For 2019, I can't see them ever inducting Lecavalier............can they? Brad Richards is at least as good of a candidate and I wouldn't put him in. Both are eligible. Neither belong.
I don't know how long they'll wait for guys like Fleury and Middleton. With Middleton the thing that bothers me is that he played in almost the exact same seasons as McDonald, played the same position, had the same sort of primes, shot the same way, and yet Middleton was better on a per game basis, probably peaked slightly higher and was better defensively (McDonald was more physical though). Not to mention each man played in the Cup final his final season. McDonald being a bit player in a winning role, Middleton being a more solid contributor in a losing case. So conventional wisdom suggests they both share the same fate right? They couldn't be more different. McDonald gets in on his first try in 1992 while Middleton is still waiting. All I can honestly chalk it up to is this. Does McDonald's moustache, his image of that big insurance goal in the Cup final and the image of him with his arms wrapped around the Cup the reasons he is in and the reasons someone at LEAST as good is waiting 26 years later? That is a large, large discrepancy and I'd like to think the HHOF isn't that petty. Or is Middleton and his 988 points just 12 shy of the magic number? It can't be that petty.
As for Fleury, I am guessing he is sitting in Barrasso territory right now. Unpopular with the press and not welcome at parties where they serve caviar. That alone can keep you out if you are somewhat borderline to start. Ed Belfour would have been those guys too but his career was just too good to ignore. I think it is time for these guys, they were very important to their teams.
Lastly, I am guessing Don Cherry is getting the Pete Rose treatment too. In other words, once he is dead they'll probably induct him. These are my candidates for 2019. Why not put them in already?