Will Team Canada have as many HOFers on this team as the '76 team did?

First off there were 17 HOFers on the 1976 Canada Cup team. Here they are:

Cheevers, Orr, Robinson, Lapointe, Savard, Potvin, Lafleur, Clarke, Perreault, Hull, Esposito, Barber, Shutt, McDonald, Gainey, Dionne, Sittler.

After that you've got Vachon (who should be in there) and guys like Resch, P. Mahovolich, Martin, Gare and Leach who were all playing like HOFers at the time. Only Jimmy Watson is the only so called non-star on that team.

But even though this may not be the best Canadian team of all time I can't help but think there will be nearly just as many HOFers on this team. So I checked it out, its closer than you think if you want to base it on projection.

Shoo-ins or potential future HOFers:

Brodeur - No one on the face of the earth will debate this
Luongo - Already was second team all-star in '04 by 25
Pronger - Hard to believe the one time NHL MVP wont make it
Blake - Is a former Norris Trophy winner and four time post season all-star
Redden - He'll need some post season all-star selections first
Sakic - Shoo-in
Thornton - By the end of his career looks to be a lock
Heatley - Should be one of the best players in the NHL for 10 years
Richards - Won a Conn Smythe already as well as a Cup and a World Cup
Lecavalier - If only he plays the way we know he can this World Cup MVP could
Nash - Led the league in goals when he was only 20
Iginla - He'll need more strong seasons and onother MVP calibre year, or repeat '04
Staal - If he keeps this up he'll leave a strong legacy
Spezza - Needs to do this every year consistently. Plus he should have quite a few strong playoff runs with Ottawa


That comes to 14. Not too bad considering most of those guys will make it, and maybe some I left off will too. Bouwmeester, St. Louis, Bertuzzi, Gagne

Sakic and Brodeur are the only two I'd lable HOFers at this point.

Some are close, but a more than hefty chunk of the team have yet to come anywhere near a career worthy of induction.

Discussing the HOF with regards to guys like Staal, Spezza, and Nash is only marginally better than discussing the HOF about Jack Johnson, Gilbert Brule, and Phil Kessel. A tad bit premature to say the very least.

Brodeur - No doubt HOF
Luongo - What?
Pronger - Doubt it.
Blake - Possibly with a few more great seasons.
Redden - What?
Sakic - No doubt HOF
Thornton - If he continues on his current pace, definitely a HOF.
Heatley - Read about Thornton
Richards - Look at his stats. The HOF is a dream for him right now.
Lecavalier - What?
Nash - Too early, but he has the chance to be one of the greatest goal scorers.
Iginla - His one monster year is looking more and more like a fluke.
Staal - WAAAAY too early
Spezza - Same as Staal

That '76 team had some of the greatest players in NHL history. There's very few of the current Canadian team that can or every will be put up alongside them.

Sakic and Brodeur are the only two I'd lable HOFers at this point.

Some are close, but a more than hefty chunk of the team have yet to come anywhere near a career worthy of induction.

Discussing the HOF with regards to guys like Staal, Spezza, and Nash is only marginally better than discussing the HOF about Jack Johnson, Gilbert Brule, and Phil Kessel. A tad bit premature to say the very least.
Agreed. Brodeur's a lock. Ranks in the top 10-15 goalies ever. Sakic is a lock, too. Pronger's close, likely needs one or two more seasons among the top-5 defencemen in the league. Blake won't make it, no better than Randy Carlyle. Redden's coming close to 30. He's not even on the radar for the HHOF. Thornton needs to learn how to contribute in the post-season. Iginla needs at least four more dominant seasons. Spezza? Not with his inconsistent work ethic. Lecavalier and Richards? Not now, and likely not ever.

Brodeur
Sakic
Pronger

that's about it

I really wouldn't put Staal, Blake and Richards in that goup

Brodeur - No doubt HOF
Luongo - What?
Pronger - Doubt it.
Blake - Possibly with a few more great seasons.
Redden - What?
Sakic - No doubt HOF
Thornton - If he continues on his current pace, definitely a HOF.
Heatley - Read about Thornton
Richards - Look at his stats. The HOF is a dream for him right now.
Lecavalier - What?
Nash - Too early, but he has the chance to be one of the greatest goal scorers.
Iginla - His one monster year is looking more and more like a fluke.
Staal - WAAAAY too early
Spezza - Same as Staal

That '76 team had some of the greatest players in NHL history. There's very few of the current Canadian team that can or every will be put up alongside them.

