With the 2020 Hall of Fame induction weekend in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to players on the 2022 ballot. Remember, there was no 2021 class due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the 2022 class will feature two years' worth of first-timers.

It's important to note a player will only become Hall of Fame eligible once they have not played a professional or international game for at least three seasons leading up to their election. For example, although Jaromir Jagr hasn't played in the NHL since 2017-18, he's not yet eligible since he still plays professionally in the Czech Republic.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the Hall can induct a maximum of four male players and two female players each year.

Below, we examine 22 players' chances of being inducted in 2022.

Players were placed in alphabetical order in their respective tiers.

EAP = era-adjusted points

Strong 1st-ballot cases

Roberto Luongo

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Islanders, Panthers, Canucks

Luongo’s resume is lacking two key items that almost every first-ballot goalie has at least one of: A Stanley Cup and/or a Vezina Trophy. However, he was robbed of Vezina in 2004 and led the Canucks to within one win of a Cup in 2011. Bobby Lu also backstopped Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2010, sits fourth all-time in wins, and ranks ninth in save percentage and shutouts.

Caroline Ouellette

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇨🇦

Ouellette is one of the most decorated hockey players of all time - male or female. She’s won four Olympic gold medals, six world championship gold medals, four Clarkson Cups, and an NCAA championship. Ouellette's the CWHL’s all-time leading scorer with 314 points in 179 games and sits first in NWHL history with 2.074 points per game in 81 contests.

Sedin Twins

Daniel Sedin

Henrik Sedin

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇸🇪
Team: Canucks

The career totals of the Sedin twins may not scream "first-ballot induction," but it truly felt like you were watching a pair of no-doubt Hall of Famers during their primes. Henrik, the playmaking center, won a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross in 2010 while leading the league in assists three years in a row. Daniel, the winger with more finishing ability, won the Art Ross and Ted Lindsay in 2011 and finished second in Hart voting. The duo didn’t win a Stanley Cup, but they did win an Olympic gold medal in 2006.

The Sedins' uniqueness will likely help push them into the Hall. No two players in NHL history have had greater chemistry, as they seemingly used their twin telepathy to find each other on the ice. If the twins don’t get in on the first try, they’ll certainly be inductees at some point.

Could be their year

Daniel Alfredsson

Year of eligibility: 5th
Nationality: 🇸🇪
Teams: Senators, Red Wings

Alfredsson is a classic case of longevity vs. peak. He clearly has the former, ranking 34th in era-adjusted points - the second most among any HOF-eligible player. But Alfredsson's peak is lacking. He finished fifth in Hart voting with 103 points in 2006, but he otherwise never hit 90 points or finished better than 16th in Hart voting. Alfredsson never won a Cup, either, but he did win Olympic gold in 2006.

Jennifer Botterill

Year of eligibility: 8th
Nationality: 🇨🇦

It’s not a matter of if Botterill will get into the Hall of Fame - it's a matter of when. Botterill won three Olympic and five world championship gold medals, and she's the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with a ridiculous 340 points in 113 games.

Rod Brind'Amour

Year of eligibility: 9th
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Blues, Flyers, Hurricanes

The more success Brind'Amour has coaching, the more his chances of getting into the Hall as a player improve. At the very least, it can’t hurt them. Rod the Bod was never a dominant offensive player, but he did win two Selke Trophies and a Stanley Cup. Brind'Amour's career was better than Guy Carbonneau’s - a similar style player - who was a 2019 inductee.

Sergei Gonchar

Year of eligibility: 4th
Nationality: 🇷🇺
Teams: Capitals, Bruins, Penguins, Senators, Stars, Canadiens

Gonchar ranks 16th in points among defensemen - the second most among non-Hall of Famers. While he was always lauded as a dynamic offensive blue-liner, Gonchar never got enough respect for his defensive abilities. He played a crucial role as a workhorse and No. 1 D-man on Pittsburgh’s 2008 Stanley-Cup winning squad. Gonchar never won a Norris Trophy, but he did finish in the top five in voting four times.

