Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
This weekend in Toronto, the seven inductees of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will be honored through a weekend-long string of events, culminating in the induction ceremony at the Hall on Nov. 11.
Although Russian superstar Pavel Datsyuk headlines the player category for this class, American talent steals the spotlight with Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell and Jeremy Roenick all joining the Hall.
It’s also a big weekend for Nashville Predators fans, as longtime defenseman Shea Weber and the general manager who drafted him, David Poile, are also in.
Joining the players in 2024 in the builder class are two of the most accomplished hockey executives, the previously mentioned Poile as well as Colin Campbell, both of whom have left their mark on the NHL for more than five decades.
Here’s an overview of the inductees:
Players
Pavel Datsyuk
A first-year eligible selection after retiring from the KHL, the “Magic Man” amassed two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng and three Selke trophies across his 953 NHL games, in which he scored 918 points.
Throw in Olympic gold in 2018 and bronze in 2002 and it’s no wonder the 46-year-old got the call so soon. He also captured the Gagarin Cup in 2017, joining a rare club of KHL champions to have also won the Stanley Cup.
Datsyuk will always be remembered for his creativity and vision on the ice, which led to him becoming a fixture on the weekly highlight reels of the late 2000s and early 2010s. He terrorized goalies with his elite skill set while managing to be one of the most defensively responsible forwards in the NHL.
In June, Datsyuk considered himself a “lucky boy” to be inducted into the Hall.
Natalie Darwitz
Also being inducted in her first year of eligibility, Darwitz was a slam-dunk choice. Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl are the first two women to be inducted in a single class since 2010.
Darwitz is one of the most distinguished American women’s hockey players, with two Olympic silver medals and a bronze, as well as three World Championship golds and two Four Nations Cup golds. In Olympic play, she had a knack for showing up when it mattered most, piling up 25 points across 15 games.
She also dominated the NCAA with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, leading her team alongside Wendell-Pohl to consecutive national championships in 2004 and 2005. In her final college season, Darwitz racked up 114 points in 40 games.
Since retiring from hockey, Darwitz went on to become the first general manager of the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost, guiding them to the first-ever Walter Cup championship.
Jeremy Roenick
Roenick has waited much longer than his fellow inductees for the Hall’s call, as he’s been eligible for 12 years.
Nonetheless, Roenick’s resume of 1,216 NHL points, good for fifth all-time among American players, in 1,363 games is Hall-worthy.
Roenick also represented the U.S. at the 1988 and 1989 World Junior Championships, the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1998 and 2002 Olympics, earning a silver medal.
While his explosive and dominating play for the Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes captivated fans through the 90s, the 54-year-old was known for his larger-than-life personality and love for the game.
Krissy Wendell-Pohl
Not to be outshined by her college and national teammate Darwitz, Wendell-Pohl also dominated on every stage she played.
In addition to winning consecutive national championships with the Golden Gophers, she took home the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2005 with 104 points in 40 games.
She went on to captain Team USA and has Olympic silver and bronze to her name, as well as a World Championship gold medal. Her 2.03 points-per-game mark in the World Championships ranks second all-time among Americans, and she was named MVP in the United States’ first-ever World Championship win in 2005.
Shea Weber
Part of the vaunted 2003 NHL draft class, Weber is a champion of the WHL, Memorial Cup, World Juniors, World Championships and the Olympics. Although he never lifted the Stanley Cup, the longtime Nashville captain was a cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens’ Cinderella run to the final in 2021, where he also served as captain.
Known for his blistering slapshot from the blueline, Weber was one of the most feared and respected defenders during his 16-season NHL career and was a Norris Trophy finalist three times.
Builders
Colin Campbell
Campbell is one of the longest-serving executives in NHL history, serving as the senior executive vice-president of the NHL’s hockey operations, officiating and central scouting departments.
Before that, Campbell played 636 NHL games as a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Rockies, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings.
He went on to win the Stanley Cup as an associate coach with the New York Rangers in 1994.
David Poile
The winningest GM in NHL history, Poile retired in 2023 after 3,075 games as GM 1,533 wins, surpassing Glen Sather’s records.
After guiding the Washington Capitals from basement dwellers in the early 80s to perennial playoff contenders into the late 90s, Poile served as the Predators’ only GM from their expansion in 1998 until his retirement in 2023.
He unearthed great talents like Weber and Pekka Rinne through the draft and made shrewd trades to acquire franchise cornerstones like Filip Forsberg. Under his management, the Predators made 14 playoff appearances and won two division titles and a Presidents’ Trophy.
He won the General Manager of the Year Award in 2017 following Nashville’s first and only finals appearance.
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