With the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2024 about to be inducted, the class of 2025 is shaping up to be strong.
Joe Thornton, Duncan Keith and Carey Price are among the new eligible players who will be eligible for selection next year.
Thornton, who last played with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22, finished his NHL career having played in 1,714 games, recording 1,539 points, including 1,109 assists split between the Boston Bruins, the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers.
Drafted first overall by the Bruins in 1997, Thornton was invited to the All-Star Game six times, winning the Hart Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy in 2006.
On the international stage, Thornton played a key role on Team Canada, winning gold at the World Juniors (1997), the World Cup of Hockey (2004, 2016) and Olympic gold in 2010.
Keith was the defensive mainstay of the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Stanley Cup three times in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Four times invited to the All-Star game, he played 1,256 career games in the NHL, collecting 646 points divided between the Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers.
He twice won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL (2010, 2014) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in 2015. With Team Canada, he won two medals. Olympic gold (2010, 2014).
Despite not playing since the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury, Price is one of the most decorated goaltenders of his generation after a 15-year career spent entirely with the Canadiens from Montreal.
He had his best career season in 2014-15, posting 44 wins, a .933 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average, winning the Hart Trophies, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay and Jennings. He also won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2022.
Drafted fifth overall by Montreal in 2005, Price has been to the All-Star Game seven times.
On the international stage, he helped Canada win gold at the 2007 World Juniors, earning tournament MVP and top goaltender honors. He also led Canada to gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Zdeno Chara, Ryan Getzlaf, Tuukka Rask and Jason Spezza are also eligible for the first time in 2025.
The list of new players eligible for the Hall of Fame is impressive, but a number of players are still awaiting their call-up.
Alexander Mogilny hasn’t played since the 2005-06 season, but he has yet to be inducted. He recorded 1,032 points in 990 career NHL games, won a Stanley Cup in 2000 and the Lady Byng Trophy in 2003.
Curtis Joseph, Keith Tkachuk and Henrik Zetterberg are also on the list of players who could be future Hall of Famers.
On the women’s side, the Hall of Fame inducted two women for the first time in 2010: This year, Americans Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell both received the call.
The Hall of Fame has a maximum number of women it will induct each year and, while the list of deserving players is growing, one player who could be named is former Team Canada star Jennifer Botterill.
Botterill has had a successful international career, winning three Olympic gold medals (2002, 2006 and 2010) and five women’s world championships.
In college, she won the Patty Kazmaier Trophy as the top player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey in two consecutive campaigns (2001-02 and 2002-03) with Harvard. Botterill remains the only player to have won it twice.
