from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,
It is all but certain – as it should be – that Henrik Lundqvist will be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame this year.
He has the numbers. He has the credentials. He had a career with the New York Rangers that few goaltenders will ever match and that should see him elected without much question or debate as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
And it is all but certain – with questions needing to be asked – that Curtis Joseph will be passed over for the Hall once again, just as he has for the last 10 years, without much hand-wringing, public arguing, or debate.
Joseph won 454 games for the six NHL teams he played for. That’s five fewer wins than Lundqvist, who played his entire career with the Rangers. Of the Top 12 winning goalies of all-time, nine are in the Hall, Marc-Andre Fleury is still playing, and Lundqvist has yet to be elected – which leaves Joseph alone.
The only goalie of the Top 12 to not be in the Hall of Fame or seemingly headed there.Goaltenders, historically, have not gotten their complete share of Hall of Fame attention. Tom Barrasso, with two Stanley Cups from the Pittsburgh Penguins, is not in the Hall. Mike Vernon, with two Stanley Cups and a 32-9 won-loss record in those championship playoff seasons, is not in the Hall. Some people believe Chris Osgood belongs in the Hall – and I’m not one of them – after being part of three Cup champions in Detroit.
Not before Ozzie or Vernon. Cups override Ws in this case.
Lundqvist with 1 vezina, 1st team once, 2nd team once.
He's a no for me.
Cujo doesn't have any of that, and neither has a Cup.
The bar for hall of fame should be high. higher than either of these guys
Lundqvist is a no-doubter. Joseph has a decent case, but falls short. Osgood is definitely not a HOF'er.
It’s tough with goalies. Lund playing in NYC def. helped him.
Lundqvist is a no-brainer, no question. People always forget that it's a hockey hall of fame, not the NHL hall of fame. He's got two world championship golds, and an olympic gold (and he was amazing that year), as Sweden's starting goalie, as well as three silvers (one olympic, two worlds).
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