Sergei Makarov in Hall of Fame

[Flashpoint]

This was mentioned in the HOF inductees thread, but I genuinely feel it deserves it's own thread.

Pinder and Boomer scoffed at his induction on Monday, and couldn't be bothered to pronounce his name right, but I tend to think CP skews slightly older than most sports media sites, and I'm hoping there is a bit of appreciation to be found here for one of the most talented players who ever played... and still demonstrated those talents in his mid thirties.

I recall one night in Los Angeles where he was in on a 2 on 1 with Gilmour, and pulled back for a slapshot, did a complete 360 and put it right on the tape of Killer open side. Killer didn't score, and in the post game interview said he'd never seen anything like it.

The HHOF left him out for 20 years, (I always called it the "NHL hall of fame"), but in his prime many considered Makarov to be the equal of any of Canada's greats. It always pissed me off they would bring in role players or NHLPA "good guys" at the expense of one of the best players the world has ever seen.

Even if you were to set aside the Gold medals, USSR "Master of Sport" accolades, you STILL had to marvel at what a guy in his 30s was able to do.

He had 30 goals and 68 points at the age of 36 for crying out loud.

It's great to see him finally get the accolades he deserves for what he was as a hockey player, and hope some of you remember what he brought to the Flames when he was here.

As a kid, he was the guy you watched when you wanted to pick up some crazy new pond hockey move to try out on your buddies.

Makarov was the guy who could make the crazy pond hockey moves in the NHL

He was awesome.

[cral12]

Well in, Flashpoint. Agree with ya.

[TheScorpion]

Great thread. With you all the way on this.

[Zarley]

Long overdue! He was before my time, but from what I've heard he was up there with Kent Nilsson as one of the most talented Flames of all time.

[Table 5]

When I first watched Gaudreau, Makarov was the guy I was instantly reminded of. Even as an aging 30-something in the NHL, he was the ultimate wizard....I can't even imagine what he was like in his prime.

[Puppet Guy]

He deserves it, absolutely.

[locsofblu]

Best of the Russians.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Loved watching Sergei play. He was a real life NHL 93 player on the ice. He would skate down the wing, get the puck, and then just slightly spread his stance and start gliding / stick-handling until he could find the open pass.

The year Roberts passed 50 goals, he had ~5-10 tap-ins where Sergei deked defenders and fed him the puck about an inch from the goal line. Gary had a good chance at 60 that season had Makarov not missed a dozen games.

Well deserved.

[Calgary4LIfe]

If Pinder and Boomer scoffed at his induction, then really they are rather dumb.

Makarov was one of the world's premier players - right up there with the best of his era, including Gretzky, Messier and a bunch of other HOFs from that era.

Just because the majority of his career was played on the international stage shouldn't in any way make him any less of a worthy inductee. To scoff at it, is to show absolutely nothing but ignorance.

The guy came over to North America to play in the NHL disinterested and past his prime, especially during an era that was still very much 'training camp is when players get in shape', with guys like Tim Hunter being radicals in how they approached training, and yet still put up rather spectacular numbers and made everyone he played with better.

Makarov was - without a doubt - one of the most accomplished and most talented players to ever put on skates. It has been a huge injustice to have him wait this long to get inducted. Pinder and Boomer need to realize it is the damn Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame, and there is nothing to do but loudly applaud one of history's all-tiime greats entering the hall.

[Zarley]

Does he go in wearing a Flames jersey? Or CSKA Moscow?

[BloodFetish]

If the Hockey Hall of Fame is true to it's name then no question he should go in with the CSKA Moscow jersey.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Does he go in wearing a Flames jersey? Or CSKA Moscow?

Moscow, without any doubt.

[JiriHrdina]

It was primarily Pinder scoffing at the introduction, which frankly looked bad on him, as it seemed to indicate that he had no clue about Makarov's place in hockey overall, not just the NHL. Unimpressed.

[Igottago]

Makarov was my favourite player when I was a kid and he played for the Flames. I used to pretend to be Makarov when I played street hockey. He's one of the most important Russian players to ever play the game.

Can't believe anyone who actually gets paid to cover hockey would scoff at this. Idiots.

[Krynn]

Finally. congratulations Makarov

[drewtastic]

Tough too. Took a regular beating, but wasn't fazed. Just out-skilled other teams.

Great thread, overdue induction for sure!

[Zarley]

HHOF induction goes on monday and George Johnson has a nice article about Makarov and Roberts. It would've been nice to see the Flames do something to commemorate the achievement but I haven't heard of anything happening tonight. He's almost like a forgotten Flames despite being one of only three Calder Trophy winners in franchise history.

Here are some other articles about him:

Sergei Makarov was 'artistry' on ice -- and a deserving Hall of Famer

Sergei Makarov becomes 4th Hall of Famer who played for Sharks

Sergei Makarov 'was known as the Wayne Gretzky of Europe' in early '80s

[Locke]

Thank God.

For a second there I though we signed him after Grossman left.

You'd think crazier things have happened...

[killer_carlson]

There was a game against Winnipeg, I don't remember if it was in Winnipeg or in Calgary, but the Jets had two young russians on the team.

Makarov got a breakaway and the two Russians were so excited to see what he would do, they stood up on the bench in excitement yelling at each other. Apparently it didn't go over so well with some Jets, but they explained that this was the first time they'd got the opportunity to play against their Gretzky and were excited at what he might do on a breakaway.

That's always stuck with me as how good this guy must have been in Russia.

I sure hope the Flames do something special for him.

[Sylvanfan]

Pinder is an idiot. Makarov was the best offensive player on a very dominant Russian International team. We never did get to see his best hockey that often as he was past prime when he got to North America.

What's that storey with Gary Roberts again. Something like Roberts wife being pregnant and him telling Makarov that he'd name his child after him if he scored 50 because he was getting so many good chances on that line. When he did Makarov was serious about collecting on that wager. He was the second best playmaker in the era of Gretzky.