The Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 will be announced on Monday with Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel, and Eric Staal among the players who could be selected in their first year of eligibility.
Newly Eligible Candidates
Patrice Bergeron
Bergeron was a key piece of the Boston Bruins for 19 seasons and helped the team snap a 39-year Stanley Cup drought after winning a championship in 2011.
The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., native was named the 20th captain of the Original Six club in 2021 and wore the “C” for three seasons until his retirement following the 2022-23 season.
Bergeron won the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward a record six times in his career. He also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, in 2012-13, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2020-21.
Bergeron is a member of the NHL Triple Gold Club, comprised of players who have won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and gold at the World Championship.
He was also inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in May.
Originally drafted by the Bruins in the second round (45th overall) in the 2003 NHL Draft, Bergeron scored 427 goals and 1,040 points in 1,294 career games, adding 128 points in 170 playoff games.
The three-time All-Star is the fourth Bruins player to reach the 1,000-point plateau, joining Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, and Phil Esposito, becoming the 41st player to reach 1,000 points with one team.
Phil Kessel
Kessel was selected fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 draft and went on to score 413 goals and 992 points in 1,286 career games split between the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights.
The 5-foot-11 winger was a key scorer on the Maple Leafs during his six seasons with the team, registering 30 or more goals four times and led the team in goal scoring in five of his six years.
Kessell was a missing piece of the puzzle for the Penguins after they acquired him prior to the 2015-16 season. He helped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.
After a three-season stint with the Coyotes, Kessel joined the Golden Knights for his final season in 2022-23, going out on top with his third Stanley Cup.
The Madison, Wis., native holds the NHL’s iron man record, appearing in 1,064 consecutive games during his career.
Kessel was a two-time Olympian and won a silver medal in 2010. He also registered five goals and eight points during The Winter Olympic Games in 2014, where he was named the tournament’s top forward in a fourth-place finish for the United States.
Eric Staal
Staal was drafted second overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003, where he played 12 of his 18 seasons.
The Thunder Bay, Ont., native found early team success in his career, helping the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history in 2006.
He served as the Hurricanes’ captain for seven seasons from 2009 to 2016 and retired as the franchise’s leader in games (909), goals (322), assists (453), and points (775). He became the sixth member of the Hurricanes Hall of Fame and had his number retired on Jan. 12, 2025.
Staal finished his career with 455 goals and 1,063 points in 1,356 career games split between the Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Florida Panthers.
On the international stage, Staal helped Canada to Olympic gold in 2010 and captained his country at The Winter Olympic Games in 2022 without NHL player involvement. He is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, winning a World Hockey Championship with Canada in 2007.
Recently Eligible Players
Carey Price
Price, in his second year of eligibility, is one of the most decorated goaltenders of his generation after a 15-year career spent entirely with the Montreal Canadiens.
He had a career season in 2014-15, posting 44 wins, a .933 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average, sweeping the NHL awards with the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and the William M. Jennings Trophy. He also took home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2022.
Drafted fifth overall by Montreal in 2005, Price was a seven-time All-Star and had a career 361-261-79 record with a 2.51 GAA and .917 save percentage.
Price also helped lead the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2021, going 13-9 with a 2.28 GAA and .924 save percentage before they bowed out to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On the international stage, he backstopped Canada to gold at the 2007 World Juniors, winning tournament MVP and best goaltender honours. He also led Canada to gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.
Patrick Marleau
Marleau is in his third year of eligibility and is the NHL’s all-time leader in regular-season games played with 1,779. He surpassed the legendary Gordie Howe in April of 2021.
Drafted second overall by the San Jose Sharks in 1997, he is all over the team’s record book as the all-time leader in games (1,607), goals (522), and points (1,111).
His No. 12 was the first jersey to be retired in Sharks’ franchise history.
The Aneroid, Sask., native had 566 goals and 1,197 points in his 1,779-game career split between the Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Marleau was a key contributor for Canada on the Olympic stage, helping his country to two gold medals in 2010 and 2014. He also helped his country to a gold medal at the World Hockey Championship in 2003 and at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Rod Brind’Amour
The current head coach of the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes, Brind’Amour could get more good news coming with a call from the Hall.
Brind’Amour was drafted ninth overall by the St. Louis Blues in 1988 and had 452 goals and 1,184 points in 1,484 games split between the Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, and Hurricanes in his playing career.
The 6-foot-1 centre played 10 seasons with the Hurricanes, captaining the team to the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup win in 2006.
He was known as one of the best defensive forwards in hockey during his career, winning the Selke Trophy in 2006 and 2007.
The Ottawa native represented Canada at the Winter Olympics in 1998 in a fourth-place finish and won gold at the World Hockey Championship in 1994.
Brind’Amour’s number was retired by the Hurricanes in 2011 and after his playing career was over, he returned to the team and eventually took over as head coach.
As a coach, Brind’Amour has led the team to eight consecutive playoff appearances, including reaching the Eastern Conference Final three times before breaking through this season to win a championship.
Brind’Amour won the Jack Adams Award in 2021 after leading his team to a 36-12-8 record in a shortened 56-game season.
Other players with eligibility
C - Henrik Zetterberg (DET)
C - Ryan Getzlaf (ANA)
C - Keith Tkachuk (WPG, PHO, STL, ATL)
D - Sergei Gonchar (WSH, BOS, PIT, OTT, DAL, MTL)
C - Jason Spezza (OTT, DAL, TOR)
G - Curtis Joseph (STL, TOR, DET, PHO, CAL)
G - Ryan Miller (BUF, STL, VAN, ANA)
