So who are the candidates who might finally get the call in 2016?
This could be the year for holdovers to make the jump.
Eric Lindros could hear his name called. A Hart Trophy winner and Olympic gold medal winner with Canada, the largest knock on Lindros's candidacy has been a career riddled with injuries. Still, if Peter Forsberg can be enshrined with his lengthy spells spent in the press box with injury, why can't Lindros, arguably the game's most dominant forward at his peak, join him?
Dave Andreychuk scored 640 goals, tallied over 1,300 points and won a Stanley Cup. That is certainly an impressive resume, but it's one tempered by the fact that it took him 1639 games to accomplish that. But is longevity really a bad thing?
A pair of goaltenders could also have cases. Chris Osgood backstopped the Red Wings to two Stanley Cups (and won a third as a back-up). Curtis Joseph found the Stanley Cup to be elusive, but is the owner of the fourth-most victories in NHL history. Interestingly for Osgood and Joseph, every other goaltender in the top 10 in wins is in the Hall of Fame, barring Martin Brodeur (the 'keeper with the most wins), who isn't yet eligible for induction.
The class of first-time eligible players include Jason Arnott, Milan Hejduk, Jose Theodore, Roman Hamrlik, Vaclav Prospal and Zigmund Palffy, so those still holding out for a call should feel better about their chances next June.
Here's a look at the candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2016:
Theoren Fleury
Right Wing
-
Games Played
1,084
-
Goals
455
-
Assists
633
-
Points
1,088
- Played 15 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks
- Stanley Cup winner (1989)
- Seven-time All-Star (1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
- Olympic gold medallist (2002)
- Canada Cup winner (1991)
- World Junior gold medallist (1988)
-
Games Played
989
-
Goals
402
-
Assists
587
-
Points
989
- Played 15 NHL seasons with Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues
- Seven-time All-Star (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
- Two-time Lady Byng Trophy-winner (1996, 1997)
- Olympic gold medallist (2002)
- World Champion (1994)
- World Junior Champion (1993)
-
Games Played
760
-
Goals
372
-
Assists
493
-
Points
865
- Played 13 seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars
- Hart Trophy winner (1995)
- Seven-time All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002)
- Olympic gold medalist (2002)
- Two-time World Junior Champion (1990 and 1991)
- Canada Cup winner (1991)
Sergei Makarov
Right Wing
-
Games Played
424
-
Goals
134
-
Assists
250
-
Points
384
- Played in seven NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars
- Played 11 seasons with CSKA Moscow and Soviet Union national team
- Calder Trophy winner (1990)
- Two-time Olympic gold medal winner (1984, 1988)
- Eight-time World Champion (1978-79, 1981-83, 1986, 1989-90)
- Two-time World Junior gold meadallist (1977-78)
- Canada Cup winner (1981)
- Elected to the IIHF Hall of Fame (2001) and named to the IIHF Centennial Team
Alexander Mogilny
Right Wing
-
Games Played
990
-
Goals
473
-
Assists
559
-
Points
1032
- Played 16 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs
- Stanley Cup Champion (2000)
- Lady Byng Trophy winner (2003)
- Six-Time All-Star
- Gold medal at Olympics (1988), World Championship (1989) and World Junior Championship (1989)
- Second All-Time amongst Russian point-getters in the NHL
- Last player to score 70-plus in an NHL season (1992-93, tied with Teemu Selanne)
-
Games Played
1.652
-
Goals
577
-
Assists
956
-
Points
1533
- Played 22 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins
- Three-time Stanley Cup winner (1991, 2006 and 2011)
- Seven-time All-Star (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001)
- World Champion (1997)