The Hockey Hall of Fame immortalized six new names on Tuesday with the announcement of its 2018 class, and this year's inductees are headlined not only by no-brainers but those who have long deserved a permanent place in NHL history. From legendary goalies to cultural warriors, here is the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2018: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils The longtime New Jersey Devils goalie was considered the lock of the 2018 class in his first year of eligibility, and his resume explains why. Originally the 20th overall pick of the 1990 NHL Draft, Brodeur made his debut on the big stage a year later and never looked back, racking up the most wins (691) and shutouts (125) in league history. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner and three-time Hart Trophy nominee whose defense led the Devils to five Eastern Conference titles and a trio of Stanley Cup wins, he'll go down as one of the most steady goalies to ever play the game. Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning An underdog who went undrafted and was discarded by the Calgary Flames before catching on with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 5-foot-8 right winger finished his career as Tampa's all-time leader in points (953), assists (588), game-winning goals (64) and postseason points (68), helping the Lightning win it all in 2004. Productive well into his 30s, even earning the Art Ross Trophy at age 37 in 2013-14, St. Louis was regularly regarded as one of the NHL's best sports with three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies and posted six different 30-goal seasons in Tampa Bay before finishing with the New York Rangers. Alexander Yakushev One of the stars for the Soviet Union during Russia's bout with Canada in the famous Cold War-era 1972 Summit Series, Yakushev led his team with seven goals during those spotlighted exhibitions and later coached both the Kontinental Hockey League's Spartak Moscow and the Soviet national team. A former referee who worked prestigious events like the 1991 Canada Cup, he's considered among Russia's top historic hockey figures, taking the title of Soviet scoring champion in 1969. Willie O'Ree, Boston Bruins Inducted as a "builder" of hockey history, the 82-year-old O'Ree has been deserving of this for a long time. A winger in the Boston Bruins organization from 1957-1979, he didn't light up the stat sheet with just 45 games of NHL experience. But aside from overcoming one-eye blindness to last more than 20 years in the pros, he was also the Jackie Robinson of hockey, breaking the league's color barrier in 1958 as the first black player to suit up in the NHL. As CBS Sports' Pete Blackburn once noted, O'Ree has also been adding to his historic resume in the decades since: On top of tearing down the sport's color barrier and enduring the challenges that came with it, O'Ree has also served as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador for the past two decades. The league has enlisted him to spread a message that they've so often preached as a brand in recent years: "Hockey is for everyone." O'Ree finally gets the call to the Hall of Fame. Getty Images Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner The second of two "builders" in the 2018 class, Bettman has been the NHL's commissioner since 1993. The 66-year-old New York native has been a controversial figurehead for the league, overseeing the 2004-05 NHL lockout and two additional work stoppages, all while enduring critics who allege he's mismanaged the league's worldwide appeal. But he's also headlined the addition of seven teams to the NHL, including the 2017-18 Stanley Cup-contending Vegas Golden Knights, not to mention league-wide revenue increases. Jayna Hefford, Brampton Thunder The only female inductee of the 2018 class, Hefford finished her career in the National Women's Hockey League as the NWHL's all-time leading goal-scorer with 252 for the Brampton Thunder, then starred for the same team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League in between roles on five different women's ice hockey teams at the Winter Olympics. A Team Canada winger, she helped her country capture four gold medals (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) in addition to a silver at the 1998 Games.<doc-sep>Bill Kostroun/Associated Press Four-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur leads the six-person 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame class announced Tuesday. Brodeur will be joined at this year's induction ceremony by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Martin St. Louis, Willie O'Ree, Alexander Yakushev and Jayna Hefford. Brodeur, who played with the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues from 1993-2015, also won three Stanley Cup titles and is the NHL's all-time leader with 691 wins. The 66-year-old Bettman is the NHL's first commissioner, taking over the position in February 1993. The NHL has expanded from 24 teams to 30 in the past 25 years, with league profits hitting a record $4.43 billion for the 2016-17 season. After going undrafted out of the University of Vermont, St. Louis became one of the best players of his era. His greatest success came with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2000-14, including winning the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup title during the 2003-04 season. O'Ree became the NHL's first black player when he debuted for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. His NHL career only spanned 45 games over two seasons, but he's also served as director of youth development and ambassador for NHL diversity since 1998. Yakushev played for Spartak Moscow in the U.S.S.R. during his career. The Russian native won Olympic gold medals in 1972 and 1976. Video Play Button Videos you might like Hefford is one of the most decorated hockey players in history. She won five Olympic medals with Canada from 1998-2014, including four gold medals. The Ontario native scored the game-winning goal in the 2002 Olympics against the United States. The 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Nov. 12 in Toronto.