I guess you missed the 2 Richard trophies and twice comming in 2nd for MVP. Leading a team to the finals that had no business being there, etc. I'm not saying he's a hall of fame shoe in, but to say he's had 1 good year makes you look not very smart..... or biased. Either way you are wrong.

Don't watch much NHL hockey, hey?

What? The Hall is for great players, not good ones. On that list, ONLY Sakic and Brodeur are great. Maybe Pronger can get in, well he could get in, so I'll change my view on him. But what would you change? Does a Conn Smythe automatically get you into the HOF? Lecavalier is overrated. He's a leader, but he's no scorer. Iginla? The guy has two good goal-scoring seasons, and nothing else. He led his team the Finals once, and 2 Richard Trophies make him a HOFer? Pavel Bure is much closer to the HOF than him.

What? The Hall is for great players, not good ones. On that list, ONLY Sakic and Brodeur are great. Maybe Pronger can get in, well he could get in, so I'll change my view on him. But what would you change? Does a Conn Smythe automatically get you into the HOF? Lecavalier is overrated. He's a leader, but he's no scorer. Iginla? The guy has two good goal-scoring seasons, and nothing else. Pavel Bure is much closer to the HOF than him.
Sorry man, I respoded without thinking. That's why I edited it. I think you just struck a nerve with me calling Iginla a 1 year wonder.

Sorry man, I respoded without thinking. That's why I edited it. I think you just struck a nerve with me calling Iginla a 1 year wonder.

That's ok. Iginla isn't a one year wonder, but he's nowhere near as dominant as he used to be, IMO. He was great in the playoffs last year, he singelhandedly beat us in the Conf. Finals with some help from Kipper, but he looks lost right now.

What? The Hall is for great players, not good ones. On that list, ONLY Sakic and Brodeur are great. Maybe Pronger can get in, well he could get in, so I'll change my view on him. But what would you change? Does a Conn Smythe automatically get you into the HOF? Lecavalier is overrated. He's a leader, but he's no scorer. Iginla? The guy has two good goal-scoring seasons, and nothing else. He led his team the Finals once, and 2 Richard Trophies make him a HOFer? Pavel Bure is much closer to the HOF than him.


Bure will most likely make it into the Hall

If Chris Pronger retired today he is in. For most of the 90's and even today some regarded him as the best defenseman in the game playing for a team that made him play 30 minutes a game his entire carreer. Norris Trophy, MVP, Gold Medal.

That's ok. Iginla isn't a one year wonder, but he's nowhere near as dominant as he used to be, IMO. He was great in the playoffs last year, he singelhandedly beat us in the Conf. Finals with some help from Kipper, but he looks lost right now.

Wow, you guys don't really know much about Iginla, first of all, he always starts off slow, he never has a good start, he plays better later on in the series. Secondly, his linemates suck, hard, the best linemate he's had so far this year is Lombardi.

Thirdly, he plays big in big games, maybe you forgot about his playoff performance, or his last gold medal game, and as I recall he dominated the world juniors and help lead us to a gold.

If Iginla decides to play, he's basically unstoppable, he just takes a while to make a decision.

i have to agree with the other posters.... the only "for-sure" HoF inductees from that group are brodeur and sakic..... pronger has a decent chance, but will need to continue at his level for another 3-4 years, win another norris, or take the oilers on a long playoff run

there are others who have a chance, but are too young too tell.... iginla is some where inbetween as hes not young anymore, but hasnt done enough for HoF i dont think yet.... a few more 40+ goal seasons and he could be taken more seriously as HoF material

thornton is a possibility, but its pretty early in his career for such a call.... the same can be said for nash, as he looks like a guy that should easily score 400+ goals in his career

Canada does have a pretty young team, so not that many HOF candidates yet.

By 2010 it'll be up there. :yo:

If Iginla decides to play, he's basically unstoppable, he just takes a while to make a decision.

Friggin' hearltess European...

Oh, wait...I mean, great Canadian leader who elevates his play

:sarcasm: ;)

Iginla has a ways to go before he's HOF worthy. I'll be honest, in the new NHL, I can't see him ever getting another Richard trophy or Art Ross. He'll need some more awsome playoffs, which he's certainly capable of if he gets his act together.

Friggin' hearltess European...

Leave Sundin alone please.

