25. Mike Modano, Center
Arguably the best U.S.-born player in NHL history, Modano was the face of a franchise in two different states (Minnesota and Texas). No NHL player born in America has scored more goals (561) or registered more points (1,374) than Modano. A 2014 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Modano helped the Dallas Stars hoist the Stanley Cup in 1999.
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24. Howie Morenz, Center
A star for most of the 1920s and into the ’30s, Morenz was the Montreal Canadiens’ top goal scorer from 1926-32. The Hall of Famer totaled more than 450 points and helped the Habs win three Stanley Cups during his 14-year career — which was tragically cut short at age 34. After breaking his leg during a game in early 1937, Morenz was unable to move out of his hospital bed and died from a coronary embolism resulting after blood clots formed during his recovery.
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23. Phil Esposito, Center
When Esposito retired in the early 1980s, he was second on the NHL career list for goals and points. He’s currently sixth all-time with 717 goals and 10th with 1,590 points. Esposito scored 76 goals in 78 games during the 1970-71 season with Boston, and netted more than 60 on three other occasions. He and his younger brother Tony both enjoyed Hall of Fame careers.
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22. Eddie Shore, Defenseman
Perhaps the toughest defenseman in the history of the NHL, Shore was the epitome of “Old Time Hockey.” However, the Hall of Famer was one of the first truly skilled offensive blue-liners, scoring double-digit goals in each of his first five years with the Boston Bruins from 1927-31. He won the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) four times in the 1930s and captured two Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 1929 and ’39.
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21. Nicklas Lidstrom, Defenseman
One of the top two-way defensemen in the history of the game, Lidstrom enjoyed a remarkable 20-year career (1992-2012) in the NHL, all with the Detroit Red Wings. During those two decades in Motown, the Hall of Famer racked up 1,142 points (sixth all-time among defensemen), won the Norris Trophy (league’s top defenseman) seven times and was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Wings. The 12-time All-Star and team captain helped Detroit reach the playoffs in each of his 20 seasons.
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20. Stan Mikita, Center
Mikita, who passed away last summer at 78, is one of the most beloved figures in not only Chicago Blackhawks history, but among all sports figures ever to play in the city — which puts him in good company. He played all of his 22 NHL seasons in the famed Indian-head sweater, and scored at least 30 goals nine times from 1962-75. The Hall of Famer won the Hart Trophy twice and the Art Ross (league’s top scorer) four times while amassing 1,467 career points.
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19. Jaromir Jagr, Winger
At age 47, Jagr is still going strong while playing in the Czech Republic. He spent time with Calgary last season, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s back in the NHL before deciding to officially hang up the blades. As it stands, Jagr ranks second all-time with 1,921 NHL points, a good chunk of which he earned while spending his first 11 seasons with Pittsburgh. He’s been both the youngest (18) and oldest (45) player in the NHL during his career and can probably still rock that mullet today.
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18. Doug Harvey, Defenseman
A seven-time Norris Trophy winner, Harvey was the NHL’s premier defenseman during the mid-50s and into the early ’60s. Harvey’s combination of strength and offensive savvy enabled him to help the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cups between 1953-’60. He totaled 540 points and 1,216 penalty minutes during his career.
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17. Alex Ovechkin, Winger
Still one of the best in the business, Ovechkin finally claimed a Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals. With more than 650 goals during his illustrious career, the 33-year-old Russian is the NHL’s active leader in that department and isn’t showing any signs of letting up.
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16. Steve Yzerman, Center
“The Captain,” was a leader in every sense of the word. On the ice and off, Yzerman commanded respect while spending each of his 22 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. He ranks seventh all-time in league history with 1,755 points, and won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. Before becoming a prominent executive in the NHL and with Team Canada, the Hall of Famer registered the longest captaincy on any team in major North American sports.
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15. Sidney Crosby, Center
Like Alex Ovechkin, Crosby is still at the top of his game 14 seasons into what’s already been a Hall of Fame career. Also like Ovechkin, Crosby recently topped the 1,200-point mark and has cracked the top-40 all-time in the NHL with more than 760 assists. One of the game’s elite playmakers, Crosby has led the Pittsburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cups thus far — ’09, ’16 and ’17.
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14. Terry Sawchuk, Goaltender
One of the game’s all-time greats, was also arguably its most tragic figure. Sawchuk won 447 games during his 21 NHL seasons, spent mostly with Detroit during the 1950s and into the ’60s, with 103 shutouts. However, the Hall of Famer and four-time Vezina Trophy (NHL’s top goalie) winner struggled with alcohol and depression, and died from a pulmonary embolism during a hospital stay, reportedly, to treat his worsening liver condition.
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13. Ray Bourque, Defenseman
No defenseman in NHL history enjoyed a better offensive career than Bourque. He’s the league’s career leader among those at the position in goals (410), assists (1,169) and points (1,579). The five-time Norris Trophy winner played into his 21st season with the Boston Bruins when he was traded for a chance to win a Stanley Cup with Colorado. He finally did get to the hoist the Cup, with the Avalanche in 2001.
