NHL Players Who Deserve to Be in the Hockey Hall of Fame

Here are the non-active NHL players who deserve a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The criteria for the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) is about as subtle as a Tom Wilson cheapshot. It comes down to individual stats and trophies and league championships, usually in that order. Fortunately, character is not part of the equation. Because if it included the amount of beer consumed in a career, for instance, the HHOF would be a very lonely place.

Yet like with any Hall of Fame (HOF), the selection wonks are known to have one too many at times. But that’s what your humble pucks maven is here for, remember?

My list of the most worthy non-active NHL candidates is based on the basic standards with an added twist. I also used career similarities with current HOFers to help gauge the next wave of inductees. (Credit Hockey Reference with an assist.)

And now, here’s something I hope you’ll really like.

27. Alex Kovalev

Ed Betz / AP Photo

Career: 19 seasons (1992-2011, 2013)

Teams: New York Rangers (1992-98, 2003-04), Pittsburgh Penguins (1998-2003, 2011), Montreal (2004-09), Ottawa Senators (2009-11), Florida Panthers (2013)

Regular season statistics: 1,316/430/599/1,029/-31

All-Star selections: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2017

Bottom line: Kovalev’s greatest achievement was a seven-minute shift or thereabouts, which cantankerous Rangers coach Mike Keenan intended to be a punishment. By the time Kovy was allowed to sit his butt down, he had drawn two penalties and scored a goal. Yeah, the guy should be inducted for that alone.

26. Dave Taylor

Mark Terrill / AP Photo

Career: 17 seasons (1977-94)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings (1977-94)

Regular season statistics: 1,111/431/638/1,069/+186

All-Star selections: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 1997

Bottom line: Taylor was close to a point-a-game player with the legendary Triple Crown line. One Stanley Cup and/or even a few Hart Trophy votes would have put the Kings lifer over the top. His number hasn’t been called for a while now, but never say never.

25. Pekka Rinne

David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Career: 15 seasons (2005-2021)

Teams: Nashville Predators (2005-21)

Regular season statistics: 683/369-213-75 record/.917 save percentage/60 shutouts

All-Star Games: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2024

Bottom line: Rinne in the regular season, Hall of Famer. Rinne in the second season, not so much. Still, he ranks too high in career wins (19th), save percentage (18th) and goals-against average (22nd) to be written off. He’ll just have to wait his turn, that’s all.

24. Nikolai Khabibulin

Paul Sancya / AP Photo

Career: 18 seasons (1994-2013)

Teams: Winnipeg Jets (1994-96),Phoenix Coyotes (1996-99), Tampa Bay Lightning (2001-04), Chicago Blackhawks (2005-09, 2013), Edmonton Oilers (2010-13)

Regular season statistics: 799/333-334-97/2.72/.907

All-Star Games: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2016

Bottom line: Khabibulin led the league in two major categories — losses and goals allowed. He lost more games than he won and never finished higher than seventh in the Vezina Trophy race. The ‘Bulin Wall has some cracks, all right, but one Stanley Cup and 300-plus dubyahs patch a lot of them.

23. Bernie Nicholls

Ron Frehm / AP Photo

Career: 18 seasons (1981-98)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings (1981-90), New York Rangers (1990-91), Edmonton Oilers (1991-93, New Jersey Devils (1993-94), Chicago Blackhawks (1994-96), San Jose Sharks (1996-98)

Regular season statistics: 1,127/475/734/1,209/-39

All-Star Games: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2001

Bottom line: Nicholls has some history on his side — his 70 goals in the 1988-89 season are 11th most in league history. While The Pumper Nicholl Kid never approached that crazy number again, remember this: Of the 49 players with 1,200-plus points, 45 are in the Hall of Fame club.

22. Rick Nash

Jay LaPrete / AP Photo

Career: 15 seasons (2002-18)

Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets (2002-12), New York Rangers (2012-18), Boston Bruins (2018)

Regular season statistics: 1,060/437/368/805/-11

All-Star selections: 6

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2021

Bottom line: Too bad that Nash wasted his athletic prime with so many sucky teams. One major individual award and/or Stanley Cup might have put the power forward over the top. Now, he’ll have to wait his turn.

