The Hockey Hall of Fame is set to induct a notable class in 2025, featuring first-ballot selections Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, and Duncan Keith, along with Alexander Mogilny (whose induction ends a long wait) and women`s hockey standouts Jennifer Botterill (Canada) and Brianna Decker (United States).
Looking ahead, who are the most likely candidates for the Class of 2026?
Here is an assessment of the top contenders for enshrinement, listed by their probability of being selected. We will begin with the former NHL players eligible for the first time next season:
MEN`S CANDIDATES
1. Patrice Bergeron, center (first year)
An extremely straightforward choice for the selection committee. Bergeron secured the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward six times, setting an NHL record. The veteran center was a finalist for this award in 12 consecutive seasons, marking the longest streak for any player nominated for an NHL award in league history.
He was a dominant defensive presence throughout his 19-year career with the Boston Bruins, excelling by both traditional statistics and advanced analytics. However, he was far from a one-dimensional player, accumulating 1,040 points (including 427 goals) in 1,294 games. This ranks him third all-time in points for a Bruins player.
Team success marked his career, winning a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011. He was a key factor in their return trips to the Final in 2013—a series against Chicago where Bergeron famously played through numerous injuries including a punctured lung and separated shoulder—and again in 2019. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, and World Championship gold in 2004, along with World Junior gold in 2005 and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, all with Team Canada.
2. Carey Price, goalie (second year)
Price continues the storied legacy of great Montreal Canadiens goaltenders like Hall of Famers Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, and Patrick Roy.
He spent all 15 seasons of his career with the Habs from 2007 to 2022 and holds the franchise record for wins (361) across 712 games. He played a crucial role in leading Montreal to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final during the league`s COVID-impacted season. Price delivered a masterpiece performance in the 2014-15 season, becoming only the seventh player in NHL history to win both the Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) and the Hart Trophy (MVP) in the same year.
Price won Olympic gold in 2014, backstopping Canada in Sochi, and also secured gold at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2007 World Junior Championships.
His candidacy presents an interesting dynamic, caught between the Hockey Hall of Fame`s historical reluctance to induct goaltenders and its strong recognition of Team Canada heroes. However, with six goalies inducted since 2018, the trend regarding netminders appears to be shifting.
3. Patrick Marleau, center (third year)
It`s understandable if you thought there was a possibility Marleau might be inducted alongside his longtime teammate Joe Thornton. The Hall of Fame selection committee sometimes surprises with its pairings.
However, unlike Thornton, Marleau`s path to the Hall is not guaranteed. His case often prompts a central question: Does breaking the NHL record for most career games make him a hockey legend, or primarily a highly accomplished player who accumulated statistics over a long career?
Marleau concluded his career with 1,779 games played, surpassing Gordie Howe`s record of 1,767. He ranks 25th in NHL history with 566 goals and 53rd with 1,197 career points. He reached the 30-goal mark seven times, peaking with 44 goals in 2009-10. He won Olympic gold in Vancouver and Sochi, IIHF World Championship gold in 2003, and the World Cup in 2004, all with Team Canada. Despite these achievements, Marleau was only a finalist for one NHL award, the Lady Byng (for gentlemanly play), on a single occasion, and he never won a Stanley Cup.
If he is considered a `compiler,` he would not be the first such player inducted into the Hall of Fame. His statistical achievements are robust, and his exceptional longevity is likely too impressive to be overlooked, particularly given the presence of many former players on the selection committee.
Patrik Elias reflects on his career with the New Jersey Devils and looks ahead to his retirement ceremony.
4. Keith Tkachuk, center (14th year)
With Alexander Mogilny now inducted, Keith Tkachuk could become the next prominent offensive player around whom fans and media build a Hall of Fame campaign.
Tkachuk amassed 538 goals and 1,065 points over 1,201 games during his 18-season career, much of which was spent during the low-scoring “dead puck era.” He led the league in goals once (1996-97) but was consistently productive otherwise. He ranks 35th all-time in goals. Every player ahead of him who is eligible for the Hall of Fame has been enshrined.
He won World Cup gold in 1996 and Olympic silver in 2002 but never lifted the Stanley Cup. He never received significant consideration for an NHL award, perhaps partly due to playing only 89 playoff games over 18 years with teams in Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Atlanta.
His career is solid, though perhaps not spectacular in terms of individual awards or championships, but his goal and point totals are difficult to disregard. There appears to be growing support for his induction. His renewed visibility as the father of NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, frequently seen at playoff games, Stanley Cup celebrations, and even reality television, likely doesn`t hurt his public profile.
5. Ryan Getzlaf, center (second year)
The imposing center spent 17 years with the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to a Stanley Cup championship in 2007. He holds the franchise records for regular-season games played (1,157), assists (737), and points (1,019), and holds the same records in the playoffs for Anaheim.
