[News] Hakan Loob to step down as GM of Farjestad and retire from the game

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Definitely not. It has never been up there.

There used to be a sign that said L-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-B but that's about all I remember.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I mean, people like to pretend this, but a half century of history proves otherwise.

The Toronto hall very much is the NHL Hall of Fame. Once they got all the pre-NHL greats out of their system in the 40s and 50s, the voters have only paid token attention to non-NHL achievements.

They have started to change that though. Makarov wasn't elected on his NHL achievements. I would argue that Loob's NHL accomplishments, coupled with what he means to Swedish hockey - merits HHOF election.

[Strange Brew]

Makarov is one of the greatest to ever play the game. I have never heard that said about Loob.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

There used to be a sign that said L-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-B but that's about all I remember.

And they would add an "O" for every goal he scored, correct? Was that during his 50 goal season?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

And they would add an "O" for every goal he scored, correct? Was that during his 50 goal season?

Yup.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I was too young to pay attention to details when he was with the Flames as I was around 9 years old, but I read a lot about how he'd be amazing when he felt like it, but also disappear and be useless other times.

Yeah as getback mentioned, you are thinking about Kent Nilsson...Hakan Loob never took a night off and was as complete a hockey player as has ever worn the flaming C.

[CliffFletcher]

Loob is one of my favourite players ever. But the guy only played 450 games in the NHL. No chance he merits inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

[getbak]

My favourite Hakan Loob fact is that the Swedish League's equivalent of the Rocket Richard Trophy is the Hakan Loob Trophy.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Loob is one of my favourite players ever. But the guy only played 450 games in the NHL. No chance he merits inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

Makarov didnt even play that many.

Loob also played around 400 games in the SEL on top of his NHL stint.

He wont get into the HHOF but he most certainly should be there.

[Svartsengi]

Hakan Loob is one of my favourite Flames. Always hoped he would come over to the NHL and become GM of Calgary. Perhaps that can still happen after some time away from the game. He has a great record as GM in the SHL.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

There used to be a sign that said L-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-B but that's about all I remember.

They added anothe O everytime he scored a goal. That was the year he scored 50.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Loob is one of my favourite players ever. But the guy only played 450 games in the NHL. No chance he merits inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

No chance he "merits inclusion"? Or no chance he gets in? There's been very good arguments already as to why he *should* get it... a far cry from "no chance".

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by the2bears

No chance he "merits inclusion"? Or no chance he gets in? There's been very good arguments already as to why he *should* get it... a far cry from "no chance".

I would be interested in seeing an argument as to why Loob merits inclusion. I love the guy but I would need convincing. His NHL career does not come even close to HHOF worthy.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by redforever

They added anothe O everytime he scored a goal. That was the year he scored 50.

They also had an animation on the scoreboard for him. I think it was a "Loob Job" and had a car being jacked up.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I would be interested in seeing an argument as to why Loob merits inclusion. I love the guy but I would need convincing. His NHL career does not come even close to HHOF worthy.

My problem is with the "no chance" part of the original comment, which I emphasized by quoting it. I mentioned there were good arguments put forth already. So "no chance" is pretty damn strong a statement, don't you think? Or is there really "no chance" he merits inclusion?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I would be interested in seeing an argument as to why Loob merits inclusion. I love the guy but I would need convincing. His NHL career does not come even close to HHOF worthy.

As other people have already mentioned, it is the HHOF, not the NHLHOF. His track record in the NHL is probably not enough to get him in, but his time in the SEL as both a player and as an executive does warrant some serious consideration. His impact on hockey in Sweden was huge, and Sweden's impact on hockey overall has been big.

Shoo-in like Makarov (who was disgustingly passed over for way too long himself)? No, I wouldn't go that far, but he is definitely deserving of some serious consideration at least.

You have to base that conversation around his entire career in hockey overall, not just his tenure as an NHL player.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I mean, people like to pretend this, but a half century of history proves otherwise.

The Toronto hall very much is the NHL Hall of Fame. Once they got all the pre-NHL greats out of their system in the 40s and 50s, the voters have only paid token attention to non-NHL achievements.

I don't really like to "pretend" anything like that, because that would be weird.

Vladislav Tretiak is there, and Hayley Wickenheiser will be too. That's not really "token" stuff that they were up to.

[Steve Bozek]

Comparing Loob to Makarov for HHOF eligibility is reasonable, and I think Loob comes out pretty well.

Before he came to Calgary, he was already a star in the SEL, and was optimistically being labelled "the Swedish Gretzky". In Calgary he was outstanding,and a big component in the powerhouse teams of the late '80s. His seasons in the NHL were better than Makarov's, and although Makarov had flashier skills, I'd argue Loob was a more complete (200 foot) player, in addition to having a 50 goal season. In 1990, when Gretzky was asked what was wrong with the Flames (with Makarov, but bounced inthe first playoof round), his answer: "They missed Loob".

When he returned to Sweden, he continued to be a star, and then a "builder" executive. He's as important to Swedish hockey as Makarov is to Russian hockey. He should be in the hall.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Except for the fact that Makarov was a better player. Dominating on an international level and was kept from the NHL due to political reasons. Loob on the other hand was primarily a 30-40 goal scorer in the NHL when every team had a couple 30-40 goal scorers, who left the NHL willingly to play in a second rate league. He isn't a Hall of Fame player based on any objective standard, with most people just arguing that he meant a lot to Swedish hockey. He is more similar to Mats Naslund than Makarov.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by the2bears

My problem is with the "no chance" part of the original comment, which I emphasized by quoting it. I mentioned there were good arguments put forth already. So "no chance" is pretty damn strong a statement, don't you think? Or is there really "no chance" he merits inclusion?

I'm just not really clear on what Loob did in Sweden that is HHOF worthy. I hear he had a nickname as the Swedish Gretzky and was a great player, and important to Swedish hockey, but I just haven't read specifics on what those are. And if he were to be elected, he would be the first elected primarily based on their contributions to Swedish hockey.

IMO guys like Makarov and Tretiak are drastically different than Loob. They played on some of the greatest teams ever, and were one of the greatest players of their era. Period. Makarov's NHL career was only a footnote and was well past his prime when he was here.

I just haven't seen any detailed argument for Loob's inclusion other than a statement that he was important to Swedish hockey.