Leave Sundin alone please.

oooh, zing.

it's like you took my joke, and applied it to an equally irrelevant topic

Iginla has a ways to go before he's HOF worthy. I'll be honest, in the new NHL, I can't see him ever getting another Richard trophy or Art Ross. He'll need some more awsome playoffs, which he's certainly capable of if he gets his act together.
That's because the "new NHL" features an older Kovalchuk, Nash, Jagr and introduces players like Ovechkin. It's not that Iginla's bad or anything - in fact, he's ahead of his usual pace - but there's just alot of really good players right now.

i hate the flames, but hes right, iginla post olympics is unstoppable, it causes to pee myself at night

Wow, you guys don't really know much about Iginla, first of all, he always starts off slow, he never has a good start, he plays better later on in the series. Secondly, his linemates suck, hard, the best linemate he's had so far this year is Lombardi.

Thirdly, he plays big in big games, maybe you forgot about his playoff performance, or his last gold medal game, and as I recall he dominated the world juniors and help lead us to a gold.

If Iginla decides to play, he's basically unstoppable, he just takes a while to make a decision.
In other words he has attitude problems?

Brodeur - Yes
Luongo - Not a chance in hell untill he starts to get more wins and gets a ring on his finger--also he is a back up
Pronger - Based upon statsand rings on his fingers--he wont get in--even from the trophy side--Langway was questionable
Blake - I would say yes
Redden - Not even close at this point in time
Sakic - Shoo-in
Thornton - Cam Neely has lowered the bar so low know
Heatley - winnning once does not gt yeah in
Lecavalier - He has been around long enough where enless he starts get 50 goals a year--he aint getting oin
Nash - yeah so he lead at age 20--lets see what his points are at 30
Iginla - To get into the hof you need atleast 7 years of great/good stats
Staal - One year--lets see how he does over the next couple of years
Spezza - Not looking like anything overly good

You are being overly generous with your ideas of who will get into the hall of fame

Some of you guys are WAY off base.There are alot more than 3 or 4 guys on that team with the potential to be hall of famers.Take a look at some of the hof's on the 76 team at early points in their careers.Cheevers,Barber,McDonald,Shutt,Lapointe
wouldn't have near as good of early starts as some of the players there.

There are guys not on the thread starters list that have potential for the hall of fame.

All that being said I don't think this team will match the 76 team in that regard.

IMO it is sad that some people's perception of the HOF is that it's for good players. IT'S NOT. IMO, the HOF should be for the best of the best, however, lately it hasn't been that away. Anywho, from that list, I can see 3 players who can retire today and make it (Sakic, Brodeur, Pronger). Also, there are a bunch of young players who can certainly make it in 20 years (Staal, Nash, even Luongo if he plays for a good team once). It's to early to tell. IMO people like Iginla, Bertuzzi, Redden, etc. are not good enough or haven't produced HOF worhty stats for long enough.
Even though it is too early to tell, I think Thornton and Healtey will end up in the HOF if they continue to play to their abilities.

In other words he has attitude problems?

He has skill and linemate problems

In my opinion

Locks:
Martin Brodeur
Joe Sakic

Good Chances:
Chris Pronger
Rob Blake
Jarome Iginla
Joe Thornton

Outside Shot:
Adam Foote

Too Early To Tell:
Roberto Luongo
Jay Bouwmeester
Simon Gagne
Eric Staal
Jason Spezza
Dany Heatley
Vincent Lecavalier
Rick Nash

Wow, you guys don't really know much about Iginla, first of all, he always starts off slow, he never has a good start, he plays better later on in the series. Secondly, his linemates suck, hard, the best linemate he's had so far this year is Lombardi.

Thirdly, he plays big in big games, maybe you forgot about his playoff performance, or his last gold medal game, and as I recall he dominated the world juniors and help lead us to a gold.

If Iginla decides to play, he's basically unstoppable, he just takes a while to make a decision.
The only player who can get away with taking a while to "make the decision" is Jaromir Jagr. Iginla is not Jagr. Great players are great all the time, even Jagr has been great throughout his entire career, barring two sub-par (for his standard) seasons. Winning big games? How many Cups does Iginla have? If he continues at his current pace, he will need 2 to 3 Cups, and at least 1 Conn Smythe to get into the HOF. Since when does international play warrant an entrance to the hockey HOF?

For the last time, the HOF is for great players, not good ones. Iginla has a lot more to prove before he can get close to the HOF.

The only player who can get away with taking a while to "make the decision" is Jaromir Jagr. Iginla is not Jagr. Great players are great all the time, even Jagr has been great throughout his entire career, barring two sub-par (for his standard) seasons. Winning big games? How many Cups does Iginla have? If he continues at his current pace, he will need 2 to 3 Cups, and at least 1 Conn Smythe to get into the HOF. Since when does international play warrant an entrance to the hockey HOF?

For the last time, the HOF is for great players, not good ones. Iginla has a lot more to prove before he can get close to the HOF.


