joe nieuwendyk, brendan shanahan and dave andreychuk are in the hall. not saying that they shouldn't be, just saying that if they qualify then surely both datsyuk and zetterberg qualify as well. as for osgood, it is possible, but not likely imo.
That’s really unfair to Shanahan.
This post gave me an idea to compare Yzerman, Shanahan, Sundin, Alfredsson and Theo Fleury with Datsyuk and Zetterberg just to see where Eurotwins fall on the scale of HoF.
Let’s start with the guys who are already in:
Yzerman:
Top-10 point finishes: 3, 3, 4, 7, 7, 10
Top-10 goal finishes: 2, 2, 3, 6, 6, 6
Postseason all-stars: 1
Trophies: Lindsay, Selke, Smythe (Masterton)
Stanley cups: 3
Bonus points: Canada cup, Olympics, 7th in points, 9th in goals, highest scoring season besides Gretzky and Lemieux, longest tenured captain
Result: surefire first ballot HoF. The only possible knock here is relatively small number of single season personal achievements but being top-10 in goals and points makes it irrelevant.
Shanahan:
Top-10 point finishes: 8, 10
Top-10 goal finishes: 5, 6, 6, 9, 10
Postseason all-stars: 1, 1, 2
Trophies: (King Clancy)
Stanley cups: 3
Bonus points: Triple Gold, Canada cup, power forward, 500 goals, 1000 points
Result: controversially not a first ballot HoF. The key to induction is production + grit. Being a LW probably helped with all-star record.
Sundin:
Top-10 point finishes: 4, 7
Top-10 goal finishes: 2, 8, 10
Postseason all-stars: 2, 2
Trophies: (Messier)
Stanley cups: 0
Bonus points: Olympics, WC x3, intangibles, 500 goals, 1000 points
Result: controversially a first ballot HoF. If we dismiss playing for Toronto then his international career and being a pioneer of Swedish hockey pushed him to first ballot.
Ok, here it gets interesting.
Alfredsson:
Top-10 point finishes: 4, 7, 9
Top-10 goal finishes: 9, 9, 9
Postseason all-stars: 2
Trophies: (Calder, King Clancy, Messier)
Stanley cups: 0
Bonus points: Olympics, intangibles, 1000 points
Result: not a first ballot HoF. He is expected to make it soon but he lacks special something to force himself in. He is a good standard to measure against.
Fleury:
Top-10 point finishes: 9, 9, 9
Top-10 goal finishes: 2, 6, 7
Postseason all-stars: 2
Trophies: (Plus-Minus)
Stanley cups: 1
Bonus points: Olympics, Canada Cup, 1000 points
Result: not in HoF. His numbers are good enough but his off-ice issues keep him out. Current weak years are his best chance to get in.
Now let’s inspect Eurotwins.
Datsyuk:
Top-10 point finishes: 4, 4, 10
Top-10 goal finishes:
Postseason all-stars: 2
Trophies: Selke x3 (Plus-Minus, Lady Byng x4)
Stanley cups: 2
Bonus points: Triple Gold, the Magic Man
My prediction: borderline first ballot HoF. Being exceptional two-way forward (with trophies to show) while still providing HoF level offense puts him in but first ballot is a matter of reputation. His on-ice play is a strong vote for first ballot but how he left the NHL may keep him out for a year or two just to make a point.
Zetterberg:
Top-10 point finishes: 6, 8
Top-10 goal finishes: 5
Postseason all-stars: 2
Trophies: Smythe (King Clancy)
Stanley cups: 1
Bonus points: Triple Gold, intangibles
My prediction: borderline HoF. It is really hard to put Z above Alfredsson from HoF perspective so he isn’t likely to make it on first ballot. This means he will be pushed by compilers like Brind’Amour from one side and from new wave two-way forwards Bergeron-Kopitar-Toews from another. His best bet is to jump in before the strong crop of cap era players starts to retire because people like Crosby or Ovechkin may sideline him yet again and then the memory of 2007-08 season will fade.