Sports Illustrated columnist Brian Cazeneuve recently looked at which NHL players would get into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the coming years, how long it would take some of them to get inducted, as well as those who might never be inducted.
Here's my take on his list, plus the names of a few other players I believe worthy of induction. Cazeneuve's list can be found here:
Class of 2007:
Mark Messier and Ron Francis - yes, first ballot inductions.
Pavel Bure - yes, and I'd make him first-ballot but due to HHOF rules they usually go with two inductions in the players category and one-two in the builders category. Not next year but he'll get his due in the next two-three years.
Igor Larionov, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens - same as Bure.
Adam Oates - I concur with Cazeneuve's take. His offensive stats will get him inducted, but not on the first ballot. It'll probably be several years before he takes his place.
Cazeneuve also notes there will technically be no first-ballot nominees for the Class of 2008, which should get Bure, Larionov, MacInnis and Stevens consideration.
Class of 2009:
Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman - Like Messier and Francis, unquestionably first-ballot inductions.
Luc Robitaille - He won't be inducted in 2009 but his record setting stats for a left winger should get him inducted within two-three years of eligibility.
Others who are still eligible:
Dave Andreychuk - Cazeneuve doesn't believe Andreychuk will get in despite his offensive stats and longevity. Indeed, there's some question if he'll ever get inducted, but if the HHOF can induct guys like Bernie Federko, Clark Gillies and Dick Duff, Andreychuk runs a very good shot.
And I'm not picking on Federko, Gillies or Duff, just pointing out that a guy who was more productive than they over a longer period merits induction.
Mike Richter - Cazeneuve suggests Richter is the victim of bad timing since comparables like Roy, Brodeur, Fuhr, Vernon, Vanbiesbrouck and Joseph had more victories than Richter, but he was a long-time Rangers netminder, part of that 1994 Cup champion. I wouldn't rule him out, but he could be waiting a long time.
Doug Gilmour - Killer will get in, but not in 2009. He'll wait a few years but he's definitely gonna be inducted one day.
Claude Lemieux - It was be a travesty if one of the dirtiest players in NHL history gets inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Phil Housley - Loaded with talent and played for 21 NHL seasons, but "Phil the Thrill" always left you wanting more. I feel he could've been a much better player, so I'm not certain he'll be inducted someday.
Glenn Anderson - the third highest scorer in NHL playoff history, a key component of the Oilers great Cup champions, and yet he sits on the sidelines while lesser players are inducted? I think there's some personal bias against Anderson by the HHOF over his flamboyant personal life because he should've been inducted by now.
Dino Ciccarelli: He could play with a bit of a dirty streak, but he was nothing like Lemieux. Cazeneuve makes a compelling case for Dino (608 career regular season goals, most goals in a playoff campaign for rookie, 14, set in 1981 with the Minnesota North Stars). He should get in someday.
Rogie Vachon, Steve Larmer, Brian Propp, Guy Carbonneau, Tom Barrasso - Cazeneuve believes they should be inducted, as do I, especially Barrasso and Carbonneau, who have individual accolades on their resumes as well as Cup rings for their efforts.
Others I believe deserve induction include Butch Goring, Rick Middleton, Doug Jarvis, Alexander Yakushev, Boris Mikhailov, Anders Hedberg, Mark Howe and Carl Brewer.
Ron Hextall, Dale Hunter, Kevin Lowe, Esa Tikkanen, Ray Ferraro, Adam Graves, Bernie Nicholls, Dave Taylor, Andy Moog, Bill Ranford and Glenn Resch: All very good players but their careers aren't worthy of induction. Hextall, Hunter and Tikkanen's cheap shot antics further sets back their chances.