During his career span, Getzlaf ranked fifth among centers in points. Three players ahead of him—Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Anze Kopitar—are widely expected to be Hall of Famers. The fourth, Joe Thornton, was just announced for induction. Overall, Getzlaf had the seventh-most points of any player during his era.
Getzlaf won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, World Cup of Hockey gold in 2016, and gold at the World Juniors in 2005. He finished second for the Hart Trophy to Crosby in 2013, but that was the extent of his individual award recognition. However, given his significant impact and statistical dominance among centers during his time, Getzlaf is a strong candidate for a higher honor.
6. Henrik Zetterberg, center (fifth year)
Following Pavel Datsyuk`s Hall of Fame induction in 2024, attention turned to his longtime Detroit Red Wings teammate, Zetterberg. Ironically, Datsyuk`s excellence, particularly in winning Selke trophies, may have overshadowed Zetterberg`s defensive contributions during their shared prime, potentially impacting Zetterberg`s Hall case.
Zetterberg concluded his career with 960 points (including 337 goals) in 1,082 games. His most significant individual achievement was winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Red Wings` 2008 Stanley Cup victory. That championship ring earned him Triple Gold Club status, complementing his gold medals from the 2006 Olympics and the 2006 IIHF World Championship with Sweden. He posted 120 points in 137 playoff games, including an impressive 27 points in 22 games during his Conn Smythe run.
He is widely respected as one of the premier players of the past two decades and holds legendary status in both Detroit and Sweden. While his case may not be as clear-cut as some others, his accomplishments, particularly the Conn Smythe and Triple Gold Club membership, present a compelling argument.
7. Patrik Elias, center/left wing (seventh year)
Patrik Elias has been considered a “hipster pick” for the Hall of Fame by many analysts since Sergei Zubov, a previous favorite of analytical proponents, was inducted in 2019.
His statistics are impressive, holding the New Jersey Devils franchise records for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025) in both the regular season (1,240 games) and the playoffs (162 games). He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Devils in 2000 and 2003 and reached the Final in two other seasons. He was a finalist for the rookie of the year award in 1998. Internationally, he helped the Czech Republic secure Olympic bronze in 2006 and bronze medals twice at the IIHF World Championships.
Proponents of Elias`s candidacy argue that this exceptionally skilled player produced remarkable offensive statistics despite playing in a defensive era for a defense-first team. According to analysis by Adjusted Hockey, founded by Paul Pidutti, Elias would have accumulated 119 more points had he played in a “neutral era” with average league scoring levels. Elias has passionate supporters, and the question remains if the Hall selection committee will prioritize these context-aware arguments.
8. Sergei Gonchar, defenseman (eighth year)
Sergei Gonchar ranks 19th all-time in career points among defensemen, with 811 points accumulated over 1,301 NHL games. Every Hall of Fame-eligible defenseman ranked ahead of him—except for Gary Suter—is already enshrined. Gonchar had the challenge of playing in the same era as Nicklas Lidstrom.
Lidstrom, the Detroit Red Wings legend and widely regarded as one of hockey`s greatest defensemen, is the only blueliner who amassed more goals (236) and points (985) than Gonchar (220 goals, 811 points) during Gonchar`s career span from 1994-95 to 2014-15. Gonchar was a significant offensive force, even during the restrictive “dead puck era.”
While Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy seven times, Gonchar finished in the top five for the award four times, a higher frequency than Hall of Famer Sergei Zubov, for comparison. Gonchar won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. He earned Olympic silver in Nagano, bronze in Salt Lake City, and World Championship silver in 2010.
9. Rod Brind`Amour, center (13th year)
The candidacy of the current Carolina Hurricanes coach has been a subject of debate over the years. Brind`Amour recorded 1,184 points (including 452 goals) in 1,484 games. However, his primary case for the Hall of Fame is built on his reputation as an elite defensive center. He particularly excelled in this role for the Hurricanes during their run to the Stanley Cup in 2006, the first year he won back-to-back Selke Trophies.
However, some analysts, including Paul Pidutti, believe his defensive reputation, particularly later in his career, might be somewhat overstated.
“I think Brind`Amour has been a bit retroactively lionized because he`s the coolest guy in the room and an awesome coach,” Pidutti told ESPN in 2023. “He was never really a top Selke candidate. And then he`s pushing 40 and he was just this incredibly interesting, intense warrior. He wins those two Selkes. … I don`t want to say out of the blue, but if you look at the voting history, they kind of were. I think everyone remembers him being the best defensive forward in the league, and really wasn`t the case during his entire career.”
Despite differing analytical views, there is significant support among hockey observers for “Rod The Bod” to be inducted into the Hall.
