# What current NHL players belong in the hall of fame? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 22, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-current-nhl-players-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame/225646 "2004-01-22T17:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-current-nhl-players-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame/225646/1 "2004-01-22T17:06:05Z")
OK, perhaps not a hugely important question, but I hope it will result in some lively discussion: In for sure Luc Robitaille - tons of goals Scott Stevens - heart of multi-cup winner Martin Brodeur - best goalie alive and a top five 'tender for years Steve Yzerman - heart of a multi-cup winner Chris Chelios - Highly respected blueliner for, what, 2 decades? Dominick Hasek - Multi-winner of Vezina Brendan Shanahan - Solid Mike-Gartner-esque career, with cups and a far more complete game Brett Hull (First Father/Son combo in the HOF?) - Tons and tons of goals - like his old man Mats Sundin - Year after year consistent performance in a media center Joe Sakic - Cup and consistent greatness Rob Blake - Ditto Mark Messier - Only bigger locks were Howe and Gretzky Brian Leetch - Best US defenceman ever Phil Housley - Long career, lots of points Jeremy Roenick - Poor man’s Shanahan Mario Lemieux - Only bigger locks were Howe and Gretzky Ron Francis - Quietly amassed one of the best careers ever - No cup Jaromir Jagr - Still young (ish), but has already done enough for HOF Al McInnis - Best offensive defenceman of his generation after Coffey - with a more complete game Mike Modano - solid career and a cup Vincent Damphousse - solid career. Don’t love his game, but his numbers are solid On the Bubble Pavel Bure - Great numbers, but injuries cut great career short Nic Lidstrom - A couple more years of solid production get him in. Virtual lock Chris Pronger - If he can regain his Hart trophy level, will get in - still young Paul Kariya - Seemed destined for Hall, but has become pretty average - will need a bunch more years to get in on his numbers. Teemu Selanne - Similar to Kariya, but started late, may not play enough years Saku Koivu - If he can stay healthy - a big if - should get in. Daniel Alfredson - Kind of a Ron Francis career. Plays great in a sleepy town. May need a change of scenery to really be noticed. Mike Richter - Probably makes the hall. Didn’t really follow him. Adam Oates - tons of assists Pierre Turgeon - He’s got the points, but has always been knocked as one-way player and no cup. Sergei Zubov - A few more consistent years gets him in Sean Burke - I personally like him, but has not really ever been a top five goalie Peter Forsberg - If he lasts a few more years, he’s in Eric Lindros - Monster force in his first few years, but fading fast. John Leclair ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-current-nhl-players-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame/225646/2 "2004-01-22T20:25:25Z")
Ron Francis won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh. All your certains are certain - the NHL has low Hall of Fame standards - but I’d say some of your on the bubbles are pretty questionable, esp. Lindros, whose career just don’t have the heft. Sean Burke hasn’t got a hope in hell. You missed Sergei Federov, who still has a shot. Theo Fleury could make it if he could lay off the sauce for awhile and go out with some dignity. Some others you missed I think are going in: Joe Nieuwendyk Dave Andreychuk (over 600 goals, a total lock) Ed Belfour - lock Curtis Joseph, although I think he’s overrated Pat Verbeek, if he’s still playing, but maybe he’s not Mark Recchi Eric Desjardins Scott Neidermayer ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-current-nhl-players-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame/225646/3 "2004-01-22T21:01:03Z")
Can’t believe I forgot Francis’ cups!! You add some good names. Federov should make the hall I think Fleury has made too big a fool of himself to make it in. Nieuwendyk is in Andreychuk as well - Although he really hasn’t impressed me. Ed Belfour is a lock, as you say Curtis Joseph too Pat Verbeek does seem retired - 1000 points puts him in, though Mark Recchi is also in Eric Desjardins is for sure bubble material. Depends on what his reputation says. I don’t think he makes it in Scott Neidermayer has had a great career, and I love his game, but has suffered under the NJ system and being under Stevens. I think he gets in due to a great rep. I hadn’t realized just how many HOF careers we are witnessing. That’s something like 30 players! I suppose that’s what you get with expansion.