I agree he has a lot more to prove before he gets into the HOF. But then again he'll only be 29 this year. But he's been great throughout that time. The '02 Olympics, the Art Ross in '02, the Lester B. Pearson in '02, Rocket Richard in '02, First team all-star in '02, Second team all-star in '04, Rocket Richard Trophy in '04. You can argue he has been at least one time considered the best in the game by many. And as for big goals does anyone not remember the '04 playoffs? His game 7 goal vs. the Canucks. His Stanley Cup run? How about the '06 Olympics? I guarantee he'll make a name for himself there as well.

For his projection he can make the HOF.

i dont knwo what everyone is getting bent out of shape for either. I didnt make this list to compare this to the '76 team. Lets see them win and dominate first then we'll discuss. And they probably wont get 17 HOFers. But 10-12 is at least what we're looking at. I know Lecavalier and Richards aren't HOFer right now. But they are both 25 people! Not even Guy Lafleur was a HOFer at 25. This is all about projection. Eric Staal would not be in the HOF if his career ended tomorrow. But 10 more years of seasons like he is having and would anyone argue? No you wouldnt.

Thornton may need some playoff experience, but Dionne never had that in his career. Throw in a couple of Art Ross Trophies he's bound to win and it looks good. Believe me this is all a projection.

Some of you guys are crazy tough... two or three players get in every year - that adds up quickly.

If a guy like Bernie Federko and Rod Langway get in, I'd say Pronger and Iginla will be shoe ins.

It's very hard to compare different eras. For one thing, the influx of Europeans definitely makes a lot of Canadian players merely good. For another, a 30 team league with relaxed UFA makes it very hard to belong to a dynasty, which greatly helped a lot of Canadiens from the 70's, for instance.

Team Sweden with Sundin and Lidstrom, possibly Alfredsson, has as many surefire HoFer candidates, but many fewer maybes. Team USA has Modano and Leetch. Team Czech has Jagr and Hasek. Really, Team Canada doesn't look so special in terms of future HoFers, at least surefire ones.

But then again, if international competition becomes a bigger criterion, building on the Kharlamov induction, then maybe some of those Canadians will get an extra look if Team Canada maintains a kind of parallel international dynasty.

First off there were 17 HOFers on the 1976 Canada Cup team. Here they are:

Cheevers, Orr, Robinson, Lapointe, Savard, Potvin, Lafleur, Clarke, Perreault, Hull, Esposito, Barber, Shutt, McDonald, Gainey, Dionne, Sittler.

After that you've got Vachon (who should be in there) and guys like Resch, P. Mahovolich, Martin, Gare and Leach who were all playing like HOFers at the time. Only Jimmy Watson is the only so called non-star on that team.

But even though this may not be the best Canadian team of all time I can't help but think there will be nearly just as many HOFers on this team. So I checked it out, its closer than you think if you want to base it on projection.

Shoo-ins or potential future HOFers:

Brodeur - No one on the face of the earth will debate this
Luongo - Already was second team all-star in '04 by 25
Pronger - Hard to believe the one time NHL MVP wont make it
Blake - Is a former Norris Trophy winner and four time post season all-star
Redden - He'll need some post season all-star selections first
Sakic - Shoo-in
Thornton - By the end of his career looks to be a lock
Heatley - Should be one of the best players in the NHL for 10 years
Richards - Won a Conn Smythe already as well as a Cup and a World Cup
Lecavalier - If only he plays the way we know he can this World Cup MVP could
Nash - Led the league in goals when he was only 20
Iginla - He'll need more strong seasons and onother MVP calibre year, or repeat '04
Staal - If he keeps this up he'll leave a strong legacy
Spezza - Needs to do this every year consistently. Plus he should have quite a few strong playoff runs with Ottawa


That comes to 14. Not too bad considering most of those guys will make it, and maybe some I left off will too. Bouwmeester, St. Louis, Bertuzzi, Gagne

To many ifs on this roster compared to '76 in terms of making the HHOF. '76 roster was far superior.

In my opinion

Locks:
Martin Brodeur
Joe Sakic

Good Chances:
Chris Pronger
Rob Blake
Jarome Iginla
Joe Thornton

Outside Shot:
Adam Foote

Too Early To Tell:
Roberto Luongo
Jay Bouwmeester
Simon Gagne
Eric Staal
Jason Spezza
Dany Heatley
Vincent Lecavalier
Rick Nash

IMO iginla is so overrated on HFboards. He's not even close to being a HOF candidate. One great season doesn't make a career.

