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The Case for the old Carolina Hurricanes Captain: Rod Brind’Amour’s Bid for the Hockey Hall of Fame

By Joshua Ryan

UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 21: Rod Brind'Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders on October 21, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Islanders defeat the Hurricans 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 21: Rod Brind'Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders on October 21, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Islanders defeat the Hurricans 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – OCTOBER 21: Rod Brind’Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders on October 21, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Islanders defeat the Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – OCTOBER 21: Rod Brind’Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Islanders on October 21, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Islanders defeat the Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /

There is a certain immortal quality to the career of Rod Brind’Amour, especially in Raleigh, North Carolina. There is not only a strong case for Brind’Amour’s inclusion among NHL history’s elite, it would be a crime to deny him of what he has rightfully earned.

There is no perfect Hall of Fame. It seems that all decisions made retrospectively are never done with perfect objectivity; but that seems to be what makes these athletic contests all the more engaging. For every shoe-in, all-time great, there are ten players on the bubble of not quite good enough; men praying that they did enough to get that most coveted call.

Such seems to be the case for Rod Brind’Amour, who, with every passing year of eligibility, grows more dust on a career that was both incredibly special, and yet seemingly unremarkable. The case is a strong one, and one that has earned the former Carolina Hurricanes captain a seat at that most illustrious table.

Many fans will think of Rod through the lens of his crowning achievement; hoisting the Stanley Cup as the captain of our Carolina Hurricanes. This has defined his career as a player and a leader; and, to a certain extent, defined the franchise as a whole.

That crowning achievement, however, is not the main point of debate in regards to Brind’Amour’s potential Hall of Fame merit, but the exclamation point. What Rod did in Carolina rivals some of the greatest players in franchise history, what he did in Philadelphia has left his name honored among Flyer’s greats, and his longevity and production leave him among some of the most revered names in NHL lore.

The Case for the Captain is simple; the previous entries into this hall have left the committee with no choice to place Rod Brind’Amour’s name in that immortal gathering place of the games most accomplished, and gifted athletes. The fact that the Captain has waited this long is a testament to the quite dominance of the ultimate lunch pail athlete.

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