As it stands there are 294 players, 113 builders, and 16 officials in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and that group stands to grow on Wednesday.
Each of the last four Hall of Fame classes have included exactly six members, so it’s fair to expect something similar for the 2023 group. The rules stipulate there can be as many as four male players, two female players, two builders (or one builder and one official) in a given year, so eight inductees is the ceiling.
Whatever the exact number ends up being, the 18-member selection committee has some excellent options to choose from. They will announce their choices on Wednesday, and below you’ll find a rundown of their top options.
Lundqvist held down the New York Rangers crease between 2005-06 and 2019-20 — and he finds himself high on a number of all-time leaderboards for goaltenders. Only five goalies accumulated more wins than him (473) and he finished top-five in Vezina Trophy voting seven times, winning it in 2011-12.
Henrik Lundqvist is likely to take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame this season. (Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
Why he might get in: The Swedish netminder is a pretty sure bet to earn his place in the Hall of Fame. He’s got longevity on his side as well as a consistently high quality of play. His GSAA ranks 15th all-time, and his playoff save percentage (.921) was superior to his regular-season work (.918)
Why he might not: If you’re looking to nitpick you can point out Lundqvist’s lack of Stanley Cup rings, but he did his part to drive a few deep Rangers runs. New York’s failure to win a Cup in the Lundqvist era was not a failure on his part.
Crawford helped deliver two Stanley Cup championships to the Chicago Blackhawks, and produced a career save percentage (.918) that matches Lundqvist’s. He led the NHL in shutouts in 2015-16, and spearheaded two William M. Jennings Trophy wins for his squad.
Why he might get in: Crawford’s playoff work was excellent, and his 2012-13 run (.932 SV%) was special. Between 2010-11 and 2016-17 he was one of the NHL’s top goalies, ranking fourth in wins (180).
Why he might not: Without his Stanley Cups Crawford wouldn’t really warrant a discussion. He didn’t break through as a starter until he was 26 and he was done at 35. Even during his prime he was rarely thought of as one of the NHL’s top goalies, earning just one top-five Vezina finish in his career.
F Justin Williams
Williams had a long, productive, career that was highlighted by three Stanley Cup wins. He played for 19 seasons, with 797 points to show for his efforts. His teams were famously 8-1 in Game 7s he played in, and he produced eight game-winning goals in the postseason.
Why he might get in: Being known as “Mr. Game 7” is a pretty strong indicator that you played a significant role in hockey history, and having a Conn Smythe Trophy on your shelf also helps.
Why he might not: For most of his career Williams was more of a consistent second-line producer than a star. He deserves credit for his clutch performances, but he simply didn’t put together a Hall of Fame resume.
Other notable candidates
G Curtis Joseph
Joseph ranks seventh all-time in both games played (943) and wins (453) among goaltenders. He never won a Stanley Cup but his save percentage was significantly better in the playoffs (.917) than the regular season (.906) — and he produced plenty of notable postseason performances.
Why he might get in: Joseph’s case is based off longevity and consistency, but he also had a noteworthy peak. He finished in the top-five in Vezina Trophy voting five times in an eight-season span between 1992-93 and 1999-00. He also ranks 22nd all-time in GSAA, and that number would be much higher if he didn’t have a brutal three-year stretch to end his career (-37.1 GSAA).
Why he might not: The fact of the matter is Joseph never led his team to a Stanley Cup victory or won a Vezina. More often than not he was one of the best goaltenders in the league, but he was seldom in the top two or three.
F Meghan Duggan
Duggan’s resume includes a remarkable amount of team success as she captained a USA squad which won an Olympic gold in 2018 and two silvers in 2010 and 2014. She also won seven IIHF Women’s World Championships, including three as captain. She played on multiple Clarkson Cup winning clubs in her pro career, and earned three Division 1 NCAA championships.
Why she might get in: The Hall of Fame likes to reward winners and there’s absolutely no doubt that Duggan is not only a winner, but a leader as well. Everywhere she’s gone, Duggan has participated in and driven success at a high level.
Why she might not: Because there’s a limit of two female players inducted per year, and the Hall of Fame hasn’t inducted more than one in a class since 2010. You could nitpick Duggan’s individual Olympic record (8 points in 15 games) and some other candidates have a beefier pro resume, but the induction limits are the biggest obstacle here.
F Alexander Mogilny
Mogilny played just 990 regular-season NHL games, but he made an impact with 1032 points. He also won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000-01, and authored one of the most remarkable scoring seasons in NHL history with 76 goals in 1992-93.
Why he might get in: There are players with higher point totals on the outside looking in, but Mogilny’s peak was remarkable and his game was adaptable. After starting his career as a scorer he became a prolific playmaker — and even earned down-ballot Selke Trophy votes in 2000-01. If you saw Mogilny play, there’s a good chance you want to see the ingenious winger in the Hall.
Why he might not: By raw offensive production alone, there are better cases for guys like Pierre Turgeon or Bernie Nicholls, and despite winning a Cup, Mogilny’s playoff stats (0.69 points/game) don’t jump off the page.
F Jennifer Botterill
Botterill was a fixture on the Canadian National Women’s Team for 14 years and won three Olympic gold medals and a silver plus five IIHF Women’s World Championships. She was the MVP of two of those world championships and her collegiate career at Harvard (340 points in 113 games) was unbelievable.
Why she might get in: Botterill has a compelling combination of team success, individual awards, and statistical achievements. It would be hard to ask for much more in a Hall of Fame candidate.
Why she might not: Like Duggan, Botterill deals with the same induction limits but there are very few holes on her resume. For the Canadian, getting the call is probably a matter of time.
Zetterberg was a key player on some incredible Detroit Red Wings squads and won two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy with the team. He also won Olympic gold and an IIHF World Championship with Sweden in 2006. He racked up 960 points in his NHL career and had a stellar defensive reputation, earning Selke Trophy votes in 10 different seasons.
Henrik Zetterberg was a two-way force during his career. (Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Why he might get in: Zetterberg contributed to winning in the NHL and on the international stage, playing a complete game that could not be adequately valued by his point totals alone.
Why he might not: Having less than 1,000 NHL points hurts the Swede a little bit, as does the fact he topped 20 goals just seven times in his career — and couldn’t eclipse that mark once in his final six years. If voters fixate on the offensive numbers, there are better candidates.
Gonchar was one of the best offensive defenseman of his generation, producing 811 points in his 20-year career. He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008-09 and finished top-10 in Norris Trophy voting seven times.
Why he might get in: Between Gonchar’s first full year in the NHL (1995-96) and his age-35 season (2009-10) only Nicklas Lidstrom produced more points from the blueline than the Russian (677). During that time, he ranked seventh among all players in power-play points (363) and helped quarterback elite PP units wherever he went.
Why he might not: Gonchar never had an elite defensive reputation, and although he was a stellar point producer, he ranks 17th all-time in points among blueliners. That’s certainly strong, but not enough to guarantee a Hall of Fame induction if it’s his primary selling point.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
