With the announcement of this year’s Hockey Hall of Fame inductees fast approaching, now is a better time than ever to try and predict some of the names that could be going in the hall in November. This will be as impartial as impossible, but there can be no guarantees (to see more about my personal opinion, click here for my piece arguing Alex Mogilny’s case). As I also follow women’s hockey in the UK exclusively, I will be making my guess at which women’s hockey player is inducted (because, like almost every other year, it’ll probably only be one) based pretty much purely on stats. Apologies in advance for that, but I’d feel bad to just leave it off the list entirely.
1. Henrik Lundqvist
The only player I think has a shot at induction in his first year of eligibility- and for good reason, of course. Known as one of the best goaltenders to step out on the ice in the 2010s, Lundqvist helped the New York Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014. Unfortunately, they would not walk away from the series with the Cup as the Kings would win in five games. Still, you have to be one heck of a team to even make it that far in the playoffs, and the Rangers could not have had a better goalie than Lundqvist. By this point in his career, he has already won the Vezina Award (2012) as the NHL’s best goalie and an Olympic Gold (2006) with Sweden. At a time when NHL players were allowed to play in the Winter Olympics, this would have been no easy feat as some of the best players in the world would have been at the tournament (including some of Lundqvist’s Swedish teammates like Nick Lidström). The goalie would also go on to win the World Championship in 2017. He proved himself to be one of the best on the international stage and was also one of the most respected goalies in the NHL this side of the millennium. Whilst his number 30 has been retired by the Rangers and hangs on a banner inside Madison Square Garden, the cherry on top of the cake for Lundqvist’s list of achievements would be to receive a well-deserved Hall of Fame induction this year.
2. Rod Brind’Amour
Probably a bit of an out-of-the-box choice, but it’s not like the current Hurricanes head coach doesn’t deserve it. Being the captain of the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina team in 2006 definitely works in his favour, alongside his World Championship gold from 1994 (however, we all know the Cup win will be weighted more than the WC, as the HHOF mainly takes notice of NHL achievements). To round off the international achievements, Brind’Amour was also on the second-place Canada team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, which isn’t too bad, either (and looks nice next to the other stuff too). His NHL career, outside of winning the Cup, would include 452 goals and 1184 overall points across a twenty-one-season career. During this time, he would win the Selke Trophy twice as the league’s top defensive forward in back-to-back years (2006 and 2007). On paper, Brind’Amour is more than worthy of a Hall of Fame induction, and it’s going to happen at some point. It’s a very real possibility this year, in my opinion, but as we know all too well, things don’t always work out the way we thought (just look at this year’s Stanley Cup finalists).
3. Jennifer Botterill
Looking at her stats alone, you can tell Botterill was just an incredible player. Her international achievements showcase this, with three Olympic golds (2002, 2006, 2010) and five World Championship wins (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007), which is almost unheard of in the men’s game (the only men’s players that could rival this are the old Soviets like Krutov and Kharlamov, who both only got two Olympic golds but have five and eight WC wins respectively). Alongside this, the Canadian forward was named best forward at the WC once (2001) and tournament MVP twice (2001, 2004). For any player, this alone would build a strong case for Hall of Fame induction. However, as if it could get any better, Botterill also achieved success in the NCAA and NWHL (now the PHF). Being nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award (best women’s collegiate player) three times and winning it twice, and winning the NHWL championship once, in combination with her success on the Canadian national team, should mean she is a lock for the HHOF this year- I won’t even repeat my schpiel about “anything is possible” like I said about Brind’Amour because I am just that adamant that this is going to happen.
4. Vincent Lecavalier
When I think of Lecavalier, I automatically picture him lifting the Cup with Tampa Bay. It would be the first time the team had won the championship and it would take them another eleven years to reach the finals again, and a further five years from that for another Cup win. With an incredible 421 goals and a total of 949 points across fourteen years, combined with Maurice Richard (2007) and King Clancy (2008) trophies, he was also clearly recognised for his skills during his NHL career. He also wasn’t half bad for Canada, either. Winning the World Cup is not something a lot of players can say they’ve done- and even fewer can say they were named MVP at the tournament. But, after 2005, Lecavalier could say he’s had both. Which is pretty cool if you ask me. Whilst technically not the strongest resume for a Hall of Fame inductee, players have got in on about the same before, so why not now? And, honestly, it’d be nice to see another Lightning icon in the Hall alongside Marty St-Louis.
5. Vladimir Krutov
Whilst only spending one (mediocre) season in the NHL with the Canucks, Krutov has such a good international resume that this can be overlooked and, honestly, is pretty insignificant in the big picture. As a member of the Soviet national team, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1984 and ‘88 (and one rather famous silver…) as well as five World Championships (1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989)- he was even on the Canda Cup-winning team in 1981. And, naturally, as he spent his entire career inside the Soviet Union playing for CSKA Moscow, he won a whopping nine Soviet championships (1981-89). As part of the famed “Green Unit” (comprised of Krutov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov, Slava Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov), the forward is already regarded as one of the best players of his time and one of the best Soviet forwards to ever step on the ice. However, he always was a bit overlooked; it’s not that hard to imagine it when you look at who he played with for close to a decade (three of which, by the way, have already been inducted into the HHOF). It’s about time he gets the recognition he deserves from the Hall. It’s a shame it couldn’t have happened whilst he was still alive, but it’s better that it happens now than not at all. I will admit, this is definitely based a bit on my personal opinion, but looking at who’s on the Selection Committee, you never know…
I would like to be surprised this year, however, and see a player who has been waiting years for a Hall of Fame induction get in this year (there are so many it’d be impossible to name them all). But I’m also quite realistic- I know there’s a decent chance it won’t happen. If any (or all) of the above players are part of this year’s group of inductees, I’ll be happy to know I was partially right.