The newest class of the Hockey Hall of Fame was announced, and it featured four former players who made it in with their first year of eligibility. There was one former member of the St. Louis Blues on the ballot as a first-time candidate, but he did not make the cut.
Tyler Bozak, who wore the Blue Note from 2018-19 through 2021-22, was an integral part of the magical playoff run and Stanley Cup victory in his first season. But his overall career was not enough to make it into the Hall of Fame on the first go.
Career as a Blue
Blues fans got to witness Bozak at the tail end of his career, but it was his best. Known as a face-off specialist, he should be considered as one of the all-time greats in that department. Over the course of his 13-year career, he won 53.6 percent of the faceoffs he was in. That is incredible considering the longevity, and part of why both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Blues were so successful in that timeframe.
Bozak's most significant contribution as a member of the Blues was during his debut season of 2018-19. He appeared in 72 games, scoring 13 goals and adding 25 assists for 38 points.
During the playoffs, he centered a fantastic line of Patrick Maroon and the current most valuable player of the Blues, Robert Thomas. In 26 playoff games, he had five goals and eight assists for 13 points, and his faceoff percentage was a key difference-maker throughout at 54%.
Hall of Fame bound?
In 13 seasons with Toronto and St. Louis, Bozak played in 814 games. He scored 170 goals and added 291 assists for 461 points in the regular season, as well as 13 goals and 16 assists in 68 career playoff games. His only accolade during his career is lifting the Stanley Cup with the Blues in the 2018-19 season.
Is he worthy of the Hall of Fame?
It is truly a toss-up, as he has never set any records, and his contributions as a forward in the statistics department do not jump off the page. But, as a revered center with impeccable ability to win face-offs, as well as his success with the Blues at the end of his career, should warrant him in the Hall of Fame. It might not be now, but eventually, we should see Bozak inducted.