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Who could be the 2011 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees?

Derian Hatcher

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher skates during a timeout in the second period during Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 9, 2008.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AP

In any selection process, there will be parties who are excluded. When it comes to the Hockey Hall of Fame, it might just be a matter of time for some (like, say, Joe Nieuwendyk) while many worry if they’ll never see the day when they are inducted (sadly, that might apply to Pat Burns). While some retired players might be nursing their wounded egos, I couldn’t help but wonder: “Who will make it next year?”

Great hockey history blogger Joe Pelletier posed that question, too, and looked at which players will be eligible for the first time in 2011.

2011 first-time eligible players:

* Ed Belfour
* Trevor Linden
* Glen Wesley
* Derian Hatcher
* Stu Barnes
* Mattias Norstrom
* Dallas Drake

Of that group, only Belfour has a shot. Trevor Linden is my hero, and Derian Hatcher was my favorite villain, but neither are Hall of Fame worthy. Trust me, that hurts to say it, but it’s true.

I cannot help but agree with Pelletier; it’s good news for the 2010 near-misses to see that Belfour is really the only major competitor. Belfour does have some impressive numbers, though, with 484 regular season wins and 88 in the playoffs. His accomplishments also include a Stanley Cup victory, two Vezinas, a Calder trophy, four William Jennings Trophies for the league’s best GAA and five All-Star appearances.

The jilted potential Hall of Famers might have to put a lot of eggs in the 2011 basket, though, because Pelletier points out the stacked 2012 class.

2012 is a much deeper class:

* Jeremy Roenick
* Mats Sundin
* Joe Sakic
* Curtis Joseph
* Brendan Shanahan
* Olaf Kolzig
* Teppo Numminen
* Markus Naslund
* Gary Roberts
* Claude Lemieux
* Bobby Holik

Wow, what a list! You would have to think Sakic and Shanahan are locks. Sundin will make it too, though maybe not in the first year.

While I’d say that Nieuwendyk, Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour and the other players who did well in our poll of hockey bloggers have a good chance in 2011, it’s clear that the committee is pretty hard to figure out. Ultimately, the hope is that the most deserving get elected. Hockey fans can debate if that happen, but really, those discussions are nothing but good for the sport.

That doesn’t change the fact that I’m disappointed Pat Burns was overlooked.