Scrolling through Twitter the other day, I came across a post asking why Alexander Mogilny isn’t in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Good question, I thought. After all, the Russian-born winger scored 473 goals and 1,032 points in 990 games divvied up among the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mogilny, who wore No. 89 because he was drafted 89th overall and made his NHL debut in 1989, was an eight-time 30-goal scorer who led the league (with Teemu Selanne) in goals in 1992-93. Mogilny ranks 19th all-time in goals per game.

No. 89 also was solid on the international ice surface.

He won a world juniors silver medal in 1988 while leading the tournament in scoring and being named top forward. That same year he helped the Soviet Union win gold at the Olympics. In 1989 he earned gold medals at both the world juniors and world championship.

How is that not good enough for the HHOF?

The Mogilny post got me thinking: Why isn’t Mike Richter in the HHOF?

Richter’s career seems to have been brushed off by the HHOF’s Selection Committee (comprised of former players, coaches, officials, team executives, and media). Even some Rangers fans insist Richter had “one great season but doesn’t have the numbers” and “got his due when the team retired his number.”

That’s all irrelevant, however, according to the criteria established by the HHOF itself.

The “Basis of Selection of Candidates” section on the HHOF website reads: “The following attributes provide the basis on which the election of nominees to Honoured Membership are to be considered: Playing ability, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to his or her team or teams, and to the game of hockey in general.”

Richter’s effort in Game Six of the 1994 Conference Finals against the Devils and Game Four of the Finals versus Vancouver is legendary.

Richter held off a furious Devils’ attack with the Rangers trailing 2-0 in the middle period and facing elimination. Eleven days later at a raucous Pacific Coliseum, Richter stoned the NHL’s leading goalscorer, Pavel Bure, on a penalty shot at 6:31 of the second period and the Canucks ahead, 2-1. Uplifted by “The Save,” New York went on to score three times for a 4-2 win and 3-1 series lead.

By the end of the 1994 campaign, Richter had a NHL-best 42 regular-season wins, 16 playoff victories, and four postseason shutouts — all Rangers’ franchise records. He also had a tidy 2.07 goals-against average in 23 playoff games.

Injuries, including a skull fracture and several concussions, forced Richter to retire after the 2002-03 season. By then, he led the franchise in career wins (301), total victories in a regular season, saves in one game, and appearances. He also beat Martin Brodeur in two playoff series, helping the Rangers defeat the Devils again in 1997.

In 2004, Richter’s No. 35 became the third number to be retired by the Rangers, following Rod Gilbert’s No. 7 and Eddie Giacomin’s No. 1. Richter was voted Rangers’ MVP twice and was a two-time recipient of the Players’ Player Award. Also, he won the team’s Frank Boucher Trophy as the Most Popular Rangers’ player four times, as well as the club’s “Crumb Bum” Award for community service and the Rangers’ Good Guy Award.

As for international play, Richter backstopped Team USA to a silver medal in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, posting a 2-1-1 record and .932 save percentage. In 1996, he was named World Cup MVP after leading the United States to their only gold medal with a 2.43 GAA and .923 save percentage.

What’s more, Richter compares admirably with goalies already in the HHOF, including former Rangers Giacomin, Gump Worsley, and Chuck Rayner.

Giacomin’s Rangers career got off to a slow and disappointing start. But, he shrugged off the boos and developed into one of the NHL’s best and most reliable goalies, as well as a fan favorite among Blueshirts fans.

Eddie led the NHL in games from 1965-66 through 1969-70, and in 1970-71 shared the Vezina Trophy with Gilles Villemure. Giacomin and Villemure combined for another great season in 1971-72, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to Bobby Orr — EXCUSE ME, Joe! Make that No. 4 and the Boston Bruins.” “Fabulous, Sam.”

Over his 13 seasons in the NHL, Giacomin led the league in games and minutes four times, wins and shutouts three times, and saves twice. His 49 career shutouts for the Rangers rank second to Henrik Lundqvist. He won the team’s MVP award three times and the Boucher Trophy once.

