Hockey players have one priority in their career – winning the Stanley Cup. It’s the primary goal. Hoisting and drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup is not the only way for an NHL player to achieve hockey immortality. There is also the Hockey Hall of Fame located in Toronto. The Hall honors and preserves the legacy of the all-time greats of the game. However, for every Wayne Gretzky, there are hundreds of players that will never get into the Hall.
Let’s take a look at every team’s best active player who will not get into the Hall of Fame, at least without purchasing a ticket.
Anaheim Ducks (Now with Edmonton) – Adam Henrique
Adam Henrique has been a steady presence in the NHL for 14 years. In his age-33 season, he is still providing a consistent scoring touch for the Ducks. If he stays healthy this year, he should reach the 25-goal mark again. Despite that consistency, Henrique doesn’t have the numbers to gain entry into the Hall of Fame. At this stage of his career, Adam Henrique is what he is, a solid two-way player rather than an all-time great.
Arizona Coyotes – Alex Kerfoot
There have been many players drafted in the late rounds that went on to a Hall of Fame career: Luc Robitaille was drafted in the 9th Round and Eddie Belfour went undrafted, to name a couple. Alex Kerfoot will not be joining that list. Kerfoot was a 5th-round pick who is currently on his 3rd team in 7 years. He has yet to reach 20 goals in a season and only reached 50 points once. Kerfoot is a bottom-six player, not a Hall of Famer.
Boston Bruins – Brad Marchand
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This might be the most controversial selection on our list. Brad Marchand, in his 15th year with the Boston Bruins, is one of the best forwards in the league. While he averages slightly under a point per game for his career, Marchand has never won a major award and has only won one Stanley Cup. He would need to win one more Cup for serious HoF consideration, but even then, he’s probably borderline for induction.
Buffalo Sabres – Jeff Skinner
Jeff Skinner’s a former Calder Trophy winner and has reached the 350 career goal mark. Skinner’s just 31 years old, so he should reach 400+ career goals. The problem is that he might well be the most underwhelming 400-goal scorer in NHL history. Jeff Skinner has never been mentioned among the best players of his era, so there’s little reason to think he’ll be enshrined with the best ever. Therefore, we will make him the first member of our Hall of Very Good.
Calgary Flames – Nazem Kadri
In 2021-22, Nazem Kadri had a career year in helping lead the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup. After scoring 28 goals and a career-best 87 points, many thought the then 31-year-old was entering his prime. However, after moving on to Calgary, he has reverted to the player he has been his entire career. That would be a steady yet unspectacular player, not a Hall of Fame one.
Carolina Hurricanes – Sebastian Aho
As of this writing, Sebastian Aho is not going to the Hall of Fame. The 2015 2nd Round selection has averaged 30+ goals a season over his first 7 years. He would need to keep that pace up into his mid-30s or win multiple Stanley Cups to reach the HoF. The caveat is that Sebastian Aho is only 26 years old, so the narrative may change. What I’m saying is, there’s a chance.
Chicago Blackhawks – Seth Jones
The Chicago Blackhawks are the worst team in the league. Their best player, Connor Bedard, is in his rookie season, so the pickings on this roster were slim at best. Meet Seth Jones. He’s not a bad defenseman, but he’s also not a very good one. Jones is an adequate NHL defenseman, and by adequate, I mean a third-pair defenseman who could move up if needed. That is not a Hall of Famer.
Colorado Avalanche – Zach Parise
I may have made a mistake calling Jeff Skinner the most underwhelming 400+ goal scorer in NHL history. Enter Zach Parise. Before starting on this list, I had forgotten that he was still playing, but Parise is now in his 19th year. A very solid two-way player during his career, he was more of a compiler of stats rather than a superstar. For that reason, Zach Parise will not reach hockey immortality but gets a nod to the Hall of Very Good.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Johnny Gaudreau
If I was creating a hockey team, Johnny Gaudreau would be the type of player I’d want on my squad, especially after his monster 2021-22 season in which he scored 40 goals and 115 points. That doesn’t mean that Gaudreau is not without his faults, he is, offensive inconsistency being one of them. His offensive numbers fluctuate year to year. At 30 years old, Johnny Gaudreau needs several seasons like 2021-22 in a row if he wants to make the HoF.
