As far as star power is concerned, the 2016 Hockey Hall of Fame class was a little bit underwhelming.

Of course, in his time Eric Lindros was a behemoth, while Pat Quinn's monumental impact on the game and those around it made him a shoo-in, as on the playing side there were no first-year eligible players named to the Hall.

After five-straight star-studded classes, this season missed a certain allure. However, as we look toward next season, we can expect to get back to a more flashy class including two first-year ballots.

Teemu Selanne

Selanne's resume speaks for itself.

The most goals (76) and points (132) of all time by a rookie, as a member of the Winnipeg Jets in 1993, the most goals scored by a Finnish-born player, a Rocket Richard Trophy, a Stanley Cup, 10- time All-Star, and the list goes on.

Not to mention he was an incredible ambassador to the game, beloved by nearly all who played and watched. The Finnish Flash excelled for 21 seasons and with a total of 684 goals and 1,457 points to his name, it's no question he will be receiving his ring this time next year.

Daniel Alfredsson

For once in his career, Daniel Alfredsson could return to Toronto with a resounding round of applause.

The long-standing captain of the Ottawa Senators - like Selanne - is likely to enter on his first year of eligibility.

While Alfredsson never won a scoring race or a Stanley Cup, he sits first in all time in goals, assists, and points in Senators history. He also ranks second all time in goals and points by a Swedish-born player behind Mats Sundin.

Alfredsson is set to have his No. 11 retired by the Senators on Dec. 29 prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings - the only other team he ever played for during his 18-year career.

Jeremy Roenick

Love him or hate him, J.R. had himself a career.

Following 20 long years of making headlines both on and off the ice, Roenick is deserving of a place among the game's all-time greats. His 513 goals and 1,216 points rank fourth all time among American-born players.

Roenick may not have received any hardware during his career - which was split largely between the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Philadelphia Flyers - but he is an Olympic and Canada Cup silver medalist and is the United States' second-highest scorer in World Junior history.

Mark Recchi

Mark Recchi has been snubbed of Hall of Fame induction for four years.

The 48-year-old, who sits fourth with 1,652 regular-season games under his belt and another 189 playoff contests, spent time with seven different franchises, winning Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Boston Bruins.

He was a seven-time All-Star, the oldest player to score a goal in the Stanley Cup Final, and currently holds the Flyers' single-season point record at 123.

He concluded his career with 577 goals and 1,533 points, ranking 20th and 12th all time, respectively.

Alexander Mogilny

Alexander Mogilny might not rank among many of the greats statistically, but he had a monumental career.

Before he ever stepped on the ice, Mogilny made headlines after he escaped the iron curtain of Soviet Russia, defecting from the country to play for the Buffalo Sabres.

Once in the NHL, Mogilny quickly became one of the speediest and flashiest players in the league. During the '92-'93 season, he amassed 76 goals, tying Selanne for what would have won each man the Rocket Richard Trophy (it was introduced during the 1998-99 season).

In all, Mogilny played just 990 games between the Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 473 goals and 1,032 points, second to Sergei Fedorov for the most by a Russian-born player.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators suddenly have an abundance of riches between the pipes.

With Craig Anderson having now made six starts since his wife Nicholle was diagnosed with cancer, Mike Condon showing flashes of brilliance since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Andrew Hammond fully recovered from his groin injury, the club could be looking to make a deal.

To whit, the Senators are believed to be testing the market on Hammond, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who notes the decision likely comes in response to multiple teams looking for an upgrade in goal.

Hammond was pegged as Anderson's backup this season, but has dressed in just two games. He's allowed six goals over 80 minutes of play.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes unveiled a proposal for a new arena facility Monday that would include a new rink for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Plans for the new project include a 16,000-seat NHL arena for the Coyotes and an attached 4,000-seat multi-sport arena that would be used by the university's athletics department, as well as for Coyotes practices, youth hockey programs, and community events.

It's certainly a step in the right direction for the franchise, but Craig Morgan of 98.7 Sports reports that the project has not been finalized.

"Sources stressed that this is not an agreement to build an arena on the site," Morgan writes. "That would only come after the Coyotes have shown they have met all the requirements to go ahead with the project, but all sides expressed optimism that those goals can be achieved."

The Coyotes announced they have entered into an exclusive negotiation agreement with Catellus Development Corporation, the master developer for the Arizona State University Facilities District, to work toward finalizing the East Valley project.

It carries a deadline of June 30, 2017 for creating the budget, design, and operational plan for the development.

The pact comes after years of difficult dealings with the city council in Glendale, where the Coyotes have played since 2003 after relocating from downtown Phoenix.

