Should Tavares, Weber or Getzlaf make the HHOF when their time comes?

Jarome Iginla was joined by Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Doug Wilson and Kim St-Pierre as the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class was enshrined a year later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the latest episode of Zone Time, the crew discuss whether John Tavares, Shea Weber or Ryan Getzlaf will make the cut when their careers are all said and done.

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Video Transcript

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Why not start the conversation on people who might be on the bubble to make the Hockey Hall of Fame. I'm going to throw out three names and-- we'll throw out one at a time. And let's have a discussion about whether or not they actually have a genuine chance of being Hall of Famers or maybe they're just bubble cases. Maybe they shouldn't just be there at all.

This first name will be pretty familiar to at least two-- one-half of our panel. How about John Tavares, the man who came home from the Islanders to the Leafs. With the trajectory that he's on, still a really good player in the National Hockey League, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up playing for Team Canada in February the way he's going now. Can dude be a Hall of Famer? Is John Tavares on his way to being a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the future?

OMAR: I mean--

RAHEF OSSA: Yes.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That was quick. Oh, OK.

SAM CHANG: That was real quick.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That was real quick from Rahef, and I thought it'd be a lot quicker from Omar, but Omar is being indecisive.

RAHEF OSSA: I have-- I have some arguments to make, so--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Go off.

RAHEF OSSA: Omar, say your piece, and then I'll say why I think this is a no-brainer for me.

OMAR: No, you go--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Go off. OK. All right, I want to know these arguments.

OMAR: Well, for me, I think-- I think it'll come down to-- whether Tavares makes a Hall of Fame or not, I think the conversation will always be around-- and of course, you know, we'll look at that point totals and stuff-- but it always seems to be that a big aspect of making the Hall of Fame all comes down to accolades and what you have. And you know, I wonder if it'll come-- if Tavares wins a Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I think he's 100% in.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: It doesn't have to be with the Toronto Maple Leafs, you know that, right?

OMAR: I'm sorry. OK. Yeah, but then-- but then I have to think of the idea then that means if you're not with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he will go somewhere else. And I think--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: He could win a Stanley Cup in Florida or something.

OMAR: I don't want to think of a world without Tavares [INAUDIBLE] anymore. And if I have to think about that, then I'm to be upset. But yeah, OK--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I didn't say Auston Matthews.

OMAR: That's even worse. Why are you doing this to me?

RAHEF OSSA: You're making it worse. You keep making it worse, Julian.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

OMAR: I think-- I think if he ends up getting a cup at some point somewhere, hopefully the Leafs, I think that will automatically put him in. There is the story, and there's the lore about it. And you know, the fact that first overall pick has played a lot of games, you know. I think as he starts to climb, if he hits 1,000 games, if he hits 1,000 points, I think it'll be a lot easier. But I think the big thing for him is that-- is some type of Stanley Cup or a championship in some way, shape, or form.

Or even if he makes Team Canada this year and Canada wins gold, I think that would be another thing as well. Because I think you look at a lot of the class or a lot of the players who make it, and they've had big successes on the biggest stage-- stages. And Tavares has done a lot, but he hasn't done a lot in the playoffs. And you know, I think the biggest thing was when you know he sent the Islanders to the second round for the first time in ever. But besides that, there hasn't been too much. And he hasn't gotten an opportunity to fully compete on-- on an Olympic team, I don't think. Because I think-- actually, I think it's because of that--

RAHEF OSSA: [INAUDIBLE]

JULIAN MCKENZIE: He won-- he won-- he was on the 2014 team in Sochi. So he has an Olympic gold medal.

RAHEF OSSA: Wasn't he captain? And wasn't he captain?

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Of that team in 2014? I'd be very surprised if he would. Probably-- as long as Sidney Crosby's there, I imagine he'd be-- he'd be captain there. But John Tavares was on the 2014 team that won gold in Sochi. And has a Spengler cup to his name and was on the World Cup of Hockey team in 2016. So he has--

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

RAHEF OSSA: All of these are on my-- yeah, all of these are on my list. Because--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Go ahead.

RAHEF OSSA: It's obviously-- of course, he's missing, you know-- when a player-- when a player has won a championship, it becomes infinitely easier to say, yes, Hall of Fame, you know? It sort of helps further the argument. It's just-- it's much easier to say, yes, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame if they won a championship or two. But I think Tavares so far-- and he's still young, there's still many more years left in John Taveras' career-- but I think so far, he's on track to make it to the Hall of Fame.

I mean, since entering the league, John Taveras is sixth in points and third and goal.

OMAR: Speak.

