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The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is one of the most celebrated and talent-rich in recent memory. On Tuesday, the Hall announced the induction of Alexander Mogilny, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Duncan Keith, Jennifer Botterill, and Brianna Decker. Joining them in the Builders category are legendary Boston University coach Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau, the groundbreaking Canadian women's hockey executive and coach, who becomes the first woman ever inducted as a builder.
Alexander Mogilny finally earns his long-awaited Hall of Fame recognition after being eligible since 2009. Mogilny, a trailblazer for Russian players, became the first Soviet draftee to defect and play in the NHL, breaking political barriers in the late 1980s. Over his career with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs, he amassed 1,032 points in 990 games and claimed membership in the elite Triple Gold Club with a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and World Championship title.
Zdeno Chara, a dominant presence on the blue line for over two decades, enters in his first year of eligibility. The towering Slovakian defenseman holds the NHL record for most games played by a defenseman (1,680) and was a key figure for the Islanders, Senators, Bruins, and Capitals. Chara won the Norris Trophy, appeared in seven All-Star Games, and captained the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011. Known for his physicality, defensive reliability, and blistering slap shot, Chara logged over 23 minutes per game during his storied career.
Joe Thornton, also a first-ballot inductee, leaves a legacy as one of the finest playmakers in NHL history. Selected first overall in 1997, Thornton starred for the Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Panthers. He ranks seventh all-time in assists (1,109) and 14th in total points (1,539). Thornton famously won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06 after being traded mid-season, becoming the only player in NHL history to do so. Despite never winning a Stanley Cup, his international resume includes Olympic and World Cup golds with Team Canada.
Duncan Keith rounds out the trio of first-time inductees, capping a career defined by winning. Spending nearly his entire career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Keith won three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies, and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He also captured two Olympic gold medals and earned a spot on the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players list. With 646 career points in 1,256 games and 91 more in the playoffs, Keith was one of the game's most reliable and consistent two-way defensemen.
Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker enter the Hall after distinguished international and collegiate careers. Botterill, a Canadian icon, earned three Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles, and remains sixth all-time in World Championship scoring for Canada. She starred at Harvard, where she became the only player to twice win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the NCAA’s top player.
Decker, a staple of the U.S. women’s program, won six World Championships and an Olympic gold. Her collegiate success at Wisconsin included a national title in 2011. Known for her skill, grit, and leadership, Decker was a cornerstone of Team USA’s success for over a decade.
Builder Category Honors Historic Contributors
Jack Parker, the longtime coach at Boston University, and Daniele Sauvageau, the current general manager of PWHL Montreal and a key figure in Canada’s women’s hockey rise, were inducted as builders. Sauvageau’s election marks a historic first as the Hall recognizes her immense contributions to the development and advancement of women’s hockey in Canada and globally.
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