"A different location and a better relationship can do wonders for a franchise, and I expect it will," NHL commissioner Bill Daly said Monday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Glendale City Council voted to end its lease agreement with the Coyotes in June 2015.

The Coyotes will now focus on partnering with the City of Tempe, the State of Arizona, and other public sector constituents.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two veteran Finnish goaltenders were among the three players honored by the NHL for their stellar play last week.

Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins and Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators were named first and third star, respectively, the league announced Monday.

Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele was named second star.

Rask went 4-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA and a save percentage of .970, posting a pair of shutouts.

Scheifele notched three goals and three assists in four games, matching a career high with four points in a victory over the Dallas Stars last Tuesday.

Rinne went 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA, a .976 save percentage and one shutout.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had it his way, NHLers would not be attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Bettman spoke at the PrimeTime Sports and Management Conference and Trade Show in Toronto on Monday, giving an update on the state of NHLers going to the 2018 Winter Olympics ahead of the planned meeting on Wednesday regarding the issue.

Bettman noted that the final decision on NHL participation will likely come in January, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.

The commissioner went on to reiterate that the biggest issue is the International Olympic Committee's refusal to pay for travel and insurance of players and their guests.

With regards to the pending decision, Bettman said he doesn't feel owners will want to shut down the season for two-and-half weeks to accommodate player participation in the Olympics.

All this considered, Bettman admitted that he has inquired if the NHL could skip the 2018 games and return in 2022 when the Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, China.

NHLers have participated at every Winter Olympics since the 1998 installment in Nagano, Japan.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Travis Hamonic won't need four-to-six weeks of recovery after all.

The New York Islanders defenseman will return to the lineup Monday to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Jack Capuano confirmed, according to Newsday's Arthur Staple.

Hamonic was placed on injured reserve last week after sustaining a broken thumb in a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 5. The injury was originally expected to keep the 26-year-old out of the lineup for several weeks.

The return couldn't have come at a better time for the Islanders, who earlier in the day announced that defenseman Dennis Seidenberg would be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Already a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame, Sergei Makarov will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, along with Eric Lindros, Rogie Vachon, and Pat Quinn.

Both Halls are located in the same building in Toronto, and the Russian forward rightfully belongs on each side.

Here's what you need to know about Makarov's splendid career.

Red Army

A native of Chelyabinsk, Makarov spent his formative playing years skating with CSKA Moscow, commonly referred to as the Red Army Team based on its past affiliation with the Soviet Army.

In those days, all able-bodied Soviet males were required to serve in the Army, meaning CSKA was able to draft the very best young players and build a hockey powerhouse built around the principles and discipline of military service. A member of the famous "KLM" line, Makarov - along with Vladimir Krutov and Igor Larionov - formed one of the most successful trios in hockey history.

In 519 games with CSKA, Makarov recorded 322 goals and 388 assists for a total of 710 points, the most in Soviet League history. Meanwhile, the club won 11 straight league championships.

During this time, Makarov was drafted by the Calgary Flames (1983), with then general manager Cliff Fletcher bestowing upon him the highest of comparisons.

"He was referred to at that time as the Wayne Gretzky of Russia," Cliff told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "He played on that powerhouse Red Army team, which was one of the greatest hockey teams ever, and he was the key player on their No. 1 line. Anybody who was a hockey fan, when you saw him play you knew he was a great player."

International dominance

Makarov's achievements at the international level are quite simply staggering.

Here's a quick tour.

• World Junior Championships: Two gold medals, 12 goals and 14 assists in 14 games.
• World Championships: Eight gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals, 56 goals and 68 assists in 100 games.
• Olympics: Two gold medals, one silver medal, 11 goals and 17 assists in 22 games.
• Canada Cup: One championship, one second-place finish, 16 goals and 15 assists in 22 games.

As impressive an international resume as one will ever find in hockey history.

Changing the NHL rule book

Prohibited from playing in the NHL by the Soviet Union until 1989, Makarov made an immediate impact upon joining the Flames.

In 68 games as a 31-year-old "rookie", Makarov recorded 24 goals and 62 assists, and went on to win the Calder Trophy. That Makarov won the award at an advanced age prompted the NHL to amend the rule book, stipulating from that point on that a player must be 26 or younger to be eligible for the trophy.

Makarov appeared in 424 NHL games with the Flames, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars (in a brief four-game comeback attempt), scoring 134 goals and adding 250 assists. Over the course of his tenure, no player over the age of 31 scored more goals.

One can only imagine where he'd rank among the league's greats had he been able to enjoy a lengthier NHL career.

"His career may have been starting to downtrend slightly by the time he reached the NHL, but he had a very productive two-to-three years for us and there was no doubting his individual talent," Fletcher said. "He was one unbelievably skilled hockey player."

