Photo Credit: Sammy Kogan - The Canadian Press
Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron reached the pinnacle of their NHL careers through different paths, but both now share one of hockey’s highest honors after earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The two former stars headlined the 2026 class inducted Monday in Toronto. They were joined in the player category by Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley, while longtime NHL executive Brian Burke entered the Hall as a builder.
Price, who spent all 15 of his NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, was inducted in his second year of eligibility. The fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft finished his career with 361 wins, a .917 save percentage, a 2.51 goals-against average and 49 shutouts across 712 regular-season appearances.
His greatest individual season came in 2015, when he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, the Vezina Trophy as its top goaltender and the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player, as voted by fellow players.
Price also delivered some of his best performances in the postseason. He recorded a .919 save percentage, a 2.39 goals-against average and eight shutouts in 92 playoff games, including a memorable run that helped Montreal reach the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. A knee injury ultimately ended his playing career after the 2021-22 season.
During his induction speech, Price recalled dreaming of reaching the Hall of Fame as a child and looking up to Canadiens legend Patrick Roy.
He also reflected on the sacrifices his family made to help him achieve that dream, particularly the time his parents devoted to supporting his hockey career.
Bergeron Joins Price in 2026 Class
Bergeron earned induction in his first year of eligibility after spending all 19 of his NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins.
Selected 45th overall in the 2003 draft, the center finished with 1,040 points, including 427 goals and 613 assists, in 1,294 regular-season games. He added 128 points in 170 playoff appearances and helped Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Bergeron’s defensive excellence defined much of his career. He won the Selke Trophy a record six times as the NHL’s best defensive forward and served as the Bruins’ captain during his final three seasons before retiring in 2023.
He also enjoyed an accomplished international career with Canada, winning Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014. His other honors included gold medals at the 2004 World Championship, 2005 World Junior Championship and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Price and Bergeron also shared the ice while representing Canada, with both featuring on the country’s gold-medal team at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Rinne, Tkachuk, Curley and Burke Also Inducted
Rinne joined the Hall after a 15-season career with the Nashville Predators. The Finnish goaltender recorded 369 wins, a .917 save percentage, a 2.43 goals-against average and 60 shutouts in 683 regular-season games.
Selected 258th overall in 2004, Rinne won the Vezina Trophy in 2018 and became one of the most successful goaltenders in Predators history.
Tkachuk also earned a place in the class after an 18-season NHL career. He recorded 538 goals and 527 assists for 1,065 points in 1,201 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers. His goal total ranks third among American-born players in NHL history.
Curley received recognition for her contributions to women’s hockey. She captained the United States at the inaugural IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1990 and helped the national team win three silver medals at the tournament during the 1990s. She also holds the single-tournament scoring record from the 1990 championship with 23 points.
Burke completed the 2026 class in the builder category after a lengthy career in NHL management. He held executive positions with several organizations, including the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also helped Anaheim win the Stanley Cup in 2007.
