Super 16: Canucks on rise; Ducks, Jets enter rankings

The Hockey Hall of Fame will induct seven members Monday night, with Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Ouelette, Ken Hitchcock and Pierre Lacroix (posthumously) getting their plaques up in the Great Hall.

There are many current players who project to one day be Hockey Hall of Famers themselves, some of whom are playing for teams ranked in this week's Super 16.

If you haven't put it together by now, the Super 16 this week has a Hall of Fame theme.

Yes, the rankings are what they are for where we are, about a month into the season.

The Vegas Golden Knights still are No. 1, unanimously. The top four, in fact, remain unchanged from last week. The Vancouver Canucks are hot and are up three spots to No. 5. The Detroit Red Wings have gone cold and have dropped five spots to No. 14. The Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets are in, replacing the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens.

But Hall of Fame Weekend celebrations begin Friday and culminate with the induction ceremony, so we asked the writers who vote weekly for the Super 16 to select the future Hall of Famer from each team that is ranked, with reasons given, of course.

Read on for more, but as a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the voters put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the Super 16.

1. Vegas Golden Knights (12-2-1)

Total points: 208
Last week: No. 1

"Vegas plays such a strong team game that it's hard to lock into one individual. But if I'm forecasting for the Hall of Fame, I'm looking first at Mark Stone. Leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup last season was the latest line on a resume that includes seven 20-goal seasons and a well-earned reputation as one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. The Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward in the League, generally has gone to the best defensive center, but Stone has been the rare wing who has been a finalist twice, finishing second in 2019 and third in 2021. At 31 years old, Stone is far from done. With 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 15 games, he is third on Vegas, which again looks like a top Cup contender. Another championship, a few more 20-goal seasons, and we'll be talking about Stone getting fit for his Hall of Fame blazer." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

2. Boston Bruins (11-1-1)

Total points: 195
Last week: No. 2

"This exercise would have been a lot easier last season when I could have written Patrice Bergeron's name down, in ink. To me, there are two top contenders now: Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. And, though I think there's a solid chance they both make it, I'm arguing for Pastrnak. The 27-year-old forward has 637 points (311 goals, 326 assists) in 605 NHL games, already 11th in Bruins history, and eighth in goals. He has been to the NHL All-Star Game three times and won the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2020 as the NHL goals leader, sharing it with Alex Ovechkin. He's scored 60 goals in a season, getting 61 in 2022-23, and has played in a Stanley Cup Final (2019). His career numbers line up well with those of current and future Hall of Famers, and he should have plenty of time to try for a Stanley Cup championship on a team like the Bruins. He's not a slam dunk, but Pastrnak is well on his way." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

3. Colorado Avalanche (8-4-0)

Total points: 167
Last week: No. 3

"Do I think Nathan MacKinnon is a Hall of Famer? You bet. But the veteran forward is not the most deserving player on the team. That honor, when it is all said and done, will go to defenseman Cale Makar The 25-year-old is in his fifth NHL season and has 261 points (68 goals, 193 points) through 250 games. Do you know how many defensemen other than Makar have played 240 or more games in this league and averaged more than a point per game? Two! Bobby Orr (1.39) and Paul Coffey (1.09). That's it. That's the list. Makar already has won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL once (2022) and should add a few more to his mantle in the near future. He also has won the Stanley Cup (2022) and, with the powerful Avalanche, could add to that collection. There is not a more dynamic defenseman in the NHL at the moment, and Makar has not hit his prime yet." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

4. New York Rangers (10-2-1)

Total points: 166
Last week: No. 4

"The obvious answer is Jonathan Quick. The goalie is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, including twice as the No. 1 for the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. He also won as the backup for the Golden Knights last season. For his NHL career, Quick has 378 wins, a 2.46 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and 59 shutouts in 758 games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the postseason he has 49 wins, a 2.31 GAA, a .921 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 92 games. The inductions this year of Vernon and Barrasso should pave the way for a goalie like Quick to get into the Hall too. He has better career numbers than both." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

5. Vancouver Canucks (10-2-1)

Total points: 157
Last week: No. 8

"Quinn Hughes has the potential to become a member of the Hall of Fame one day. The defenseman, who was named captain prior to this season, is not just having another strong season, he’s on pace for a whopping 136 points, which would be the third-most by a defenseman in NHL history. Bobby Orr had 139 points (37 goals, 102 assists) for the Boston Bruins in 1970-71, and Paul Coffey had 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) for the Edmonton Oilers in 1985-86. Through 13 games, the 24-year-old is the highest-scoring defenseman in the NHL with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists). In his sixth NHL season, he can be considered among the League's elite defensemen and is an early candidate for the Norris Trophy. If Hughes continues on this trajectory and can help Vancouver become elite, it would put him in Hall of Fame consideration." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

