Denis Savard and Joe Mullen have strong ties to Original Six cities. The paths for the newest selections to the Hockey Hall of Fame, though, were somewhat different.
Savard, a Quebec native who starred in the Montreal junior leagues, and Mullen, a New York City native whose father worked on the Madison Square Garden ice for over 30 years, were chosen Thursday to enter the Hall of Fame.
Walter L. Bush Jr., president of USA Hockey and a vice-president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, will also be inducted to the Toronto museum on Nov. 13, in the builders' category.
Savard, 39, scored 473 goals and added 865 assists in a 17-year career spent mostly with Chicago. He played three seasons with Montreal, winning his only Stanley Cup there in 1993, and just over one season with Tampa Bay before returning to the Blackhawks for his final two-plus seasons.
"It's a surprise," Savard said of being chosen in his first year of eligibility. "It's probably one of the toughest halls to get into in sports. As far as my profession is concerned, it's the greatest thing to happen to me."
Mullen learned the game late, growing up in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City. He didn't don skates for the first time until he was 10 years old and credits roller hockey for his development.
"We definitely had more concrete than ice," said Mullen, who had 502 goals and 561 assists in 17 seasons with St. Louis, Calgary, Pittsburgh and Boston.
Plus, having his father working at Madison Square Garden and bringing home sticks from Rangers players and their opponents didn't hurt his pursuit of a hockey career.
"I never had to sneak in," Mullen said. "I never got to skate in the old Madison Square Garden but I could look out my window and see it. I was always busy playing roller hockey myself anyway."
Mullen, who also enters in the first year he is eligible after a mandatory three-year waiting period, was the first American-born player to reach 500 goals and 1,000 points.
"I never looked at those accomplishments as being an American thing," Mullen said. "I looked at them as a milestone that's great to hit.
"But being the first at anything always adds some flavor to it."
Mullen, 43, was a member of the 1989 Calgary Flames who won the Stanley Cup. He also played with Pittsburgh when they won consecutive titles in 1991 and '92.
He had career highs with 51 goals and 110 points in 1989 and led playoff scorers with 16 goals. Mullen also had five other seasons in which he scored at least 40 goals.
Savard had to leave the Blackhawks to get his only championship. He was dealt to the Canadiens on June 29, 1990 for Chris Chelios.
Savard hoped to play for Montreal coming into the NHL, but those plans were dashed when the Canadiens passed over him in the draft. Montreal chose Doug Wickenheiser with the top pick, leaving Savard to the Blackhawks at No. 3.
"Chicago was a special place for me," Savard said. "I played 13 of my 17 years here. I'm still in Chicago and hopefully I'll be here forever."
The 5-foot-10 native of Pointe Gatineau, Quebec, was known as a great playmaker, but did have three straight years of at least 40 goals from 1985-86 through 1987-88. His 1,338 points rank 17th on the NHL's career list. Savard retired in 1997 to become an assistant coach with Chicago.
Mullen, despite his 5-9 frame, was able to fight to get in front of the net to score.
There are 319 members of the Hall, including 218 players, 14 referees and linesmen, and 87 builders.