21. Rod Brind’Amour

Steven Senne / AP Photo

Career: 20 seasons (1989-2010)

Teams: St. Louis Blues (1989-91), Philadelphia Flyers (1991-99), Carolina Hurricanes (1999-2010)

Regular season statistics: 1,484/452/732/1,184/-39

All-Star selections: 1

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2013

Bottom line: Please explain how a two-time Selke Trophy winner with 450-plus goals and 1,100-plus points can be part of only one All-Star team. Add his current job of head coach to the mix, and Rod the Bod will get his due yet.

20. John Vanbiesbrouck

NHLHockeyCards / Twitter

Career: 20 seasons (1981, 1984-2002)

Teams: New York Rangers (1981, 1984-93), Florida Panthers (1993-98), Philadelphia (1998-2000), New York Islanders (2000-01), New Jersey Devils (2002)

Regular season statistics: 882/374-346-119/2.98/.899

All-Star Games: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2005

Bottom line: There was a brief time when Vanbiesbrouck was the best in the biz. A Vezina Trophy recipient and runner-up eight years apart, he ranks 17th in regular-season victories in league history. Even if a meh postseason record stands in the way, Beezer won’t leave empty-handed. The Detroit native already has a place in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

19. Henrik Zetterberg

David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Career: 15 seasons (2002-18)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (2002-18)

Regular season statistics: 1,082/337/623/960/+160

All-Star selections: 1

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2021

Bottom line: Not only was Zetty close to a point-a-game player at one end, but he received votes in 10 Selke Trophy elections. Coupled with his 2008 Conn Smythe hardware, that will warrant HOF induction.

18. Tom Barrasso

John Swart / AP Photo

Career: 19 seasons (1983-2002)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1983-88), Pittsburgh Penguins (1988-2000), Ottawa Senators (2000), Carolina Hurricanes (2001-02), Toronto Maple Leafs (2002), St. Louis Blues (2002)

Regular season statistics: 777/369-277-86/3.24/.892

All-Star selections: 1

Stanley Cup championships: 2

Year of eligibility: 2006

Bottom line: There’s a three-letter word in Barrasso that describes what a lot of media think of him, not that he gives a rat’s you-guessed-it what they think. The fact is, the guy is Grant Fuhr Light, one of the few masked men who have multiple trophies (Calder, Vezina, Jennings) and Stanley Cups rings (two) as well as 350-plus wins in a career. If the voters keep politics out of it, the prickly one has a legit chance.

17. Brian Propp

Peter Southwick / AP Photo

Career: 1979-94 (15 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia Flyers (1979-90), Boston Bruins (1990), Minnesota North Stars (1990-92), Hartford Whalers (1993-94)

Regular season statistics: 1,016/425/529/1,004/+298

All-Star Games: 5

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 1997

Bottom line: You know about my love for the Philadelphia Flyers by now. So, when I say that Propp is underrated, you know that he’s ridiculously underrated. True, his teams couldn’t get it done in five Stanley Cup Finals, but don’t blame him. The guy was money in the playoffs, where he ranks 53rd in career points per game. (Have you ever seen the Flyers win the Cup?)

16. Marian Gaborik

Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Career: 17 seasons (2000–18)

Teams: Minnesota Wild (2000-09), New York Rangers (2010-13), Columbus Blue Jackets (2013), Los Angeles Kings (2014-18), Ottawa Senators (2018)

Regular season statistics: 1,035/407/408/815/+95

All-Star selections: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2021

Bottom line: While known primarily as a goal-scorer, Gaborik did a lot of things consistently well over an extended period. What he lacks is a monster season and signature moment in his career. Figure the HHOF selectors to make him wait a while.

15. Gary Suter

Beth A. Keiser / AP Photo

Career: 1985-2002 (17 seasons)

Teams: Calgary Flames (1985-94), Chicago Blackhawks (1994-98), San Jose Sharks (1998-2002)

Regular season statistics: 1,145/203/641/844/+126

All-Star Games: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2005

Bottom line: Suter was the definition of sneaky great. The guy was overshadowed by the Hall of Fame likes of Al MacInnis in his prime. Then, you look him up decades later and — boom! — he ranks 17th in points per game in the regular season and 26th in the postseason at his position. Eventually, the HHOF wonks will notice this.

