50 Greatest NHL Players of All Time
The definitive ranking of ice hockey's 50 greatest players.
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The definitive ranking of ice hockey's 50 greatest players.
Wayne Gretzky
The Great One — the only player whose assist totals alone exceed any other player's combined points total.
2857 career points · Stanley Cup 4x (1984,1985,1987,1988)
Bobby Orr
The greatest defenceman in NHL history — revolutionised the position and won two scoring titles from the blue line.
915 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1970,1972)
Gordie Howe
Mr. Hockey — four Stanley Cups, six scoring titles and a career spanning five decades including games at age 52.
1850 career points · Stanley Cup 4x
Mario Lemieux
Super Mario — overcame cancer and chronic back pain to win two Stanley Cups and challenge Gretzky's supremacy.
1723 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1991,1992)
Maurice Richard
The Rocket — the first player to score 50 goals in a season, the most feared scorer in NHL history.
965 career points · Stanley Cup 8x
Jean Béliveau
Le Gros Bill — ten Stanley Cups and the most beloved figure in Montreal Canadiens history.
Stanley Cup 10x (Montreal)
Bobby Hull
The Golden Jet — the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season, and the most physically imposing forward of his era.
1170 career points · Stanley Cup (1961)
Sidney Crosby
The best player in the world for fifteen years — three Stanley Cups and the golden goal at the 2010 Olympics.
1608 career points · Stanley Cup 3x (2009,2016,2017)
Patrick Roy
Widely considered the greatest goaltender in NHL history — four Stanley Cups, three Conn Smythe trophies.
Stanley Cup 4x
Mark Messier
The most clutch player in NHL history — six Stanley Cups and the famous 1994 Guarantee before Game 6 against New Jersey.
Stanley Cup 6x
Jaromír Jágr
The greatest European scorer in NHL history — two Stanley Cups and 766 goals across five decades.
1921 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1991,1992)
Raymond Bourque
The best defenceman of his era — 410 goals and finally a Stanley Cup at 40 in his last season.
Stanley Cup 2001 (Colorado)
Guy Lafleur
The Flower — the most celebrated hockey player in Quebec history and the offensive heart of five Stanley Cup dynasties.
1353 career points · Stanley Cup 5x (1973,1976,1977,1978,1979)
Terry Sawchuk
The greatest goaltender of the Original Six era — 103 career shutouts and four Stanley Cup championships.
Stanley Cup 4x
Stan Mikita
Only player to win four major NHL awards in the same season — and did it twice. Czech immigrant who became a Blackhawks legend.
1467 career points · Stanley Cup (1961)
Phil Esposito
The NHL's first 76-goal scorer — the power forward who broke every offensive record in hockey.
1590 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1970,1972)
Steve Yzerman
The Captain — three Stanley Cups and 23 seasons as the face of the Detroit Red Wings.
1755 career points · Stanley Cup 3x (1997,1998,2002)
Nicklas Lidström
The Perfect Human — seven Norris Trophies and the most defensively complete player in NHL history.
1142 career points · Stanley Cup 4x (1997,1998,2002,2008)
Martin Brodeur
The all-time wins leader — three Stanley Cups and the most consistent goaltender in NHL history.
Stanley Cup 3x (New Jersey)
Dominik Hašek
The Dominator — six Vezina Trophies and the most acrobatic goaltender in hockey history.
Stanley Cup 2x (2002,2008)
Mike Bossy
The most prolific goal scorer in NHL history per game — nine straight 50-goal seasons for the Islanders dynasty.
1126 career points · Stanley Cup 4x (1980,1981,1982,1983)
Bryan Trottier
Six-time Stanley Cup champion and the engine of the Islanders dynasty — Calder, Hart, Smythe and Art Ross winner.
1425 career points · Stanley Cup 6x (1980,1981,1982,1983,1991,1992)
Ken Dryden
Six Stanley Cups in eight seasons — arguably the best goals-against average in NHL playoff history.
Stanley Cup 6x (1971,1973,1976,1977,1978,1979)
Brett Hull
The Golden Brett — 741 career goals and the Stanley Cup winner on the most controversial goal in Finals history.
