HHoF - Datsyuk, Kopitar, Thornton, Zetterberg?

[Josh]

Who among these players is HHoF worthy? Side question: how do you rank their careers?

I’m toying with:

Thornton - HHoF
Datsyuk - close but no
Kopitar - close but no
Zetterberg - close but no

Zetterberg’s Conn Smythe trophy has me rethinking both his rank and HHoF worthiness though..

[matchesmalone]

Datsyuk is an easy yes for me. He was never not in the conversation for best player in the world throughout his prime. Maybe there was always a couple players you'd put ahead of him, but he was always right there in the top five or so. The numbers might not ha e always been spectacular, but he did ha well a couple 97 point seasons. And he does have some awards in terms of Selkes. Not to mention the Cups and some international championships.

Zetterberg and Kopitar are tough. I was tempted to say yes for both, but I guess only so many players get in. I'd have to consider who they're up against. I'd say Zetterberg more likely than Kopitar.

I guess I'd rank their careers:

Datsyuk, Thornton, Zetterberg, Kopitar

[matchesmalone]

Forget about the stats and awards with Datsyuk. The eye test says it all. Like Peter Forsberg a generation ago, anyone who watched them through their primes knows, they are so much more special than the numbers show.

https://youtu.be/DA-HzaeCvaE

https://youtu.be/iCKLRkqvCdM

https://youtu.be/z5dJWXTswzI

https://youtu.be/XdioAO_XXZQ

https://youtu.be/12-95HTaCmE

[Victor]

Forget about the stats and awards with Datsyuk. The eye test says it all. Like Peter Forsberg a generation ago, anyone who watched them through their primes knows, they are so much more special than the numbers show.

https://youtu.be/DA-HzaeCvaE

https://youtu.be/iCKLRkqvCdM

https://youtu.be/z5dJWXTswzI

https://youtu.be/XdioAO_XXZQ

https://youtu.be/12-95HTaCmE

This. I think so many people have waxed lyrical about his (unbelievable) stick handling for so long that he's mythical enough to get in even ignoring the numbers and awards - which are good enough anyway.

Zetterberg is tough because I've always considered him alongside Datsyuk but in reality he is more of a Kopitar and players like that need more hardware I think to get in.