Top 50 Hockey Players Of All Time
Hockey is a sport loved by millions of people around the world. It's fast-paced, exciting, and requires a combination of physical and mental skills. The NHL has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of the game, and narrowing down the top 50 is no easy task. From goalies to forwards to defensemen, these are the top 50 hockey players of all time.
1. Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time. He spent 20 seasons in the NHL, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. He holds numerous records, including the most goals, assists, and points in a career. Gretzky won four Stanley Cups and was awarded the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player nine times.
2. Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr revolutionized the position of defenseman during his 12-year NHL career. He played for the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, winning two Stanley Cups and eight Norris Trophies as the league's top defenseman. Orr is known for his offensive prowess, and he holds the record for the most points in a season by a defenseman. He was also the first defenseman to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.
3. Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux is one of the most gifted players to ever step on the ice. He played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 17 seasons, winning two Stanley Cups and three Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player. Despite battling cancer and chronic back pain, Lemieux remained one of the league's top players throughout his career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
4. Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," played in the NHL for 26 seasons. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, and Houston Aeros, winning four Stanley Cups and six Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player. Howe was a physical player and was known for his scoring ability and toughness. He scored 801 goals in his career, which stood as a record for decades.
5. Maurice Richard
Maurice Richard, also known as "The Rocket," played for the Montreal Canadiens for 18 seasons. He won eight Stanley Cups and was the first player to score 50 goals in a season. Richard was known for his explosive speed and was a physical player on the ice. He retired as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.
6. Jean Beliveau
Jean Beliveau played for the Montreal Canadiens for 20 seasons, winning 10 Stanley Cups. He was known for his leadership skills and was the captain of the Canadiens for 10 years. Beliveau was a gifted scorer and won two Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.
7. Mark Messier
Mark Messier is one of the greatest captains in NHL history. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, winning six Stanley Cups. Messier was a physical player and a gifted scorer, and he is the only player to captain two different teams to Stanley Cup victories. He won two Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
8. Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman played for the Detroit Red Wings for 22 seasons, winning three Stanley Cups. He was known for his leadership skills and was the captain of the Red Wings for 19 years. Yzerman was a gifted scorer and won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
9. Bobby Hull
Bobby Hull, also known as "The Golden Jet," played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets in the NHL. He was a gifted scorer and won three Art Ross Trophies as the NHL's top scorer. Hull was known for his powerful shot and was the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
10. Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy is widely considered one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. He played for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, winning four Stanley Cups. Roy was a playoff performer and won three Conn Smythe Trophies as the most valuable player in the playoffs. He holds the record for the most playoff wins by a goalie and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.
11. Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr is one of the most talented players to ever play in the NHL. He has played for nine different teams, winning two Stanley Cups. Jagr has won five Art Ross Trophies as the NHL's top scorer and was the league's most valuable player in 1999. He is still playing in the NHL at the age of 49 and is considered a future Hall of Famer.
12. Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur is another one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. He played for the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, winning three Stanley Cups. Brodeur holds the records for the most wins, shutouts, and games played by a goalie in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
13. Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Fedorov played for the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and Columbus Blue Jackets, winning three Stanley Cups. He was a two-way player and won the Hart Trophy, Selke Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award in the same season. Fedorov was a gifted scorer and was known for his smooth skating and defensive skills.
14. Tim Horton
Tim Horton played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres during his NHL career. He was a physical defenseman and won four Stanley Cups. Horton was also known for his coffee and donut chain, which still bears his name today. He tragically died in a car accident in 1974.
15. Dominik Hasek
Dominik Hasek is known as "The Dominator" for his remarkable goaltending skills. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators, winning two Stanley Cups. Hasek won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player twice and won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie six times. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
16. Scott Stevens
Scott Stevens was a physical defenseman who played for the Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, and New Jersey Devils. He won three Stanley Cups and was the captain of the Devils for three seasons. Stevens was known for his bone-crunching hits and was one of the toughest players to play against in the NHL.
17. Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy played for the New York Islanders during his NHL career, winning four Stanley Cups. He was a gifted scorer and won the Lady Byng Trophy three times. Bossy scored 50 or more goals in a season nine times and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.
18. Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito played for the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks during his NHL career. He won two Stanley Cups and was the league's leading scorer six times. Esposito was a physical player and was known for his ability to score goals in front of the net. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
19. Billy Smith
Billy Smith played for the New York Islanders during his NHL career, winning four Stanley Cups. He was one of the best playoff performers in NHL history and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in 1983. Smith was a tough goalie, known for his ability to get under the skin of opposing players.
20. Doug Harvey
Doug Harvey played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues during his NHL career. He won six Stanley Cups and was a seven-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman. Harvey was known for his ability to move the puck and was a strong skater.
21. Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden played for the Montreal Canadiens during his NHL career, winning six Stanley Cups. He was a big goalie and was known for his ability to make clutch saves in big moments. Dryden won five Vezina Trophies as the league's best goalie and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
22. Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic played for the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche during his NHL career, winning two Stanley Cups. He was a gifted scorer and was known for his ability to score big goals in important moments. Sakic won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 2001 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
23. Dave Keon
Dave Keon played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hartford Whalers during his NHL career, winning four Stanley Cups. He was a strong two-way player and won the Lady Byng Trophy twice. Keon was known for his excellent skating and was one of the best defensive forwards of his era.
24. Guy Lafleur
Guy Lafleur played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques during his NHL career, winning five Stanley Cups. He was a gifted scorer and won the Art Ross Trophy three times. Lafleur was known for his smooth skating and was one of the most stylish players of his era.
25. Glenn Hall
Glenn Hall played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues during his NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups. He was a tenacious goaltender and was known for his ability to play through pain. Hall won the Vezina Trophy three times and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
26. Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios played for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Atlanta Thrashers during his NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups. He was a physical defenseman and played in the NHL until the age of 48. Chelios won three Norris Trophies as the league's top defenseman and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
27. Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks and has won three Stanley Cups. He is a gifted scorer and has won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer. Kane also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in 2013. He is still playing in the NHL and is considered one of the best players of his generation.
28. Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers during his NHL career. He scored over 700 goals and was a gifted playmaker. Dionne won the Art Ross Trophy twice and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
29. Teemu Selanne
Teemu Selanne played for the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks during his NHL career, winning one Stanley Cup. He was a gifted scorer and holds the record for the most goals and points by a rookie. Selanne won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
30. Nicklas Lidstrom
Nicklas Lidstrom played for the Detroit Red Wings during his NHL career, winning four Stanley Cups. He was a steady defenseman and won seven Norris Trophies as the NHL's top defenseman. Lidstrom was also known for his leadership skills and was the captain of the Red Wings for six seasons. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
31. Jean Ratelle
Jean Ratelle played for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins during his NHL career, winning one Stanley Cup. He was a gifted