T-10. Tim Thomas (ninth year) and Ryan Miller (third year)
A compelling argument can be made for the induction of two goalies from the same era based on their peak performances.
From 2008-09 to 2011-12, Ryan Miller ranked third in wins (182) and fourth in save percentage (.919) while playing for a Buffalo Sabres team that ranked 21st in points percentage (.520). The height of his career was the 2009-10 season, when he won the Vezina Trophy, finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting, and became a national hero while backstopping Team USA to an Olympic silver medal in Vancouver, losing the gold in overtime to Sidney Crosby and Canada.
However, if considering all-time elite stretches, Tim Thomas`s performance from 2007 to 2012 with the Boston Bruins is difficult to match: a record of 151-78-31 in 270 games with a .926 save percentage, 2.28 goals-against average, and 27 shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy twice and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2011, leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup with an outstanding .940 save percentage, a 1.98 goals-against average, and four shutouts in the playoffs. He only played nine NHL seasons, debuting at age 28. His journey from a journeyman to NHL stardom is part of his legend, but his relatively short NHL career compared to others might impact his Hall case.
Other goalies like Curtis Joseph, Chris Osgood, Tuukka Rask, and Pekka Rinne also present interesting cases for discussion. But Thomas and Miller offer some of the most fascinating comparisons based on their dominant peaks.
The field
Among the other players awaiting their potential Hall of Fame moment are first-year eligible Eric Staal and Phil Kessel, both prolific scorers with Stanley Cup victories; Jason Spezza, now in his second year of eligibility; older offensive stars such as Peter Bondra, Vincent Damphousse, Theo Fleury, Steve Larmer, John LeClair, Rick Nash, Bernie Nicholls, and Pat Verbeek; and defensemen Gary Suter and P.K. Subban.
WOMEN`S CANDIDATES
1. Meghan Duggan, forward (seventh year)
Meghan Duggan won seven IIHF World Championship gold medals and captained the U.S. women`s Olympic hockey team to gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She was awarded the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award as the top women`s player in the NCAA while playing for Wisconsin. Duggan was the first American player, male or female, to achieve seven consecutive World Championship gold medals. Beyond the ice, she played a crucial role in the U.S. national team`s advocacy for equitable support and conditions from USA Hockey compared to the men`s team. She currently serves as Director of Player Development for the New Jersey Devils.
Brianna Decker, inducted in the Class of 2025, was a deserving Hall of Famer, but her induction preceding Duggan was perhaps a slight surprise to some observers.
2. Shannon Szabados, goalie (seventh year)
Former Team Canada goaltender Kim St-Pierre became the first women`s goaltender inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022. Shannon Szabados presents a strong case to be the next.
Szabados won Olympic gold twice with Canada, recording a shutout in the 2010 final and securing the win in overtime against the United States in 2014. When Canada won silver in 2018, she was recognized as the tournament`s top goaltender.
Szabados was also a trailblazer in professional hockey: In 2014, she signed a contract with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) to finish the 2013-14 season, becoming the first woman to compete in a regular-season game in that minor league. She went on to play four seasons in the SPHL.
3. Julie Chu, forward (seventh year)
As one of the pioneers in American women`s hockey, Julie Chu earned three Olympic silver medals and one bronze, in addition to capturing gold five times at the IIHF World Championships. She was the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women`s hockey history during her career at Harvard and received the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2007.
Chu also played professionally in the Canadian Women`s Hockey League (CWHL), winning playoff MVP and helping Minnesota secure the Clarkson Cup in 2010. She is an iconic figure in American hockey, having won a remarkable 23 medals over her distinguished international career.
4. Meghan Agosta, forward (fifth year)
Though sometimes overshadowed by other legendary Team Canada players like Hayley Wickenheiser and Marie Philip-Poulin, Meghan Agosta was a vital component of the national team that won Olympic gold in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and silver in 2018.
At the time of her official retirement in 2024, Agosta ranked sixth all time in goals (85) and points (176) and seventh in assists (91) across 178 career games for Team Canada.
5. Florence Schelling, goalie (fifth year)
The Hall of Fame selection committee has historically shown a preference for Canadian and American women`s players. If they seek to include international representation, Florence Schelling, a star goaltender for Switzerland, is a prime candidate.
She posted excellent international statistics, backstopping the Swiss team to a bronze medal in Sochi and earning MVP honors for the tournament. She was also a dominant force during her four seasons playing for Northeastern University.
Final Prediction for the Class of 2026
For the men, the likely inductees are Bergeron, Price, and Getzlaf, marking the second time in three years that only three male players are inducted. For the women, we predict Duggan and Szabados will be selected, continuing a trend of multiple women`s players entering the Hall for the third consecutive season.
Rupert Hartwell