Patrick Marleau is not a HOFer.
Sure Andreychuk wasn't a strong case at all, but he sits 14th in goals, 29th in points, with a cup. He compiled, but he compiled enough to be significant and put up big enough numbers season by season to be a big enough name.
Housley? Once again, one of the best offensive defenseman to ever play. 4th in points, 5th in assists, and 4th in goals among D-men all time. Obviously it doesn't matter how bad defensively he was.
These aren't the strongest arguments, but they are stronger than Marleau, who...although was a great and consistent goal scorer for a good period of time, solid defensively, and longevity...had a very weak peak, weak finishes, and no hardware.
Andreychuk had to wait 11 years to be inducted, Housley had to wait 12. If Marleau ever did reach the Hall, it wouldn't be for many many years, and it has to be a significantly weak year.
Marleau isn't even a HOF talent so to speak. Although a great player in his own right, he very much took full advantage of player along side Thornton.
We need to stop looking for reasons why a player should be inducted, that's where we are going wrong. It should be the other way around. Marleau simply doesn't have enough to be in there. 500 goals and 1000 points are amazing achievements, but is that really the line we are drawing with NO context what so ever?
Marleau is a 2nd tier, or "hall of very good" and there is nothing wrong with leaving it at that.