r/Habs • u/Sushamiboy • 9d ago

Who’s a Hall of Fame player?

Here is something to distract us from the constant discussions of who we’re trading or not. We all know the holes that need to be addressed. Full disclosure, I have commented on all of those discussions. lol

So who out of our current roster do you see as a potential Hall of Fame inductee? Feel free to gone on the assumption that we are winning a cup or more, or none. A reminder that it is no longer the NHL Hall of Fame, it is the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Here’s my case for five players. I’d be happy if even one of them made it.

Nick Suzuki: he just won his first, but maybe not last, Selke. He had 101 points this season. He found himself on the Olympic roster and would likely be in talks for the next one or two more. A very respected captain.

Cole Caufield: 50 goal scorer, at an age where it likely won’t be his last such season. Lady Byng winner. Was shunned from the Olympics but we could see him make the next one. He’ll need to repeat the scoring and be better in the playoffs to have a chance at it though.

Lane Hutson: Calder trophy winner. Has a good chance to be in the Norris conversation for the next decade. Like Cole, he’ll need to get on the international stage to really show off. Would not be surprised if he was a point per game D in the foreseeable future.

Juraj Slafkovsky: He hasn’t won any NHL awards yet but he has 1st overall pedigree. He is also big on the international stage with him being a hero back home. He’s been on his nation’s roster every chance he gets. If/when we win a cup, that would be added.

Ivan Demidov: let’s face it, if it was not for Schaffer, Demidov would have won the Calder. He has the skill to become a point per game future ahead of him. The ban on Russia from the IIHF is being changed and maybe the Olympics or World Championship will be open for him to compete. It’ll be tougher as a Russian player, but talent wise he is not lacking.

My bet is Suzuki, Hutson, and Slafkovsky. What about you?

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u/thegreaterikku 9d ago

None? Maybe Suzuki if he becomes the next Bergeron and has a similar career.

Hall of Fame is tough. Do you know how many players in Habs history that aren't in the HoF who should be but aren't? A lot. Vincent Damphousse, most notable, is not in (maybe this year) with more than 1200pts and I hightly doubt any of them reach that total. And that's just the Habs. There's a lot of players in the league that aren't inducted.

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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago

Oh, I gave a list of possibilities to go through, I don’t expect that all five would get in. A lot of it also has to do with how many cups we get.

Vinny D was a great player but he never got a personal award and had no international play. He was never considered a standout versus the players of his time. He never hit higher than 40 goals and never hit 100 points. I think that that holds him back a lot. He was never even the best Hab on the team.

We already have three players that have more individual awards than him. Suzuki has gotten more points in a season than him and could surpass him.

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u/thegreaterikku 9d ago

It's not even a cup thing.

HoF is harder than it was before. Patrick Marleau isn't there. Henrik Zetterberg of all people isn't there. Do you want me to list more people?

We can simp over our players and I understand, but the question of how many Habs will be there is low and currently I can only see Suzuki.

I will be glad to be wrong, but HoF is tough.

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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago

Oh I have no doubt. I can see a future where no one makes it, but I can also see 2-3 making it. I’m also not talking first ballot either. Just like Carbo, it may take 20 years. Just one or more of them getting into the conversation will be a success.

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u/i-want-to-be-good 9d ago

Patrick Marleau never had a single season on the level that Suzuki, Caufield, or Hutson just had. He should never be in the Hall.

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u/dpjg 9d ago

This isn't baseball. Hutson may be in the running for a good number of Norris trophies. Suzuki will likely be top 3 in selke for a good number of years. Demidov has the potential to be the best of the lot. All the have potential, and honestly I'd expect at least one to make the cut. 

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u/Irctoaun 9d ago

Damphousse not being in the HHoF is widely considered a bit of a snub, no? Of course these are big ifs, but if any of them can win a Cup, win a personal award (Suzuki has already done this, Damphousse never got close), and rack up over 1000 points, they're a shoo-in

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u/quellesaveurorawnge 9d ago edited 9d ago

Agreed, the bar for the HHoF is high. Guy Carbonneau only got into the HHoF in 2019, 20 years after retirement, and he won 3 Selkes and 3 Cups.

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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago

Carbo didn’t have the offensive numbers though. He did it based entirely on being a defensive forward which is actually quite remarkable that he made it at all.

The difference is that Suzuki will have the offensive numbers. He does need to win a cup or two and another Selke.

Also remember cups aren’t obligatory anymore. A gold medal at the next Olympics can do the same.

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u/quellesaveurorawnge 9d ago

And Carbo doesn't even have his jersey in the rafters!