Alexander Mogilny

Year of eligibility: 13th
Nationality: 🇷🇺
Teams: Sabres, Canucks, Devils, Maple Leafs

It’s quite mysterious that Mogilny has had to wait this long. The electrifying talent has both the career totals and the peak - 76 goals in 1992-93 - to get him in. For those who question Mogilny's ability to win, he’s one of 29 members of the Triple Gold Club. Oh, and he’s also one of the game’s most important trailblazers as the first player ever to defect from Russia for the NHL.

Gary Suter

Year of eligibility: 17th
Nationality: 🇺🇸
Teams: Flames, Blackhawks, Sharks

Fellow defensemen of Suter's era, Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson, being inducted over the weekend strongly helps his case. Lowe's defensive abilities are tough to quantify, but Suter stacks up well against Wilson, with the American blue-liner collecting more career points and only having a slightly lower points-per-game average. Suter didn't win a Norris like Wilson, but he should've in 1988, and he won a Stanley Cup a year later - something Wilson never accomplished. Suter also added a World Cup to his resume in 1996.

Pierre Turgeon

Year of eligibility: 12th
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Sabres, Islanders, Canadiens, Blues, Stars, Avalanche

Turgeon's case is simple: He has more points - era-adjusted or not - than any eligible player not already in the Hall of Fame. However, the knocks against Turgeon are also clear: He never won anything. No major individual awards, no Stanley Cups, and no international medals. The latter is clearly what's holding Turgeon back, but it feels like his production could get him in at some point. Perhaps 2022 is that year.

Slim chances

Dan Boyle

Year of eligibility: 3rd
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Panthers, Lightning, Sharks, Rangers

Note: Only the top 250 era-adjusted points leaders are available on Hockey Reference. Boyle is not in the top 250, so his EAPs aren't displayed.

Boyle enjoyed a stellar career. He was a second-team All-Star twice, won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004, and collected an Olympic gold medal in 2010. However, it feels like his overall numbers will keep him out and certainly don't warrant him getting in ahead of fellow D-men Gonchar and Suter.

Patrik Elias

Year of eligibility: 3rd
Nationality: 🇨🇿
Team: Devils

Elias was never considered one of the league's most dominant players, which could ultimately keep him out of the Hall of Fame. However, he was the best forward on two Stanley Cup teams, and he quietly produced at a consistent rate throughout his career despite playing for the perennially defense-first Devils.

Theoren Fleury

Year of eligibility: 16th
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Flames, Avalanche, Rangers, Blackhawks

Fleury has enough accolades to get in. A point-per-game player throughout his career, he also won a Stanley Cup in 1989 and an Olympic gold medal in 2002. However, for a player that's been on the bubble for 15 years, it's hard to imagine 2022 will be the year he gets in after being condemned for sharing vaccine passport conspiracy theories in September.

Curtis Joseph

Year of eligibility: 10th
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Blues, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Red Wings, Coyotes, Flames

Cujo's case as a big-game goalie is legit. He had the type of squad-carrying ability to steal a playoff series against far superior clubs, as he did in 1993, 1997, 1998, and 2001. Joseph's also seventh on the all-time wins list, but he never won a Stanley Cup or a Vezina - although he was robbed of the latter in '93. Cujo might get in one day, but it's hard to imagine that coming in 2022 when Luongo is more deserving.

Vincent Lecavalier

Year of eligibility: 3rd
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Lightning, Flyers, Kings

Lecavalier was trending towards the Hall of Fame in the first half of his career, but his 30s weren't overly kind to him and may ultimately be what keeps him out. However, he did win a Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, a Stanley Cup in 2004, and a World Cup in 2004 - during which he was named tournament MVP.

Rick Nash

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Blue Jackets, Rangers, Bruins

Nash was an elite goal-scoring power forward in his prime, but poor teams held him back in the first half of his career, and injuries plagued him in the latter half. His career totals certainly won't warrant a first-ballot induction, and perhaps they never will.

Brad Richards

Year of eligibility: 3rd
Nationality: 🇨🇦
Teams: Lightning, Stars, Rangers, Blackhawks, Red Wings

Richards is the third member of the '04 Lightning squad to crack this list, but it's hard to envision any of them punching their ticket in 2022. The center was the Conn Smythe winner on that Bolts squad, and he also collected another ring with the 2015 Blackhawks in the twilight of his career. Despite also winning a World Cup and a Memorial Cup, Richards' lack of individual success may leave him just short in the long run.

