Copyright Canadian Press

Well, it’s about time! Finally, an injustice is over and Glenn Anderson will be inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame this Fall.

The 47 year-old British Columbia, Vancouver native had an outstanding NHL career spanning 18 years where he won six Stanley Cups including all five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers in 1994. After playing a year of college hockey at the University of Denver, Anderson was selected by Edmonton in the fourth round of the 1979 NHL Draft.

He made his Oiler debut in 1980-81 putting up nearly a point-per-game totaling 53 points including 30 goals in 58 games. He would go onto become a potent finisher on those high scoring Edmonton teams which won their first four Cups in a five-year span. Despite eight consecutive seasons of 30-or-more goals including two 54-goal campaigns and the only three 100-plus point seasons of his career, Anderson was always overlooked due to bigger stars Wayne Grezky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr.

Anderson was always very productive postseason performer putting up at least 25 points during three of the first four Edmonton championships. When Messier captained the fifth Oiler team to Lord Stanley, still there riding shotgun was the man with the trademark mustache. During the season, he had 34 goals along with 38 assists for 72 points in 73 contests. He continued his steady play helping his team win that elusive fifth Cup with 22 points (10-12-22) in 22 games.

A year before coming to the Rangers in a trade for Mike Gartner, Anderson nearly got the Maple Leafs to the Cup Finals teaming with Doug Gilmour to form a dynamic duo but their run fell short due to former teammate Gretzky whose hat trick eliminated Toronto in one of the best series ever played.

Though he played a smaller role in helping the Blueshirts to their first Cup in 54 years, Anderson’s leadership certainly helped in the locker room. He would move on to St. Louis before playing overseas a couple of years. Eventually, he returned to the NHL having one more brief stint with Edmonton before playing his final 15 games with the Blues. He concluded his professional career in Italy.

In 1,129 career NHL games, Anderson tallied 498 goals, 601 assists for 1,099 points. His postseason saw him post 93 goals and 121 helpers for a respectable 214 points in 225 career games.

After over a decade away, he’s going into Toronto where he belongs.

Joining Anderson will be former Russian great Igor Larionov. Considered by many to be the Russian version of the Great One, the 47 year-old Professor was one of the first players from his country to come over and play in the NHL going onto an outstanding 16-year career.

He was one of many Soviets including all four of his “Green Unit” members which included future Calder winner Sergei Makarov, Vladimir Krutov (KLM Line) along with D tandem Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov. The five players had all played together under legendary Soviet Union coach Viktor Tikhonov, who also doubled as the CSKA Moscow coach. Interestingly enough, he has a grandson with the same name who is expected to get drafted at this Friday’s entry draft.

It was Larionov’s leadership which led a Russian revolt against Tikhonov due to the crazy demands which had them confined to barracks for up to 11 months a year despite being married. He along with many of his fellow countrymen had accomplished so much winning two Olympic Gold medals at Sarajevo (1984) and Calgary (1988).

We’re talking about one of the greatest Russian players who amassed nearly a point-a-game in one of the best pro leagues finishing with 434 points (204-230-434 in 457 GP). Larionov also helped his country win four world championships and a gold in the 1981 Canada Cup. In the third and final one between Russia and Canada back in 1987 which went down as one of the most memorable, he and teammates came up just short losing in an ultra competitive three games against the Canadians when Gretzky fed a kid named Mario Lemieux for the winner with 1:27 to play.

A couple of years later, Larionov finally made his NHL debut playing three seasons in Vancouver. Though it took him some time to get acclimated to the North American style, he eventually became a solid player even helping future star and Calder winner Pavel Bure develop into a big scorer by centering his line in 1991-92. In 72 games, he had 65 points (21-44-65) and followed that with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 13 postseason games.

Larionov took the next year off from the NHL opting to play in Switzlerland before returning with the Sharks in 1993-94. It was there that he began to cement his reputation helping lead the eighth seeded club to one of the biggest first round upsets in Stanley Cup history eliminating the President’s Trophy winning Red Wings in seven games. After posting 56 points (18-38-56 in 60 GP) during the regular season, he was one of San Jose’s most dangerous players tallying five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in two rounds. They also pushed Anderson and the Leafs seven before being ousted.

Ironically enough, a couple of years later, Larionov would wind up with Detroit helping them win their first Cup in more than four decades. Amazingly, legendary coach Scotty Bowman played him with fellow Russians Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Kozlov, Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov in what became known to be as the Russian Five applying a common philosophy utilized by Tikhonov’s teams. Not surprisingly, they all had excellent chemistry helping the Red Wings win Lord Stanley in 1997.

The following year was emotional due to Konstantinov’s career-ending injury due to a limo accident. Still, the remaining Russian members along with a cast which included Steve Yzerman repeated as champs even wheeling the emotional former top defender out as part of the Cup celebration to loud cheers in the nation’s capital. It was definitely one of the more memorable Cup moments.

In nearly a decade with Detroit, Larionov was at his best winning three Cups. The final one in 2002 which saw the crafty small playmaking pivot over 40 turned into a defining moment. With his team having dropped Game One to an underdog Carolina club, the best the Wings could do was a split before heading to Raleigh. It was in Game Three that the Russian broke the Hurricanes’ backs. With the game in sudden death, he snuck a backhand through to propel his club to a huge 3-2 victory in triple overtime. His second tally saw the veteran outwait a diving Cane faking out Arturs Irbe before deking perfectly to the backhand.

The momentum of that emotional triumph carried forward as Detroit went onto win four in a row taking the Cup in five games.

He would play one more year in Hockey Town before concluding his NHL career with the Devils in what proved to be a stint to forget. Still, Larionov had an excellent career proving he could play well on the NHL level where in 921 career regular season games, he had 169 goals along with 475 assists for 644 points. In the playoffs, the proud Russian also performed admirably posting 30 goals and 67 helpers for 97 points in 150 contests.

What’s amazing about Larionov’s career is that he didn’t come over until he was almost 29. What if he had been in the league earlier? How many assists and total points could he have had? Obviously, 1,000 would’ve been a lock.

That’s why it was a no-brainer electing him into the Hall. Especially when you combine all his achievments back home in what amounted to a brilliant pro career.

One which shall be remembered and honored properly in Toronto.

Congratulations to both former players along with the late Ed Chynoweth (Builder Category) and former referee/linesman Ray Scapinello on this tremendous honor.