<doc-sep>Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) The 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame class was named on Tuesday. The six-person group will include (gasp) Gary Bettman, Martin Brodeur, Jayna Hefford, Willie O’Ree, Martin St. Louis, and Alexander Yakushev. Brodeur, Hefford, St. Louis, and Yakushev were inducted under the players category, while O’Ree and Bettman were inducted as builders. Let’s take a look at each inductee. Gary Bettman – One of the most controversial figures in NHL history, Bettman has undeniably made a huge impact on the league and sport as a whole. Whether you like it or not. Yes, this opens up the distinct possibility that a Hall of Fame speech might draw boos, and the decision is getting roasted as expected on Twitter. Still, Bettman’s served as commissioner since 1993, seeing the NHL expand from a league of 24 teams to 31. There have been plenty of successes to go along with polarizing decisions; this induction reflects all of that. “This is not something I was focused on and I’m speechless and grateful to be included with this group,” Bettman said, via the HHOF. “I’m particularly honoured to be part of a class that includes Willie O’Ree.” Martin Brodeur – The true “no-brainer” of this class, Brodeur, the NHL’s all-time wins leader at 691. One could get as fatigued as Brodeur should have been as the New Jersey Devils’ workhorse goalie rattling off all of his records and milestones. Along with that wins record, Brodeur is tops all-time with a ridiculous 125 shutouts. Brodeur amassed eight 40-win seasons and won at least 30 games for 12 consecutive seasons. Brodeur won three Stanley Cups with the Devils. One might associate his career with the word “trap.” Along with helping the Devils concoct one of the most successful neutral-zone trap systems, Brodeur’s passing and puckhandling is credited/blamed with the league adopting “the trapezoid.” Jayna Hefford – From the women’s category, Hefford’s distinguished career includes four Olympic gold medals (plus a silver) and four championships at the IIHF World Championships. Hefford generated plenty of individual accolades, as well, as Team Canada notes in her profile: Hefford ranks third all-time in scoring and games played for Canada’s National Women’s Team. At Salt Lake City 2002, it was Hefford who scored the eventual gold medal-winning goal with just one second to play in the second period of the final against the United States. Amongst her other accolades, Hefford was named Top Forward at both the 2004 and 2005 IIHF Women’s World Championships. She was also named to the Media All-Star team at the 2004 Worlds. Willie O’Ree – This honor is long overdue. O’Ree broke the color barrier for the NHL when he suited up with the Boston Bruins in 1958, inspiring countless players. The first black player in league history only played 45 games at this level, but his legacy is incredibly important. It’s about time that he’s in the HHOF. A champion for many. ? Welcome to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Willie O’Ree. pic.twitter.com/3Ex8tabPkx — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 26, 2018 Martin St. Louis – He went undrafted, and that notorious Olympic snub coming off of a scoring title punched his ticket out of Tampa Bay. For much of his career, Martin St. Louis seemed to deal with slight after slight, yet now he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s easy to see why. St. Louis won one Stanley Cup, one Hart Trophy, two scoring titles, and was a prolific playoff performer. Even with “the clutch and grab” era diluting some of his numbers, St. Louis scored 391 goals and 1,033 points in 1,134 regular-season games. He also generated 90 points in 107 postseason contests. Combine those totals with an Olympic gold medal and you can’t ask for a much better resume, especially since he had to earn every chance he ever received. Martin St. Louis won’t need to kick down the door this time, though. Alexander Yakushev – The Russian hockey icon was “a lanky and elegant scoring machine” during his playing days, standing out during the iconic 1972 Summit Series. He’d go on to win two Olympic gold medals (1972 and 1976) and made an impact on hockey after his playing days ended, even serving as a referee. — James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.