He’d never do it, but Jimmy Devellano should have burst into the NHL’s offices in New York City and cried out, “What does a guy have to do to get into the Hall of Fame around here?!”
And he should have done it 10 years ago. At least.
They finally granted Jimmy D. Hall of Fame status yesterday. Thank goodness they’re not doing it posthumously. I was beginning to wonder.
Red Wings Executive Vice President Devellano, 67, will be enshrined next year. Seems the last ones to know he’s a Hall of Famer were the only ones who mattered, sadly. Isn’t it always the way?
Devellano took the path less traveled to get here.
He didn’t play the game. He didn’t coach it. He just happened to know all about it. He was the Howard Cosell of hockey.
Jimmy D. started showing up at the hockey rink in St. Louis back in the days of the NHL’s first expansion, in 1967. The Blues’ first coach was Hall of Fame player Lynn Patrick, and after 16 games, Patrick had enough.
Patrick quit and his young assistant was thrust into the head coaching role. The assistant was Sc ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Greg Eno
Jimmy Devellano: Finally, a Hall of Famer!
June 23rd, 2010 by Greg Eno Leave a reply »
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