Worsley made his NHL and Rangers debut in 1952-53, in which the Blueshirts won just 17 of 54 matches. Worsley won 13 of them, as well as the Calder Trophy.

Over ten seasons on Broadway, Worsley was one of the few bright spots. During that span, the Rangers had just two winning seasons, four playoff appearances, and finished in fifth place four times and in sixth (dead last) twice.

Remarkably, he played every minute of every game in 1955-56 and remains the last Rangers goalie to do so. He led the NHL in shots faced and saves four times, and in games twice. His 14,709 saves rank third among franchise goalies behind leader Henrik Lundqvist and Richter.

Worsley led the league in losses three times yet was a two-time all-star with New York, a testament to how highly he was thought of around the league. His teammates loved him, too. He was named team MVP twice and was a two-time recipient of the Boucher Trophy.

Worsley was popular with the press, as well.

Following a tough loss between the pipes for the Blueshirts, reporters asked Worsley which team gives him the most trouble. Without hesitation, Worsley matter-of-factly replied, “The Rangers.”

George Grimm’s fabulous book Guardians of the Goal tells of the goalie’s battles with coach Phil Watson. One time Watson told the press Worsley had a “beer belly,” clearly attempting to embarrass his goalie.  When informed of Watson’s comment, Worsley is said to have calmly replied, “Beer is the poor man’s champagne. I’m strictly a VO (rye) man.”

One could argue Worsley earned his HHOF credentials in Montreal, having helped the Canadiens win four Stanley Cups. But given the poor teams he played behind in New York, the fact he was a two-time all-star and managed to set a single-season team record for wins (32) before Giacomin came along (36) is amazing.

Much like Worsley, Rayner played behind some awful Rangers teams. The Blueshirts had a losing record in each of his eight seasons and made the playoffs twice.

However, one of those times saw Rayner almost steal a Stanley Cup championship for New York,. In 1950, he took the Rangers to double-overtime of Game Seven against the Red Wings, the league’s most potent team, before losing. That was a series where the Blueshirts played all seven games on the road, kicked out of the Garden by the circus.

And that was after a playoff upset of the Canadiens. In all, he had seven wins and a 2.25 GAA that postseason. He was rewarded with the Hart Trophy that season despite winning only 28 of 69 games.

Stats

Games: Richter 666, Giacomin 610, Worsley 581, Rayner 425

Wins: Richter 301, Giacomin 267, Worsley 204, Rayner 123

Goals-against average: Giacomin 2.82, Richter 2.89, Rayner 3.03, Worsley 3.04

Save percentage: Worsley .913, Richter .904, Giacomin .902, Rayner (stat not kept)

Shutouts: Giacomin 49, Richter, Rayner, Worsley 24 each

Saves: Richter 17,379, Worsley 14,709, Giacomin 13,692, Rayner (stat not kept)

Richter doesn’t have a Vezina and never led the league in GAA, save percentage, or shutouts. But he does have a well-earned Stanley Cup ring and his stats are close to (or better than) those of other Rangers goalies in the HHOF. More importantly, Richter exemplified ability, class, sportsmanship, and contributions to his team.

Richter also compares favorably with his contemporaries.

Ed Belfour won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars and twice led the NHL in GAA and save percentage and in shutouts four times. He earned two Vezinas and is a four-time recipient of the Jennings Trophy (given to the goalie having played at least 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it).

However, he also left Dallas after clashing with coach Ken Hitchcock. As a player, he was arrested several times on charges including criminal mischief, public intoxication, and resisting arrest. Not to kick a guy when he’s down but isn’t all that a reflection of questionable character? Also, each arrest was bad publicity for his teams and the NHL.

Yet, Belfour was elected to the HHOF in 2011 in his first year of eligibility.

