The 2024 Hockey Hall Of Fame Class Might Have The Sickest Highlight Reel

We've got some new inductees headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and unlike the latest crop of Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees, everyone on the list is well-deserving of hockey immortality.

Former executives Colin Campbell and David Poile will be inducted in the builder category, while women's greats Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl will also make their way to Toronto.

As for NHL players getting the nod this year, there are three: Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, and Shea Weber.

When I saw this list, my first thought was that between the three of them, this may be the Hall of Fame class with the best collective highlight reel on record.

Let's take a walk down memory lane at some of their greatest hits.

Pavel Datsyuk

Pavel Datsyuk is a Stanley Cup champion, an Olympic gold medalist, a three-time Selke, winner, and now a Hall-of-Famer, so he's by no means "underrated," but I do feel like we sometimes don't fully appreciate how unbelievable he was.

I mean, they didn't call him "the Magic Man" for nothing. The guy had some of the silkiest mitts that the NHL has ever seen and is regarded as one of the most creative players to ever lace up a pair of skates.

There are lots of compilations of Datsyuk clips, but here's a taste.

Like the time he made Logan Couture look wobblier than a newborn deer.

Then there's this gem that to this day is one of the filthiest shootout goals I've ever seen. 

I mean, that's just so good it's insulting.

He wasn't afraid to get physical either. Here he is laying a brutal reverse hit on HHOF classmate Shea Weber that might knock the wind out of you.

Datsyuk spent his whole NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings (although he did get paid by the Arizona Coyotes for a bit), and wrapped up his Hall of Fame career in the KHL.

Jeremy Roenick

I'm pumped about this one. 

JR was one of my favorite players growing up. I was supposed to meet him at the 2004 Flyers Wives Carnival and get a photo, but like two weeks before that he got blasted in the chops with a slapshot and was understandably not in picture-taking shape.

The man had a phenomenal career with the Blackhawks, Coyotes, Flyers, Kings, and Sharks.

I might be a little biased, but one of my favorite JR moments was this beauty from Game 6 against the Leafs in 2004 that sent the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Final.

I still feel bad for Sami Kapanen getting obliterated by Darcy Tucker, but what a moment. That goal also kickstarted the Leafs' postseason series losing streak which wasn't snapped until just last season.

It's always great to see an American head to the Hall of Fame and Roenick is one of the best American-born players ever.

Shea Weber

If any selection surprised it was this one, just ever so slightly. 

Weber is for sure deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame, I'm just surprised it happened this fast considering he last played during the 2020-21 season which saw him lead the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Weber was an incredibly solid defenseman who was a Norris candidate a bunch of times, but he's best remembered for that artillery cannon of a slapshot he had.

Here it is in a game.

That's one of the hardest, heaviest shots in league history and that alone is HHOF worthy.

After his stint in Montreal, Weber's contract was traded to the Golden Knights, but he never played for them. Vegas then shipped his contract to — would you believe? — the Arizona Coyotes.

That's right: Just after the Coyotes closed up shop, all three NHL players being inducted into the Hall of Fame were on their payroll at some point.