The Hockey Hall of Fame`s Class of 2025 is shaping up to be quite notable, featuring first-ballot selections Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, and Duncan Keith, alongside Alexander Mogilny, whose long wait is finally over, and standout women`s players Jennifer Botterill of Canada and Brianna Decker of the United States.
But who might be next to receive hockey`s highest honor as part of the Class of 2026?
Here is an assessment of the most probable candidates among both men and women players expected to be considered for enshrinement next year, ranked by their perceived likelihood. We begin with former NHL players who will be eligible for the first time next season:
- MEN`S CANDIDATES
- 1. Patrice Bergeron, Center (First Year Eligible)
- 2. Carey Price, Goaltender (Second Year Eligible)
- 3. Patrick Marleau, Forward (Third Year Eligible)
- 4. Keith Tkachuk, Forward (14th Year Eligible)
- 5. Ryan Getzlaf, Forward (Second Year Eligible)
- 6. Henrik Zetterberg, Forward (Fifth Year Eligible)
- 7. Patrik Elias, Forward (Seventh Year Eligible)
- 8. Sergei Gonchar, Defenseman (Eighth Year Eligible)
- 9. Rod Brind`Amour, Center (13th Year Eligible)
- T-10. Tim Thomas (Ninth Year Eligible) and Ryan Miller (Third Year Eligible)
- The Field (Other Notable Candidates)
- WOMEN`S CANDIDATES
- 1. Meghan Duggan, Forward (Seventh Year Eligible)
- 2. Shannon Szabados, Goaltender (Seventh Year Eligible)
- 3. Julie Chu, Forward (Seventh Year Eligible)
- 4. Meghan Agosta, Forward (Fifth Year Eligible)
- 5. Florence Schelling, Goaltender (Fifth Year Eligible)
- Final Prediction for the Class of 2026
MEN`S CANDIDATES
1. Patrice Bergeron, Center (First Year Eligible)
This seems like a clear choice for the selection committee. Bergeron holds the NHL record for winning the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward six times. He was an award finalist for 12 consecutive seasons, the longest streak for any player nominated for an NHL award.
Over his 19-year career with the Boston Bruins, he was an outstanding defensive presence, supported 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, ranking him third in points for a Bruins player.
Team success also marks his career: he won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and was a key factor in their runs to the Final in 2013 (playing through significant injuries like a punctured lung and broken ribs) and 2019. He is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won Olympic gold (2010, 2014), World Championship gold (2004), World Junior gold (2005), and the World Cup of Hockey (2016), all representing Canada.
2. Carey Price, Goaltender (Second Year Eligible)
Price stands as a modern successor to the line of legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltenders, including Hall of Famers Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, and Patrick Roy.
He spent his entire 15-season career (2007-2022) with the Canadiens, becoming the franchise`s all-time leader in wins (361 over 712 games). He played a significant role in Montreal reaching the 2021 Stanley Cup Final during the unique COVID-impacted season. Price had a phenomenal year in 2014-15, becoming just the seventh player in NHL history to win both the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) and the Hart Trophy (MVP) in the same season.
Internationally, Price won Olympic gold in 2014, serving as Canada`s starting goalie in Sochi. He also secured gold at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2007 World Junior Championships.
His case presents an interesting dynamic, balancing the Hall`s historical reluctance towards goalies with its tendency to favor Canadian heroes. Though, it`s worth noting that six goaltenders have been inducted since 2018, suggesting a potential shift in this trend.
3. Patrick Marleau, Forward (Third Year Eligible)
Let`s be honest, many wondered if Marleau might join his longtime teammate Joe Thornton in the same induction class when Thornton was announced. The Hall of Fame sometimes enjoys such narrative connections.
However, unlike Thornton, Marleau`s induction is not a certainty. The central question surrounding his candidacy is whether breaking the NHL record for career games played signifies true hockey greatness or simply being a prolific accumulator of statistics over time?
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 in career points with 1,197. 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 Canada. Yet, Marleau was only a finalist for one NHL award, the Lady Byng (gentlemanly play), and he never won a Stanley Cup.
If viewed as a `compiler,` he wouldn`t be the first such player inducted. His statistics are strong, and his remarkable longevity likely makes his case too compelling to overlook, especially given the presence of former players on the selection committee.
4. Keith Tkachuk, Forward (14th Year Eligible)
With Alexander Mogilny now inducted, Keith Tkachuk might become the next prominent offensive player whose Hall of Fame case is championed by fans and media.
