Do Erik Karlsson and Sergei Bobrovsky make the Hall of Fame?

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Both have been voted best at their position twice.

For a long time, the consensus was that if you won at least two Vezina or Norris trophies, you were Hall of Fame material.

The last guy to win two Vezinas and not make it (so far) is Tim Thomas. Duncan Keith will likely make it, unless the Beach scandal splash damage gets him.

Will EK and Bob make the Hall?

Click to read more...

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Bob’s career is weird in that it’s a total split after that contract, and people will forget the first half existed. That first half alone probably isn’t enough anyways, but just sayin, memory might serve him worse than most if he doesn’t put together a few more solid years.

EK gets in because he was so good, f*** Matt Cooke, injuries- just feels a very different story from Bob. It is interesting that they’ve maybe had somewhat similar career arcs, but whereas Bob is known for poor playoff performances EK is known for dragging a team to the finals. It’s those differences that will matter.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Neither.

NHL trophies are a farce and so are the people who constantly use them as some kind of “evidence”.

 

[Ivo]

Karlsson yes, 1-1-2-2 Norris record, really high peak, including playoff performance, should be enough. He is not elite anymore, but can still put up points and reach some nice career totals for a Dman.

Bobrovsky, other than those two Vezina seasons does not have as much to show for as Karlsson. Making it as a goalie is tough, if Barrasso isn’t in, I don’t see why Bobrovsky should. Unless he has a late career resurgence, of course.

 

[Voight]

Karlsson yes, 1-1-2-2 Norris record, really high peak, including playoff performance, should be enough. He is not elite anymore, but can still put up points and reach some nice career totals for a Dman.

Bobrovsky, other than those two Vezina seasons does not have as much to show for as Karlsson. Making it as a goalie is tough, if Barrasso isn’t in, I don’t see why Bobrovsky should. Unless he has a late career resurgence, of course.

Barrasso was a bit of an arse towards the media and others, hence why hes not in. Regardless, the hall has a VERY high bar for goalies.

 

[WillardJFredricks]

Neither.

 

[Weztex]

Karlsson is a lock. He’s one of the defining defenseman of his era and one of the best offensive dman of all-time.

Bobrovsky’s career doesn’t really feels like a HoF one. Part of that is probably because he doesn’t have any defining moment or memorable playoff run. That’s what people remember about someone like Fleury, despite having similar regular season performances. Winning a cup as a starter, even being average, would absolutely tip the scale.

NHL trophies are a farce and so are the people who constantly use them as some kind of “evidence”.

The question is ‘’will they make the HoF’’. Trophies and trophy voting are pretty much part of the equation and deserve to be brought up in this thread.

 

[biturbo19]

Karlsson definitely makes it. He was a game-changer for quite a few years at his peak. It'll be debated a bunch, but in the end, you cannot keep a player of that caliber out.


Not a chance Bob makes it. He's got a Vezina, but his career peak was so short, i don't think he has any legitimate case for it.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Not a chance Bob makes it. He's got a Vezina, but his career peak was so short, i don't think he has any legitimate case for it.

Of course he has a legitimate case for it. He's the only goalie of the last 11 years that has 2 vezinas.

 

[bobholly39]

As of this posting there seem to be 16 voters who don't think Karlsson will make it...is anyone actually serious about that?

To me Karlsson is 100% a shoe-in. One of the strongest locks in the league today even.

Bobrovsky? I'm thinking more no than yes - but obviously 2 Vezinas is really strong. It'll depend how he finishes his career, but i'm guessing no

 

[Machinehead]

Every player with multiple Norris Trophies is in the Hall of Fame barring Duncan Keith who is a shoo-in when he's eligible.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don't think Bob makes it without some sort of major career turnaround. If he had capitalized on his playoff opportunity with last year's Florida squad, maybe we'd be having that conversation right now. Instead it went the opposite direction.

Karlsson is a weird situation. I think as time goes on, folks will be more forgiving of his post-injury decline. He should make it but a player of his caliber is usually not in question at all at this stage of his career.

 

[Weztex]

Karlsson is a weird situation. I think as time goes on, folks will be more forgiving of his post-injury decline. He should make it but a player of his caliber is usually not in question at all at this stage of his career.

I don’t think his case is questioned much. The only people questioning it are either

A) People who didn’t watch him in his prime and are extrapolating his current form to his whole career

B) People not familiar with the HoF standards

C) Haters

So 20% of HFBoards seems about right.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Oh they might one day(hell, Alfie got in....), but they shouldn't.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don’t think his case is questioned much. The only people questioning it are either

A) People who didn’t watch him in his prime and are extrapolating his current form to his whole career

B) People not familiar with the HoF standards

C) Haters

So 20% of HFBoards seems about right.

You're probably right about that (especially B) but I do think Karlsson is a weird case relative to the norm. His career before and after age 26 are night and day.

 

[BlueBaron]

I like Karlsson's chances more so picked him but I'm not sure he's a lock yet.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Karlsson is a lock imo.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Karlsson or neither

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Karlsson is easily in.

Bob shouldn't sniff the HOF but he probably will get it because he played enough games around the 2 Vezinas. It's laughable that 2 good years surrounded by garbage and being historically bad in the playoffs gets him in. Especially since the only reason Tim Thomas isnt in is because he "didn't play long enough"

 

[Regal]

As others have said, Karlsson will get in. His peak and prime were too good even if he fell off early and he’s one of the best offensive defensemen of all time and one of the main defensemen who defines his era.

Bob has one of the weirdest careers, with two Vezinas, a couple good years and a lot of mediocre, including being known for one of the worst contracts in the league. I think I see him on the outside as it stands, and likely as it finishes if things don’t dramatically change. I think his biggest add would be a defining playoff run at this point, as I think the “winner” label holds a lot of weight for Hall voters when it comes to goalies, and Bob’s weak playoff resume paints him as a loser so far. Not impossible to cement his legacy at his age though. Fleury did it after he went to Vegas at 34.

 

[swiftwin]

Karlsson is definitely a lock

• 2x Norris trophies
• 2x Norris runner up
• 1x Top 5 scoring finish
• Only defenseman since Orr to lead the league in assists (the league really needs a trophy for this)

Most importantly, he paved the way for a new generation of offensive defensemen.

 

[MXD]

If Erik Karlsson doesn't get in the HHOF, may as well tear down the whole thing. He's a VERY, VERY obvious HHOFer.

 

[norrisnick]

Karlsson is easily in.

Bob shouldn't sniff the HOF but he probably will get it because he played enough games around the 2 Vezinas. It's laughable that 2 good years surrounded by garbage and being historically bad in the playoffs gets him in. Especially since the only reason Tim Thomas isnt in is because he "didn't play long enough"

That might be the unofficial reason given, but it isn't the only factor.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Yea, people saying no for EK are nothing but trolls.

He is a shoe-in.

 

[Crow]

I’m going to guess Bob has another great season in him in which he is a top 5 goalie and he gets in.

Karlsson isn’t worth debating. He’s out.