Hockey Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 NHL Players

The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced its induction class for 2024. Located in Toronto, the Hall was created in 1943, with the goal of celebrating and memorializing the sport of hockey. Players, builders, and referees are able to be elected for nomination, and is voted on by the Selection Committee. This class features 2 builders, and 5 players with two being women. Here, we focus on the male players being inducted!

Pavel Datsyuk, known as ‘The Magic Man,’ has finally been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. A 7th-round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Datsyuk quickly became a fan favorite and dominant force within the NHL due to his exceptional stickhandling, two-way dominance, and fluid skating. The Russian forward played 14 seasons, all with the Red Wings. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the league’s best defensive forward three times (2008-10), and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play four times (2006-09). Datsyuk capped his NHL career with two Stanley Cups (2002, 2008). The Red Wings were a dominant force in this era, winning the Presidents’ Trophy four times and the Western Conference finals 3 times. He retired from the NHL with 953 regular season games played, 918 points, 157 playoff games and 113 playoff points. He also represented Russia internationally, medaling at 5 IIHF Men’s World Championships, winning Bronze at the 2002 Olympics, and is a member of IIHF Triple Gold Club; Olympic Gold in 2018 (representing Olympic Athletes of Russia (OAR) team), World Gold in 2012, and Stanley Cup in 2002 and 2008. Datsyuk’s legacy is secured by the accolades he has won, both domestically and internationally, and supported by the respect he has earned from his peer’s within the game, leading him to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player. 

(Photo by Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports) 

Shea Weber, was a force to be reckoned with. A fearless leader with a rocket shot, there were few who can replicate the presence he brought to the game. Born in British Columbia, Weber began his career winning the coveted Memorial Cup in 2004 with the Kelowna Rockets. In the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected 49th overall by the Nashville Predators, whom he would debut with and spend the next 11 seasons. He was an immediate fit, and served as captain of the Predators from 2010-2016, and was a multiple-time James Norris Memorial Trophy finalist for the best defenseman, and won the Mark Messier Leadership Trophy in 2016. In the summer of 2016, Weber was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban, and played the next five seasons there. He was named the captain of the Canadiens in 2018. He was a key piece in the Canadiens 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they eventually lost to Tampa Bay in 5 games. Weber would never take the ice again, as injuries left him sidelined. He played 1,038 games recording 589 points, and added 42 points in 97 playoff games. He also represented Canada internationally, winning gold at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, gold at the 2007 IIHF World Championship and won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Shea Weber had a successful career, both internationally and domestically. His leadership and powerful shot are the most memorable parts of his career, and he will continue to be the blueprint for a two-way defenseman.

(Photo by Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

Jeremy Roenick, a physical and lively presence, will be remembered far beyond on-ice accolades. Roenick grew up in Massachusetts and had a successful PeeWee career before being drafted to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the National Hockey Leauge (NHL). Taken 8th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1988 NHL Draft, he quickly adapted his game, showcasing a talent for scoring and physicality. He played his first eight seasons with Chicago, recording 596 points, before being traded to the then Phoenix Coyotes. Roenick also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. In 20 seasons, Roenick recorded 1,216 points in 1,363 games, adding 122 points in 154 playoff games and was a nine time All-Star. While he never earned any personal awards or the Stanley Cup, he won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Olympics, and represented the United States on many levels internationally. After a successful on-ice career, Jeremy Roenick transitioned to broadcasting, showing that his on-ice play is representative of his personality: lively. Now, Jeremy Roenick will have his name in the Hall, and be remembered for his scoring ability and vibrant play.

(Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean, NHLI via Getty Images)