2025 HHOF preview: Examining loaded list of 1st-year eligible players

It's time to look ahead to 2025 after the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted a star-studded 2024 class Monday.

Those hoping 2025 is the year longtime leftovers Alexander Mogilny, Rod Brind'Amour, or Curtis Joseph are inducted may be disappointed. Only four male players are eligible to be inducted each year and the category's set to be made up entirely of first-ballot nominees in 2025, because the list of first-year eligible male players next year is one of the best ever.

Below, we break down the most notable candidates, ordered alphabetically within each tier.

1st-ballot locks

Banish the Hall of Fame selection committee if they overlook these all-time greats in 2025.

Zdeno Chara

Nationality: 🇸🇰
Teams: Islanders, Senators, Bruins, Capitals
Hardware: Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy, Messier Leadership Award, World Championship silver (2x)

Chara was one of the best shutdown defenseman ever and a towering presence at 6-9 and 250 pounds. He was no slouch offensively during his peak, either, reaching the 50-point mark three times with a career-high 19 goals during his 2009 Norris-winning season - a trophy he was a finalist for five other times. Chara captained the Bruins to a 2011 Stanley Cup title, plus two more final appearances. "Big Z" was a true workhorse who logged big minutes and rarely missed time over his 24-year career. He ranks seventh all time in games played.

Duncan Keith

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Blackhawks, Oilers
Hardware: Stanley Cup (3x), Conn Smythe Trophy, Norris Trophy (2x), Olympic gold (2x), World Championship silver

Keith was often the overlooked member of the Blackhawks' dynastic trio along with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane but was just as important - if not more - to the team's success. Keith was a world-class skater with an engine that could seemingly run forever. He notably averaged a ridiculous 31:07 during his Conn Smythe-winning 2015 postseason. Keith was a tenacious defender who was incredibly difficult to play against despite his modest 6-foot-1, 193-pound stature. He still tallied multiple 60-point seasons, too. Keith was also an integral member of Canada's 2010 and 2014 Olympic squads.

Carey Price

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Team: Canadiens
Hardware: Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Vezina Trophy, Jennings Trophy, Masterton Trophy, Olympic gold, World Cup gold, World Junior Championship gold

There were several runs throughout Price's career when he was virtually unbeatable. The 2014 Olympics stand out, when he allowed three goals in five games, recording shutouts in the semis and final. He followed that up with his Hart-winning season in 2015 - one of only seven goalies ever to do so. Price was a wall for Canada again at the 2016 World Cup with a .957 save percentage in five games. He carried a mediocre Canadiens team to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final when everyone was ready to write him off late in his career.

Joe Thornton

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, Panthers
Hardware: Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Olympic gold, World Cup gold (2x), World Junior Championship gold, World Championship silver

Thornton was one of the best playmakers ever and led the NHL in helpers three times, peaking at 96 in his 2006 Hart-winning season. He ranks seventh in NHL history in assists and 14th in points. "Jumbo Joe" could take over games with his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame and outstanding vision. The knock on Thornton was his inability to win the big one, and while he certainly had some underwhelming playoff runs, his sparkling international resume makes up for it.

Should get in eventually

It's a numbers game, so these players will have to wait their turn despite boasting strong cases.

Ryan Getzlaf

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Team: Ducks
Hardware: Stanley Cup, Olympic gold (2x), World Cup gold, World Junior Championship gold and silver, World Championship silver

A Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and 1,000 points generally results in a one-way ticket to the Hall of Fame (unless your name's Mogilny). Getzlaf will get there, but his resume pales in comparison to our four locks. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound playmaking center never won an individual award, though he was a Hart finalist once. But he delivered when it mattered most with 120 points in 125 playoff games.

Tuukka Rask

Nationality: 🇫🇮
Team: Bruins
Hardware: Stanley Cup, Vezina Trophy, Jennings Trophy, Olympic bronze, World Junior Championship bronze

Rask's Stanley Cup ring comes with an asterisk, as he took a backseat to Tim Thomas the entire postseason. But he played more than well enough to win others, posting save percentages of .940 and .934 during Boston's 2013 and 2019 Cup Final runs. Rask ranks fourth all time in save percentage behind Hall of Famers Dominik Hasek, Johnny Bower, and Ken Dryden. Injuries cut his career short, but his overall resume is strong enough.

So you're telling me there's a chance?

These players likely won't get in, but never say never.

Jason Spezza

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Senators, Stars, Maple Leafs
Hardware: World Championship gold, World Championship silver (2x), World Junior Championship silver and bronze (2x)

Spezza was a slick, playmaking center on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory in his 20s, but his production tailed off heavily in his 30s. His impressive three-year stretch in his age 22-24 seasons with 269 points in 211 games unfortunately never got him close to winning any awards, though he garnered Hart consideration once, finishing sixth in 2012. Without a Cup, best-on-best international hardware, or 1,000 points, the odds are stacked against Spezza.

P.K. Subban

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Canadiens, Predators, Devils
Hardware: Norris Trophy, King Clancy Trophy, Olympic gold, World Junior Championship gold (2x)

Subban was an electrifying offensive defenseman with a Hall-of-Fame caliber peak, but the longevity isn't quite there. He retired after his age-32 season after simply not being the same player the last few years of his career. But he did win a Norris, was a finalist on two other occasions, and helped Nashville reach the 2017 Cup Final. While his Olympic gold helps, it's worth noting he suited up in only one game as the No. 8 D-man on that 2014 team.

Braden Holtby

Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Capitals, Canucks, Stars
Hardware: Stanley Cup, Vezina Trophy, Jennings Trophy, World Cup gold

Holtby's case is more interesting after recent goalie inductees Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon. But the longevity ultimately isn't there. His prime was great: he was one of the league's best goalies for a three-year stretch from 2015-17, posting a .923 save percentage and never finishing lower than fourth in Vezina voting. And he led Washington to its only Cup as his career was starting to trend in the wrong direction. Who could forget this save in that Cup Final? The World Cup gold is nice, though he never played in the tournament.

Honorable mentions

Careers worth acknowledging but not close to Hall-of-Fame level.

Dustin Brown

Nationality: 🇺🇸
Team: Kings
Hardware: Stanley Cup (2x), Messier Leadership Award, Olympic silver, World Championship bronze

Brown will forever be a legend in Los Angeles for captaining the Kings to their only two Stanley Cup titles. He was a gritty, hard-nosed winger good for 20-30 goals during his best years.

Keith Yandle

Nationality: 🇺🇸
Teams: Coyotes, Rangers, Panthers, Flyers
Hardware: None

Yandle was a great puck-moving defenseman who excelled at running a power play. He finished as high as fifth in Norris voting during his career-high 59-point season in 2010-11. His 989-game ironman streak is the second-longest ever, and he ranks 43rd all time in points by a defenseman.