Dallas Stars – Ryan Suter
Ryan Suter was a solid defensive defenseman for a long time in the NHL. Now in his 19th year, he’s not what he was, but he’s not a liability on the ice either. Unfortunately, he lacks the statistics and Stanley Cup championship to merit induction into the Hall. He’s not an elite shutdown defenseman, ala Scott Stevens, and doesn’t have the offensive production to compensate. Ryan Suter, welcome to the Hall of Very Good.
Detroit Red Wings – Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin was drafted with the 15th pick in the 1st Round of the 2014 Draft and has lived up to expectations. Finally entering his prime, he has become a consistent 30-goal threat. Unfortunately for Larkin, the world is filled with great 1st round picks that had stellar careers but did not earn election to the Hall of Fame. Unless he takes his game to yet another level, Dylan Larkin will be one of those players.
Edmonton Oilers – Evander Kane
Evander Kane is a tremendously talented hockey player. He was drafted 4th overall in the 2009 Draft and over his 15 years in the league has scored over 300 goals. The obstacles for Kane were off-ice issues. Without rehashing the allegations and incidents, those problems certainly played a role in hurting his on-ice production. Evander Kane will be a case of “what could’ve been” rather than a Hall of Fame inductee.
Florida Panthers – Sam Reinhart
In just under 700 career games over his 10 years in the league, Sam Reinhart has gone from being a consistent 20-goal scorer to a consistent 30-goal scorer. He’s on pace to hit the 40+ goal mark in the current 2023-24 season, so there is still room for improvement. But he has never been selected to an All-Star game, never won a league award, or is mentioned with the best players today. Sam Reinhart isn’t a Hall of Fame caliber player.
Los Angeles Kings – Cam Talbot
Earlier in his career, Cam Talbot flashed plenty of potential, but he failed to live up to it. That’s not an insult to Talbot, he’s still had a successful NHL career. In 2014-15, his sophomore season, he started 36 games for the Rangers in place of an injured Henrik Lundqvist and finished in the top 10 for the Vezina Trophy. Two years later he led the league with 42 wins. However, his fall back to mediocrity prevents Cam Talbot from reaching the Hall of Fame.
Minnesota Wild – Mats Zuccarello
After an up-and-down first three seasons in New York, Mats Zuccarello became a full-time NHL forward in 2013. Now in his 5th year with the Minnesota Wild, the 36-year-old sits third on the team in scoring, so he remains a productive player. Zuccarello might be the most successful Norwegian player in the NHL, but that won’t be enough for the Hall of Fame.
Montreal Canadiens – Nick Suzuki
Nick Suzuki has had a nice start to his NHL career. He is currently playing in his 5th season and has steadily improved each year. He has become a steady 20+ goal scorer over the last 3 seasons as Montreal attempts to restore their franchise to glory. But being a consistent 20+ goal scorer isn’t enough for the Hall. Suzuki is a nice player, but not a great one.
Nashville Predators – Ryan McDonagh
Ryan McDonagh has been a very solid, steady presence on the blueline for 3 organizations over 14 seasons but has never been one of the top defensemen in the league. He has always been more of a defensive defenseman than an offensive one, only once has he surpassed 10 goals in a season. Although he did help Tampa win back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021, McDonagh just doesn’t rank with the best.
New Jersey Devils – Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton is another in a long line of solid defensemen who lack the offensive production to be honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. At the ripe old age of 29, Hamilton had his best offensive season in 2022-23 with the Devils. It doesn’t seem like last year was a late career surge as he’s reverted to mediocre play this season. Unfortunately for Dougie Hamilton, immortality isn’t in his future.
New York Islanders – Mathew Barzal
Mathew Barzal broke into the National Hockey League with a Calder Trophy-winning rookie year. In 2017-18, the 20-year-old Center played in all 82 games and finished with 22 goals and 85 points. In the years since his numbers have not lived up to his rookie year. While he seems to have regained his touch for the 2023-24 season, the leaner scoring years will not help Matt Barzal make the Hall of Fame.
New York Rangers – Chris Kreider
After almost 800 games with the Rangers, Chris Kreider is approaching 300 career goals. Assuming he finishes his career with New York, Kreider will go down as a Top 5 goal-scorer for the Rangers and will see his number raised to the rafters at the Garden. Number retirement is as far as the honors will go. Kreider is an incredibly talented player, just not worthy of the Hall of Fame.
Ottawa Senators – Tim Stutzle
Tim Stutzle, along with Brady Tkachuk, are two of the few bright spots for a dismal Ottawa team. The Sens certainly hope the twosome can lead them to Stanley Cup glory. Stutzle certainly has the ability to lead a team, but that doesn’t translate to all-time status. It’s certainly unfair to project long-term success and recognition on a 22-year-old athlete, but induction among hockey’s immortals doesn’t seem likely.
