The 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame class is out and there will be a total of seven new inductees. Pavel Datsyuk, Shea Weber and Jeremy Roenick were elected in the men’s category. Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl of the United States national team got entries in the women’s category. The Builder’s category saw longtime executive David Poile and current NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell elected.
It’s a big honour to earn a place among hockey’s immortals. However, there’s plenty of chatter about who got left off the list. Let’s take a dive in the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame class.
2024 Hockey Hall of Fame Class
Who’s In
Pavel Datsyuk
The man known as the “Magic Man” was a no-brainer entry. He had successful stints in the NHL and in the KHL to close out his career. The former Detroit Red Wings forward was an ace on both ends of the ice. Many loved his silky-smooth hands, but his defensive game was also spectacular.
Datsyuk won two Stanley Cups and won three straight Selke Trophies as the league’s best defensive forward from 2007-2010. He also took four consecutive Lady Byng Trophies for gentlemanly play.
However, the accolades also came in at the international level. Datsyuk won gold at the won gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and at the 2012 IIHF World Championship. He also won the KHL’s Gagarin Cup with SKA St. Petersburg. It wouldn’t be a true Hockey Hall of Fame without the Russian legend.
Shea Weber
The big defender carved out a great career with the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens before injuries cut it short. Weber played in 1,038 games from 2005-21 with the Predators and Habs. He ate up plenty of minutes as he averaged 24:03 per game.
The British Columbia native had loads of success on the international level with golds for his native Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Weber also picked up crowns in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, 2007 World Championship and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The rugged defenceman did deserve a call to the Hall of Fame. He was a winner on the international level and was a rock on the defensive end. Weber brought big hits and a big slapshot to the party.
Jeremy Roenick
It’s been a longtime coming for the former American standout. Roenick played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks during his 1,363 regular-season game career. The living NHL 94 cheat code had been on the ballot since 2012, but finally got in.
The 1,216-point scorer also earned a silver medal with the United States at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 1991 Canada Cup. Roenick has also worked as an analyst, but has been controversial at times. However, there’s no disputing what he’s done on the ice.
David Poile
The longtime American executive was a general manager for an astonishing 40 years. Poile ran the Washington Capitals and the Predators for a number of seasons. He made the trade bring in Rod Langway, which turned around the Capitals franchise. Poile is the only man to be a GM for over 3,000 NHL regular season games.
He was a risk-taker and even traded Weber for P.K. Subban, which did yield Nashville its only Stanley Cup Final appearance. His teams made the playoffs in 29 of his 38 seasons as a GM.
Colin Campbell
The longtime NHL executive is one the more controversial Builder’s entries. He served as the league’s discipline czar and often made some puzzling decisions on player suspensions. Campbell has spent the past 25 seasons with the NHL in hockey operations, officiating and central scouting, won the Stanley Cup as an associate coach with the New York Rangers in 1994.
Natalie Darwitz
Darwitz was a three-time Olympian for the United States and won two silver medals and a bronze. She also played in eight IIHF World Championships and earned three gold medals and five silver medals. The American also received Best Forward honours in 2008. Darwitz was also an NCAA National Champion with Minnesota in 2005.
Krissy Wendell-Pohl
She was one of early standouts of the American women’s hockey program. Wendell-Pohl played from 1999-2007 and netted 106 goals in 147 games. She played in two Olympics, where she got silver and bronze. The veteran also won the MVP award in the 2005 IIHF Worlds, which was her country’s first World Championship victory.
Who’s Out
Alexander Mogilny
It’s sadly an annual exercise in anger to see the Russian standout be left off the guest list. Mogilny’s harrowing journey to North America is Hall of Fame worthy in its own right. However, he was a very good player at the NHL level. His standout career with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs should have been enough to get him in.
However, the voters once again get it wrong by omitting Mogilny from the induction list. Roenick’s numbers are nice and he’s Hall of Fame worthy. However, Mogilny should have gotten in first. The geopolitcal situation excuse is also flimsy with Datsyuk getting in first.
Rod Brind’Amour
The current Carolina Hurricanes coach is another player that’s Hall of Fame worthy. “Rod the Bod” played 1,484 NHL regular-season games and 159 more in the playoffs. He was the captain of two teams and won a Stanley Cup with the Canes in 2006.
He won two Selkes and was an All-Star. Brind’Amour bleeds hockey and deserves entry.
Patrik Elias
The Czech standout was a linchpin of the Devils for many seasons. He was consistent for 20 seasons with the franchise lead in in goals (408), assists (617) and points (1,025). Elias was also a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a workhorse.
He also leads the franchise in playoff goals, assists and points. Elias seemed to step his game up when it mattered most.
Jennifer Botterill
The Canadian is a certified winner for her country and has racked up numerous titles. Her NCAA career saw her net 340 points in 113 games for Harvard. She helped Team Canada get gold medals in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics.
Botterill has also carved out a nice career as analyst in North American at numerous outlets. She should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Also cases can be made for Theo Fleury, Henrik Zetterberg, Chris Osgood and Sergei Gonchar.
Main photo by: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
