Ron Francis

It may surprise the casual NHL fan (or even many of the die-hard fan) that Ron Francis is number two all-time in career assists. Actually it is easy to see why Francis is sometimes forgotten. Francis may be a member of the 500 goal club, but he never was in the top ten in goals. He also never played for Canada in the Olympics, the World Cup or the Canada Cup. He did win the Stanley Cup with the Penguins twice, but that was not his team, as it was Mario Lemieux’s. Still, Francis was a two time Assists winner in the NHL and a three time Lady Byng Award winner. Throw in a Selke Award showcasing his defensive prowess, and you have the makings of legitimate first ballot Hall of Fame entry, and one whose durability and solid two way play should be celebrated more than it is.