<doc-sep>There was a major milestone for the NHL with Tuesday's Hall of Fame induction announcement, with the first black player in NHL history Willie O'Ree being enshrined. However, another interesting person found his name being called, and it was a bit more surprising than O'Ree's: Current NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Since Bettman's reign as commissioner began in 1993, the NHL has had three lockouts: One in 1994 that cut the season in half, one in 2004 that cut off the entire season, and one in 2012, which also cut the season in half. He also made the decision to keep NHL players out of the 2018 Winter Olympics. With that in mind, Bettman is received by fans like this: Bettman gets booed everywhere he goes, with draft night in particular being a brutal display. He's not people's favorite person, and a few former players had something to say about his induction. But it wasn't all bad. The Great One himself -- Wayne Gretzky -- supports the induction (or at least thinks Bettman is trying). A few people also agree with Bettman's reputation as a "builder," despite his flaws. Other players, however, aren't as kind. One such player is former 10-year vet Daniel Carcillo, an outspoken advocate about head trauma that the NHL can cause that had the nickname "Car Bomb" during his playing days due to his vitriolic nature. Bettman's handling of concussion research in hockey is controversial to say the least, and Carcillo didn't hold back after the announcement. Sean Avery, who had stints with several NHL teams (most prominently the Rangers), was a bit more blunt in his evaluation. A few other hockey folks had thoughts. NHL fans were no more merciful to Bettman online than they are on draft night. Bettman's induction is undoubtedly controversial, and he'll certainly continue to be booed wherever he goes. However, the NHL clearly sees him as a builder, and someone worthy of recognition. His contributions to the business side can't be argued with. But the fan-facing side are where he's had issues in the past.<doc-sep>
The Hockey Hall of Fame will add six more names to its annals in November with a 2018 class that includes Martin Brodeur, Gary Bettman, Willie O'Ree and more. The NHL's all-time winningest goalie headlines the 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame class, announced on Tuesday afternoon. Martin Brodeur, who racked up NHL records in wins (691), shutouts (125), games played by a goaltender (1,266), saves (28,928) and minutes played (74,438) while winning three Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, was a pioneer of goalie puckhandling, acting almost a third defenseman to jumpstart the the breakout. He was so adept with the puck on his stick, in fact, that he racked up three goals over his career and is tied for second among netminders in scoring with 47 points. On his resume, Brodeur has the 1994 Calder Trophy, four Vezina Trophies and five Jennings Trophies to his credit as well as a pair of Olympic gold medals. He finished his career with the St. Louis Blues in 2014-15 and now acts as the team's assistant general manager. His No. 30 was retired by the Devils in 2016, a year before the team erected a statue of their all-time great goalie outside the Prudential Center in Newark. “You play your whole career and you don’t expect to get this phone call, but when it does, it definitely does feel pretty good,” said Brodeur. ‘King of New Jersey’ Brodeur has Devils’ number retired Brodeur will be joined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Russian star Alexander Yakushev and wingers Martin St. Louis, Jayna Hefford and Willie O'Ree as the six newest additions to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday morning. Bettman, the NHL's commissioner since 1993, has overseen the league's growth from 24 to 31 teams so far, and expanded its annual revenue by 90 percent. He's expanding the league to markets in Europe and Asia and overseen the introduction of a salary cap, as well as a decade of high-visibility outdoor games. "This is not something I was focused on and I'm speechless and grateful to be included with this group," Bettman said. "I'm particularly honored to be part of a class that includes Willie O'Ree." Perhaps the most notable inclusion is that of O'Ree, the first player to break the NHL's color barrier in 1958. He played 45 games in the NHL over two seasons with the Boston Bruins, tallying 14 points despite being 95 percent blind in his right eye. Since retiring as a player in 1979, O'Ree has served as the NHL director of youth development and ambassador for diversity. During that time, O'Ree created the league's Hockey is for Everyone initiative, which created 36 programs aimed at bringing hockey to disadvantaged communities. He becomes the third African-American player to get enshrinement, following Oilers great Grant Fuhr and former Canadian national women's team captain Angela James. He will go into the Hall as under the Builders category with Bettman. "I was laughing and I was crying and I was at a loss for words," O'Ree said of being elected. "It's just been a great year this year." "This honor is long overdue as Willie has been a tremendous figure in our game both on and off the ice for over 60 years," Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs said. "We are lucky to have been able to call Willie a Bruin when he made his debut in 1958 and we could not be happier for him to finally receive the recognition he so greatly deserves." O'Ree is joined by two fellow wingers, St. Louis and Hefford. After going undrafted in 1997 following a standout career at the University of Vermont, St. Louis went on to become a Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning and finished as the team's all-time leader in assists (588) and points (953). Added to his point totals with the Flames and Rangers, St. Louis is just the sixth NHL player to score over 1,000 points despite not being drafted. Boston Honors Hockey Pioneer Willie O'Ree "Obviously everything he's done on the ice is incredible," longtime Lightning teammat Vincent Lecavalier said. "But Marty was probably the hardest-working guy, dedicated to the game, great teammate, great leader and obviously a huge part in us winning the Stanley Cup. He's done so much for me personally as a player and as a friend. He's just done so much for the game of hockey."