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12. Mike Bossy, Winger
Compared to most others on this list, or among Hall of Famers, Bossy’s career was rather short. However, he filled quite a resume during his 10 years of NHL service. As one of the stars of the late 1970s and ’80s’ New York Islanders teams, Bossy scored 573 goals, was one of five players ever to score 50 in 50 games, recorded at least 50 nine times during a season and helped his team win four-straight Stanley Cups from ’80-83.
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11. Patrick Roy, Goaltender
The second-winningest netminder (551 victories) in NHL history, Roy was dominant for both Montreal and Colorado during his 19-year career. A three-time Vezina winner (1989, ’90 and ’92), Roy won two Stanley Cups each with both franchises, and posted a career 2.54 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.
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10. Mark Messier, Center
Messier’s Hall of Fame career spanned a remarkable 25 seasons. His 1,992 games played — including the playoffs — are an NHL record. He produced 1,887 points — third all time — during his playing days. Perhaps most impressively, Messier won six Stanley Cups during his career. Five of which came with Edmonton and one with the New York Rangers. He’s a two-time Hart Trophy winner and the only athlete to be a captain on two different pro teams that won titles.
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9. Martin Brodeur, Goaltender
It’s easier to ask about the records Brodeur doesn’t hold, than the ones he does. Over a 20-plus-year career — predominantly with the New Jersey Devils — he’s the leader among goalies in games (1,266), wins (691) and shutouts (125). Brodeur is a four-time Vezina winner and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
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8. Guy Lafleur, Winger
For a six-season stretch from 1974-80, there arguably was no better offensive player in the NHL than Lafleur. Every season during that span, Lafleur recorded at least 50 goals and 100 points while playing for the Montreal Canadiens. A three-time Art Ross Trophy winner and two-time recipient of the Hart Trophy, Lafleur totaled 1,353 points during his Hall of Fame career.
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7. Bobby Hull, Winger
“The Golden Jet,” more commonly known, was one of the NHL’s first true celebrities. Not just for his excellence on the ice, but for his outgoing personality and good looks. Considered one of the game’s all-time best skaters, Hull scored 610 goals during his 16-year NHL career, all but one of which came with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hall of Famer won multiple Hart and Ross Trophies, and helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 1961.
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6. Jean Beliveau, Center
Put simply, the late Beliveau was hockey royalty in Canada, specifically Montreal, where he starred for the Canadiens for the better part of 20 years. Beliveau was the second player in NHL history to record 1,000 points and scored 507 goals for his career. However, the Hall of Famer’s most impressive statistic lies in the fact that we won 17 Stanley Cups with Montreal — 10 as a player and another seven while a member of the front office.
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5. Maurice Richard, Winger
In the 1940s and ’50s NHL, “The Rocket” was the star of the show. The first player to score 50 goals in a season, Richard finished his 18-year NHL career for the Montreal Canadiens with 544 goals. Richard, who helped Montreal win eight Stanley Cups, entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961. An award named after Richard is given annually to the NHL’s top goal-scorer.
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4. Bobby Orr, Defenseman
Considered the most complete defenseman in the history of the game, Orr essentially revolutionized the position. He skated with the speed and grace of a forward, but had the grit of a blue-liner. The Boston Bruins legend is the only defenseman to win the NHL scoring title, doing it twice, and took home the Norris Trophy a record eight times. His 139 points in 1970-71 are also a record for defenseman. Orr retired a three-time MVP.
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3. Mario Lemieux, Center
Blessed with great size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds), speed and stick-handling ability, “Super Mario” certainly has a spot on the Mount Rushmore of hockey. He ranks among the top-10 all-time in goals (690) and points (1,723). On the ice, Lemieux won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and ’92, and three times as an owner (2009, ’16 and ’17) — making him the only person to achieve the feat in both capacities.
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2. Gordie Howe, Winger
Depending on who’s doing the talking, Howe is the greatest NHL player of all-time. It’s certainly worth the argument, considering “Mr. Hockey” enjoyed an NHL career — almost all with the Detroit Red Wings — that began in the 1940s and lasted into the ’80s. His 1,767 career games played are a record that might never be broken. The six-time MVP is second all-time with 801 goals and fourth with 1,850 points. His hockey legacy should be celebrated by anybody who has laced up the skates on the professional level.
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1. Wayne Gretzky, Center
He’s not called the “Great One” for nothing. Gretzky broke a good chunk of Gordie Howe’s records and sits as the NHL’s all-time leader — in runaway fashion — in goals (894), assists (1,963) and points (2,857). When he retired in 1999, Gretzky held more than 60 NHL records. He won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, where he ignited interest in West Coast hockey like never seen before.
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