Detroit — Henrik Zetterberg has been waiting patiently for the phone call.
Will Zetterberg’s patience be rewarded, and his impressive resume deemed worthy by the Hockey Hall of Fame and earn Zetterberg induction later this year?
Zetterberg and the rest of the hockey world will find out Monday (3 p.m./NHL Network), as the list of this year’s inductees will be released.
This will be Zetterberg’s fifth year on the ballot. Zetterberg saw his teammate Pavel Datsyuk inducted in 2024, and there has been support from much of the hockey community believing Zetterberg also deserves enshrinement.
But Zetterberg keeps missing out.
A total of 18 voters can select a maximum of up to four male players, along with two female players, two builders or one builder and one referee or linesman.
A candidate must have 75% of the vote — or appear on at least 14 of the 18 ballots — to gain entry into the Hall.
In terms of statistics and awards, Zetterberg stacks up with anyone.
Zetterberg finished his career with 960 points (337 goals, 623 assists in 1,082 games) and was captain of the Wings for the final six years of his career. He ranks fifth in Wings history in goals, assists and points — and every other player ahead of him in those categories is in the Hall of Fame.
Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs when the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 2008, and is one of only 30 players to also secure the Triple Gold Club in hockey, having won a Stanley Cup, world championship and Olympic gold medal.
Zetterberg has been inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.
And Zetterberg accomplished all those marks after being drafted 210th overall, in the seventh round, of the 1999 Entry Draft.
But when it comes to potentially why Zetterberg has been snubbed, several reasons quickly come up.
Other than winning the Conn Smythe, Zetterberg never won an individual regular-season award such as the Hart (MVP) or Selke (best defensive forward), and for many analysts, Zetterberg’s success is somewhat considered to be the result of the deep talent pool around him during that Wings era.
Zetterberg’s offensive production also steadily decreased over his final four seasons, as a troublesome back impacted his effectiveness.
There also is a long list of comparables alongside Zetterberg for Hall recognition.
This year, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, a six-time Selke Trophy winner in his first year on the ballot, is generally considered a slam dunk to be inducted. Montreal goaltender Carey Price, in his second year, is expected to garner much support.
After those two players, forwards Keith Tkachuk (538 goals), Patrick Marleau (1,779 games, 566 goals), Ryan Getzlaf (737 assists) and Michigan State product Rod Brind’Amour (1,184 points, won Stanley Cup as a player and a coach) all have similarly dazzling career achievements to Zetterberg.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (811 points, 1,301 games) is also expected to attract significant support.
Goaltender Curtis Joseph, who played two seasons (2002-04) with the Wings, has been snubbed for over 10 years by the Hall of Fame but continues to be considered a potential candidate. Joseph has more victories (454) than six goaltenders already in the Hall, but Joseph never won a Stanley Cup or Vezina Trophy (best goaltender).
Then there’s former Wings goaltender Chris Osgood. Part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Wings (he was the starting goalie for two of the teams), Osgood has 401 career victories.
Osgood also led the Red Wings to the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals before Pittsburgh won the series in seven games.
But, Osgood has been waiting for the Hall of Fame’s phone call for over a decade.
Hockey Hall of Fame announcement
When: Monday, 3 p.m.
TV: NHL Network
Election: A nominee needs a minimum of 14 of the 18 votes, to earn election into the HOF. A maximum of four male player inductees, two female players, and two builders or one builder and referee or linesman can be elected in each category.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Red Wings great Henrik Zetterberg awaits Hockey HOF nod in crowded field
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
