He's certainly on his way, but he needs to keep adding to his resume. Goaltenders notoriously have it harder than any of the other positions in terms of getting into the hall, and a Vezina and cup seem to be needed on most resumes. He will most likely win the Vezina this year, and the Rangers look to be contenders, so the cup in still up in the air. At the same time, I think with the number of teams and good number one goaltenders in the game today, there will start to be less emphasis on awards and cups and more emphasis on being among the best year in and year out. If he keeps up his play into his mid 30s, with at least some good playoffs thrown in, he will most likely get in as he will be one of the best of his generation.
He has a lot of work to do. If we are waiting on Barrasso, Vachon and Vernon to get in then Lundqvist certainly needs more time. Not to mention Joseph getting in is up in the air (I wouldn't induct him). Beezer and Moog are two other ones with some decent credentials that might just wait forever. So in reality he's got a lot of trucking ahead of him in order to make that happen
Despite the belief that goaltending has gotten a lot better in recent years I think we've gone through a spell since the lockout where there aren't a lot of goalies you would consider locks for the HHOF. It goes in cycles and to be honest since Tretiak got inducted in 1989 there have only been three goalies, Smith, Fuhr and Roy to get in and then Belfour in 2011.
Right now other than Brodeur who is probably in his final season, who are considered to be "locks" playing in the NHL right now? Luongo, Thomas and Fleury are probably the best bets but there would be countless people that would make cases against them. After them there's Kipper, Lundqvist and Miller. All three have a long ways to go to prove it. I don't see what Kipper will do from here on in to add to his resume. The other two have a chance. But after that who else? Nabokov? Ward? Try making cases for them. Won't happen
Despite the belief that goaltending has gotten a lot better in recent years I think we've gone through a spell since the lockout where there aren't a lot of goalies you would consider locks for the HHOF. It goes in cycles and to be honest since Tretiak got inducted in 1989 there have only been three goalies, Smith, Fuhr and Roy to get in and then Belfour in 2011.
Right now other than Brodeur who is probably in his final season, who are considered to be "locks" playing in the NHL right now? Luongo, Thomas and Fleury are probably the best bets but there would be countless people that would make cases against them. After them there's Kipper, Lundqvist and Miller. All three have a long ways to go to prove it. I don't see what Kipper will do from here on in to add to his resume. The other two have a chance. But after that who else? Nabokov? Ward? Try making cases for them. Won't happen
In my opinion Lundquist is clearly ahead of Fleury. Sure it´s a big what if but I have a hard time imagining Lundquist not having a cup if he played for the Penguins.
It´s not Hasek to Osgood but it´s a way bigger gap than Hasek to Brodeur.
Yep if he continues to produce he should have a long enough and solid enough career to be inducted. The Rangers look strong for years to come, so he will be solid.
There are 10 goalies in the HOF who played most of their hockey post-expansion: Dryden, Cheevers, Parent, Esposito, Giacomin, Tretiak, Smith, Fuhr, Roy and Belfour.
Currently out but certs to be in are Hasek and Brodeur. Cujo seems likely. It's been 45 years since expansion. So we are looking at 2-3 goalies per decade on average - though it's obvious the really high-scoring time between ca. 1978 and 93 didn't yield much in the way of goalie induction so it's to be expected that the very low-scoring era post-1997 will be much kinder to goalies.
Given that, I wouldn't be shocked to see 3+ goalies make it from the 00s cohort. But it will be interesting what characteristics will count, Tim Thomas seems a likelihood with 2 Vezinas and 1 Cup. What about the Cup-less Vezina winners in Ryan Miller and Kiprusoff or a currently still Cup-less and 'controversial' but still elite Luongo? What about Osgood? Fleury?
In my opinion Lundquist is clearly ahead of Fleury. Sure it´s a big what if but I have a hard time imagining Lundquist not having a cup if he played for the Penguins.
It´s not Hasek to Osgood but it´s a way bigger gap than Hasek to Brodeur.
Hard to say. But Fleury had an amazing performance in the 2009 playoffs. It isn't as if he was along for the ride. He was the most important Penguin after Malkin, and probably Crosby too.
Hard to say. But Fleury had an amazing performance in the 2009 playoffs. It isn't as if he was along for the ride. He was the most important Penguin after Malkin, and probably Crosby too.
It's a biiiiiiig stretch to call Fleury's 2009 playoffs "amazing."
On the subject of Lundqvist, many hold his playoff performance against him. But I think as he plays more games his career numbers will improve. He has a very good chance of going deep into the playoffs in the next couple years.
He'll eventually get his team out of the 2nd round right ?
All kidding aside if he plays even near this pace for the rest of his career, yes he will be. He's a top 3 goalie now and probably will be for the next 3-5 yrs.
I'm a Pens fan, but I don't see Fleury in the HOF without a Vezina. The same holds for Lundqvist actually, if somehow he doesn't win it this year. You can obviously win the Vezina without ending up in the HOF but I don't think you can get in without one.
I'm a Pens fan, but I don't see Fleury in the HOF without a Vezina. The same holds for Lundqvist actually, if somehow he doesn't win it this year. You can obviously win the Vezina without ending up in the HOF but I don't think you can get in without one.
But it's too early to enshrine any of them.