Tom Barrasso won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins after breaking into the NHL with the Sabres in 1983-84. Having gone straight to western New York’s NHL franchise out of high school in Massachusetts, Barrasso won the Calder and Vezina trophies as the league’s best rookie and goaltender. A year later, he shared the Jennings Trophy with Bob Sauve for having allowed the fewest goals

Barrasso’s 369 wins rank third among U.S.-born goalies behind Ryan Miller’s 391 and former Ranger John Vanbiesbrouck’s 374. Richter is fifth with 301. Barrasso also helped Team USA win a silver medal in the 2002 Olympics.

Barrasso also ranks second on the Pens in wins and minutes played, and is among the top-5 in most statistical categories in Sabres’ history, which, as you know, boasts Dominik Hasek, Ryan Miller, Don Edwards, and Sauve, all of whom won a Vezina.

Yet, Barrasso is not in the HHOF. There seems two main reasons why: Some point to most of his success having come over the first decade of his career. Others note his surly nature with reporters, even those who came in peace. More on that below.

Stats

Games: Belfour 963, Barrasso 777, Richter 666

Wins: Belfour 484, Barrasso 369, Richter 301

Goals-against average: Belfour 2.50, Richter 2.89, Barrasso 3.24

Save percentage: Belfour .906, Richter .904, Barrasso .892

Shutouts: Belfour 76, Barrasso 38, Richter 24

Saves: Belfour 22,433, Barrasso 19,695, Richter 17,379

Bottom Line

Belfour clearly had better numbers than Richter, and in some categories, it’s not close. However, the HHOF criteria include character and contributions to his team and the game. Richter never left the Rangers having to address any arrests or spats with team personnel. Contrary, he won numerous team awards and his two best friends on the Blueshirts were HHOFers Brian Leetch and Mark Messier.

Barrasso was a jerk to the media, according to most accounts. Here’s an excerpt from Mike Brophy, who in 2008 attempted to write a complimentary feature about the goaltender for The Hockey News:

“Barrasso was a surly, abrasive, and rude man.

“I got a little taste of his rudeness first hand a number of years ago when I phoned him to write a complimentary story about his return to form after a time when it looked like he was done.

‘Hi, Tom.’

‘Who is this?’

‘Mike Brophy from The Hockey News.’

‘How did you get my phone number?’

‘You gave it to me.’

‘No, I didn’t.’

‘Yes, you did.’

“I did not and I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to find out how you got it. Goodbye.”

This was not a case of a reporter catching an athlete at the wrong time. My ex grew up in Pittsburgh and was a copy editor for a local paper there. She told me the beat writers and columnists oft-referred to the goalie as “Barr-asshole.”

Like Brophy, I believe Barrasso should be in the HHOF. If Belfour’s “character” wasn’t an issue for voters, then why is Barrasso’s? Further, like Belfour and Richter, Barrasso played in an era when scoring was sky-high. If being rude is enough to keep an otherwise deserving player out, then why doesn’t being an exemplary representative for one’s city, team, and the NHL compensate for numbers that are close enough to those of others already in the HHOF?

Which brings us to Richter.

Full disclosure: I am biased toward Richter.

I was a new sports reporter for a mid-sized New Jersey newspaper in 1997, when I was assigned the Blueshirts’ playoff series against the Devils and then the Philadelphia Flyers. I was greener than grass as a reporter, but when I approached No. 35 about doing a feature story, he treated me with respect, patience, and kindness, as if I had been covering him for years for one of NYC’s major newspapers. Of course by then, he didn’t have to be respectful, patient, or kind to even the most seasoned of reporters, never mind me.

By the time his number was retired in 2004, I had switched careers and was a school teacher (still am). But I was there with my brother on the night No. 35 was raised to the Garden’s rafters. I remember crying as I joined the chant of “Rich-ter! Rich-ter! Rich-ter!” roaring throughout the World’s Most Famous Arena.

It’s past time I get a chance to shed some tears at his display in the HHOF.