http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/Maki ... ase-040210Where is the cutoff when it comes to Hall eligibility and retirement? I assume Sakic and Sundin are separate from Modano (assuming he retires this offseason) but I'm just not 100% certain since both took their sweet time before finally announcing it.
That being said I don't think there's a ton of doubt that Heroin Mike should be a first-ballot HOFer. The argument that he didn't wear the "C" in Dallas when they won it all (and was summarily stripped of it later on in a most embarrassing fashion) is, to me, just plain silly.
So far these look like the top candidates for the Class of 2013 (assuming Sakic and Sundin are 2012):
Teemu Selanne
Mike Modano
Chris Chelios
Nicklas Lidstrom (???)
Scott Niedermayer
Should Lids retire (actually about the only guy we can guarantee walking away is Selanne) then it's possible Mo doesn't get in his first time. Oh well, dude made millions playing hockey, won the Stanley Cup, got to bang any woman he wanted, and comes home to Willa Ford every day. I think he'll be fine regardless.