MANY DESERVING CHOICES FOR SPOT IN HOCKEY HALL
The Hockey Hall of Fame isn't in the business of `theme' induction years, but 2022 might be hard to avoid.
Just connect the dots from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, through Vancouver to the Toronto temple. It would encompass the firstyear eligible Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, countryman Daniel Alfredsson, who has been a frequent snub, plus newbie Roberto Luongo and the wait-listed Alex Mogilny, the latter duo most famous as Canucks.
That totals five players, one more than can be inducted in a single year, but picking from that group is a good start after COVID-19 shelved selections last year to give the 2020 class its rightful ceremony. This year's four players, up to two builders and possibly one on-ice official, will be revealed Monday afternoon after the selection committee gathers at the Hall.
Under committee chairman Mike Gartner, 14 votes from the 18 members, via secret ballots, are needed for election.
There are minimum requirements for candidates in games played, points, Stanley Cup wins, individual major trophies, Olympic and other international titles, but there is no such thing as a lock. Start with Alfredsson, who was overlooked for a pack including Marian Hossa in 2020 and has been eligible four years in an ever-crowded Hall parking lot.
A few Senators fans launched a social media campaign earlier this month `Alfie To The Hall', but again he must have his name and deeds introduced by a committee member, a panel of current and former players, executives and media. While they never publicly reveal which candidates get to that stage, a frustrating policy compared to the transparency of other pro sports Halls, it's often a case of which supporter makes the most compelling argument at the meeting — or if a committee newcomer brings fresh perspective.
With Anders Hedberg, Igor Larionov and Jari Kurri and ex-canucks GM Brian Burke part of the group, the Sedins, Alfredsson and Mogilny have support, while Luongo (no Cups, but 1,000 games in goal and five international championships) could bump Mogilny or Alfredsson.
The veterans' category was eliminated many years ago, but that doesn't mean an old candidate can't be resurrected, such as recent surprise picks Guy Carbonneau, Kevin Lowe and Rogie Vachon.
In keeping with its desire not to be branded the `NHL Hall of Fame,' there has also been election of more European-based stars and female greats in recent years. That's included Alexander Yakushev, Vaclav Nedomansky and Sergei Makarov.
In 2020, Canadian national team goalie Kim St-pierre became the eighth woman chosen. Fellow Canadians Jennifer Botterill and Caroline Ouellette could be next.
The Sedins lost in their only Stanley Cup Final in 2011, but each have an Olympic gold medal and a world title to their credit, as well as more than 1,000 games and points, as does Alfredsson, with his one world championship. There was no doubt the twins would go in the Hall together, after entering the NHL as the second and third overall picks in the 1999 draft, engineered by Burke.
Only 24 more games and 29 extra points separate centre Henrik from left winger Daniel.
Luongo retired fourth in NHL career netminding wins with
489 and has two World Cup titles to compensate for not winning a Cup. The glib Luongo would surely have one of the most entertaining induction speeches.
Mogilny, an early Iron Curtain defector from Russa, became a glaring Hall omission when contemporaries Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov made it in years ago. But he's hardly alone, as players all the way back to the Original Six waited for their call in vain, some sadly passing on, despite strong Hall credentials.
It has been a while since an official was added, but there are ongoing attempts to get Bryan Lewis's name in front of the committee.
Not only did he put in years of work in the minors before handling 1,000-plus NHL games and nine Stanley Cup finals, he was thrust into being league director of officiating after John Mccauley's death, overseeing the creation of video goal judging, the two-referee system and other changes.