Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are recognized as the top contenders on The Athletic’s ‘Tier 1’ list of active NHL players most likely to reach the Hockey Hall of Fame, according to analyst Peter Baugh. Both players remain under contract for the 2024-25 NHL season and could retire today and still secure induction.
The Stanley Cup-winning captains have distinguished careers, with Crosby claiming three championships, two Hart Trophies, and two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada. Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain, became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer last season, having also earned one Stanley Cup and three Hart Trophies.
Criteria for Placement on the ‘Tier 1’ NHL Hall of Fame Candidate List
Peter Baugh established specific parameters to evaluate active players’ Hall of Fame prospects. Eligible players must have played a minimum of five NHL seasons, appeared in at least one game during the 2023-24 season, and be under contract for the 2024-25 campaign. This approach excludes promising young stars like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, who have yet to meet the experience threshold.
Players are sorted by position—starting with forwards, then defensemen, and goalies—with rankings determined primarily by career points or wins. Additional tiers such as Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5 are used to classify other players, and any changes from the previous year’s placements are noted in italics.
Baugh explained the current criteria:
“They could retire today and make it.”
—Peter Baugh, NHL analyst
Other Notable Names on the Tier 1 List
The ‘Tier 1’ category also features several established NHL stars, including forwards Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, Steven Stamkos, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, defensemen Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, Drew Doughty, as well as goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky, Jonathan Quick, and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The selection for the Hockey Hall of Fame is determined by an 18-member committee comprising league executives, media personnel, and retired players, who vote after a player has been retired for three years, requiring a minimum of 14 out of 18 votes for induction.
Implications of the Tier 1 Ranking for Crosby and Ovechkin
Being placed in this top tier underscores the lasting impact and legendary status of Crosby and Ovechkin within the NHL. Both players have already compiled resumes that make them nearly certain Hall of Fame inductees once eligible. Their continued performance and commitment to the game keep fans and analysts closely watching how much longer their careers will extend.
This list also details why recently retired veterans such as Joe Pavelski and Nicklas Backstrom are excluded, as they are no longer under contract, while players like Jonathan Toews remain featured due to their active contracts.
As their careers approach their final chapters, the question remains: will Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin retire soon to secure their Hockey Hall of Fame spot or continue to add to their legendary legacies?