He accumulated 538 goals and 1,065 points across 1,201 games over his 18-season career, primarily played during the defensive `dead puck era.` He led the league in goals once (1996-97) but otherwise maintained consistent high-level production. He is 35th all-time in goals, and every eligible player ahead of him is already enshrined.
Tkachuk won World Cup gold in 1996 and Olympic silver in 2002 but never the Stanley Cup. He never received an NHL award nomination, perhaps reflecting his career spent primarily in Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Atlanta, which saw only 89 playoff games.
While his career might be described as solid rather than spectacular in terms of accolades, his scoring numbers are difficult to dismiss. There seems to be growing support for his induction. His newfound public visibility as the father of NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, appearing during playoffs, Cup celebrations, and even reality TV, likely hasn`t hurt his profile.
5. Ryan Getzlaf, Forward (Second Year Eligible)
The large center spent 17 seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to a Stanley Cup victory in 2007. He holds the franchise records for most regular-season games played (1,157), assists (737), and points (1,019), and mirrors these records in playoff performance for Anaheim.
During his active career span, he ranked fifth among centers in points. Three players ranked above him (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Anze Kopitar) are widely expected to be Hall of Famers, and the fourth (Joe Thornton) was just inducted. Overall, he was seventh in points among all players during that period.
Getzlaf earned Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, World Cup of Hockey gold in 2016, and gold at the World Juniors in 2005. His closest call with an individual award was finishing second to Crosby for the Hart Trophy in 2013. However, given his dominance among his peers and his overall point production relative to his era, Getzlaf appears to be a strong candidate for a higher recognition like the Hall of Fame.
6. Henrik Zetterberg, Forward (Fifth Year Eligible)
Following Pavel Datsyuk`s induction in 2024, attention has shifted to his former Detroit Red Wings teammate, Henrik Zetterberg. Ironically, Datsyuk`s excellence, particularly in vacuuming up Selke Trophies, might have overshadowed Zetterberg during their shared prime.
Zetterberg finished his career with 960 points in 1,082 games, scoring 337 goals. His most significant individual achievement was winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Red Wings` 2008 Stanley Cup win. That championship also granted him entry into the Triple Gold Club, combined with gold medals at the 2006 Olympics and the 2006 IIHF World Championship with Sweden. He amassed 120 points in 137 playoff games, including a remarkable 27 points in 22 games during his Conn Smythe-winning run.
He was one of the most highly respected players of the last two decades and remains a legend in Detroit and Sweden. His case isn`t unequivocally clear-cut, but the combination of statistics, team success, and international medals provides a solid argument.
7. Patrik Elias, Forward (Seventh Year Eligible)
Patrik Elias has been considered a `hipster pick` for the Hall of Fame, following the successful induction of previous such candidate, Sergei Zubov, in 2019.
His statistics are impressive, holding the New Jersey Devils franchise records for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025) across both the regular season (1,240 games) and playoffs (162 games). He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Devils (2000, 2003) and reached the Final two other times. He was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award in 1998. Internationally, he contributed to the Czech Republic winning Olympic bronze in 2006 and two World Championship bronze medals.
Advocates for Elias argue that this exceptionally skilled player achieved significant offensive production in a defensive era while playing for a defensively focused team. Some statistical analyses suggest his point totals would be considerably higher if adjusted to a `neutral era.` Elias certainly has vocal supporters within the hockey community. The question is whether the Hall will agree.
8. Sergei Gonchar, Defenseman (Eighth Year Eligible)
Gonchar ranks 19th in career points among defensemen, with 811 in 1,301 NHL games. Every eligible defenseman ahead of him on the points list—with the sole exception of Gary Suter—is already in the Hall. Gonchar also had the misfortune of playing in the same era as Nicklas Lidstrom.
The Detroit Red Wings legend Lidstrom, considered one of the greatest defensemen ever, was the only blueliner with more goals (236) and points (985) than Gonchar (220 goals, 811 points) during the Russian defenseman`s career span (1994-95 to 2014-15). Gonchar managed significant offensive output even during the defensive `dead puck era.`
While Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy seven times, Gonchar finished in the top five for the award four times, which is more often than Hall of Famer Sergei Zubov, for comparison. Gonchar won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. He also won Olympic silver in Nagano, bronze in Salt Lake City, and World Championship silver in 2010.
9. Rod Brind`Amour, Center (13th Year Eligible)
The candidacy of current Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind`Amour has been a subject of debate over the years. He accumulated 1,184 points and 452 goals in 1,484 games. However, his Hall of Fame case is heavily based on his reputation as an elite defensive center, a role where he particularly excelled during the Hurricanes` run to the Stanley Cup in 2006, the first year he won back-to-back Selke Trophies.