1391 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (1999,2002)
Leon Draisaitl
The greatest German player in NHL history — Art Ross winner and Hart Trophy recipient.
936 career points · Stanley Cup 2025
Nicklas Backstrom
The most unheralded elite player in the NHL — 1,100+ points as Ovechkin's playmaker.
1135 career points · Stanley Cup (2018)
Dan Boyle
Stanley Cup champion and undrafted blue-liner who became one of the NHL's finest offensive defencemen.
654 career points · Stanley Cup (2004)
Scott Niedermayer
Four Stanley Cups and the most complete defenceman of the modern era — Norris, Conn Smythe and Olympic gold.
936 career points · Stanley Cup 4x (1995,2000,2003,2007)
Teemu Selänne
The Finnish Flash — the greatest Finnish player in NHL history and the most beloved player in Ducks history.
1457 career points · Stanley Cup (2007)
Alexander Ovechkin
The greatest goal scorer of his generation — on pace to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.
1566 career points · Stanley Cup (2018)
Mike Richter
The hero of the 1994 championship — the Rangers' Stanley Cup goaltender and a World Cup legend.
Stanley Cup (1994)
Connor McDavid
The greatest player in the world — Connor McDavid redefined skating and playmaking, won the Hart Trophy four times and led Edmonton to their
921 career points · Stanley Cup 2025
Hilary Knight
America's most celebrated women's ice hockey player of the modern era — four-time Olympic silver medallist who finally won gold at Beijing 2
Olympic Gold 2022
Nikita Kucherov
Two-time Stanley Cup champion and the 2019 Hart Trophy winner — the most dangerous right wing in the modern NHL.
1012 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (2020,2021)
Meghan Duggan
America's most important captain in women's ice hockey — led the USA to the long-awaited Olympic gold medal at PyeongChang 2018, ending a 20
Olympic Gold 2018 (Captain)
Ilya Kovalchuk
Three Art Ross Trophy runner-up finishes — the most prolific Russian scorer of the 2000s decade.
797 career points
Carey Price
The most decorated goaltender of his generation — Hart Trophy winner and Canada's Olympic hero.
Hart Trophy (2015)
John Tavares
Toronto's captain — one-time Stanley Cup Finals player and the most celebrated Maple Leafs signing in decades.
952 career points
Logan Couture
San Jose's franchise centre — a consistent 20-30 goal scorer for a decade in the Bay Area.
658 career points
Shannon Szabados
The most accomplished female goaltender in the history of international women's ice hockey — two Olympic gold medals, four World Championshi
Olympic Gold 2010, 2014
Patrick Kane
Kaner — three Stanley Cups and the first American-born player to win the Hart Trophy.
1225 career points · Stanley Cup 3x (2010,2013,2015)
Marie-Philip Poulin
Captain Clutch — the most celebrated clutch performer in women's Olympic ice hockey history, scorer of the gold medal-winning goals at both
Olympic Gold 2010, 2014, 2022
Brendan Morrow
Dallas Stars captain — a physical leader who combined toughness, clutch goal-scoring and passionate leadership across 14 NHL seasons to beco
595 career points
Mike Richards
Two Stanley Cups and a Selke Trophy finalist — the defensive centre who anchored two LA Kings championships.
594 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (2012,2014)
Ryan Kesler
The best defensive centre of his generation — Selke Trophy winner and Vancouver's backbone.
629 career points
Henrik Lundqvist
King Henrik — the greatest goaltender in New York Rangers history and one of the finest of the modern era.
Vezina Trophy (2012)
Victor Hedman
The most complete defenceman of the modern era — Norris Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion.
791 career points · Stanley Cup 2x (2020,2021)
Hayley Wickenheiser
The greatest women's ice hockey player of all time — four Olympic gold medals, seven World Championship titles and the first woman to score
Olympic Gold 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Geraldine Heaney
The greatest defenceman in women's ice hockey history — seven World Championship titles, Olympic gold, and an IIHF Hall of Fame career that
Olympic Gold 2002
Vicki Sunohara
A cornerstone of Canadian women's hockey dominance across three Olympic cycles — two-time Olympic champion, four-time World Champion and one
Olympic Gold 2002, 2006