2025 Hockey Hall of Fame Class

 Every single year after the season is over they announce who the players or people involved in hockey that get into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Some people agree and others don't. I am always intrigued to see and/or hear who does get inducted or not. These are my thoughts on this years:

Joe Thornton - One of the best playmaking forwards ever, and it is worth mentioning he is the only player in NHL history to be traded and win the Hart and Art Ross in the same season (2006). Thornton would go onto lead both the Bruins and Sharks for many years before leaving to chase a Stanley Cup -- I personally believe he deserved one. But one thing he did that was quite remarkable, which showed how much of a team player he was, is help Jonathan Cheechoo win a Rocket Richard trophy, and that is something a Hall of Famer can do. 

Zdeno Chara - Chara will always be remembered for his size, but I will remember him as the captain of the Boston Bruins when they won the cup in 2011. He was a player some had controversial opinions on, in fact the team who drafted him from an undesirable WHL market in Prince George who nobody wanted to play for gave him up in one of the worst trades ever, which was the New York Islanders. After he showed what kind of player he could be in Ottawa, Boston took him in and turned him into one of the best things that happened for their franchise. But nobody will ever forget Zdeno Chara, in fact he was the player every NHLer wanted to fight but not everybody got that chance. 

Duncan Keith - One of the best defenseman of all-time and was a huge piece of the Blackhawks dynasty. He was a hidden gem taken in the second round, and when he made the NHL he slowly established himself as one of the best defenseman in the league during the 2010's where everybody would never leave him off their lists. He represented Chicago at various all-star games while also winning two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe in 2015. He will always be known as one of the best Blackhawks of all-time. Some say he's not a member of the Triple-Gold club, but it's not easy winning three Stanley Cups and having two Olympic Gold medals. 

Alexander Mogilny - Some may forget Alexander Mogilny, and doesn't deserve to be. He was the Leon Draisaitl of the 90's, but also was the face of Russia when he entered the NHL. He did lots of things on the ice that no hockey player could do then, and he is one of the few that could play in todays NHL like it's nothing. He made it all look so easy, and led on the ice in the best way while showing a fearless presence. 

Jennifer Botterill - Some might know her as a hockey analyst on Sportsnet, but before joining the sportsdesk she was a very talented hockey player. In fact, she became a Canadian hockey legend in Women's Hockey. But not just that, played for the Harvard Women's Hockey Team from 1998-2003. She went onto play in various female hockey leagues, and had the PWHL exist then she would've ripped that league to shreds with potential to be known as what could've been one of the highest paid players in the PWHL. Just so present day hockey fans understand. 

Brianna Decker - A female American star hockey player who put up some incredible numbers up winning consistent gold medals for USA in the World Championship and a gold for the 2018 Olympics in Korea. She is another player who had made the PWHL would be another one that'd make lots of noise, similar to a player like Hilary Knight. 

Jack Parker - One of the longest serving coaches in NCAA Hockey at Boston University which had included many of the NHLers who became legends that we talk about to this very day, some of which made the Hall of Fame. But one big argument that's always made is they never coached in the NHL, but he served a college team for a strong amount of years showing loyalty for that school. Well deserved!

Daniele Sauvageau - Before joining the Montreal Victoire as their first ever general manager she had quite the resume. She served as Canada's Coach for the Women's hockey team representing them on various levels. She also became the first ever female coach in the QMJHL being an assistant coach for the Montreal Rocket -- now the Charlottetown Islanders. She later joined the University of Montreal as the General Manager of their hockey team, but she was also the first female TV analyst for Hockey Night in Canada for the french station. 

My picks for the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame:

1. Ryan Getzlaf - He's a member of the Triple-Gold club which is one of the hardest accomplishments in all of hockey. He was also captain of the Anaheim Ducks and also spent his whole career with that very same club. He was the kind of player who did a lot more than put up points, but he also led and made offensive opportunities happen. 

2. Patrick Marleau - It'd be a crime to not induct him as he's played the most games in the NHL while also competing in the Olympics, being the captain of the Sharks, and putting up over 1,300 points while also being the youngest player to hit that milestone. He also showed lots of dedication and sportsmanship for the game of hockey. 

3. Henrik Zetterberg - Some forget how good he was, and had a long career in the NHL being a steal in the infamous 1999 NHL Draft. Zetterberg played a quiet and skilled game. Not just that, is in the Triple-Gold Club, but not just that was MVP for the Red Wings cup win in 2008. He and Pavel Datsyuk became an unstoppable duo and later succeeded Niklas Lidstrom as captain, who is one of the best defenseman to ever lace them up. 

4. Carey Price - He in my opinion is a player who deserved better. He is one of the most competitive players ever, and I personally believe if he was on the Chicago Blackhawks during their dynasty years they'd have had two more Stanley Cups. He is one of the best goalies of all-time, some don't see it because he never won a cup, but he has so much hardware and Montreal has a rule that you need to win three cups with the Habs and be inducted into the Hall of Fame to get your number retired. Well, I think Carey Price should have his number retired in Montreal given he gave the franchise his all and even won MVP. 

5. Patrice Bergeron - The Bruins aren't well liked by most hockey fans, but the one player you couldn't hate was Patrice Bergeron. Another Triple-Gold club member, and one thing I will always remember him for is playing in the playoffs with broken ribs. But he also led by example, did things most players couldn't, but what I found so impressive about him was he made the NHL after being a rookie in the QMJHL for the Acadie-Bathurst Titans. He is the entire reason I say, 'It's all about if you can play in the NHL.' And boy, could Bergeron play in the NHL. 

That's all for the NHLers, I can't predict who the other inductees may be -- I didn't even think Bettman would get inducted and don't think he deserved to be.