Toews Locks In 2029 Hall of Fame Class

Jonathan Toews announced his NHL retirement on Friday, joining Anze Kopitar as a near-certain 2029 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

Toews’ resume secures first-ballot status

Toews won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He captured the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010 and the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2013. Those achievements alone place him among the elite two-way centers of his generation.

The Blackhawks captain recorded 372 goals and 511 assists over 1,067 regular-season games. His playoff totals reached 71 points in 134 games, underscoring consistent postseason production across three championship runs.

Toews earned two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014. The combination of NHL hardware and international success mirrors the career profiles of recent first-ballot inductees.

Kopitar joins Toews as automatic selection

Anze Kopitar announced his retirement alongside Toews and enters the 2029 ballot with two Stanley Cups won in 2012 and 2014. He claimed the Selke Trophy in both 2016 and 2018 while accumulating more than 1,100 points.

Kopitar’s 15 seasons as an elite two-way forward align directly with Toews’ profile. Their simultaneous eligibility creates an obvious pairing for the selection committee.

Potential additions elevate the class further

Jaromir Jagr and Alex Ovechkin could retire before the 2026-27 season begins. Should both players step away this summer the 2029 ballot would contain four players who won a combined 15 Stanley Cups.

The selection committee would face its shortest meeting in decades. No other modern class has featured four first-ballot candidates of this caliber in a single year.