Brett Hull retires

[bob_barron 0]

ESPN.com news services

 

Brett Hull, the third-leading scorer in NHL history, is retiring from the game, effective immediately, a source close to the Phoenix Coyotes said Saturday.

 

 

Earlier in the day, the Arizona Republic reported that Hull planned to announce his retirement before the evening's Coyotes-Red Wings game at Glendale Arena. Hull reportedly will retire after five games with the Coyotes.

 

The team scheduled an 8 p.m. ET news conference to make a major announcement.

 

Hull signed with the Coyotes on Aug. 6, 2004, because he wanted to play for his longtime friend, Wayne Gretzky, who is in his first season as Phoenix's coach. Only Gretzky and Gordie Howe have more goals than Hull in NHL history.

 

Before the Coyotes' home opener a week ago, Hull's father, Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, had his number "un-retired" so his son Brett could wear it this season.

 

The 41-year-old Hull has one assist in five games this season. He has 741 goals and 650 assists in 20 seasons with Calgary, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix.

 

 

CBC and or TSN need to sign him ASAP.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Fuck Brett Hull. I never liked the guy (mostly because of his time with the Stars and Red Wings).

[bob_barron 0]

Wow, that's nice.

 

One of the best goal scorers to play the game, and I always loved that he was never afraid to speak his mind. I really think he'd be great on Satellite Hotstove.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I will acknowledge he was a hell of a player, I just personally don't like the guy.

[Slayer 0]

I am going to have to make a similar statement with my name in place of VX's name.

[the max 0]

Does Hull go in as a Red Wing? Blue? Star?

 

He won a Cup with the Wings, scored 207 points for them (92 g, 115 a), and was on the 2001-02 team widely considered to be one of the greatest teams ever.

 

With the Blues, he had four 100 point seasons. He tallied 936 points with the Blues (527 g, 409 a). He never even won the conference with the Blues however.

 

With the Stars, Hull scored the much debated 1999-00 Cup winning goal against the Buffalo Sabres. He scored 196 points in Dallas (101 g, 95 a).

[Guest cosbywasmurdered]

I am going to have to make a similar statement with my name in place of VX's name.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I agree. He was a talented player but he was an asshole. Jeremy Roenick is the same.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I am going to have to make a similar statement with my name in place of VX's name.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I am going to have to make a...aw, fuck it, but I agree.

 

I think the much debated goal with the Stars, the NHL wants to kinda sweep that udner the rug. I remember him as a Blue more than anything else, if nothing else because of his hair and the sportswrite's walk in the park with the Hull and Oates pairing. "Blues are man-eaters" was im sure the headline in St. Louis every time they won.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

I dig The Golden Brett. Sorry to see him go.

 

As for what team he goes in the HOF for......from a biased standpoint I wouldn't mind seeing him go in as a Red Wing but I just always see him as a St Louis Blue.

[Precious Roy 0]

As a super casual follower I always thought of him as a St. Louis Blue

 

Also, far as I knew he was already retired, so I don't see it as shocking

 

Where does he rate all-time?

[Guest Vitamin X]

That's funny because as a super casual follower, I always thought of him as a Dallas Star.

 

Maybe because my favorite team (Avs) were constantly battling his Stars for the spot of being best in the West.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

Where does he rate all-time?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

He has 741 goals and 650 assists in 20 seasons with Calgary, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix

 

I think he's third in career goals

[Kismet 0]

As a Red Wings fan, I think of him as a Blues player. I hated it when Detroit got him. Oh well, he's not on the team and now retired, the world is a bit better.

[the max 0]

I'm bored this morning, so Keltner list: Brett Hull.

 

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in hockey? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in hockey? I'd say that during his 1990-91 season, he was the best player in the NHL.

 

2. Was he the best player on his team? For a period of time, yes. With the Blues, he was the best player until 1994-95 when Al MacInnis joined the team. He also shared ice with Brendan Shanahan and Adam Oates.

 

3. Was he the best player in at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position? Yes and yes. Hull is one of the greatest right-wingers in recent history.

 

4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races? Hull was better than a point-per-game player in the postseason with the Blues (117p [67 & 50] in 102 games). His problem is that the Blues never won anything. They didn't so much as make the conference finals once in his stint with them.

 

5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime? Hull is retiring at the age of 41, but has struggled mightily this season (1a in 5 games). However, he was very good in his final year with Detroit.

 

6. Is he the very best player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame? No.

 

7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame? Yes. Hull is third all time in goals with 741. Only Gretzky and Howe are ahead of him in that regard. His 650 assists rank him 49th all-time. He's 18th all-time with 1351 points. Almost everyone ahead of him in points is either in or deserves to be in.

 

8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards? Absolutely. Hull's assists may not get him recognition, but being third all-time in goals certainly will.

 

9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics? Playing with Adam Oates (one of the greatest passers in the last 30 years) certainly helped his numbers in St. Louis. Hull had good talent around him for a good part of his career.

 

10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame? Yes. Hawerchuk and Kurri have been inducted.

 

11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close? Hull had three MVP type seasons, 1989-90 when his line went 72-41-113 and in 1991-92, his line went 70-39-109. He lost the MVP both years to Messier. In 1990-91, Hull went on a tear, going for 86 goals 45 assists for 131 points, finishing with a +23 (the best of his career). He won the MVP that year, for his first and only Hart trophy.

 

12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the players who played in this many All-Star games go into the Hall of Fame? Hull made 10 All-Star teams.

 

13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant? No. Simply put, his defense wasn't good enough to carry a team, he needed LOTS of help.

 

14. What impact did the player have on history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way? Hull will go down as one of the most dominant right wingers ever.

 

15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider? Hull, simply put, is an cocky asshole. But he's always been good for a soundbite and isn't afraid to speak his mind. He'll be in the game for a long time as an analyst.

[CanadianChris 0]

Players don't go into the HHOF as a member of a team. It's not like baseball where you need one team's cap on the plaque.

[the max 0]

I was going more for the "What team will you remember him playing for the most".

[CanadianChris 0]

Ahhhh...

 

Probably a Star, then.

[Slayer 0]

Tough call

 

He spent most of his career in St Louis, but won championships in short terms at Dallas and Detroit

 

He's like the Roger Clemens of the NHL

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I think of him as a Blue...

[Annabelle 0]

st louis blues

 

to say otherwise is just noodling for the sake of it. he scored 85 fucking goals with them one season. i think that qualifies him as at his best with them, in addition to being their best player which never happened on any other team he was on.

[Vampiro69 0]

I think of him still as a St. Louis Blue.

[the max 0]

I'm going to say St. Louis Blues. Even though he didn't win anything there, he compiled most of his stats as a Blue and won an MVP there.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I'm going to say St Louis as well ... Dallas would be second. I really don't think of his time as a Wing as being that memorable, so they're a distant 3rd.

 

It sucks for him that he didn't retire at the end of the last season, it would have been a more fitting way/time to retire. Hanging up the skates 2 weeks in the season because you're not pulling your weight ... not a glorious way to go out.

[redbaron29 0]

I remember him most for his dallas days.

 

Fuck Brett Hull. I never liked the guy

 

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