2025 HHoF: Who would you vote for?

[BLNY]

What’s your reasoning for not?

If I picked only one name and it wasn't Keith, would you be asking?

I didn't know the limit for male players when I selected (4). I scanned the list and picked three that I thought were deserving. Mogilny and Tkachuk are long overdue. Other than that, I don't need a reason other than feeling they're deserving of the honour - which is likely as much thought as is put in by the committee.

 

[JaegerDice]

If I picked only one name and it wasn't Keith, would you be asking?

I didn't know the limit for male players when I selected (4). I scanned the list and picked three that I thought were deserving. Mogilny and Tkachuk are long overdue. Other than that, I don't need a reason other than feeling they're deserving of the honour - which is likely as much thought as is put in by the committee.

What's the rationale for Chara over Keith though? Fewer team and individual awards at the NHL level. More team awards at the international level, but no golds.

It just seems between the two big Dmen on the list, Keith would be the clear choice. And I say that as a big fan of Chara. When it comes down resume, Keith's is just.... better.

For the record, I picked both Chara and Keith in this poll.

 

[Regal]

What's the rationale for Chara over Keith though? Fewer team and individual awards at the NHL level. More team awards at the international level, but no golds.

It just seems between the two big Dmen on the list, Keith would be the clear choice. And I say that as a big fan of Chara. When it comes down resume, Keith's is just.... better.

For the record, I picked both Chara and Keith in this poll.

Chara does have the much better Norris record outside of wins. He was a finalist 6 times whereas Keith only was in his two wins. He also played considerably more games. I think Keith was better at his best, including playoffs, but Chara was effective for longer and probably more consistent in his prime. I can see it depending a bit on what someone values, though I don’t see how there’d be enough separation to take one and not the other.

 

[JaegerDice]

Chara does have the much better Norris record outside of wins. He was a finalist 6 times whereas Keith only was in his two wins. He also played considerably more games. I think Keith was better at his best, including playoffs, but Chara was effective for longer and probably more consistent in his prime. I can see it depending a bit on what someone values, though I don’t see how there’d be enough separation to take one and not the other.

That's a fair argument.

 

[BLNY]

What's the rationale for Chara over Keith though? Fewer team and individual awards at the NHL level. More team awards at the international level, but no golds.

It just seems between the two big Dmen on the list, Keith would be the clear choice. And I say that as a big fan of Chara. When it comes down resume, Keith's is just.... better.

For the record, I picked both Chara and Keith in this poll.

Both had great careers. Maybe it's because I watch more Eastern Conference hockey, but I saw more Chara and thought - regardless of any awards - he was the more impactful player for longer.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Zdeno Chara
Carey Price
Duncan Keith
Joe Thornton

This right here. No need to overthink it, it's the 4 most deserving eligible players.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

What's the rationale for Chara over Keith though? Fewer team and individual awards at the NHL level. More team awards at the international level, but no golds.

It just seems between the two big Dmen on the list, Keith would be the clear choice. And I say that as a big fan of Chara. When it comes down resume, Keith's is just.... better.

For the record, I picked both Chara and Keith in this poll.

Despite the 2 to 1 Norris lead, I'd argue Chara was the better player and for longer. Keith was obviously better offensively, but Chara was that much better defensively (and physical play). Which isnt to call Keith a 1 way D-man, he clearly wasnt. But Chara is in the conversation for Top 5 defensive D of all time.

Norris record is 1-2-2-3-3-3-3-4-5 for Chara vs 1-1-4 for Keith

Chara has 3x AS-1 and 4x AS-2 vs 2x AS-1 and 1x AS-2 for Keith

Another factor IMO is that yes Keith has 3 Cups, but he was either #2 or #3 (depending on Toews that season) best on his team whereas Chara was unquestionably the best player on his team every year. And that 3-1 advantage is much closer than it looks considering Chara has 2 SC Finals losses, 2013 where only 1 game was decided by more than 1 goal and 2019 which went 7.

It's not entirely an apples to apples comparison, but to me its like how a lot of people choose Bourque over Lidstrom because of how long he dominated vs Lidstrom having more Norris trophies and Cups.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

If the intention is to prioritize the newly eligible players, I'd go for Chara, Thornton, Keith and Getzlaf.

If it's the most deserving, I'd make Getzlaf wait a year, and would vote for Elias instead. (I'm convinced he's the most underrated winger, and perhaps the most underrated forward, of the past 30 years).

