Lundqvist, Ouellette, Hitchcock lead Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023

The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced their class for the 2023 induction ceremony.

Goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Barrasso, & Mike Vernon, forwards Pierre Turgeon & Caroline Ouellette, head coach Ken Hitchcock, and general manager Pierre Lacroix all make up this year’s class, with the latter two entering as builders.

Lundqvist spent the entirety of his career with the New York Rangers, playing 887 games over the course of 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. In that span, he had 459 wins, which is the sixth most all-time, 64 shutouts, which is the 17th most all-time, and a career save percentage of .918, which is eighth all-time among goalies with 300 games played, including eight seasons with a .920 save percentage or higher, along with 61 wins, 10 shutouts, and a .921 save percentage in 130 playoff games. He also won the Vezina trophy in 2011-12, when he had a 39-18-5 record, eight shutouts, and a .929 save percentage.

Barrasso spent 19 seasons from 1983 to 2003 in the NHL, playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues. Over 777 games, he had 369 wins and 40 shutouts, along with 61 wins and 6 shutouts in 119 playoff games. He won the Calder and Vezina trophy in 1984, a William M. Jennings Trophy in 1985, and two Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992.

Turgeon spent 19 seasons from 1987 to 2007 in the NHL, playing for the Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Blues, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche. Over 1,294 games, he scored 515 goals, 812 assists, and 1,327 points, as well as 35 goals, 62 assists, and 97 points in 109 playoff games. He won the Lady Byng trophy in 1992-93, a year where he also had a career-high 58 goals, 74 assists, and 132 points in 83 games.

Vernon spent 19 seasons from 1982 to 2002 in the NHL, playing for the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers. Over 781 games, he had 385 wins and 27 shutouts, along with 77 wins and 6 shutouts in 138 career playoff games. He won the William M. Jennings trophy in 1995-96, and the Stanley Cup twice in 1989 and 1997, with the latter Cup win also seeing him be awarded the Conn Smythe trophy.

Ouellette spent 14 seasons across the WWHL, NWHL, and CWHL, with 217 goals, 281 assists, and 498 points in 269 games. She also had a very successful international career, with 34 goals, 64 assists, and 98 points in 79 games between the Olympics and World Women’s Championship, capturing four Olympic gold medals, six World Championship gold medals, and six World Championship silver medals.

Hitchcock was a head coach for 22 seasons in the NHL, coaching the Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. Over the course of 1,598 games coached, he amassed a record of 849-534-88-127, and made the playoffs 14 times, winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Stars. He won the Jack Adams award in 2012, and ranks fourth all-time in wins among coaches.

Lacroix was a general manager for the Quebec Nordiques and then the Colorado Avalanche when they relocated from 1994 to 2006, and then became the President from 2006 to 2013 before spending one final season with the Avalanche in 2013-14 as a Senior Advisor. The Avalanche won two Stanley Cups under his watch in 1996 and 2001, and had a record of 473-259-106-30 as the general manager, never missing the playoffs in the span.