It's very hard to compare different eras. For one thing, the influx of Europeans definitely makes a lot of Canadian players merely good. For another, a 30 team league with relaxed UFA makes it very hard to belong to a dynasty, which greatly helped a lot of Canadiens from the 70's, for instance.

Team Sweden with Sundin and Lidstrom, possibly Alfredsson, has as many surefire HoFer candidates, but many fewer maybes. Team USA has Modano and Leetch. Team Czech has Jagr and Hasek. Really, Team Canada doesn't look so special in terms of future HoFers, at least surefire ones.

But then again, if international competition becomes a bigger criterion, building on the Kharlamov induction, then maybe some of those Canadians will get an extra look if Team Canada maintains a kind of parallel international dynasty.

possibly Alfredsson?? Why??

IMO iginla is so overrated on HFboards. He's not even close to being a HOF candidate. One great season doesn't make a career.
One great season? Are you talking about the Art Ross/Richard/Pearson season of 2002, or the Richard/Hart runner-up season of 2004, when he was the best all-round forward in the playoffs? Just checking.

Is Iginla an HHOFer? At this stage of his career, no. His international accomplishments won't come into play, as they're only a factor for those who spent the majority of their career outside the NHL. (Mats Naslund and Kent Nilsson had brilliant, but abbreviated NHL careers, and thrived on the international stage, and they're not in). If Iginla has three or four more top-notch seasons, and has one more 2004-esque playoff, he'll get in.

If international play was a factor for those who played their entire careers in the NHL, I think Foote would get in, even though he doesn't belong. A better option for Foote is the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Scott Niedermayer, like Chris Pronger, is likely one or two more top notch seasons away from getting in the HHOF.

As for Langway not being in the Hall, he's likely the best defensive defenceman in the last 25 years. (Stevens is the other who warrants consideration). Langway won two Norris Trophies and was a Hart finalist based on his defensive dominance. Federko doesn't belong, but he was a top-notch point producer and playmaker in his prime.

[QUOTE=Hedberg]In my opinion

Locks:
Martin Brodeur
Joe Sakic

Good Chances:
Chris Pronger


No Way
Ryan Smyth
Todd Bertuzzi
Martin St-Louis
Marty Turco
Adam Foote

Outside Chance
Rob Blake

In Pierre Turgeon's territory
Joe Thornton
Jarome Iginla

On Pace For
Dany Heatley

Only If Traded to a contender someday
Roberto Luongo

Very unlikely
Jay Bouwmeester
Wade Redden


Could Go Either Way
Simon Gagne
Eric Staal
Jason Spezza
Vincent Lecavalier
Rick Nash

What are they doing in Torino, anyways?!?!
Bryan McCabe
Shane Doan
Kris Draper


Number of HOF not with Team Canada (for very good reasons, I might add) : 4 "surefire" material
-Mario Lemieux
-Steve Yzerman
-Luc Robitaille (there ARE better players than him not induced, but best goalscorer at his position)
-Ed Belfour

One great season? Are you talking about the Art Ross/Richard/Pearson season of 2002, or the Richard/Hart runner-up season of 2004, when he was the best all-round forward in the playoffs? Just checking.

Yup, exactly one season he had that was great in 2002. Runner up for Hart in 2004 is, well, runner up. One great playoff run doesn't consitute greatness either. You have to actually win the cup to add yourself to immortality. Many players have had great post season performances, heck Forsberg had the most points without even playing in the finals. But those performances are quickly forgotten in the minds of many.

Yup, exactly one season he had that was great in 2002. Runner up for Hart in 2004 is, well, runner up. One great playoff run doesn't consitute greatness either. You have to actually win the cup to add yourself to immortality. Many players have had great post season performances, heck Forsberg had the most points without even playing in the finals. But those performances are quickly forgotten in the minds of many.

Only one great season and yet he's won the scoring race twice.

What happened to everyone else those years?

Yup, exactly one season he had that was great in 2002. Runner up for Hart in 2004 is, well, runner up. One great playoff run doesn't consitute greatness either. You have to actually win the cup to add yourself to immortality. Many players have had great post season performances, heck Forsberg had the most points without even playing in the finals. But those performances are quickly forgotten in the minds of many.
Are you even implying that you have to either a) Win a voted-for, league award to have a great regular season or b) Win the Cup to have a great playoff. Your definitions need work.

By what you just said, Mario Lemieux did not have a great season in 1988-89, when he finished with 199 points, but didn't win the Hart or the Pearson.

Iginla was terrific in 2004. Tied for the league lead in goals, top three in Hart voting, had fantastic play in the post-season that those in the know will remember for a long time.