Craig Anderson had an extraordinary 20-year career in the National Hockey League, but his remarkable achievements may have gone unnoticed in the sport's history.
Anderson was drafted by his hometown team, the Blackhawks, in the Third Round in 2001. He later played for Florida and Colorado before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2011, where he had his most successful and longest run. In the lockout-shortened 2012/13 season, Anderson led the NHL in Save Percentage (.941) and Goals Against Average (1.69) and was fourth for the Vezina. He remained as Ottawa’s lead Goalie for the rest of the decade, winning the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2016/17 for his admirable performance in between the pipes while dealing with his wife’s cancer.
Anderson concluded his career with Washington and Buffalo, retiring with a 319-275-73 record.
Tyler Bozak went undrafted, but the Saskatchewan native proved himself at the University of Denver and was a highly sought-after free agent. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and found his way onto the team as a deep-line center. Bozak played for Toronto for nine seasons, scoring over 40 Points, and was the league leader in Shooting Percentage in 2013-14.
Bozak signed with the St. Louis Blues as a Free Agent in 2019 and helped the Blues win their first Stanley Cup, which was also Bozak’s first. He retired after the 2021/22 Season with 461 career Points.
When the Tampa Bay Rays obtained Isaac Paredes from Detroit just before the 2022 season started, many in baseball saw it mainly as a straightforward trade for outfielder Austin Meadows. The Tigers had struggled to develop the young infielder, who scored only two home runs in a brief 57-game stint in Michigan. In contrast, the Rays' front office recognized Paredes as a hitter with exceptional pull-side instincts, making him ideally suited for Tropicana Field.
The change of scenery quickly revealed Paredes' potential. Moving around the diamond to cover first, second, and third bases, he brought an unexpected boost of power to the lineup, hitting 20 home runs in 111 games during his 2022 debut. He not only found his footing but also became an essential high-leverage weapon for Kevin Cash.
That initial surge paved the way for a spectacular breakout in 2023. Paredes became the team's offensive focal point, hitting 31 home runs and driving in 98 runs with a strong .488 slugging percentage. He utilized a unique ability to pull the ball with significant lift, making him one of the most effective home run threats in the American League and earning MVP support in voting. In 2024, he confirmed his stardom by earning his first selection to the American League All-Star team.
However, as the Rays slid out of the postseason race by midsummer, the front office executed a typical, forward-looking maneuver. Ahead of the July trade deadline, they traded the freshly minted All-Star to the Chicago Cubs for Christopher Morel and a pair of pitching prospects, capitalizing on Paredes' skyrocketing market value.
With Tampa, Paredes played 355 games, with 280 hits, 67 home runs, and 198 RBIs. He had a .234/.338/448 slash line and a 124 OPS+.
This March, we have been working diligently on adding to our futures section in the big four sports. We have our first update to share, with the addition of the 2026 Basketball Futures.
All of the names feature retired players who will first be Hall of Fame eligible for the Class of 2026. You can now vote and/or comment as to whether you believe these names are (or are not) Hall of Fame worthy.
The new names are:
Andre Iguodala: Iguodala was a four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and was a Finals MVP. He was also an All-Star and was the Sixth Man of the Year once and twice.
Carmelo Anthony: Anthony led Syracuse to an NCAA Championship and was on three Olympic Gold Medal Teams for the United States. A ten-time All-Star, Melo had four Third Team All-NBA, two Second Team All-NBA selections, and won a Scoring Title.
Goran Dragic: A multi-time champion in Slovenia, Dragic won a EuroBasket Gold for his country. In the NBA, he was an All-Star, a Third Team All-NBA and Most Improved Player Award winner.
Hassan Whiteside: For a brief time, Whiteside was one of Miami’s best players and is a former Second Team All-Defensive Selection.
Joe Johnson: Johnson went to seven All-Star Games and was a Third Team All-NBA Selectee once. His best years were with Atlanta.
LaMarcus Aldridge: Aldridge went to seven All-Star Games and was at his best with the Portland Trail Blazers. He earned five All-NBA spots, two Second Team spots, and three Third Team spots.
Lou Williams: Williams twice won the Sixth Man of the Year Award and holds the record for the most Points off of the bench.
Paul Millsap: Millsap was a rebounding machine at Louisiana Tech and would become a four-time All-Star in the NBA.
Rajon Rondo: Rondo won an NBA Title with the Celtics early in his career and later with the Lakers, and he was also a four-time All-NBA Selection.
Trevor Ariza: Ariza played over 1,000 Games and won an NBA Championship with the Lakers in 2009.
You know what we want you to do!
Cast your votes, and offer your opinions!
As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com thank you for your support!