| There is no doubt that we are looking at a serious | | | | 10 of goal scorers. |
| turnover in the stars in the NHL. In the past several | | | | [2013 Hall of Fame cutoff here].... |
| seasons, we have witnessed some of the all time | | | | Mike Modano |
| greatest players ever to lace up the skates call it quits. | | | | Modano clearly has the Hall of Fame reputation and |
| Two of the last three years have featured incredible | | | | credentials. He just picked the wrong season to retire. |
| Hall of Fame induction classes welcomed in Toronto. | | | | He has Selanne beat in points (1359 - 23rd all time), but |
| The 2004 class was inducted in 07 with the likes of | | | | falls short in goals (557 - 24th). He has been a model |
| Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Mark Messier and Scott | | | | of consistency in his 20+ seasons, scoring at about a |
| Stevens. The talent in that crew was matched two | | | | point a game pace for most of his career, and he got |
| seasons later when 2006 gave us Brett Hull, Brian | | | | his Cup with the Stars. The one point that puts him |
| Leetch, Luc Robitaille, and Steve Yzerman. While both | | | | slightly behind Selanne is the lack of a memorable, |
| of those groups will be remembered as two of the | | | | stand-out season. He has 0 personal trophies on his |
| all-time great entries, the voters will have their work cut | | | | shelf, and never finished top 3 in goals or assists for a |
| out for them more than ever in 2013, when this year's | | | | season. |
| potential crew comes due. | | | | Chris Chelios |
| While perusing the names of possible retirees this | | | | Admittedly, Chelios is not a fan favorite here. However, |
| summer, just try and pare this list down to four. | | | | as observer, it's hard to deny his contributions to the |
| Perhaps the committee should consider a rule that | | | | game over the past 30 or so years. 3 Stanley Cups |
| would allow them defer a spot by a year or two. | | | | and 3 Norris Trophies span his 1651 games played |
| After all, only two players were admitted in 2008. | | | | (placing him 4th all time in that category). Now if we |
| Maybe we can cash in those vacancies when a class | | | | could just get him to shake hands in the playoffs after |
| like this comes along. I've ranked the players in the | | | | a loss the way he does after a win... |
| order that I would place them on my ballot: | | | | Peter Forsberg |
| Niklas Lidstrom | | | | Of course, it seems like he's been retired for 5 years |
| The good news for the other men below him is that | | | | now, but technically, he's never filed the papers until |
| he hasn't made up his mind yet. However, the moment | | | | now. Forsberg leaves the game as one of the |
| he does decide to hang up the skates and bring an | | | | greatest "what might have been" stories ever. His |
| end to his Norris Trophy reign of terror, he will be the | | | | individual stats don't stack up to the other greats, due |
| first automatic name on the ballot. No need to list his | | | | to the host of injuries he's played through, unless you |
| credentials here. | | | | count it at a per-game basis. His 885 points in 706 |
| Jaromir Jagr | | | | games is impressive (putting in him the top 10 of all |
| There was talk that he might be making a return to | | | | time in points per game), but not as impressive as his |
| the NHL next season, but he put an end to that talk by | | | | 171 playoff points in 151 games. He's won the Calder, |
| signing with the KHL once again. Jagr finished his | | | | Art Ross, and Hart Trophies. He also has two Olympic |
| impressive NHL career just one point shy of 1600, | | | | gold medals and two Stanley Cup rings with Colorado. |
| which is good enough for 9th all time. He's 12th all time | | | | And for good measure, here are couple other names |
| in goals. He has a couple of Stanley Cups on his | | | | who would be considered worthy candidates in any |
| resume to go along with 5 Art Ross Trophies, 3 | | | | other class: |
| Pearsons, and a Hart. | | | | Rod Brindamour |
| Scott Niedermeyer | | | | Brind'amour is what every hockey player in the world |
| You name the trophy, I'll show you his name on it. (ok, | | | | wants to be. He sits 16th all time in games played, and |
| he hasn't won the Vezina. Yet.) Niedermeyer is the | | | | is around 50th all time in goals and assists. He won the |
| definition of winner in the NHL. He's famously the only | | | | Cup with the Hurricanes, and has claimed the Selke |
| player to have won the Stanley Cup (4 times), World | | | | twice. Perhaps in an extra year or two, the Hall will |
| Junior gold, Memorial Cup, IIHF World Championship | | | | free up a spot for Rod. |
| gold, the World Cup, and Olympic Gold (twice). He has | | | | Keith Tkachuk |
| also claimed the Norris and Conn Smythe. | | | | With so many legends winding down their careers, it |
| Now here is where the debate begins... | | | | would be easy to overlook Tkachuk. However, there |
| Teemu Selanne | | | | aren't too many names on the all-time goal scorers list |
| For my money, Selanne gets the final spot on the first | | | | ahead of him who aren't already inducted. Tkachuk |
| ballot, over a couple of long-standing American icons. | | | | finishes his stellar career with 538 goals, placing him |
| Selanne kicked off his career with a rookie record 76 | | | | 30th. In case you care, that's more than guys named |
| goal season, which may never be matched again. | | | | Mahovlich, Trottier, Perrault, Mullen, and even Jean |
| Assuming 2010 was his last, he will end his career with | | | | Beliveau. Unfortunately for Tkachuk, he spent most of |
| 606 goals (17th all time), and 1260 points (35th all time). | | | | his years on non-playoff teams and never got a shot |
| His name is engraved on the Cup with Anaheim. Had | | | | at the Cup. |
| he been more healthy, he could have finished in the top | | | | |