NHL: Future Hall of Famers Who Should Retire After the 2011-12 Season

Mike Modano announced plans to announce his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday. As a beloved hockey fan, a few thoughts came to mind. 

Mainly, he's one of many greats who will bid farewell to the game soon. A whole generation of NHL stars will be hanging up their skates in the near future. It will be a sad day for hockey, but it's inevitable. 

The NHL now has a new bevy of talent that can carry the torch.

Modano's generation brought the league to a fever pitch in the mid 1990's and brought it back from its collapse in the mid 2000's. Without stars like Modano, the league would be unrecognizable. 

The NHL is finally regaining momentum after near catastrophe, and this would be a good time for these future Hall of Fame players to depart gracefully. They've served the game splendidly. 

Here are the future Hall of Famers who should retire after the 2011-12 season.

 

Honorable Mention: Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Alfredsson has had a great NHL career. 

The 38-year-old Ottawa Senator appears to be slowing down. He only played in 54 games last season and tallied just 31 points. This upcoming season may be the last of his career. 

Alfredsson has been impressive since winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 1995-96. He has only accumulated more than 100 points once but has 1,023 career points.

When one thinks of the Ottawa Senators, Daniel Alfredsson is the first thing to come to mind.

It will be interesting to see if Alfredsson can put together one last great season that will propel him into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

No. 5: Teemu Selanne

"The Finnish Flash" as he's known, has had an illustrious career in the NHL. He took the league by storm, scoring 76 goals and adding 56 assists as a rookie. 

Now 41-years-old, Selanne is in the latter days of his career. That doesn't mean he's not good anymore. Last season he finished 10th in the league with 80 points total.

In his career, he has 637 goals and 703 assists, a Stanley Cup and has led the league in goals three times.

Teemu Selanne is an all-time great and amazing to watch—catch him while you can. 

No. 4: Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger is a great hockey player, but injuries appear to be getting the best of him, and he only played in 50 games last season.

Flyers fans sure hope he's good to go. At 37-years-old, The former Stanley Cup champion looks to lead his team to glory this year as the Flyers made a statement to the league in the offseason that their "all in."

Pronger has 686 career points, including 530 assists. He is an impressive plus-182 in his career, proving his value. 

He also won the 1999 Hart Memorial Trophy for league MVP, the first defenseman to do so since Bobby Orr. 

One would like to believe that Pronger could play forever, but expect this to be his last quality attempt. He's as tough as they come and will be awarded with enshrinement in the Hall. 

No. 3: Jaromir Jagr

That's right folks—Jaromir Jagr is back in the NHL. 

Now at 39, Jagr looks to take the Philadelphia Flyers to the promised land.

He returns stateside after a three-year break from the NHL. In his last season in the league, 2007-08 with the New York Rangers, Jagr posted 28 goals and 49 assists for 77 points.

He's like a magic trick, just when you thought he was gone forever he reappears. This should be his last go-round in the NHL in what was a tremendous career. 

Jagr has tallied 1,599 points in his career, including 646 goals. Fans should expect him to add somewhere around 50 points to his total this year with the Flyers. 

Personally, I hope Jagr succeeds in Philly and reminds hockey fans of how good he once was. The five-time Art Ross Trophy (most points/season) winner will be headed for the Hockey Hall when it's all said and done. 

As for the photo, I just had to remind fans of that Hall of Fame mullet. 

No. 2: Nicklas Lidstrom

Nicklas Lidstrom has become the model for defenseman in the NHL. He's now 41-years-old and entering his 20th season on the blue line for the Detroit Red Wings.

He has 1108 career points, including 855 assist. Most amazingly, he is plus-429 for his career. Wow. 

The four time Stanley Cup champion has also won seven Norris trophies as the league's best defenseman.

Another jaw-dropping stat is that he's played in 258 playoff games. That's over three regular seasons worth of games.

Expect Lidstrom to add to that playoff total at the end of this season, which appears to be his last. His teammates will be looking to send him out on top. 

Plenty of Nicklas Lidstrom memorabilia will be in Toronto in the near future. 

No. 1: Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goaltender in NHL history. 

He's the all-time leader in games played, with 1132, and he has 625 wins. With just 26 wins this season, he'll surpass No. 2, Patrick Roy by 100 in the win column.

Brodeur has faced the most shots, had the most saves and pitched the most shutouts. Oh, he's also won four Vezina Trophies as top goaltender and three Stanley Cups. Need I say more?

All-in-all, not a bad career for the 39-year-old future Hall of Fame goalie.

It will be weird not to see him between the pipes in New Jersey in the future. He may just end up with his own wing in the Hockey Hall.