6. Dallas Stars (8-3-1)

Total points: 137
Last week: No. 5

"I'm torn between two here, but I'm leaning toward their great defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, as a future Hockey Hall of Fame candidate. First, I have to remind myself that he's only 24 years old and he's pretty much been a top defenseman in the NHL every season since entering the League in 2018-19. He's reliable. He's smart. He can play a ton of minutes, be it in the regular season or playoffs. He has 211 points (45 goals, 166 assists) in 366 games, all with Dallas, and set NHL career highs in points (73) and assists (62) last season. He should be getting more Norris Trophy attention every season, but that's another rant for another time. My runner-up? Joe Pavelski. Look at what he has done in his NHL career (1,012 points; 454 goals, 558 assists in 1,261 games), and at what he's still doing at 39 years old; he leads the Stars with 12 points (five goals, seven assists), and then remember he was a seventh-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft. Yes, I know, no Stanley Cup championship or individual hardware, but an impressive career (that's still going) nonetheless." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

7. Los Angeles Kings (8-2-3)

Total points: 136
Last week: No. 7

"Los Angeles has two no-brainer Hall of Fame candidates in Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, both lifelong Kings. Are they both going to make it? Probably. Will either of them get invited in their first year of eligibility? My guess -- probably not. Kopitar, a Slovenian forward who was the first player from his country to play in the NHL, arguably is the greatest Kings player of all-time (Wayne Gretzky's eight-season stint aside) and has done everything that could be asked of a future Hall of Famer. He almost certainly will end up with more than 400 goals and 1,200 points (he scored No. 400 Wednesday and has 1,155 points), and could get as high as 1,300. Kopitar is a four-time Selke Trophy finalist and won it twice (2016, 2018). He is a three-time finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for skill and sportsmanship, winning it in 2016 and 2023; was a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player in 2018; and is a five-time All-Star Game selection. Most importantly, he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014). So is Doughty, who has won two Olympic gold medals (2010 Vancouver; 2014 Sochi), won the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and the Norris Trophy (2016), and has a reputation as of one of the best defensemen of his era. The only obstacle for both legends will be the crazy competition in their generation. Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Kane, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and Carey Price are just some others who should become eligible around the same time." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

8. New Jersey Devils (7-5-1)

Total points: 116
Last week: No. 6

"There are three players on the current roster who I think could one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame -- forwards Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, and defenseman Luke Hughes. I think many would agree Hischier and Jack Hughes aren't too far-fetched. I expect Hischier, New Jersey's captain, to win at least one Selke Trophy. Jack Hughes is on the fast track to earning more than one Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer in the NHL) and Hart Trophy in his career. Luke Hughes, the younger brother of Jack and Quinn Hughes, is my big projection. He's already proving to be a huge asset as a 20-year-old, and will learn even more as he matures and grows, as did his brothers. Once Luke grasps how effective he can be from a defensive standpoint, he could turn out to be the best of the Hughes bunch because of his size (6-foot-2, 184 pounds), skating and pedigree." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

9. Carolina Hurricanes (8-6-0)

Total points: 96
Last week: No. 11

"The Hurricanes could have a few current players make the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Sebastian Aho and Jaccob Slavin, and coach Rod Brind’Amour might eventually get his due as a player too. But Brent Burns is the closest thing to a lock they have. Burns could make the Hall for his beard alone, but he has the resume for it, too. He won the Norris Trophy with the San Jose Sharks in 2016-17, when he led NHL defensemen in goals (29) and points (76). He also was a finalist for the Norris in 2016 and 2019, made the NHL First All-Star Team in 2017 and 2019, and made the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2016. The 38-year-old is 15th in NHL history among defensemen with 842 points (247 goals, 595 assists), two behind Gary Suter for 14th. Suter is the only one of the 14 defensemen ahead of Burns who isn't in the Hall of Fame. Burns is tied with Brian Leetch for 10th in goals. All nine ahead of them are in the Hall of Fame, as is Leetch." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-4-4)

Total points: 91
Last week: No. 12

"The Lightning could be the only current team with more than three players on track to make the Hall of Fame. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov are well on their way, but if I had to pick one lock right now, it would be Stamkos. The forward is Tampa Bay’s all-time leader in goals (520) and points (1,071), and is second in games played with 1,015 (Vincent Lecavalier, 1,037) and assists with 551 (Martin St. Louis, 588), though he could become the leader in those categories before the season ends with 22 more games and 38 more assists. He's been the face of the franchise since he was selected No. 1 in the 2008 NHL Draft and was the Lightning captain for Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021." -- David Satriano, staff writer

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-2)

Total points: 66
Last week: No. 10

"When it comes to future Hall of Famers on the current Maple Leafs roster, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews are certainly en route. In Matthews’ case, the center could end up having the most goals in Maple Leafs history by age 30. This season alone he has three hat tricks in his first 13 games, and the 26-year-old already has 312 goals in 495 NHL games. The Toronto record for goals is 420 by Mats Sundin. Just seems like a matter of time, doesn't it? Of note: Center John Tavares might get serious consideration as well when all is said and done." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

12. Florida Panthers (8-4-1)

Total points: 59
Last week: No. 15

"Aleksander Barkov has gone from most underrated player in the NHL to the Panthers player who is the most likely to one day get his plaque in the Hall of Fame. The center is Florida's all-time leader in games played (676), goals (248) and points (645). He has 397 assists, 18 shy of Jonathan Huberdeau's team record of 415. So at some point this season, he should become Florida's all-time assist leader as well. Barkov has the individual hardware, winning the Selke Trophy in 2020-21 and the Lady Byng Trophy in 2018-19. He is a perennial favorite for the Selke and it wouldn't be surprising if he won it one or two more times. He guided the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final last season. He's a leader, an elite two-way player, and a franchise icon. He checks a lot of boxes already." -- Rosen