Jeremy Roenick

Year of eligibility: 10th
Nationality: 🇺🇸
Teams: Blackhawks, Coyotes, Flyers, Kings, Sharks

Roenick's case is similar to Turgeon's: He piled up points but never won anything. For Roenick to have a shot, Turgeon will likely have to get in first.

Riikka Sallinen

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇫🇮

The Hall of Fame has never inducted a female European player, but Sallinen could be the first one day. She sits ninth on the all-time scoring list in both the Olympics and world championships and would almost certainly have a gold medal in both had she been from Canada or the United States.

Keith Tkachuk

Year of eligibility: 9th
Nationality: 🇺🇸
Teams: Jets 1.0, Coyotes, Blues, Thrashers

Tkachuk was a premier goal-scoring power forward, ranking 33rd on the all-time goals list and 25th in era-adjusted goals. He never won a Stanley Cup, but he did win a "Rocket" and a World Cup gold medal. "Big Walt" never finished better than 10th in Hart voting, but the legacy he's left behind with his sons may help him get in one day - just probably not in 2022.

Henrik Zetterberg

Year of eligibility: 1st
Nationality: 🇸🇪
Team: Red Wings

It's highly unlikely Zetterberg gets inducted on his first try due to his unspectacular counting stats, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him get in eventually - especially as analytics continues to become more prevalent. The versatile two-way forward is a Conn Smythe winner and a member of the Triple Gold Club.

Prediction

The Hall of Fame will induct the Sedin twins, Luongo, Mogilny, Ouellette, and Botterill in 2022.

(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference, Elite Prospects)

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The Hockey Hall of Fame finally welcomed its class of 2020 on Monday night, as six new members received the highest honor in the sport. This induction ceremony was previously postponed due to the pandemic, and there won't be a 2021 class. Here's a look at the resumes of each inductee and various highlights from the festivities in Toronto.

Players

Marian Hossa

Position: Right wing
Career statistics: 525 goals and 609 assists in 1,309 games
Achievements: Three-time Stanley Cup winner (2010, 2013, 2015), first player in NHL history to play in three straight Cup Finals with three different teams (2008, 2009, 2010).
Teams: Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks

Hossa acknowledged his closest supporters and how much more instructive his defeats were than his victories.

"The losses taught me more than the wins," he said. "(I'd like to thank) the players and the coaches who taught me so much about success, (and) my family who provided so much support to get me here."

Jarome Iginla

Position: Right wing
Career statistics: 625 goals and 675 assists in 1,554 games
Achievements: One of only 20 players in NHL history to reach the 600-goal plateau. Winner of the "Rocket" Richard Trophy (2002, 2004), the Art Ross Trophy (2002), and the Lester B. Pearson Award (2002). Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2002, 2010).
Teams: Calgary Flames, Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings

Iginla expressed gratitude to trailblazing former players of color "for breaking racial barriers in hockey."

"Being a young Black hockey player, it was important for me to see other Black players in the NHL," Iginla said, adding, "I know it's thanks to guys like Grant (Fuhr) and Willie (O'Ree) who made me know that my dream of playing in the NHL was attainable."

Kevin Lowe

Position: Defenseman
Career statistics: 84 goals and 347 assists in 1,254 games
Achievements: Six-time Stanley Cup winner (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994), only player in Edmonton Oilers history to play 1,000 regular-season contests with the team.
Teams: Oilers, New York Rangers

Lowe dropped the best zinger of the night. After mentioning that a slew of former Oilers joined the Rangers and ended the latter squad's 54-year championship drought in 1994, he skewered the team based in the same city as the Hall of Fame.

"Maybe the Leafs should get us," Lowe said with a grin before adding, "I just couldn't resist."

Kim St-Pierre

Position: Goaltender
Achievements: First female netminder inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Three-time Olympic gold medalist (2002, 2006, 2010), five-time World Championship gold medalist (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007) two-time Clarkson Cup winner (2009, 2011).

