Who are the best NHL players of all time? These players became ice hockey trailblazers and have become true icons of American sports.
Can anyone come close to Wayne Gretzky? Find out below as we go through the ten best players ever:
10. Nicklas Lidstrom
Nicklas Lidstrom makes a case for one of the best defenseman ever. Across 20 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, his physicality, preemptive positioning and smart play at the back was so significant, the Red Wings never missed the playoffs.
Lidstrom was able to guide Detroit to four Stanley Cup wins. Rarely ever injured, he was the quintessential locker room presence thanks to his longevity and leadership ability, and had the offensive ability to match his defense.
9. Alexander Ovechkin
After being drafted in 2004 by the Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin has gone on to dominate the league with his incredible goal-scoring ability and is one of the best NHL players ever. He’s also got the closest anybody has ever got to Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals.
In his 13th season he guided the Capitals to their first ever Stanley Cup. Ovechkin has freakish athleticism leading to his offensive effectiveness and the argument can be made that he’s played against a better level of defense versus Gretzky over the course of his career.
8. Sidney Crosby
A year after Alex Ovechkin was drafted, the Penguins drafted Sidney Crosby who was always destined to become one of the best NHL players of all time. His legendary combo of skill, hockey sense, and leadership made him one of the most complete players of his era.
Crosby and Ovechkin between them have created one of the biggest NHL rivalries we’ve ever seen in the major leagues between the Capitals and Penguins. Pittsburgh fans have also been blessed with continuity after the retirement of Mario Lemieux in 2006.
7. Jaromir Jagr
Czech superstar Jaromir Jagr had a remarkably lengthy and productive career. In 24 productive seasons in the NHL he scored an incredible 1,921 points including 766 goals.
Jagr’s work ethic is epitomised by the fact he became the oldest professional goal-scorer in ice hockey history when he scored for the Kladno Knights in the Czech Republic at the age of 53 years and 63 days old.
6. Maurice Richard
Maurice Richard, known as “The Rocket,” was the first player to score 50 goals in a single season, and he’d retire after scoring 544 goals. Debuting with the Montreal Canadiens in 1942, he was a trailblazer in terms of goal-scoring prowess.
Richard’s goal-scoring ability and fierce competitiveness made him an NHL icon. He inspired future generations of players and was a major figure in the Canadiens’ dominance during his era.
5. Jean Beliveau
Jean Béliveau was a central figure for the most popular NHL team, the Montreal Canadiens, alongside Maurice Richard. Debuting in 1950, Beliveau won an incredible ten Stanley Cups and was a 14-time All-Star.
Beliveau starred during the 1950’s and 60’s, playing the game with an elegance and was noted for his leadership. He’d finish his career with 1,219 points after retiring in 1971.
4. Gordie Howe
Making his debut in 1946, Gordie Howe played an astonishing 26 NHL seasons and accumulated 1,850 points, a then-record when he retired until Wayne Gretzky came along.
Howe’s durability and high performance well into his 40s makes him one of the best NHL players in history. He won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and was known for his physical style of play and all-around game.
3. Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr revolutionized the way hockey is played with the defenseman venturing inside the opposition blue line like no-one did before him. He’d ultimately become a trailblazer for future defensemen like Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey to become more offensive-minded.
In only 12 injury impacted seasons, Orr racked up 915 points from 657 games, winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Bruins. He remains the only defenseman to win MVP, multiple times having won the award in three consecutive years.
2. Mario Lemieux
Arguably the best NHL player of all-time, Mario Lemieux battled his way through 17 injury riddled seasons scoring an impressive 1,723 points in just 915 games. Despite the health challenges, his size, skill and vision transformed the league after being drafted in 1984.
Lemieux’s dominance led to surging interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins who still remain one of the most popular NHL teams to this day. Despite never completing a full season, Lemieux and the Penguins won two Stanley Cups, which makes you wonder how good they could have been had he remained healthy.
1. Wayne Gretzky
Everyone’s had a decent crack at trying to be better than Wayne Gretzky, but there’s no doubt he’s the best NHL player of all time. Gretzky is well beyond any other player when it comes to total career points, assists and goals.
Gretzky transformed the way ice hockey was played after making his debut for the Oilers in 1979. Although not physically imposing, his hockey IQ, anticipation, vision and stamina was light-years ahead of everyone else, helping guide the Oilers to four Stanley Cups.
