Does Kevin Lowe belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Former NHLer and current Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Craig Simpson gave his former teammate Kevin Lowe big praise yesterday, saying the former defenceman belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame (HOF).

This has been a topic discussed on Twitter the past few days, after Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic wrote an article suggesting Lowe has HOF credentials. Though his career point totals of 84 goals and 432 points in 1254 games don't scream HOF, Lowe does have six Stanley Cup rings as a player.

To show just how truly incredible this is, there are only five players in NHL history who have won six or more Cups without playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Those players are Red Kelly, Bryan Trottier, Glenn Anderson, Mark Messier, and of course, Lowe. Out of those five players, Lowe is the only one not currently in the HOF.

As Duhatschek's article suggests, simply being on a good team who won a lot of championships doesn't necessarily mean a player is HOF worthy. However, Lowe was an integral piece of the Oilers blueline, playing many important minutes during their Cup wins. Paul Coffey, another former Oiler and a Hall of Famer, also believes Lowe deserves to receive the honour.

“The consummate pro, the consummate team guy, the consummate guy who played every game – a guy who could chip in offensively when needed, but was just a rock on the back end… Kevin brought as much off the ice as he did to the team on the ice. He was great in the dressing room. He got in guy's faces. He wasn't afraid to be that leader in there. He was great with the media, which helped us all.

“I always say it – and I say it with the utmost respect – six Stanley Cups. His day will come, hopefully this year with the Hockey Hall of Fame, because he definitely deserves to be there.”

Out of Lowe's six Cups, five came with the Oilers between 1984-1990, and one with the New York Rangers in 1994. This sparks an interesting conversation regarding the HOF. Should it be based entirely off of offensive statistics, or should intangibles also be considered? Fans may have varying opinions, but there is no doubt which way his former teammates would vote if they were able to.

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