Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is anticipated to receive hockey's highest honor, induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility. The official announcement of the 2023 class is expected Wednesday afternoon.

Lundqvist boasts an impressive resume, including an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006 and a stellar NHL career primarily with the Rangers. He led the team to the playoffs in nearly every season of his tenure, culminating in a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2014 and two trips to the Eastern Conference finals.

A relatively late-round draft pick (7th round, 2000), Lundqvist defied expectations, accumulating 459 regular season victories, placing him fifth in all-time NHL history. His playoff record is equally impressive, with 61 wins before a heart condition forced his retirement in 2020.

Other notable individuals under consideration for induction include fellow Swede Henrik Zetterberg, Canadian women's hockey stars Jennifer Botterill and Caroline Ouellette, and long-time NHL executive David Poile. The selection committee, led by Hall of Famer Mike Gartner, faces a challenging decision with several strong candidates.

Among other potential inductees are high-scoring Russian winger Alexander Mogilny, a Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils and Olympic gold medalist, and goaltender Curtis Joseph, whose career win total is just behind Lundqvist's. Both Mogilny and Joseph have been eligible for several years.

A potential joint induction of Lundqvist and Zetterberg would mark the second consecutive year with multiple Swedish players entering the Hall, following the Sedin twins and Daniel Alfredsson in 2022. The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 13th in Toronto.