Ex-Flyer Howe to join NHL's greatest

SUNRISE, Fla. - For those who played with or against former Flyers defenseman Mark Howe, the recurring theme is this: He played the game the right way.

His instincts were impeccable, and he was one of the most fundamentally sound defensemen in history. From his incomparable skating to his uncanny ability to make a perfect outlet pass, Howe could control games at both ends of the ice.

So it's not surprising that he will be inducted into hockey's Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday. The only surprise is that it took so long.

Now the Detroit Red Wings' director of scouting, Howe will be inducted along with Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, and Joe Nieuwendyk.

Howe, 56, who played 10 seasons with the Flyers (1982-83 to 1991-92), retired after spending the 1994-95 season with Detroit.

He follows his legendary father, Gordie Howe - a man known as the Babe Ruth of hockey - into the Hall. Gordie, 83, will be by his side in Toronto.

"It means so much that he can share this," Mark Howe said of his dad.

Known for his classy demeanor and great leadership qualities, Howe was the most prolific-scoring defenseman in Flyers history. He holds records for career goals (138), assists (342), and points (480), and ranks 14th on the Flyers' all-time list in scoring, eighth in assists, and fourth in shorthanded goals (24).

In the 1985-86 season, Howe scored 24 goals and totaled 82 points, establishing still-standing franchise records for goals and points by a defenseman in a season. He also posted a plus-85 rating that season, which was the best in the NHL that year, a Flyers franchise record, and the eighth-best single-season performance in NHL history

The Detroit native finished his 16-year NHL career with a staggering plus-400 rating in 929 games. (He also played six years in the WHA.) By comparison, Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger is plus-184 in a 17-year career spanning 1,163 games entering Sunday.

"He was a phenomenal two-way guy," said Pronger, who played against Howe. "He had great hockey sense."

Howe, who lives in Jackson, N.J., helped lead the Flyers to two appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals (1985 and 1987).  He won four Barry Ashbee trophies as the team's best defenseman.

"His plus-minus was great. He put numbers up. Great on the power play and penalty kill and great skater, obviously," said Flyers assistant Craig "Chief" Berube, who played against and with Howe. "That's what made him a great player - his skating and his head. He had a wrist shot, not much of a shot, but he would just put pucks in areas for people to get goals. But his skating ability was so good, so fluid, he could play all game.

"He's a Hall of Famer, for sure."

Flyers assistant Joe Mullen, a Hall of Famer, scored 502 career goals and had numerous matchups against Howe. He called Howe "one of the best puck-moving defensemen of that time."

Mullen praised Howe's defensive work but added that "he was almost like a forward back there" with the way he could set up his teammates.

A four-time NHL all-star and three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, Howe's induction may spur the Flyers to retire his No. 2. Only Bernie Parent (No. 1), Barry Ashbee (No. 4), Bill Barber (No. 7), and Bobby Clarke (No. 16) have had their number retired. All four played on Stanley Cup champions.