Before there was Homer, there was Dino.
Tomas Holmstrom has perfected the art of annoying opposing goaltenders, but Dino Ciccarelli invented the craft of crashing the net. Now, the most prolific goal-front pest in NHL history will be immortalized in the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010. Ciccarelli has been eligible for eight years.
"You get so emotional thinking about this," Ciccarelli said. "I just lost my mom a few months ago and my dad a few years ago. It would have been nice to enjoy it with my parents, but I’ve got my kids, my family and a lot of friends. We’re going to enjoy this and celebrate it."
Ciccarelli scored 608 goals during his 19-year career with the Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Considered one of the best players never to win the Stanley Cup, Ciccarelli was part of the 1995 Red Wings team that was swept by the New Jersey Devils. He was traded to Tampa Bay prior to the 1996-97 season--the year the Wings ended their Cup drought.
Joining Ciccarelli will be longtime Red Wings executive Jim Devellano, who will be inducted into the builder category. Devellano currently serves as the team's executive vice president, and was the general manager before Ken Holland took over in the 1990s.
"I’d like to thank the selection committee for naming me," Devellano said. "This game is all about the people, and since Lynn Patrick gave me my first break, I’ve been fortunate to be associated with great people."
Devallano has quietly been a top executive in the Red Wings front office since 1983, when he was hired as the team's general manager. Devellano has made many vital decisions in his tenure with the Wings, but he's best remembered for one he didn't get to make. In the 1983 NHL Draft, Devellano had his heart set on taking Pat LaFontaine with the fourth overall pick, but he was snatched up by the New York Islanders third overall. That forced Devellano to go with his second choice: Steve Yzerman.
Joining Devellano and Ciccarelli for the first time are two women players, U.S. national team legend Cammi Granato and Canadian Angela James. Also inducted under the builder category was the late Daryl Seaman, who was part of the business group that moved the Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980