13. Anaheim Ducks (7-6-0)

Total points: 45
Last week: Unranked

"This would have been a lot easier a few years ago -- Ryan Getzlaf, slam dunk. But Getzlaf has been retired since the end of the 2021-22 season. So let's go with the player who could be the next Getzlaf for the Ducks: rookie forward Leo Carlsson. We're talking two decades from now, but if Carlsson delivers on his potential and the projections the Ducks have for him as the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, then he could follow Getzlaf into the Hall one day (assuming Getzlaf gets there, which he should). Carlsson (6-foot-3, 194 pounds) is a big, powerful center. He reminds me of Kopitar or Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins in that he can use his size to protect the puck and his skating to create, and he's strong in the two-way game. Carlsson's NHL career is just getting started, but the potential for greatness is there." -- Rosen

14. Detroit Red Wings (7-5-2)

Total points: 41
Last week: No. 9

"Moritz Seider obviously has a long, long way to go to make the Hall of Fame, but among the players on the Red Wings, he has the best shot if you project well into the future. The defenseman was the No. 6 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. He won the Calder Trophy when he was voted NHL rookie of the year in 2021-22, so he already has one major individual award. The 22-year-old has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 14 games this season, tied for sixth among NHL defensemen. Can he put up bigger numbers? Become more dominant defensively? Evolve into more of a leader? Help Detroit return to the playoffs and even hoist the Cup again?" -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

15. New York Islanders (5-4-3)

Total points: 39
Last week: No. 14

"There is no current member of the Islanders who is a lock to one day enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, nor is there one currently in the conversation. But if he continues on this trajectory over the next decade, goalie Ilya Sorokin has a chance to be there one day. The 28-year-old got a late start to his NHL career, but he had 16 shutouts during his first three seasons, including a League-leading six in 2022-23, when he represented New York at the All-Star Game and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL. He has a long way to go, but Sorokin is playing at an elite level and has the ability to do so for years to come." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

16. Winnipeg Jets (7-4-2)

Total points: 33
Last week: Unranked

"Connor Hellebuyck will need to add a Stanley Cup championship to his resume, but the Hall of Fame class for this year should give the Jets goalie hope that he one day could wind up enshrined in Toronto. Hellebuyck has 244 wins, 32 shutouts, a 2.67 GAA and .916 save percentage in 455 NHL games, all with Winnipeg. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2019-20. He's 30 years old. He could have another 10 years left in his career, maybe slightly less. Vernon had 385 wins and 27 shutouts in 782 games. Barrasso won 369 games and had 38 shutouts in 777 games. Hellebuyck's numbers will be comparable, if not better, when his career is over. Vernon and Barrasso won the Stanley Cup twice each. Hellebuyck has yet to sniff it. That has to change." -- Rosen

Others receiving points: Minnesota Wild 7, Arizona Coyotes 7, St. Louis Blues 1, Buffalo Sabres 1

Dropped out from last week: Wild (No. 13), Montreal Canadiens (No. 16)

New Amsterdam Game of the Week 

Each week, NHL.com will highlight one game that features two teams in the Super 16. This week, it's the Carolina Hurricanes at the Florida Panthers on Friday (7 p.m. ET: BSSO, BSFL). 

The last time these two teams met, the Panthers were finishing off a sweep of the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, taking the final step in their improbable playoff run last season while ending the Hurricanes' dream of the Stanley Cup. Each team comes into the game on a two-game winning streak so something will have to give.

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED ’EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. New York Islanders; 10. Detroit Red Wings; 11. Carolina Hurricanes; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Toronto Maple Leafs; 16. Winnipeg Jets

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vancouver Canucks; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Toronto Maple Leafs; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Carolina Hurricanes; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. New York Islanders

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vancouver Canucks; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Toronto Maple Leafs; 16. Detroit Red Wings

TOM GULITTI 

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Toronto Maple Leafs; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Detroit Red Wings

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Carolina Hurricanes; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Florida Panthers

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Los Angeles Kings; 4. Florida Panthers; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Vancouver Canucks; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Carolina Hurricanes; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. St. Louis Blues

TRACEY MYERS

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Vancouver Canucks; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Arizona Coyotes; 16. Anaheim Ducks

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. New York Rangers; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Vancouver Canucks; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Buffalo Sabres

DAN ROSEN

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Vancouver Canucks; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Arizona Coyotes

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Vancouver Canucks; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. Toronto Maple Leafs; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Arizona Coyotes

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vancouver Canucks; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Toronto Maple Leafs; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Detroit Red Wings

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Vancouver Canucks; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. New York Rangers; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Toronto Maple Leafs; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Arizona Coyotes; 16. Florida Panthers

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Vancouver Canucks; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. Carolina Hurricanes; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Arizona Coyotes