Ultimately, I think Chara, Thornton, Keith, Getzlaf, Elias, Zetterberg and Price are all worthy.

I'm with @tarheelhockey on Mogilny. I'm baffled by HFBoards' fascination with him.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Chara, Keith, Getzlaf and Zetterberg

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

People seem to be confused about it being the hockey hall of fame and not just the NHL hall of fame

 

[tabness]

would go

Mogilny
Zetterberg
Thornton
and probably Keith for the fourth

 

[Paul4587]

Moginly never had any serious Hart consideration and only finished in the top 10 in scoring twice, peaking at 7th in league scoring. He was one hell of a goal scorer but he's about as fringe of a case you can get, why is there such a massive push to get him in the past few years?

 

[Xspyrit]

Who are the lunatics that wouldn’t vote for Duncan Keith?

3 Cups
Conn Smythe
2 Olympic Gold medals
2 Norris Trophies

All as a #1 Dman

What else could he possibly need?

Chara, Thornton and Keith are automatics and should be 100%,

Also, I wonder why Price is so popular vs Rinne.

Rinne has better numbers, better Win % and better voting for Vezina/Hart... He doesn't have that Theodore level season though and he's not Canadian I guess

 

[banks]

Chara, Thornton and Keith are automatics and should be 100%,

Also, I wonder why Price is so popular vs Rinne.

Rinne has better numbers, better Win % and better voting for Vezina/Hart... He doesn't have that Theodore level season though and he's not Canadian I guess

I hear you on Rinne. But I don't think being Canadian is the big difference, other than the fact that being Canadian means you play on a stacked team internationally.

I think the big thing with Price is the eye test. He never had the kind of defense and structure in front of him that Rinne had. Price was noticeably incredible most games, where as Rinne was less remarkable. You make a good case for him, and he maybe deserves more attention than he gets. But Price is borderline automatic for the Hall.

Far too often the Hall of Fame inductions seem to just come from stats. Played a thousand games and/or scored a thousand points? You're probably getting in. And I don't love that. Price is a case where the numbers don't get him in alone, but the highlight reel does the job.

 

[Crow]

Who are the lunatics that wouldn’t vote for Duncan Keith?

3 Cups
Conn Smythe
2 Olympic Gold medals
2 Norris Trophies

All as a #1 Dman

What else could he possibly need?

To not be a Blackhawk is my guess.

I’d love to hear an argument against him otherwise.

 

[Xspyrit]

I hear you on Rinne. But I don't think being Canadian is the big difference, other than the fact that being Canadian means you play on a stacked team internationally.

I think the big thing with Price is the eye test. He never had the kind of defense and structure in front of him that Rinne had. Price was noticeably incredible most games, where as Rinne was less remarkable. You make a good case for him, and he maybe deserves more attention than he gets. But Price is borderline automatic for the Hall.

Far too often the Hall of Fame inductions seem to just come from stats. Played a thousand games and/or scored a thousand points? You're probably getting in. And I don't love that. Price is a case where the numbers don't get him in alone, but the highlight reel does the job.

It's a fair argumentation and it's true that Price had to stand on his head at times but Rinne was also quite spectacular in many of the games I watched

Price 712 NHL games, 110.8 GSAA
Rinne 683 NHL games, 119.4 GSAA

Seriously, I think he's very underrated because Nashville had Weber and Suter for years but the highlight reel does the job as well.



I think if Rinne was a Canadian who played in a bigger Canadian market, the talk would be different

 

[Bouboumaster]

I think if Rinne was a Canadian who played in a bigger Canadian market, the talk would be different

If Price was playing behind an actual good team, he'd be considered as a top 20 ever

 

[Xspyrit]

If Price was playing behind an actual good team, he'd be considered as a top 20 ever

Goalie, maybe? Player, lol not a chance

 

[Bouboumaster]

Goalie, maybe? Player, lol not a chance

Obviously

 

[Crow]

Personally I think Keith vs Chara is a tough argument. I’d give prime, peak and career overall to Keith but only by a small margin. Chara has better longevity and consistency by a much larger margin. In the end it’s too close to call for me.

Even if you disagree, it was close and 58% here for Keith makes me think I’m wasting my time talking to nearly half the people here about hockey.

 

[Bileur]

Chara, Thornton, Keith, Price.

Mogilny and Tkachuk are next on my list.