RAHEF OSSA: Since entering the NHL in 2009. So I think like that alone-- I mean, he's in some really good company. In terms of points, the players ahead of him are Crosby, Kane, Stamkos, Drew. In terms of goals, there's only two players ahead of him, and that's Ovechkin and Stamkos. So I think he's-- he's done enough--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's enough.

RAHEF OSSA: Yeah, it really is. I don't think a lot of people realize how-- how many goals or how good of a goal scorer John Tavares has been throughout his career. So I think the individual success for Taveras is there. And in terms of the team's success, like Julian mentioned, you know, he was on the 2014 Sochi gold-winning team. You know, he does have an Olympic gold medal. And his success in juniors-- I mean, I think he's on the right track. And I think it becomes absolutely a no-brainer if he has some playoff success. But I think right now, as a stance, that I think John Tavares will make the Hockey Hall of Fame. And I think he's definitely on the right track.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: One other thing that could help him, too, I know he's not there yet, but he's very much on track to eventually achieving the 1,000 point mark. I mean, at the beginning of the season, he started at 819. But normally, if you've played a lot of seasons, and you want to be considered to reach the-- reach the Hockey Hall of Fame, reaching the 1,000 point mark it's a good way of doing it. And I'm pretty sure John Taveras is on his way to doing that.

I don't have too many complaints about John Tavares being a Hockey Hall of Famer. If he has-- I mean, I imagine it'd be good if he had a little bit more individual success, I guess. But I think the fact that he has the accolades beyond a Stanley Cup at least help his case. I think he-- I think he might need a Cup. I wouldn't be bothered if he made it, but I think his case would be strengthened if he won a Stanley Cup, whether it's in Toronto or whether it's somewhere else.

And maybe if-- because I don't know off the top of my head, if he was ever like in the top three in like, a Hart Trophy. And I could be proven wrong-- I just don't have it in front of me. I think that also matters too, because having individual success should matter. But if he's at least considered, that could like, help his case, right? Or if not that, like, how many years was he like a top five player at his position?

That is arguably like, a thing that goes against-- not to make it about a whole other guy, but like, Patrick Marleau-- like, he was really good at his position. I don't know if he's a Hockey Hall of Famer only because he doesn't have too many-- he doesn't have any individual awards or not too many of any. And like, how long has he really been considered like a top five player at his position? John Tavares, I think he could make a stronger case he's definitely like, a top five center. Maybe not now at this present moment, but like especially his days in the Islanders, first few years in Toronto. Like, you could definitely say that.

OMAR: Yeah, I think-- but I think it's an interesting point you make, because I think another-- as much as we look at like accolades and stats, I think it also comes down to like how you're perceived around the League. Like, I agree-- I agree specifically when it comes to Marleau that there hasn't been many individual accolades. But like, there's no doubt in my mind that-- that Patrick Marleau will be in the Hall of Fame, just because of how much he's talked about and the records and so on and so forth.

So I wouldn't be surprised at some point if he ends up getting there. And I think, again, that comes down to you know the overall perception of how you were as a player within the League and so on and so forth. And that actually connects to I think, the second player that we talked to-- we talk about-- I pretty much guarantee he's going to be in the Hall of Fame, definitely.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Sam, before we move on to that second player, did you want to add anything? You could always say no, but if you have a point about John Tavares, whether or not he should make it, just because I know we didn't get to you.

SAM CHANG: No, I don't have a point about John Tavares. I actually think that the better conversation about who should be in the Hall of Fame is probably Jennifer Botterill or Carolyn Ouellette, if--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's actually pretty good.

SAM CHANG: If the Hall of Fame would lift their one woman a year cap.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Yeah, and they should also-- they should also know that you should also get some of their history stuff right, too, as I think Chris Whalen pointed out on Twitter that Kim St-Pierre-- there are way more people who have won the same accolades that she's won. It's not just those three players who got in. I don't-- I think it's like the Clarkson Cup and a gold medal. I think they were saying she was like, one of like three people. There are obviously like, way more.

SAM CHANG: There are 25. They missed like, 25 women's hockey players.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: There's a discussion to be had where the Hockey Hall of Fame should really be up to date on its issue when it comes to women's players. That's a whole other episode in itself. Shea Weber is the next guy on my list. We're talking about a guy who you can't get to the front of the net without getting your teeth knocked in. Or if you're going to be the unlucky soul who puts their-- puts themselves in line in front of a Shea Weber shot, well, good luck, buddy. Wasn't there like, one guy who got hit like, three times by Shea Weber? I'm trying to remember who it was?

OMAR: Was it not Brendan Gallagher?

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Brendan Gallagher, I mean, it wouldn't surprise me, considering the fact-- this man is a magnet to a puck.

