2026 Hockey Hall of Fame Candidates: Who’s Next on the List?
The Hockey Hall of Fame will welcome an impressive class of players in 2025, including Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, and Duncan Keith, all selected in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined by Alexander Mogilny, ending a long wait, and women’s hockey stars Jennifer Botterill, from Canada, and Brianna Decker, from the United States.
But, who could join them in the class of 2026? We analyze the most likely players, both men and women, who could receive the call for the Hall of Fame, classified according to their probability of being included.
Male Candidates
- Patrice Bergeron, Center (Rookie)
For the selection committee, this is a simple choice. Bergeron, a six-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the most outstanding defensive forward, an NHL record. In addition, he was a finalist for the award for 12 consecutive seasons, the longest streak for any player nominated for an NHL award in league history. During his 19-year career with the Boston Bruins, he was a dominant defensive force, both in traditional and analytical statistics. Bergeron accumulated 1,040 points in 1,294 games, including 427 goals, the third-most for a Bruins player. He won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and was key to reaching the final in 2013 and 2019. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club: Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, and gold in the world championship in 2004. He also won gold in the World Junior Championship in 2005 and in the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, all with Canada.
- Carey Price, Goaltender (Second Year)
Price follows in the footsteps of great Montreal Canadiens goalies, such as Hall of Famers Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, and Patrick Roy. He played 15 seasons with the Habs from 2007 to 2022 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins (361) in 712 games. He led Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. In the 2014-15 season, Price won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie and the Hart Trophy as MVP. He won Olympic gold in 2014, representing Canada in Sochi, and also won gold at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2007 World Junior Championship.
- Patrick Marleau, Center (Third Year)
Marleau broke Gordie Howe’s record for games played in the NHL, with 1,779 games. He finished his career with 566 goals (25th in NHL history) and 1,197 points (53rd). He won Olympic gold in Vancouver and Sochi, gold at the IIHF World Championship in 2003 and the World Cup in 2004, all with Canada. However, he was a finalist for only one NHL award: the Lady Byng. His longevity and statistics could be enough for his induction.
- Keith Tkachuk, Center (14th Year)
Tkachuk accumulated 538 goals and 1,065 points in 1,201 games in an 18-season career. Although he never won the Stanley Cup, his numbers are notable, ranking 35th in all-time goals. He won gold at the World Cup in 1996 and Olympic silver in 2002. The visibility of his sons, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, could also influence in his favor.
- Ryan Getzlaf, Center (Second Year)
Getzlaf, the Anaheim Ducks’ historical leader in games played (1,157), assists (737), and points (1,019), won the Stanley Cup in 2007. He was fifth in points among centers during his career. He won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, gold at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, and gold at the World Junior Championship in 2005. Given his dominance in his time, Getzlaf deserves recognition.
- Henrik Zetterberg, Center (Fifth Year)
Zetterberg finished his career with 960 points in 1,082 games, including 337 goals. His greatest individual achievement was winning the Conn Smythe in the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup victory in 2008. He earned Triple Gold status, with championships at the 2006 Olympic Games and the 2006 IIHF World Championship with Sweden. He is one of the most respected players of the last 20 years and a legend in Detroit and Sweden.
- Patrik Elias, Center/Left Wing (Seventh Year)
Elias holds the New Jersey Devils records for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025) in the regular season (1,240 games) and playoffs (162 games). He won the Cup twice with the Devils in 2000 and 2003. Elias’s defenders argue that his impressive offensive statistics were achieved in a defensive era for a defensive team.
- Sergei Gonchar, Defense (Eighth year)
Gonchar ranks 19th in points among defensemen with 811 in 1,301 NHL games. He won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. He won Olympic silver in Nagano, bronze in Salt Lake City, and silver at the world championship in 2010.
- Rod Brind’Amour, Center (13th year)
Brind’Amour accumulated 1,184 points in 1,484 games, including 452 goals. His candidacy is based on his reputation as a defensive center, where he shone with the Hurricanes on their way to the Stanley Cup in 2006. However, some analysts believe that his defensive reputation was exaggerated.
- Tim Thomas (Ninth Year) and Ryan Miller (Third Year)
These two goalies from the same era could be considered for their years of highest performance. Thomas, with the Bruins, won the Vezina Trophy twice and the Conn Smythe in 2011. Miller, for his part, had a great performance in 2009-10, winning the Vezina Trophy and leading the United States to Olympic silver.
Other players waiting: Eric Staal, Phil Kessel, Jason Spezza, Peter Bondra, Vincent Damphousse, Theo Fleury, Steve Larmer, John LeClair, Rick Nash, Bernie Nicholls, Pat Verbeek, Gary Suter, and P.K. Subban.
Female Candidates
- Meghan Duggan, Forward (Seventh year)
Duggan won seven gold medals at the IIHF World Championship and captained the U.S. women’s hockey team that won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2011. Off the ice, she played a significant role in the national team’s fight with USA Hockey.
- Shannon Szabados, Goaltender (Seventh Year)
Szabados won Olympic gold twice with Canada. In 2014, she became the first woman to compete in the regular season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), playing four seasons.
- Julie Chu, Forward (Seventh Year)
One of the pioneers of American women’s hockey, Chu won silver three times and bronze once in the Olympics, and gold five times in the IIHF World Championships. She was the all-time leading scorer in the NCAA during her time at Harvard and won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2007.
- Meghan Agosta, Forward (Fifth Year)
Agosta was a crucial part of the Canadian national team that won Olympic gold in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and silver in 2018. At the time of her retirement, Agosta was among the best in goals, assists, and points in the history of Team Canada.
- Florence Schelling, Goaltender (Fifth Year)
Schelling, star of Switzerland, has outstanding international numbers, leading the Swiss to bronze in Sochi. She also dominated for four seasons at Northeastern.
Final Predictions for the Class of 2026
For the men, Bergeron, Price, and Getzlaf are expected to be the inductees. For the women, Duggan and Szabados could be the selections, marking three consecutive seasons with multiple female players entering the Hall of Fame.