14. Sergei Gonchar

Matt Slocum / AP Photo

Career: 20 seasons (1995-2015)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1995-2004), Boston (2004), Pittsburgh Penguins (2005-10), Ottawa Senators (2010-13), Dallas Stars (2013-14), Montreal Canadiens (2014-15)

Regular-season statistics: 1,301/220/591/811/+33

All-Star Games: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2018

Bottom line: Among d-men, Gonchar ranks 39th in goals and 50th in assists per game on the all-time list. And he was the bomb with the manpower advantage — only 35 players have been on the ice for more PPGs in league history. What’s more, he made a conscious effort to play at the other end.

13. Curtis Joseph

Matt Slocum / AP Photo

Career: 19 seasons (1989-2008)

Teams: St. Louis Blues (1989-95, 2008-09), Edmonton Oilers (1995-98), Toronto Maple Leafs (1998-2002), Detroit Red Wings (2002-04), Phoenix Coyotes (2005-07), Calgary Flames (2008)

Regular season statistics: 943/454-352-96/2.79/.906

All-Star Games: 2

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2012

Bottom line: While Joseph is short on hardware, he did finish second, third, fourth and fifth in Vezina Trophy races. Cujo was among the few who could carry lesser teams, especially in the playoffs, and only a half-dozen own more career victories. That resume will be good enough for a Hall pass eventually.

12. Vincent Damphousse

Kevork Djansezian / AP Photo

Career: 18 seasons (1986-2004)

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (1986-91), Edmonton Oilers (1991-92), Montreal Canadiens (1992-99), San jose Sharks (1999-2004)

Regular season statistics: 1,378/432/773/1,205/+7

All-Star selections: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2007

Bottom line: The best player not named Patrick Roy in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs was often overshadowed by more glitzy names even on his own team. Yet the 1991 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player wasn’t without his own shining moment. That plus consistent productivity, remarkable durability and a Stanley Cup title should have Damphousse in the conversation.

11. Peter Bondra

AP Photo

Career: 16 seasons (1990-2008)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1990-2004), Ottawa Senators (2004), Atlanta Flames (2005-06), Chicago Blackhawks (2007-08)

Regular season statistics: 1,081/503/389/892/+74

All-Star selections: 5

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Bottom line: Because the HHOF is mostly about goals at the forward positions, it stands to reason that an all-time sniper deserves to be there, no? Peter Gun ranks 44th in career goals and 43rd in goals per game, which put him in an elite class. He received votes in three Hart Trophy races as well.

10. Keith Tkachuk

Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Career: 18 seasons (1991-2010)

Teams: Winnipeg Jets (1991-96), Phoenix Coyotes (1996-2001), St. Louis Blues (2001-10), Atlanta Thrashers (2007)

Regular season statistics: 1,201/538/527/1,065/+33

All-Star selections: 5

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2013

Bottom line: Tkachuk and Brendan Shanahan are the only players to amass at least 500 goals and 500 assists with a plus rating in pucks history. Shanahan was inducted into the HHOF on his second try. And Tkachuk? Waiting, still waiting…

9. Patrik Elias

John Amis / AP Photo

Career: 20 seasons (1995-2016)

Teams: New Jersey Devils

Regular-season statistics: 1,240/408/617/1,025/+172

All-Star Games: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 2

Year of eligibility: 2019

Bottom line: The HHOF wonks shouldn’t bounce this Czech because of his very good-but-not-great resume in the regular season. It’s the postseason where Elias buttered his bread. True to his rep as a big-game player, he was a key component with a pair of Stanley Cup championship teams.

8. Jeremy Roenick

Tony Avelar / AP Photo

Career: 20 seasons (1988-2009)

Teams: Chicago Blackhawks (1988-96), Phoenix Coyotes (1996-2001, 2006-07), Philadelphia Flyers (2001-04), Los Angeles Kings (2005-06), San Jose Sharks (2007-09)

Regular season statistics: 1,363/513/703/1,216/+153

All-Star Games: 9

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2012

Bottom line: Roenick ranks among the top 50 in games played (49th), goals (40th), points (45th), game-winning goals (16th), power-play goals (29th) and short-handed goals (25th) in league history. And he wasn’t afraid to muck it up, either. This resume certainly passes muster for me.

