Conference call will decide who gets into sport’s Hall
Debates about candidates can be heated, but will that happen via conference call?
The Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee faces a few difficult decisions Wednesday — without meeting face to face.
The physical distancing requirements of COVID-19 mean the annual vote at the hall’s Toronto boardroom will now be conducted by the 18 members via conference call, with lines as far away as Scandinavia and Russia. As the closing arguments for a certain player or builder can sometimes be heated, longtime observers of the process wonder if this year means fewer colleagues can be swayed by a passionate speaker. Conversely, will more restrained members putting a name forward be better able to stick to their script without interruption?
One of the committee must submit a potential inductee, then make a case to get 14 votes, or 75 per cent, via secret ballot.
While first-year eligible
Jarome Iginla is considered the most likely pick, the next two or three will add or subtract from the hall’s already crowded waiting room of hopefuls. Up to four male and two female players can be chosen each year, along with two builders — if no referee or linesmen take one of those spots.
The diverse opinions of the men and women on the committee, which is NHL, amateur and international in scope, often means a long-overlooked name can get bumped by someone right out of the blue who has a forceful sponsor on voting day. The committee is refreshed every few years, with Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman and Canadian women’s star and media personality Cassie Campbell-pascall added in 2018.
A more visual-friendly committee meeting via Zoom was considered, but then dropped for security hacking concerns. The audio conference will end with a vote via randomly assigned ID numbers to maintain secrecy with a 4:30 p.m. ET announcement scheduled live on TSN.
Among those hoping to get the call from hall chairman Lanny Mcdonald are:
RW Jarome Iginla: The Stanley Cup eluded him, but he ticks a lot of boxes. The ex-calgary Flames captain recorded 1,300 points in 20 seasons, including 625 goals, well above the basic hall plateau of 400 goals or 1,000 points. He has an Art Ross and two Rocket Richard trophies, two Olympic golds for Canada, a world championship and world junior title. In a hockey world shaken by racism allegations, Iginla’s Nigerian heritage and his vast accomplishments would be the feel-good story of induction night.
RW Marian Hossa: Another first-year candidate, Hossa won three Cups and was in five finals in all, three straight times with different clubs. The Slovakian had 1,134 points in 1,309 games, fronted by eight seasons of at least 30 goals.
RW Alex Mogilny: Russians with lesser numbers are in ahead of him, despite the early defector being the first from his nation to lead the NHL in scoring in a single season. He nudged into the 1,000-game club, won a Cup with the Devils and the Lady Byng Trophy as a Maple Leaf.
RW Daniel Alfredsson: With little to look forward to these days, fans in Ottawa have begun taking Alfredsson’s snubs personally as he reaches his fourth year of eligibility, having been a favourite in 2019. His 1,157 points in 1,246 games through 18 years are in addition to Olympic gold with Sweden in 2006 and a Calder Trophy 10 years earlier. But lack of a Cup or other major bauble has factored into the Sens captain’s long wait.
LW Patrik Elias: If Alfredsson is usurped again, it could be the New Jersey Devils’ offensive franchise leader who goes in first. He has two Cups in addition to most Jersey playoff scoring marks — but like Alfredsson, no individual awards.
D Sergei Gonchar: Will the committee opt for a Russian defenceman a second straight year? On the heels of Sergei Zubov comes a blue-liner with 591 assists and 811 points, with 50 or more in eight seasons. He has a Cup with the 2009 Penguins.
LW Rod Brind’amour: The Hurricanes have been on a bit of roll at the hall of late with Peter Karmanos, Jim Rutherford and now perhaps their current coach, a 2006 Cup champion and twotime Frank Selke Trophy winner. But inducting a defensive forward a year after Guy Carbonneau would leave more offensive players in the cold.
C Jeremy Roenick: The brash Roenick tallied 1,216 points in 1,363 games, including three straight seasons of 100-plus and consecutive 50-goal years. But he has ruffled feathers and not won the Cup or any award of note.
G Curtis Joseph: It’s getting old, nearly 10 years, to mention Cujo’s 454 victories are more than six inductees including Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall and Dominik Hasek. Yet all four won the Vezina or a Cup.
F Jennifer Botterill: Three-time gold medal winner on the Canadian women’s Olympic team could be next in line for female inductees.
Wild cards: Kevin Lowe, Theo Fleury, Doug Wilson, Pierre Turgeon, Keith Tkachuk, Tom Barrasso, Mike Vernon, Rick Middleton, Butch Goring, Paul Henderson (builder or player), Claude Provost.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
John Davidson (chairman, player/team exec), David Branch (CHL president), Brian Burke (team/nhl exec), Cassie Campbell-pascall (Olympian/media), Mark Chipman (team exec), Bob Clarke (player/general manager), Marc de Foy (HHOF journalist), Michael Farber (HHOF journalist), Ron Francis (player/gm), Mike Gartner (player/nhlpa president), Anders Hedberg (player/national team hockey exec), Jari Kurri (player, KHL GM), Igor Larionov (player), Pierre Mcguire (coach/broadcaster), Bob Mckenzie (HHOF journalist/broadcaster), Mike Murphy (player, coach, NHL exec) David Poile (team exec), Luc Robitaille (player).