(Toronto) The Hockey Hall of Fame will announce the next inductees in November 2023 on Wednesday.
Last year, Sweden and Western Canada were in the spotlight, as Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Daniel Alfredsson and Roberto Luongo joined the immortals.
The Canadian Press has assessed some applications for the 2023 cohort.
The former New York Rangers goaltender is almost certain to be elected in his first year of eligibility.
Lundqvist, who won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender in 2012, ranks sixth in league history in wins (459), ninth in games played by a goaltender (887) and 17th in shutouts (64).
A native of Sweden, Lundqvist is the European goalie with the most wins to his name in NHL history.
Lundqvist helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. He also reached the East Final in 2012 and 2015.
On the international stage, he won gold at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.
Zetterberg saw three of his compatriots honored in 2022 – the Sedins and Alfredsson.
In his second year of eligibility, it could be Zetterberg’s turn in 2023. He played 1,082 games in 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, scoring 337 goals and 623 assists for a total of 960 points.
Zetterberg helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2008, winning the Conn-Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He had 120 points in 137 playoff games.
A seventh-round pick in 1999, Zetterberg also won gold with Sweden at the 2006 Games.
Ouellette is one of three hockey players to have won Olympic gold at least four times, along with teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford. Ouellette helped Canada reach the top step of the podium at the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Games.
In her second year of eligibility, the Quebecer also won the Women’s World Hockey Championship six times.
Will this finally be his year?
Eligible since 2009, the Russian forward has tallied 1,032 points, including 473 goals, in 990 career NHL games.
Mogilny won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and Olympic gold with the Soviet Union in 1988.
Joseph also shows patience.
Eligible since 2012, the former goaltender has more wins (454) than Hall of Famers Terry Sawchuk (445), Jacques Plante (437), Tony Esposito (423), Glenn Hall (407), Grant Fuhr (403) and Dominik Hasek (389).
Joseph is only five fewer wins than Lundqvist on his record. He has never won the Vézina Trophy, but has been a finalist three times.
While he will hand over his role as general manager of the Nashville Predators to Barry Trotz at the end of the month, Poile is an interesting candidate in the builder category.
General manager in the NHL for more than 40 years, Poile could join his father, Bud, in the pantheon.
David Poile is the only general manager in NHL history with over 3,000 regular season games to his credit.