That fact will now forever be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and rightfully so.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders placed Dennis Seidenberg on injured reserve with an upper-body injury Monday, announcing that the defenseman will be out indefinitely.

Seidenberg is reported to have broken his jaw during Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers, sources told Arthur Staple of Newsday.

In a corresponding move, the Islanders have recalled defenseman Scott Mayfield from the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 24-year-old has one goal and one assist in 12 games this season.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's new series "The Noise" will be published every Monday, and kick off each week with a quick look at teams or players making headlines, good or bad.

In what is quickly becoming common practice, the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Montreal Canadiens continue to pile up wins.

The Rangers balanced attack is one that seemingly won't falter, the Blackhawks are ... well ... the Blackhawks, and in Montreal, it's starting to look like Carey Price may never lose again.

All that being said, Price might have some inter-conference competition, while in the West there is a new sheriff in town and a slump that is raising eyebrows.

Tuukka Rask

While Brad Marchand's 16 points and David Pastrnak's 10 goals have certainly been pleasant surprises for the Boston Bruins early in the 2016-17 season, the club has Tuukka Rask to thank for their early playoff spot.

Rask cashed in his third shutout of the season on Sunday night, blanking the Colorado Avalanche. With the win, Rask now boasts a record of 10-1-0 in 11 games along with the league's third-best goals against average at 1.54 and the fourth highest save percentage at a mark of .945.

Seven times this season Rask has allowed one goal or fewer.

In case you need more convincing of just how important Rask has been to the Bruins early on, consider that in a combined four starts, Zane McIntyre and Anton Khudobin have allowed more goals in relief for Rask than the No. 1 has surrendered in 11 starts.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have hobbled off to a forgettable November after blazing through the league in the first month of the season.

After amassing seven wins in their first nine games in October, the team has seen a flip with just two victories through the last seven games.

On top of that, Connor McDavid has gone goalless in his last eight games, with seven assists over that span.

Of course the Oilers level of competition has certainly not been in their favor. Their last three loses have come at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dallas Stars, and the New York Rangers. However, with their next four games coming against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Stars, and Blackhawks things aren't going to get any easier for the club.

Lets just hope the first month was not a fluke.

Mark Scheifele

With 12 points in eight games in November, Mark Scheifele has shot to the top of the NHL scoring race.

The 23-year-old saw his five-game point streak snapped on Sunday against the Kings - though he did score the shootout winner. Scheifele turned in six points in four games last week on the back of a four-point outing against the Stars.

Early on Scheifele also looks to be gaining some chemistry with Patrik Laine, who has six points in five games thanks to his second hat trick of the season against the Stars. The 18-year-old now leads all players with 11 goals to his credit.

The Jets goaltending still appears to be an area of concern, but as long as Scheifele and company are able to keep filling the net, the club can rest a little easier.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Kane is no stranger to jaw-dropping goals, but he scored another sensational one Sunday night that needs to be broken down to be fully appreciated.

Related: Watch: Kane burns Canadiens for incredible goal

Max Pacioretty was involved in a pair of Montreal Canadiens miscues in the moments leading up to the decisive marker in the Chicago Blackhawks' victory, and Kane took full advantage.

How it happened

Let's wind the entire sequence back to fully illustrate how turnovers in multiple zones gave Kane the opportunity to work his magic.

Kane controls the puck behind the net, looking to find Jonathan Toews (No. 19), who Kane likely assumes is going to make a beeline for the goal.

Kane's pass out front is picked off by Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw, who looks to feed Pacioretty.

That turns out to be an ill-advised decision, as Pacioretty is immediately met by Blackhawks winger Vincent Hinostroza, who is supported by Gustav Forsling (42) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (4).

The Blackhawks control it and Toews makes the turn for the counter-attack.

Toews finds Hinostroza as he enters the Canadiens' zone.

Hinostroza spots Kane all alone in the faceoff circle.

Kane receives the pass, and fans at the United Center rise to their feet.

Canadiens goaltender Al Montoya is up to the task (for now), and Montreal regroups.

Pacioretty has a chance to carry the puck out of the zone, but he makes another poor decision, attempting a short pass into a crowd.

Toews intercepts it and feeds Kane.

Kane carries the puck between the circles, with Pacioretty (67) trailing and Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry in front of Kane.

Kane dangles Petry and finds himself with a clear path to the net.

Pacioretty catches up with Kane and checks him to the ice, but the Blackhawks star gets a shot off as he's falling down.

Kane roofs it glove-side over Montoya and skids triumphantly along the ice.

The sequence was a textbook example of how forechecking and pressure in the netural zone can lead to turnovers, which are likely to precede goals when players as dynamic as Kane are involved.

(Images courtesy: NHL.com)

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.