Some analyses, however, suggest his defensive reputation might be somewhat inflated retrospectively. One expert noted that Brind`Amour wasn`t consistently a top Selke candidate for the majority of his career and that his two wins came relatively late. While his intensity and leadership, especially during the Cup run and later as a coach, are celebrated, some argue his defensive impact throughout his career wasn`t always at the very top tier that his reputation might now suggest.
Despite differing statistical interpretations, there remains significant support for “Rod The Bod” to be recognized by the Hall.
T-10. Tim Thomas (Ninth Year Eligible) and Ryan Miller (Third Year Eligible)
An interesting comparison can be made focusing on the `peak years` of these two goaltenders from a similar era.
From the 2008-09 season to 2011-12, Ryan Miller ranked third in wins (182) and fourth in save percentage (.919) while playing for a Buffalo Sabres team that was 21st in points percentage. The pinnacle of his career was likely 2009-10, when he won the Vezina Trophy, finished fourth for the Hart Trophy, and became a national star backstopping Team USA to an Olympic silver medal in Vancouver, losing the gold medal game in overtime to Canada.
However, if we consider truly dominant stretches, Tim Thomas`s performance for the Boston Bruins from 2007 to 2012 stands out: a 151-78-31 record in 270 games with a .926 save percentage, 2.28 goals-against average, and 27 shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy twice and captured the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2011, leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup with spectacular playoff numbers (.940 save percentage, 1.98 GAA, four shutouts). His relatively late start in the NHL (debuting at age 28) meant he played only nine seasons. His journey before reaching NHL stardom is part of his unique story, but his shorter career might impact his Hall of Fame longevity argument.
Other goaltenders like Curtis Joseph, Chris Osgood, Tuukka Rask, and Pekka Rinne also present interesting cases for the Hall. However, Thomas and Miller arguably have the most compelling peak-based arguments among those currently waiting.
The Field (Other Notable Candidates)
Among other players awaiting Hall of Fame consideration are first-year eligibles Eric Staal and Phil Kessel, both prolific scorers with Stanley Cup championships; Jason Spezza, 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 Eligible)
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. In 2011, she received the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top women`s player in NCAA hockey while at Wisconsin. She was the first American player, male or female, to win seven consecutive World Championship gold medals. Beyond her on-ice achievements, she played a crucial role in the national team`s advocacy for equitable support and conditions from USA Hockey compared to the men`s team. She currently works as Director of Player Development for the New Jersey Devils.
Brianna Decker, inducted in the Class of 2025, is a deserving Hall of Famer, but some found it slightly surprising that Duggan was not inducted before her.
2. Shannon Szabados, Goaltender (Seventh Year Eligible)
Former Team Canada goaltender Kim St-Pierre became the first woman goaltender inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. Szabados makes a strong case to be the second.
She earned Olympic gold medals twice, pitching a shutout in Canada`s 2010 victory and winning in overtime against the United States in 2014. When Canada won silver in 2018, Szabados was named the tournament`s top goaltender.
Szabados also broke barriers: in 2014, she signed a professional contract with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), 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 Eligible)
A pioneering figure in American women`s hockey, Julie Chu collected four Olympic medals (three silver, one bronze) and five gold medals at the IIHF World Championships. She holds the record for most points in NCAA history from her time at Harvard and won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2007.
Chu also played professionally in the CWHL, earning playoff MVP honors while helping Minnesota win the Clarkson Cup in 2010. She is an iconic American player who earned a total of 23 medals during her distinguished international career.
4. Meghan Agosta, Forward (Fifth Year Eligible)
Although sometimes overshadowed by other Canadian legends like Hayley Wickenheiser and Marie-Philip Poulin, Meghan Agosta was a vital member of the Canadian 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) over 178 career games for Team Canada.
5. Florence Schelling, Goaltender (Fifth Year Eligible)
The selection committee`s choices for women`s players have heavily favored Canadians and Americans. If they seek an international honoree, Florence Schelling, a goaltending star for Switzerland, is a prime candidate.
She posted stellar international statistics, notably leading the Swiss team to a bronze medal in Sochi and earning MVP honors for the tournament. She was also a dominant player during her four seasons at Northeastern University.
Final Prediction for the Class of 2026
For the men, the prediction is Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, and Ryan Getzlaf, marking the second time in three years the class would include only three male inductees. For the women, Meghan Duggan and Shannon Szabados are projected, continuing a trend of multiple women`s players entering the Hall for a third consecutive year.