OMAR: Yeah. I know he's been hurt twice from-- from Weber specifically. I don't know-- I don't know if it was three, but I know specifically, there were twice where he was taken-- where he was taken out by getting-- getting hit by Weber's shot.

SAM CHANG: I remember a game where he scored a goal, and he-- like, play didn't stop because he broke the net. It just went right through the netting.

OMAR: Yeah, that was the Olympic qualifier. Or I don't know if it's the qualifier, but it was the games before the Olympics. Yeah, he sent it right through the net. It was hilarious. I think it-- it was the 2010 team, no?

SAM CHANG: Yeah, I think that's right.

OMAR: Good times.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: So he has the Olympic success. He's a fearsome competitive defense and part of that amazing 2003 draft class. Wasn't a first round draft pick or a second round pick. Is he a Hall of Famer?

OMAR: I think you'll get in. I think going-- going back to the ideas of the whole Patrick Marleau thing, I think the way that Weber is talked about so much amongst--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's his biggest thing, yeah.

OMAR: --everyone. Everyone like, considers him the-- the ideal defenseman in size, strength, and positioning. You mentioned the cross-checking thing, the shot. How many times has he went to the All-Star Game and fired a shot that was like over 100 kilometers-- 100 miles per hour? Like, there's this-- I think he doesn't-- he definitely-- he does have the-- exactly, right?

So like, you know, he has the international success, for sure. You know, he doesn't have the Stanley Cup. But I think because of the overall perception of him, I think-- I don't think he-- he's not going to be a first ballot, definitely, but I think at some point, I wouldn't be surprised if-- if his name is called there.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I was muted, but four times, Shea Weber has won the hardest shot competition at the All-Star game. Four different times, including as recently as 2020. So yeah, I don't have any particular argument about Shea Weber not making into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but I think to Omar's point, like, he is somebody who has been vaunted and talked about so much for the way that he plays and how fearsome he is. He might just get in on that alone.

And I also feel like, maybe like, at least like one voter might just picture like, trying to go to Shea Weber and be like, yeah, I didn't vote for you to get in, and then I-- I don't know how that's going to end up.

OMAR: Can you stand right there? OK, OK. Wait, why are you winding a puck? Oh no, no, no--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: No, no, no! OK, what about this guy? This guy is actually pretty close to reaching 1,000 points, funny enough. Ryan Getzlaf. He's the all-time leader in points for the Anaheim Ducks. He won a Stanley Cup. That's something that John Tavares and Shea Weber can't say that they've done.

OMAR: Ouch.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Got Olympic success too. That being said, the Ducks haven't really been all that relevant since 2007. Except when they beat the Canucks.

RAHEF OSSA: This is a hard one. This is a hard one. I-- I think he'll eventually get in. I think he's an incredible playmaker, and he's had a very, very good career. And like you said, he's close to 1,000 points. It seems like he checks all the boxes, right? Like, if you're going through the boxes of what gets you into the Hockey Hall of Fame, it kind of feels like Getzlaf checks them all. But then it's like also, in a way, does he, though, get into the-- I'm not sure. I'm very-- I mean, this is like, a wishy-washy answer, but I don't know. Because it feels like he has all the accolades, but I'm not sure.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: If I can list off the list of accolades that are on his Wikipedia page, and this is all the accolades he has including Junior, he was a first team All-Star in the WHL in 2003, 2004. A second team all-star in 2004, 2005 in the WHL. Wins the Stanley Cup in 2006, 2007. Makes it to the All-Star Game three times. And is a second team All-Star in 2013, 2014. That's it.

Like, Weber and Tavares have accolades from Junior, they have accolades in the league, All-Star games, played internationally, what have you. That list of accolades for Getzlaf is all that he has pretty much since Junior to now. And fine, I didn't read off any of the records he has with the Ducks, but that's--

RAHEF OSSA: He was never on the Olympics?

OMAR: Was he not on the 2010 team?

RAHEF OSSA: I'm trying to--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: OK, there we go. OK, there we go. I don't know why they didn't list his Olympic stuff. But yes, he was on the Olympics and world juniors. But like, those are-- you could also say like, those are team-- those are team things, right? Like PK Subban didn't-- I think, played like, one game in 2014. But he could always say he was a gold medal, right?

SAM CHANG: I was going to say, I feel like a lot of the names that are going to be borderline are like, that 2003 Canadian World Junior team. Because people attach so much affection to them. It's not really about what they've done since. It's like, the nostalgia of how good that team was and how fun they were. And so we've kind of attached greatness to all of them, but there's not that many of them who I think actually have like standout Hall of Fame professional careers.

OMAR: Yeah. Except Bergeron.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: There was a lot of good players on that team, though.

SAM CHANG: Yeah.