Will anyone ever get an immediate HHOF induction again?

[BlueBull]

The rules are stated here as it's possible, but very strict:
"The Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors eliminated the right of the Selection Committee to waive the mandatory three-year waiting period for Induction in the Player Category (except under certain humanitarian circumstances) in 1999, after Wayne Gretzky received such an honour."
What humanitarian circumstances?
Mario Lemieux Humanitarian or Red Kelly Humanitarian?
Do you have to really good? After all, Brodeur didn't waive his 3 years (he was arguably better than sawchuck, so i would expect that could of possibly accepted his waiver request).
If there ever is a waiver again, who will be that guy who gets his 3 years waived?
Or is it never happening again?

 

[GlitchMarner]

Tanner Glass will.

 

[Hobnobs]

Tanner Glass will.

He might get inducted before retiring. Dylan McIlrath is another great example who will get requirements waived.

 

[GlitchMarner]

He might get inducted before retiring. Dylan McIlrath is another great example who will get requirements waived.

LOL.

 

[BlueBull]

He might get inducted before retiring. Dylan McIlrath is another great example who will get requirements waived.

Yeah I know, how about john scott and sean avery too?
+++
Ok, we have had our fun now we should get serious. I'll wait until you guys are ready to be serious.

 

[sr edler]

How are we supposed to know?

 

[Inkling]

Forever is a long time. I'm pretty sure it will happen again. At the very least I could see it happening if a clear-cut HHoF worthy player ever died before they retired (perhaps the humanitarian circumstances mentioned). A Gretzky-like scenario will probably happen some day too.

 

[Eisen]

Yeah I know, how about john scott and sean avery too?
+++
Ok, we have had our fun now we should get serious. I'll wait until you guys are ready to be serious.

If he blows Gretzky's stats away, sure. I'm not going to see that in my lifetime.

 

[Nick Hansen]

Toews will be immediately inducted because of his intangibles.

 

[VanIslander]

Jagr or bust.

 

[sr edler]

Toews will be immediately inducted because of his intangibles.

No. Toews intangibles will self-induct themselves three years before his retirement. That’s how truly special intangibles work. Toews himself has to wait three years like any other mortal soul.

 

[reckoning]

For whatever reason, they decided not to waive the three-year waiting period anymore. Probably trying to avoid a bunch of new complaints about why certain players didn't get inducted immediately.

I guarantee when Jagr retires, there will be a lot of fans claiming he shouldn't have to wait. But if Roy, Bourque, Lidstrom, Hasek and Brodeur had to wait three years, there's no reason Jagr shouldn't.

I suspect "humanitarian circumstances" would be a scenario where an obvious HHOF selection was suffering from a terminal illness and might not be alive three years later.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Ever is a very long time so the answer should be a obvious yes. Now if the question was within our lifetimes that would be something that can have a no.

 

[Black Gold Extractor]

For whatever reason, they decided not to waive the three-year waiting period anymore. Probably trying to avoid a bunch of new complaints about why certain players didn't get inducted immediately.

That, and perhaps they didn't want anymore players making a comeback after being inducted (although that doesn't really make much sense to me... how often do players add significantly to their resumes after their first retirement?).

I suspect "humanitarian circumstances" would be a scenario where an obvious HHOF selection was suffering from a terminal illness and might not be alive three years later.

I think that's the reason, although given that the selection committee decided (for some reason) to play hardball with Pat Burns, I'm going to say that it would take something really out of the ordinary for the three-year waiting period to be waived.

 

[MisterNoItAll]

Crosby might, if he wins like another 2-3 Cups, and 2-3 scoring titles and MVPs.

 

[GreatGonzo]

I mean the only guys I know that were inducted the same year they retired are Orr, Howe, Gretzky, Lemieux....

I don't see how anyone currently is quite on that level.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

I mean the only guys I know that were inducted the same year they retired are Orr, Howe, Gretzky, Lemieux....

I don't see how anyone currently is quite on that level.

In addition to the Big Four, the waiting period was also waived for Dit Clapper, Rocket Richard, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk and Jean Beliveau.

Interesting that the four key members of the Red Wings dynasty of the 1950’s had their waiting periods waived.

 

[tony d]

Got to think it would only be used again if God Forbid a hall of fame talent came down with a terminal illness at the height of their career.

 

[Sens Rule]

Crosby might, if he wins like another 2-3 Cups, and 2-3 scoring titles and MVPs.

And dies or is deathly ill before the 3 year window is up. Ovechkin as well in similar circumstance.

Without tragedy I do not think the 3 year rule is waived for anyone.

 

[TOGuy14]

He might get inducted before retiring. Dylan McIlrath is another great example who will get requirements waived.

Technically Chris Pronger got into the HHOF before he retired, and still has an active player contract to this day

 

[MS]

I'd imagine the only way it would be used again is if a very elite, slam-dunk induction was terminally ill and unlikely to survive the full length of the waiting period.

 

[Big Phil]

He might get inducted before retiring. Dylan McIlrath is another great example who will get requirements waived.

You know back when people actually believed those names (think Dustin Rose as another example) I remember looking them up thinking there was an exciting prospect on his way up.

 

[Big Phil]

I remember in 1999 when they said Gretzky would be the last one to have this happen that there was a bit of a fuss that they wouldn't do it for Ray Bourque when he would be done. Bourque hadn't won a Cup yet, so it just goes to show you how people thought of him then too.

Personally there is nothing that says the HHOF can't make an exception for someone, and I think they will. Sawchuk did die as an active player (albeit he was 40) so it might need to be something like that. I suspect even if Crosby is healthy and well at the end of his career some might want it for him. I don't think I would do it though.

 

[JackSlater]

The rules are stated here as it's possible, but very strict:
"The Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors eliminated the right of the Selection Committee to waive the mandatory three-year waiting period for Induction in the Player Category (except under certain humanitarian circumstances) in 1999, after Wayne Gretzky received such an honour."

Whenever I see a question asking whether something with "ever" happen again I almost always say yes. In this case it's even easier, because they gave a clause indicating what type of situation would enable it to happen.

 

[bobholly39]

Got to think it would only be used again if God Forbid a hall of fame talent came down with a terminal illness at the height of their career.

What I was thinking too. In case of some tragedy maybe is the only way I'd see it

If Connor McDavid becomes as good as Gretzky. If by the time he retired people are considering him part of the big 4 and maybe #1 - I still don' think they'd induct him right away.