The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2025 on Tuesday which included eight selections: two builders (Jackie Parker and Daniele Sauvageau) and six players (Duncan Keith, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker).
While all were deserving of the nod, there was, yet again, one notable exclusion: Rod Brind'Amour.
The 2006 Stanley Cup Champion and Carolina Hurricanes legend has been eligible for selection into the Hockey Hall of Fame for 12 years now, but it seems like he continues to be overlooked.
The process works as follows: Each member of the committee is permitted to select only one player for nomination.
Once nominated, a player must then receive at least 75% of the vote from the 18-person committee, with each member permitted to vote for up to four male players each.
Players are supposed to be adjudicated on "playing ability, sense of fair play, character and contributions to his or her team or teams and to the game of hockey in general."
So it's clear that Brind'Amour meets and exceeds all of those criteria, but yet he continues to be disregarded.
The centerman is one of the best examples of longevity in the game, having played 1,484 games, the 28th most in league history (he was in the top-20 when he retired).
It wasn't like he was dragging out his career toward the end either, as he was playing over 18 minutes a night every year until his 20th season and he averaged over 21 minutes a game for his career.
Brind'Amour was also one of the early pioneers of the fitness movement in the NHL, earning the moniker "Rod the Bod."
He was also a highly successful two-way player. While known for his defensive ability, he still collected 452 goals and 1,184 points
In addition, the centerman was also one of the game's best ever faceoff men.
While the NHL didn't start tracking faceoff wins until 2005, Brind'Amour is credited with a 59.32% win rate in the dots for his age 35-39 seasons, well past his prime.
Brind'Amour broke into the league as a teenager with the St. Louis Blues in 1989, after a standout freshman season with Michigan State that saw him capture CCHA Rookie of the Year honors.
Immediately, he was impact player, with 26 goals and 61 points in that first season.
He made the NHL's All-Rookie Team that year and played one more season with the Blues before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Brind'Amour was again a dominant force on the ice throughout his time in Philly, with multiple 70+ point seasons and Selke votes (he was inducted into the Flyers' Hall of Honor in 2015), but it wasn't until his eventual trade to the Hurricanes where he really cemented his legacy.
The veteran center went on to become team captain and led the franchise to its one and only Stanley Cup in 2006 (he also should have won the Conn Smythe that year, but Cam Ward, an Edmonton-born netminder, ended up with that honor instead). He also won back-to-back Selke trophies.
Honestly, there is also no singular player more impactful and more meaningful to the Carolina franchise and fanbase than Rod Brind'Amour.
Rod Brind'Amour Awarded North Carolina's Highest Civilian HonorGovernor Roy Cooper presented Brind'Amour with membership following his team's 4-1 win over Columbus on Sunday.
So in terms of impact to the game and his teams, Brind'Amour is right there at the top. He's also a class act, great person and represents the game so well.
Furthermore, there are plenty of players already in with either similar or worse resumes than Brind'Amour.
So why isn't he in the Hall of Fame yet? Your guess is as good as mine.
But it is notable that the entire selection process is shrouded in secrecy. None of the selection committee's votes are ever made public and no one except for the 18-person committee is privy to those conversations.
Perhaps a little transparency could go a long way.
Recent Stories
• Hurricanes Hold Six Picks As NHL Draft Approaches
• What Might A Jason Robertson Trade Package Look Like?
• Is Mitch Marner The Answer For Carolina?
• The Carolina Hurricanes' 2025 UFAs
• The Carolina Hurricanes' 2025 RFAs
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
Read the full article here