St-Pierre emphasized how honored she was to be joining the other seven women who are already enshrined.

"I feel really proud to be a part of this group that demonstrates that we as women continuously shatter the glass ceiling to be part of this history and impact the future," she said.

Doug Wilson

Position: Defenseman
Career statistics: 237 goals and 590 assists in 1,024 games
Achievements: Norris Trophy winner (1982), led all Blackhawks in scoring for 10 consecutive seasons (1980-81 to 1990-91), holds the fourth-highest single-season goal total by a blue-liner in NHL history (39).
Teams: Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks

Wilson was inducted by Hall of Fame honored member and legendary former Ottawa 67s bench boss Brian Kilrea, who coached Wilson before the rearguard starred in the NHL. Wilson heaped praise on Kilrea for his versatile tutelage while standing with him on stage.

"He was more than a coach. He was a teacher of life," Wilson said.

Builder

Ken Holland

Achievements: Four-time Stanley Cup winner as an executive - three as a general manager (1998, 2002, 2008) - and one of five GMs in NHL history to guide his teams to more than 1,000 regular-season wins.
Teams: Red Wings, Oilers

Holland offered a partially self-deprecating but clearly accurate observation about his success as an executive.

"Hockey has been very good to me after I stopped trying to play it," he said.

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It's crazy how fast things can change.

We're a hair over a month into the 2021-22 NHL season and the landscape of the league is drastically different than it was expected to be.

Shockingly, each division leader entered the season with +350 odds - or longer - of claiming the crown. The Minnesota Wild (+800 then; +260 now) are the biggest risers, but there's no shortage of them.

Let's take a look at how each division is shaping up and where the value may sit moving forward.

Atlantic Division

The Florida Panthers are rightfully the biggest riser, but I think the movement was a little too drastic. The Panthers are only two points clear of the Toronto Maple Leafs - and three clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning, should they maintain their current pace in points per game - while getting unsustainably good goaltending from starter Sergei Bobrovsky. It's very encouraging that he looks to have turned back the clock, but he's not going to post a .940 save percentage forever. When he regresses, Florida's small lead might disappear.

I actually think the value lies with Toronto here. The Leafs have looked dominant at five-on-five this season, controlling better than 55% of the expected goals. Only the Minnesota Wild rank ahead of them in that regard. As mentioned, Toronto is just two points back of the Panthers, and that's while sitting 28th in shooting percentage; that's unlikely to continue with all the firepower the team possesses. Despite their strong play, the Leafs' implied chance of winning the division is lower than it was when the season started. Take advantage of that.

Metro Division

The Carolina Hurricanes are off to a remarkable 11-2-0 start, which has them sitting atop the league in points percentage. As such, their implied chances of winning the Metro have risen 15%. Rightfully so. Their underlying profile looks very strong, with the Hurricanes sitting third in Corsi For percentage and eighth in high-danger chance percentage. They're a very good team. The big question mark was goaltending, and yet they lead the league in save percentage a season after finishing third with a completely different tandem. It may just be Carolina plays a style conducive to goaltending success.

All that said, the Capitals were the team we isolated as the best bet prior to the season, and the odds have shifted in our favor since. They're tied with Carolina in raw points, they have a very strong goal differential, and they've piled up the points even without Nicklas Backstrom and, more recently, T.J. Oshie due to injury. The Caps are hanging around just fine, and there are reinforcements on the way. At this point, they look like the only real challengers for Carolina.

Pacific Division

With respect to the Anaheim Ducks, who've played very well thus far, I think this is shaping up to be a three-horse race. The Edmonton Oilers own a 11-3-0 record and, at times, have looked unbeatable due to the dominance of their superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The level of play they've reached on a consistent basis has risen the team to heights not thought to be possible. While the Oilers still have flaws - their bottom six gives a lot back at five-on-five - it might just be possible for their big guns to outscore their problems.

I see real value on the Vegas Golden Knights here, though. They've kept themselves within striking distance despite an almost unfathomable amount of injuries. Their best player, Mark Stone, is finally healthy again, and more help will be coming as time passes. This team is going to get better and better, which is a scary thought considering Vegas is only four points back of Edmonton despite using what feels like half of its AHL lineup on a nightly basis.

