gold star for USAHOF
Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

Jake Muzzin

Jake Muzzin had a nice 12-year career, split between the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Defenseman’s best years were in L.A., where he had three 40-point years and helped the Kings win the 2014 Stanley Cup. The Kings traded Muzzin to Toronto, where he stayed more on the defensive end.

Internationally, he competed in two major tournaments and won Gold in both of them: the 2016 World Cup and the 2015 World Hockey Championships.

32. Wander Franco

What a shame.

Before we get to why that is, let’s look at what Wander Franco was supposed to be. 

Franco was signed by the Rays in 2017 from the Dominican Republic and dominated in the Minors.  He was called up in 2021 and did enough in only 70 Games to finish third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.  Tampa was so impressed that they did something that they never do: they made a long-term investment in a player.  The Rays inked Franco to an 11-year contract extension worth 182 million.  He was only 20 years old and had the world by the balls.  Or so we thought.   We will get there soon.

Franco missed time in 2022 with hand injuries, though he still batted .277 with 87 Hits in 83 Games. He got off to a torrid start in 2023, making the All-Star team as an injury replacement for Aaron Judge and showcasing sparkling defence at Short. His power was up (17 Home Runs), and he had 30 stolen bases by early August, but he was placed on administrative leave due to alleged sexual activities with an underage girl.

Franco is unlikely to return to the Majors, and if we based this solely on character, he would not be here at all.  That is not how we work here, so Franco is ranked and will be until he is pushed out.

Devan Dubnyk

Devan Dubnyk was a professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL). He started his NHL career in 2006 with the Edmonton Oilers, two years after being selected by them in the first round of the draft. Dubnyk had to wait until 2012 to become a regular starter, after which he was traded to Nashville, where he served as the backup to Pekka Rinne. He then found himself back in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Dubnyk signed with the Arizona Coyotes in the 2014-15 season but was traded to the Minnesota Wild two months into the season, where he had the best run of his career. Dubnyk took the Wild on his back and helped them reach the playoffs. He had a remarkable GAA of 2.33 (1.78 with Minnesota) and finished the season with several accolades. Dubnyk was named a Second-Team All-Star, finished fourth in Hart voting, and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Dubnyk remained with Minnesota for two more seasons, during which he continued to perform well. He ended his NHL career with brief stints in San Jose and Colorado. Over the course of his career, Dubnyk posted an overall record of 177-113-28. His resilience, determination, and hard work characterized his career, earning him the respect and admiration of his teammates and fans alike.

Carl Hagelin

Carl Hagelin, a native of Sweden, began his North American career at the University of Michigan, where he became the first Swede to don the Wolverines jersey. In 2007, the New York Rangers drafted him in the sixth round. Hagelin made his NHL debut in 2011 on Broadway. His rookie season was a testament to his talent and character, as he scored 28 points while displaying exceptional two-way hockey skills.

Although not recognized as a high scorer, Hagelin was a dependable defensive forward who received Selke votes in three different seasons. Despite never reaching 40 points in a season, he recorded at least 30 points five times. Hagelin's most remarkable NHL career achievement occurred while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Hagelin played a crucial role in winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He also played for the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals. Hagelin has a silver medal from the 2014 Olympics, representing Sweden, to his name.