Andreychuk Finally Gets Hall Of Fame Nod

TAMPA, FL – Once again, the wait is finally over for Dave Andreychuk.

Andreychuk, the captain of the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning team that won the Stanley Cup, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 in his ninth year of eligibility. No stranger to waiting, Andreychuk holds the record for the most years (22) without winning the Stanley Cup before the Lightning’s victory.

Before the announcement came on Monday, June 26, Andreychuck was the only eligible retired player who scored more than 600 goals to not be elected to the Hall of Fame. His 640 goals place him 14th all-time in goals scored. Andreychuck is also the all-time NHL power-play goals leader with 274.

"When I look back I always think of hockey as a team game and it was never about me," Andreychuk told NHL.com. "As a player it is how we are taught and that makes this individual award even more unique."

Andreychuck was drafted 16th overall by Buffalo in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and playing 11 seasons with the Sabres. He was traded to Toronto on Feb. 2, 1993, along with future Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Daren Puppa. He went on to play with New Jersey, Boston and Colorado before signing with Tampa Bay before the 2001-02 season.

Andreychuk was not the only former Lightning player to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame for 2017. Mark Recchi, best known for his Stanley Cup victories with Pittsburgh, Carolina and Boston, played for Tampa Bay for 62 game during the 2008-09 season.

The other two NHL players named to the Hockey Hall of Fame for 2017 were Teemu Selanne, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, and Paul Kariya in his fifth year of eligibility. The Hockey Hall of Fame selects a maximum of four former NHL players each year.

The non-NHL players from this year’s Hall of Fame class are Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, college hockey coach Clare Drake and Danielle Goyette, a retired women’s ice hockey player.

The 2017 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is set for November 10-13 in Toronto with the following events:

• Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.: Hockey Hall of Fame Game, Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Air Canada Centre
• Saturday, Nov. 11: Inductee Q&A Fan Forum
• Sunday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.: Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic, Air Canada Centre
• Monday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m.: 2017 Induction Celebration, Hockey Hall of Fame (Induction Ceremony will be broadcast on NHL Network starting at 7:30 p.m.)

For more information on the Hockey Hall of Fame, visit www.hhof.com.

Patch staff photo