While I probably wouldn't jump on the Calgary Flames at a high point, I'm very happy holding a ticket for the team I deemed the best value prior to the season. They're top five in Corsi and expected goals at five-on-five. Their special teams are very good, and Jacob Markstrom has looked the part of a Vezina contender. There doesn't appear to be a single glaring weakness with this team, which leads me to believe their strong start isn't smoke and mirrors.

Central Division

What a difference a month makes. The Avalanche were massive division favorites, given an implied chance of 77.4% to win the Central.

Fast forward just over 30 days and the Avalanche - favored to win the Presidents' Trophy - sit fifth in their own division. Making matters worse is the Avs, who've dealt with plenty of injury concerns, will be without Nathan MacKinnon for the foreseeable future. They're getting healthier, especially on defense, but I think the odds are about where they should be. While they're the team most likely to prevail, the race is more open than expected.

Minnesota has a very real chance of claiming the crown. No team has controlled a larger share of the expected goals at five-on-five than the Central leaders. That's encouraging. The Wild figure to benefit from better goaltending moving forward as well; the same tandem that currently ranks 28th in five-on-five save percentage slotted 14th a season ago.

I also feel good about the Winnipeg Jets, who were our best bet prior to the campaign. A rejuvenated Pierre-Luc Dubois has helped breathe life into an already potent offense, and the Jets have a chance every night with Connor Hellebuyck in net.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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The Ottawa Senators won't play their next three scheduled games against the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers because of a COVID-19 outbreak, the NHL announced Monday.

Associate coach Jack Capuano and 10 players are currently in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.

The move marks the first time this season that the league has had to postpone contests due to the pandemic.

The NHL could delay more games if the Senators' positive cases continue to rise, but their clash against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 22 remains scheduled, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

Ottawa has been forced to cancel four straight practices. The NHL added in its announcement that the Senators' training facilities have been closed and the league is currently in the process of reviewing the team's regular-season schedule.

The decision was made in conjunction with the NHLPA and team medical groups.

Drake Batherson was the 10th player to join the protocol when the Sens ruled him out before their Sunday matchup against the Calgary Flames.

The shorthanded Ottawa squad is also missing forwards Austin Watson, Connor Brown, Dylan Gambrell, and Alex Formenton, defensemen Nick Golden, Josh Brown, Nikita Zaitsev, and Victor Mete, as well as goaltender Matt Murray.

A player being in COVID-19 protocol isn't necessarily indicative of a positive test.

The Sens are last in the Atlantic Division with a 4-10-1 record.

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby won't face supplementary discipline from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for throwing Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary against the boards during Sunday's game, reports the Washington Post's Samantha Pell.

The incident occurred early in the third period. The Penguins were down 5-1 and Crosby seemed to take his frustrations out on the Capitals youngster. The two players got tangled up before Crosby grabbed Fehervary and tossed him aside. There was no penalty called on the play.

Fehervary didn't have much to say about it after the game, which ended up being a 6-1 victory for Washington.

"Yeah, I don't know. I don't even know what should I talk about it. I don't care. We'll see next game," Fehervary said, according to JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington.

After recovering from offseason wrist surgery and spending time on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list, Crosby has suited up for just two games so far this season and has yet to register a point.

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Reinforcements are on the way for the St. Louis Blues' blue line.

Defenseman Scott Perunovich has been recalled from the team's AHL affiliate, general manager Doug Armstrong announced Monday.

The Blues selected Perunovich in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old is tied for the AHL's scoring lead with 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in 12 games during his first taste of action with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Perunovich missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Prior to the start of his professional career, Perunovich was a force at the collegiate level. He spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and captured back-to-back NCAA titles in 2018 and 2019. He took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player in 2020.

The Blues have recently run into some trouble on the back end. Defensemen Torey Krug and Niko Mikkola each missed their fifth straight game in COVID-19 protocol Sunday.

St. Louis also assigned goaltender Joel Hofer, forward Dakota Joshua, and defenseman Calle Rosen to the Thunderbirds on Monday.

The Blues are fourth in the Central Division with an 8-4-2 record. They'll host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.

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