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THN.com Top 10: Players on tap for the Hall of Fame

Igor Larionov played 921 NHL games, scoring 169 goals and 644 points. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)

Brian Costello
2008-04-30 11:53:22

This is a dry year for first-time eligible Hall of Fame candidates because no one technically retired after the 2004-05 season thanks to the lockout.

Because of the three-year waiting period in place, players who didn’t return after the lockout were deemed to have retired in 2004, not 2005. That created a glut of Hall of Fame candidates last year and nobody this season.

That’s OK, though. There are plenty of excellent names we could make a case for. Last year’s class was the best ever, with Mark Messier, Scott Stevens, Ron Francis and Al MacInnis getting the nod. With the maximum class set at four, a few good candidates had to wait, including Igor Larionov, Adam Oates, Claude Lemieux and Vincent Damphousse.

There are holdovers from previous years, as well. Keep in mind though, just two players were inducted in 2006 meaning the other names you see below were considered and rejected by the 18-member selection committee.

The 2008 inductees will be decided and announced in June.

10. Dale Hunter, eligible since 2002

9. Mike Richter, eligible since 2006

8. Dino Ciccarelli, eligible since 2002

7. Sergei Makarov, eligible since 2001

6. Guy Carbonneau, eligible since 2003

5. Glenn Anderson, eligible since 2000

4. Doug Gilmour, eligible since 2006

3. Pavel Bure, eligible since 2006

2. Adam Oates, eligible since 2007

1. Igor Larionov, eligible since 2007

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COMMENTS (25)

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Andrew Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:09)

Some Others I Forgot 1.Adam Oates 2.Dale Hunter 3.Doug Gilmour 4.Sergei Makarov 5.Guy Carbonneau 6. Kirk Muller 7.Doug Jarvis 8.Tom Barrasso 9.Claude Lemieux 10.Pat Verbeek

Andrew Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:08)

My top 10 for hall of famers waiting since 2006 1.Steve Yzerman 2.Brett Hull 3.Luc Robitaille 4.Dave Andrychuck 5. Alexander Mogilny 6.Pavel Bure 7.Igor Larionov 8. Mike Richter 9.Dino Ciccarrelli 10.Glenn Anderson

Terry Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:26)

To Mats: as a Leaf fan, that's the most boneheaded question I have seen. Have to retire for at least three years before you're even considered. When Mats retires, I'm sure he'll make the list eventually.

Johnson Posted
(2009-04-30 06:16:44)

I realize that this will get the Leafs fans riled up but Gilmour was a really good player but not hall worthy. If he didnt have Cherry praising him all the time, his career would look different. I am still wondering how he got the tag "killer". I saw Gilmour lay a lot of dirty shots but never once did I see him back it up by dropping the gloves. Much like Richter, if Gilmour didnt have those years in TO, we wouldnt even be talking about him. Anderson should be in, without question. And as much as a dirty player as he was, Lemieux should be in. There is a great saying about hockey, you get your pay cheques during the regular season but you earn them in the playoffs.

Alexander Cohen Posted
(2009-04-30 06:16:42)

Craig: Linden, Kolzig, Nolan, Guerin? Like some of the players on that list, they're all GOOD players, not GREAT players. Another important fact; the first three are cupless. All of them good in their day, but not hall worthy, the stats confirm it; Guerin's best season was 69 points, Linden's was 80 and Nolan's was 77. Not Hall of Fame stats!

dwayne burnett Posted
(2009-04-30 06:15:50)

What about Butch Goring , Mark Howe and Doug Jarvis ?

JN Posted
(2009-04-30 06:15:44)

Richter Burke Games 666 820 Wins 301 324 GAA 2.891 2.959 SvPct 0.904 0.902 Seasons of > 30 games 12 14 Seasons .500 or above 5 7 Shutouts 24 38 Shots Against per 60 mins 30.12 30.09 Shots Faced per Goal 10.4 10.2 Vezinas 0 0 All-Star Games 3 3

JN Posted
(2009-04-30 06:15:43)

If you put up Mike Richter's stats next to Sean Burke's, they are almost identical. Does that mean Sean Burke should get into the Hall as well? Of course not. The only reason Richter is on this list is because he played in New York and, as everyone knows, that automatically makes a player better than he really is or was. He was good, sometimes great, but a tad short of deserving Hall enshrinement.

Ron Sarazin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:15:42)

I wonder why Dave Taylor is never considered. Drafted in the 15th round at 210th picked, He played his entire career (17 Years) with the same team and amassed 1,111 points. A complete honest Canadian Hockey Player with total class.

mats sundin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:15:39)

WHAT HAPPENED TO SUNDIN????????????????????????

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