Youngest Active Player Who Will be a HHOF if Career Ended Today

[Zegras Zebra]

We all know that players like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Thornton will be future HHOFers, even if their careers ended today. So who do you consider to be the youngest player who if their career ended today with their current stats and accomplishments would eventually be inducted into the HHOF?

I think the safe pick right now would be Erik Karlsson. He's a few months younger than Stamkos. He won the Norris twice, is a four time NHL First Team All-Star, lead the NHL in assists once as a defenceman, and has a high points/game percentage for a defenceman. He hasn't had a ton of team success in the NHL, but does have an Olympic silver medal.

Would McDavid have a good enough case even though he hasn't even played 400 games? A Hart, two Lindsay's, two Art Ross trophies? Clearly has one of the best players of his era.

So who do you think would be the youngest active player who based on current numbers will be a future Hall of Famer?

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[GlitchMarner]

So who do you think would be the youngest active player who based on current numbers will be a future Hall of Famer?

Connor McDavid. If he suffers a career ending injury tonight, he's going into the HHOF.

 

[frisco]

Connor McDavid. If he suffers a career ending injury tonight, he's going into the HHOF.

I just can't see it. As impressive as 431 points in 325 games is. That is still less than four full seasons. Bobby Orr, who obviously had a short career, played twice as many games.

My Best-Carey

 

[VanIslander]

I actually like this question.

I suspect it will be someone 28-32 years old.

Let me take a look...

 

[VanIslander]

Kane: 31 years old.

Borderline: Karlsson, 29.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I just can't see it. As impressive as 431 points in 325 games is. That is still less than four full seasons. Bobby Orr, who obviously had a short career, played twice as many games.

My Best-Carey

He wouldn't be getting in based on career totals. It would be because of how dominant he's been and because people would be saying that he should be inducted since he was obviously headed for a Hall of Fame career and the induction committee would be sympathetic to the fact that such a promising career ended prematurely.


He's already had a better career than a guy like Marleau and Marleau may very well get in.

 

[BenchBrawl]

If we give him the rest of the year, McDavid would make it for sure. Peak too high to ignore.

 

[HF007]

Connor McDavid. If he suffers a career ending injury tonight, he's going into the HHOF.

I think after this year if he wins the Ross, hart. He’d have 4 straight 100 point seasons he’s a lock, 3 art ross, 3 hart, and possibly 2 Lindsay

 

[frisco]

He wouldn't be getting in based on career totals. It would be because of how dominant he's been and because people would be saying that he should be inducted since he was obviously headed for a Hall of Fame career and the induction committee would be sympathetic to the fact that such a promising career ended prematurely.

Well, it would be a unique situation for sure and precedent setting. No doubt the circumstances of his demise as a player would influence the voters.

That being said, the greatness of McDavid would not be diminished if he wasn't voted into the HOF. All hypothetical, course.

My Best-Carey

 

[frisco]

He's already had a better career than a guy like Marleau and Marleau may very well get in.

Well that's an interesting take. Legitimate question on what is the more valuable career. I'd rather have 18 years or whatever of Marleau than four of McDavid but it is a question of preference.

My Best-Carey

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Connor McDavid. If he suffers a career ending injury tonight, he's going into the HHOF.

Agree. See Cam Neely as evidence

 

[Asheville]

I just can't see it. As impressive as 431 points in 325 games is. That is still less than four full seasons. Bobby Orr, who obviously had a short career, played twice as many games.

My Best-Carey

Mike Gartner

List of NHL accomplishments:

He's in the HHOF.

You were saying?

 

[JianYang]

Im not sure, but if i know the hhof, then the player probably played for a cup winner this decade.

 

[VanIslander]

If we give him the rest of the year,..

The thread is career-ending (injury) TODAY, ... NOT April 2020.

 

[VanIslander]

Silly...

To induct a guy with three full seasons and two half seasons and a single postseason 2nd round exit.

A 22 year old in the modern era?

Absurd.

 

[frisco]

Mike Gartner

List of NHL accomplishments:

He's in the HHOF.

You were saying?

OK, serious question. Drafting a team from scratch with 20/20 hindsight in a time travel league. You can have 325 games of McDavid or 1400 GP (700+ goals) of Gartner? You'd really take McDavid?

My Best-Carey

 

[Staniowski]

It's an interesting question.

I think McDavid would be inducted if his career ended today.

 

[seventieslord]

McDavid for sure. If you don't buy that, then Karlsson/Stamkos (2008 draftees) would be the next best cases. Stamkos is heading there but may not be a lock as of today. Karlsson, on the other hand, is. He is almost a top-100 player of all-time FFS.

Next would be Kane, I guess.

 

[Albatros]

McDavid would need a good reason that elevates his case, if he just quits having lost his motivation I can't see him making it.

 

[Asheville]

OK, serious question. Drafting a team from scratch with 20/20 hindsight in a time travel league. You can have 325 games of McDavid or 1400 GP (700+ goals) of Gartner? You'd really take McDavid?

My Best-Carey

Serious question: are you seriously considering taking a notorious playoff vanisher with one whole 50-goal season to his name over even 1 season of McDavid?

 

[Asheville]

Silly...

To induct a guy with three full seasons and two half seasons and a single postseason 2nd round exit.

A 22 year old in the modern era?

Absurd.

2 Art Rosses and not in the Hall? THAT is absurd.

 

[robsenz]

Connor McDavid. If he suffers a career ending injury tonight, he's going into the HHOF.

No Question.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Well that's an interesting take. Legitimate question on what is the more valuable career. I'd rather have 18 years or whatever of Marleau than four of McDavid but it is a question of preference.

My Best-Carey

Is this a song? I've been dying to ask.

I think McDavid is a lock because of the hardware he already has. And how dominant he was/is.

 

[Nick Hansen]

McDavid is a genius level hockey player. Of course he gets in. He's arguably already produced more elite quality hockey play than Lindros managed to during his career.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Using point totals to scoff at McDavid seems weird to me. Yeah, there aren't any modern forwards with under 500 points in the Hall of Fame, but there are also literally no other players who have been the been an Art Ross level scorer for 4 years with nothing else on their resume to speak of. McDavid suffering a career ending injury tomorrow would be a completely sui generis case, and would not fall below any existing standards for the Hall Of Fame because there isn't one that applies. The closest thing to such a case would be Frank McGee, who either opens the door for his hypothetical induction, or proves how futile it would be to find a reasonable comparison.