A Look at 2010's Possible Inductions into the NHL Hall of Fame

Next week, the 2009 class will be inducted into the hall of fame, which is arguably the greatest class of all time.

But this isn't about this class; this is a look at next year's class. Some players have been kept out of the hall many years after being eligible, and maybe next year might be the year for them.

Or not...Anyways, here's a look at the top six players I believe have the best chance or maybe should phrase most deserving to make the Hall.

Dino Ciccarelli : With 608 goals, how do you not get in the Hall of Fame? Many contribute it to Dino to have never won a Cup, incidents outside of hockey, and many considered him to only have been an offensive player. But he's also one of the greatest players to never have one a cup.

Hockey is a team sport, though, why should the fact that he hasn't won a cup keep him out? One man cannot win a cup for a team. Do you think Gretzky would've won the Oilers four cups in his tenure if it had not been for Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Glen Anderson, Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr, or Andy Moog? Most likely not.

Kurri, Messier, Anderson, Coffey, Fuhr are all in the Hall of Fame as well. Not comparing Dino to the great one, but just making a point, one player can't win a Cup.

Joe Nieuwendyk : Joe Nieuwendyk broke into the NHL his rookie year in 1987-1988 season and scored 51 goals, which he repeated his sophomore year, along with a Stanley Cup. Nieuwendyk went on to score a total of 564 goals and 1126 points with three Stanley Cups with three different teams.

Along with a Conn Smyth trophy in 1999 with a Stars team that also had Brett Hull, who is being inducted next week. Nieuwendyk brought success to every where he played and was important piece to all the teams he's played for. He was a great leader on and off the ice and should be awarded with a call to the Hall of Fame he's first year of eligibility next year.

Reggie Vachon : I can't say it any better than Gann Matsuda did in his own article .

Theoren Fluery : Many will disagree with this, while few will agree. I'm not basing this decision after his attempt of a come back and retiring on his own terms either. I believed Fleury should've made the Hall before. Even though he was banned from the NHL for substance abuse, Fluery carried the Flames through the '90s after they dismembered their Stanley Cup team, terrible trades, and poor drafting.

Fleury calls his exit from the Flames the beginning of his end. Which is true, New York is no place for an alcoholic coke head. Fluery was 5'6" and played his career at an average of 160 pounds. Even today, a player of his stature is unheard of.

Yet Fleury, being the warrior he was, prevailed in the NHL. He was a prolific goal scorer throughout the 90's when holding, slashing, hooking, and interference we're at its highest. This little guy battled through men over 6'0" and well over 200 pounds. He was like a British Bull Dog in a fight with Pit Bulls and he more than held his own.

He never took crap from anybody and never backed down or showed weakness. He was an inspiration to all players under 5'10" before he was banned from the NHL and with his latest comeback he is inspiration to more than just hockey players.

With a Cup and a Olympic Gold medal it's hard to keep a man like that, but he probably will get over looked because of his demons and how he chose to deal with them. Although it is amazing to see how he played on the ice when he was a raging alcoholic and coke head off of it.

Mike Richter : Arguably the greatest American born goaltender of all time. Richter was dominate all throughout the '90s and who could ever forget his performance at the 1996 World Cup. He single-handedly stole the Gold from the heavy favorite Canadians. No one could score against him.

You think of the players that team consisted of and how did Canada not win the tournament. Well, Richter was that reason. He stoned everyone and was invincible. He is also one of three goaltenders to win a Cup for the Rangers, as well as the first to do so in 54 years.

He was one of the best big-game goaltenders in his time. Richter is another player who didn't get to finish out a career on his own terms after having to retire due to a concussion he never got over.

As well, Richter suffered after the 1997 season with having horrible teams in front of him. Their playoff drought had nothing to do with his goaltending. But from his beginning on Broadway to then he was possibly one of the best goaltenders in the league which is saying a lot when you have the likes of Roy, Brodeur, Hasek, and Belfour playing in the same era.

Last but not least....

Pavel Bure : Bure is another player I've heard many NHL analysts say he shouldn't be inducted. Most recently Barry Melrose stated that in his latest podcast. His reasoning is a player shouldn't be inducted for being great for a short period of time but over a long period of time and being consistent.

My figuring: If Cam Neely was inducted into the Hall of Fame, why not the Russian Rocket? I also don't consider Bure to be a player who was only great for a short period of time. Bure, when not injured, was always the best player on his team and most nights on the ice against any team. Bure sucked the energy out of the arena, stole games based off his own individual efforts to score goals, and always played at a high-octane speed.

Having five knee surgeries before he was 32 cut his career way too short. As his injuries were affecting him at 29 and limited his playing until his retirement at 31. Bure never played for many great teams besides in his beginning of his career in Vancouver, when he led them to a Game Seven in the Stanley Cup finals against the New York Rangers.

The Cup could've have easily have gone to the Canucks. Bure was one of, if not the, fastest player in his time. He easily had the best stick handling abilities and aim. He could do everything at high speed and left everyone on the ice in awe when he'd go through everyone, then coast in on the goalie and score.

Bure was possibly the greatest and most lethal player on a breakaway. Could you imagine him playing today in his prime with the shootout? He'd be unstoppable. Bure was also the most prolific scorer in the dead puck era. He scored 58 and 59 goals in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 season, to lead the NHL with the Florida Panthers.

On another team with a high-caliber center, he could've scored over 70 goals in those two seasons. In the 2000-2001 season, his 59 goals were 22 more than anyone else had in points total. Bure possibly was more talented with the puck than Alex Ovechkin.

He was an innovator with his dangles and dekes. I somehow doubt Bure will get the call anytime soon, though. I will take a lot of heat for this because I know many readers here will be outraged from it, but if Pavel was a Canadian instead of a Russian, there'd be no dispute over whether or not to induct him into the Hall of Fame.

Bure scored 437 goals in 702 games. He has the highest goals per game average of any Russian player to play over 338 games (Ovechkin right now has a higher percentage of .03 and change).

Hockey was pretty boring during the '90s, with a few exceptions.  Simply put, Bure was the most exciting with his god given talent. It's sad when a great player can't finish a career and go out on his own terms because of injuries.

Bure could have easily scored 600 goals in his career and have the most points by a Russian born player. Imagine what a player of his skill could do in the NHL today. Go to YouTube and watch a tribute video to him and tell me he doesn't belong.

That video says it all.