The closest was in '92/93 when he led all defensemen in scoring, but he finished 4th in Norris Trophy balloting. He never came close to any trophy nomination other than that.

And of course he never won a Stanley Cup. A lot of people think that is a must for inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame, though I do not agree with that. But Housley's playoff record was underwhelming at best.

The best modern day comparable player, in my opinion, is Brian Campbell. Campbell, too, is a wonderful skater and an offensive blueliner, albeit in a more defensive era. He, too, is soft in his own end, and despite some strong seasons has never been considered a Norris Trophy level defenseman. Campbell isn't exactly known for his defensive zone play either, but he is reliable. More so than Housley.

Phil Housley was a fun and entertaining player. Offensively he was elite. Defensively he was often an adventure. As much as I'd like to see an offensive minded dynamo like Housley rewarded, I have to say the Hockey Hall of Fame currently has it right by leaving Housley out of the Hall. You wouldn't induct Brian Campbell, would you?

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Donald Audette

Donald Audette was tiny at 5'8" and 185lbs, but he always showed scrappy resilience and a strong determination to overcome critics and serious injuries. He proved to be a solid player who could score big goals.

Born in Laval, Quebec on September 23, 1969, Audette was small but fearless. He used his short, choppy skating to power in and out of traffic to use his knack for finding loose pucks and rebounds. His work ethic was second to none.

But too many people dismissed him because of his lack of size and his graceless skating. He was passed over completely in the 1988 draft, despite scoring 48 goals and 109 points. The following year he scored 76 goals and 161 points in 70 games and another 17 goals in 17 playoff games earning the Guy Lafleur trophy as playoff MVP. Yet he was almost completely overlooked again. The Buffalo Sabres finally took a chance on him in the 9th round, selecting him 183rd overall.

Audette was determined to make it to the NHL and tore up the AHL in his first pro season. He scored 42 goals and was named as AHL Rookie of the Year. More importantly, he was called up to Buffalo in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He would play in 2 games.

Audette was the talk of the NHL early in the 1990-91 season. The undersized rookie unexpectedly made the team right out of training camp. He started the season on fire, scoring 4 goals and 7 points in 8 games. All seemed well for Audette. He had proved his detractors wrong. But on November 16th, 1990 his NHL career was placed in serious jeopardy. He tore the ligaments in his left knee and missed the rest of the regular season.

The hard luck kid worked hard to come back. Again he made the Sabres out of training camp. He went on to score an impressive 31 goals in just 63 games before another injury to the same knee ended his season yet again.

Missing the first twenty-two games of the following season, Don was slow to produce in his sophomore season, and many in the organization felt that the back to back knee injuries had taken their toll. He put up only 12 goals in 44 games.

Audette rebounded nicely in 1993-94, scoring 29 goals and adding 30 assists. He would score another 24 goals in only 46 games during the strike shortened 1995 season. By now everyone in the National Hockey League respected Audette as a spunky and dangerous scorer. He was at his best on the power play.

Knee injuries would derail him yet again. He would play in only 23 games in 1995-96 (scoring 12 goals) before having season ending surgery on his right knee. But yet again he bounced back in 1996-97 with 28 goals in 73 games. He followed that up with another healthy season in '97-98, scoring 24 goals in 75 games.

Audette had shown tremendous dedication and loyalty to Buffalo over the years, but a contract dispute saw him hold out for more money prior to the 1998-99 season. Just before Christmas he would be traded to Los Angeles. Audette would get the dollars with the Kings, but it must have been tough for him to watch his former teammates competing for the Stanley Cup just a few months later.

Audette put in a couple of years with the Kings before moving to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2000. He had his best year of his career in Atlanta, scoring 32 goals and 71 points in the 2000-01 season.

That was when his fairy-tale season came full circle. At the trading deadline in 2001 the Thrashers moved Audette back to Buffalo for another playoff push. It was a great story at the time, but ultimately the Sabres could not return to the Stanley Cup final.

That was Audette's last notable season. An unrestricted free agent, he signed with Dallas in 2001 but was soon moved to Montreal, where suffered a scary wrist injury. New York Rangers forward Radek Dvorak's skate accidentally cut Audette's wrist, severing several tendons.

Yet again, Audette persevered and returned to the game. He finished his career quietly in Florida, playing 28 games with the Panthers in 2004.

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