7. Pavel Datsyuk

Jerry S. Mendoza / AP Photo

Career: 14 seasons (2001-16)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (2001-16)

Regular season statistics: 953/314/604/918/+249

All-Star Games: 3

Stanley Cup championships: 2

Bottom line: Datsyuk was close to a point-a-game scorer, but his defensive skills (and pair of Lord Stanleys) set him apart from the pack. Seriously, the three-time Selke Trophy recipient could pick your pocket faster than an Illinois politician. Only Bob Gainey won the hardware more times, and you know where he is at the moment.

6. Daniel Alfredsson

Bill Kostroun / AP Photo

Career: 18 seasons (1995-2014)

Teams: Ottawa Senators (1995-2013), Detroit Red Wings (2013-14)

Regular season statistics: 1,246/444/713/1,157/+155

All-Star Games: 6

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2017

Bottom line: Alfredsson was as consistent a two-way forward as any on this list. If the 1,000-points club member had spent all except his final season in a major market, he might have a Hall of Fame plaque already. But, you know, Ottawa…

5. Theoren Fleury

Chris Pizzello / AP Photo

Career: 15 seasons (1988-2003)

Teams: Calgary Flames (1988-99), Colorado Avalanche (1999), New York Rangers, (1999-2002), Chicago Blackhawks (2002-03)

Regular season statistics: 1,084/455/633/1,088/+145

All-Star Games: 7

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2006

Bottom line: As a member of the select 450-1,000 club, Fleury should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame years ago. The Flower checks all the boxes, save for a major individual award.

4. Henrik Lundqvist

Rusty Kennedy / AP Photo

Career: 15 seasons (2005-20)

Teams: New York Rangers (2005-20)

Regular season statistics: 887/459-310-97/2.43/.918

All-Star selections: 5

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2023

Bottom line: I’ve always considered Henrik to be more a prince than King, but there’s no doubt that one-time Vezina Trophy winner will have a HHOF plaque before long. The only question is, will it come on the first ballot? His New York pedigree won’t hurt him one bit.

3. Pierre Turgeon

Carlos Osorio / AP Photo

Career: 19 seasons (1987-2007)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1987-91), New York Islanders (1991-95),

1995-96), St. Louis Blues (1996-2001), Dallas Stars (2001-04), Colorado Avalanche (2005-07)

Regular season statistics: 1,294/515/812/1,327/+139

All-Star selections: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 0

Year of eligibility: 2010

Bottom line: Turgeon is the only non-active player with at least 500 goals and 1,100 points not to have HOF status. OK, so the guy didn’t win a major trophy, but if you read the intro, you know that doesn’t matter much. Turns out that Dale Hunter cheapshot wasn’t the worst for unlucky Pierre in his career.

2. Alexander Mogilny

BuffaloSabres / Twitter

Career: 16 seasons (1989-2004)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1989-95), Vancouver Canucks (1995-2000), New Jersey Devils (2000-01, 2005), Toronto Maple Leafs (2001-04)

Regular-season statistics: 990/473/559/1,032/+81

All-Star Games: 4

Stanley Cup championships: 1

Year of eligibility: 2009

Bottom line: Mogilny and Paul Kariya had similar careers in pro and world competitions. The main differences: Mo scored 71 more goals and hoisted a Stanley Cup once. The first Russian defection to the NHL also boasts historical significance. So, tell me, HHOF wonks, why did you anoint Kariya five years ago and make Alexander The Great wait his turn?

1. Jaromir Jagr

Ted Mathias / AP Photo

Career: 24 seasons (1990-2008, 2011-17)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins (1990-2001), Washington Capitals (2001-04), New York Rangers (2004-08), Philadelphia Flyers (2011-12), Dallas Stars (2012-13), Boston Bruins (2013), New Jersey Devils (2013-15), Florida Panthers (2015- 17), Calgary Flames (2017)

Regular season statistics: 1,733/766/1,155/1,921/+322

All-Star selections: 10

Stanley Cup championships: 2

Year of eligibility: 2021

Bottom line: So, here’s my dream scenario: Alex Ovechkin passes Jagr on the career goals list, after which the 50-something-year-young Hall of Famer makes good on his troll of an epic comeback, after which he passes Ovi, who comes out of retirement himself to get back in the race again. Would that be one of the best sports stories ever or what?