Philadelphia Flyers – Marc Staal
Marc Staal has had a lengthy career in the National Hockey League; the 2023-24 season represents his 17th in the league. Considering the horrific eye injury he suffered in 2013, it’s amazing he’s played this long. Despite his long and successful career as a very solid defenseman, Staal just doesn’t have the numbers, offensive or defensive, to warrant induction to the Hall of Fame.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Kris Letang
At 36 years old, time is running out on Kris Letang’s career, and a particularly good career it’s been. Now in his 18th year with the Penguins, Letang has played over 1,000 games and accrued over 700 points. Those are nice numbers, but not Hall-worthy. While he’s also won 3 Stanley Cups, those championships weren’t won on his back as he was more of a complimentary, but important, piece. Another member of the Hall of Very Good.
San Jose Sharks – Tomas Hertl
San Jose is one of the worst teams in the league. Trying to find a potential Hall of Fame player on this roster is like trying to find a diamond in a dump. There’s not anything wrong with Tomas Hertl, as he’s been a solid forward for the Sharks for 11 years. He’s also probably the best current player on the Sharks, but let’s be honest, he’s not going to the Hall of Fame.
Seattle Kraken – Jordan Eberle
Jordan Eberle is another in an extensive line of skillful players on our list that just isn’t good enough for the HoF. The former-round pick has consistently averaged 20+ goals a season over his 14 years in the league but is still largely a role player. Like many other players on our list, that’s just not enough for induction.
St. Louis Blues – Pavel Buchnevich
Pavel Buchnevich is one of those players who improved after they left the bright lights of New York City. He wasn’t a bad player with the Rangers, he just became a better player in St. Louis. But better doesn’t mean a Hall of Famer. He’s only 28 so there is still time to change the narrative. Perhaps if Pavel Buchnevich spent the 5 years in NYC elsewhere, we’d be having a different conversation.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Brayden Point
Controversial Selection Alert!!! Brayden Point has played a role in the recent success of the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping them to back-to-back Stanley Cups, and at only 27 years old he has the chance to win several more. But one could argue those two Cups were won on the backs of veterans such as Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedberg. Brayden Point needs to elevate his game to another level and win a Cup of his own for serious Hall consideration.
Toronto Maple Leafs – William Nylander
First, William Nylander is a tremendous player and one of the reasons that Toronto has been one of the better teams in the league over the past few years. But, the Maple Leafs have too many potential Hall of Fame players, and no Stanley Cups, that someone is going to be left out. Between Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares, who are you taking out? The vote here goes to Nylander. Win a Cup, and we can re-evaluate this selection.
Vancouver Canucks – J.T. Miller
If anyone said that J.T. Miller could be seriously considered for the Hall of Fame after his first 4 years with the Rangers, they would’ve been laughed out of the room. The fact that Miller is Vancouver’s representative on our list shows the strides he’s made since leaving New York. The centerman has become a steady 30-goal scorer, and since he’s only 30 years old, the potential to amass more points is there. Unfortunately, J.T. Miller will be another entrant to the Hall of Very Good.
Vegas Golden Knights – Jack Eichel
Before being drafted 2nd overall in 2015, Jack Eichel was viewed as a generational talent. He’s not. Eichel isn’t a bad player, and almost any team in the league would want him. He didn’t elevate the Sabres over his 6 years there and he’s not the reason for success in Vegas. Sorry Jack, the Hall is not in your future.
Washington Capitals – T.J. Oshie
T.J. Oshie is a 16-year NHL veteran with almost 1,000 games under his skates, but at the age of 37, his career is nearing an end. When the time comes for Oshie to hang up his pads, he shouldn’t sit and wait for a call from the Hall of Fame. It’s not coming. Oshie has scored over 300 goals in his career, so far, but he’s just not Hall worthy.
Winnipeg Jets – Connor Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuyck is a former Vezina-winning goaltender for the Jets. Over his 9 years in the league, he is now approaching the 275-win mark. Assuming he stays healthy, Hellebuyck should reach the 350-375 win mark. Despite the wins and a career GPA under 2.70 (currently), Connor Hellebuyck isn’t one of the all-time greats. He might be lucky enough to have his number retired in Winnipeg, but not the Hall of Fame.
