There Will Never Be Another Dale Hunter

by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 2:17 PM EST

This morning I noted that "On this date back in 1998, Dale Hunter had three helpers and reached the 1,000 point plateau, becoming the first - and still only - player in NHL history with 1,000 points and 3,000 PIMs in a career."

Maruk commented that Huntsy may be the only member to ever enter that exclusive club, and while you never say never... he's probably right. A quick glance at the active Top 100 in points and PIMs makes you realize that it's unlikely anyone currently playing is going to reach the double milestone, but let's take a look at just how unlikely.

We'll be very generous and assume everyone's career per game totals for points and PIMs stay constant (which would obviously be increased production for most if not all of these guys), which yields the following results, in which "Games" and "Seasons" represent the number of games and 82-game seasons the player would need at that pace to achieve both milestones:

Player	Points	PIMs	Games	Seasons
Chris Chelios	948	2,877	89.7	1.1
Gary Roberts	906	2,549	214.6	2.6
Keith Tkachuk	1,011	2,139	440.4	5.4
Owen Nolan	821	1,737	792.6	9.7
Chris Gratton	567	1,636	905.4	11.0
Darcy Tucker	445	1,337	1,048.5	12.8
Rob Blake	728	1,578	1,050.7	12.8
Bill Guerin	793	1,550	1,074.9	13.1
Chris Pronger	586	1,417	1,097.0	13.4
Ed Jovanovski	417	1,260	1,214.6	14.8

Think Darcy Tucker has another 13 seasons in him? Me neither. Interestingly, Chelios is the only player who would hit the 3,000 PIM mark before he reaching 1,000 points (which, of course, Tkachuk already has). And in case you were wondering, Sean Avery will need another 1,871 games (22.8 seasons) to join the club. I'll take the under.

As for the current Caps team, here's a look at how long it will take some of them:

Player	Games	Seasons
Chris Clark	2,204.0	26.9
Alexander Semin	2,841.9	34.7
Sergei Fedorov	3,302.0	40.3
Donald Brashear	3,753.7	45.8
Mike Green	4,065.6	49.6
Michael Nylander	4,928.6	60.1
Alexander Ovechkin	4,200.2	51.2
Brooks Laich	7,105.4	86.7
Nicklas Backstrom	9,102.0	111.0
Karl Alzner	*	*

Those stars next to Alzner's name? They're for infinity, as in Alzner will never get to both milestones because he has yet to commit a penalty in the NHL.

So what do you think? Will anyone ever again rack up 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes in the NHL and join Dale for a celebratory cigar, or is he destined to be the only member in as exclusive a club as exists in hockey history?

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I’d have to think at this point no. You could write Dale in for scoring 20+ goals, 55+ points and 225+ PIMS just about every year. Plus he never got hurt (he only played less than 75 games once in his first dozen years in the league). That kind of durability and mix of consistent scoring and grit is rare.

"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."

by Bald Pollack on Jan 9, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions

All this talk reminded me of that monster year Probert had in the late 80s with Detroit. Memories…

"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."

by Bald Pollack on Jan 9, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Bob Probert’s 1987-88: 29 G, 33 A, 398 PIMs, +16

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Do I think it’ll ever happen? No but I sure would love to see Della-Rovere give it the old college (junior??) try.

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 9, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions

I dunno, I think Della Rovere if he stays witth the Caps could give it a good honest go. :)

by gotsparkly on Jan 9, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

Alright. Not even I can stomach this line of discussion. :)

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 9, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

J.P. got butterflies in his stomach….

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 9, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

I hope not.

Tho’ Chelly is pretty close. Was it when he retired or when his number went up that the Caps gave him the old penalty box from out at the Cap Center? He, his numbers, his bad-ass style of play (“if you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying”), and his big-as-the-sun smile will ALWAYS be the kernel (the gist) of the franchise, leastways for me.

by Uncle C on Jan 9, 2009 2:58 PM EST reply actions

They gave him the box when they retired his number…I remember being at that game and thinking it was pretty much the coolest thing ever.

by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Jan 9, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

All Rob Ray got was the door to the Aud penalty box…

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Jan 9, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

The record is safe!

1) “Think Darcy Tucker has another 13 seasons in him?” The way he looks he doesn’t have THIS season left in him!
2) Chelios is not going to get another 100+ PIMs. The 52 points are certainly out of reach even if he plays till he’s 50 (Is that next year?) ; )

by Fauxrumors on Jan 9, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Cheli would’ve been a shoe-in for the PIMs if the refs continued to call penalties the way they did year one post-lockout.

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Jan 9, 2009 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

A Hunter story

We were season ticket holders at the old Cap Centre (USAIR, etc.) for about 20 years until 97. In 94, the Eagles were on their first (!) comeback tour and as STH’s we got some nice seats about 10 rows up from the floor right next to the stage. Just before showtime, the empty row in front of us started filling—Craig Berube and wife/GF, Dave Poulin and wife, and a woman by herself. Who was her escort, we wondered? Then as the first number started, and everyone was going nuts, who squeezes into the row, but Dale, not looking too happy. He proceeded to pretty much sit thru the show like a bump on a log, so I guess he was no a big Eagles fan, or maybe he and the wife were sparring. Anyway. it was fun memory.

by OldPhil on Jan 9, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions

Now that you’ve published this information I’d think Chris will be taking a run at it.

by hotdog88gt on Jan 9, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

If Gary Roberts got called for penalties every time he committed a penalty he probably would be at 3000. Atleast

But that would still leave him 95 points short…And his body has really fallen apart the past 12-18 months, so he doesn’t have it in him.

by Hooks Orpik on Jan 9, 2009 5:02 PM EST reply actions

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