The National Hockey League has been around for more than 100 years, and this is a league that has seen tremendous growth over the last few decades. What started out as just six teams, there are now 32 teams in the league.
Hockey continues to gain popularity in the United States, while in Canada, it remains an integral part of the national culture. Recently, there have been rumors of a potential partnership between CasinoCanada and certain NHL teams or players, which could further strengthen the connection between sports entertainment and the gaming sector. In Canada, alongside the love for hockey, gambling is also popular, particularly online keno. Reviews of online keno in Canada highlight its growing popularity among Canadians, as this game, like hockey, plays a significant role in their leisure activities.
Since this league has been around for so long, it’s hard to come up with the best hockey players, but it’s a fun exercise as well. Coming up with the greatest NHL players involves some research, but there does appear to be some that stand out.
Here is a look at the eight greatest hockey players of all time that have shined in the NHL.
1. Wayne Gretzky
When putting together a list of the best hockey players, everything has to start and stop with Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky’s nickname says it best as he is simply known as “The Great One,” and his spot atop the list is extremely secure.
Gretzky scored nearly 900 goals throughout his career, and is also the all-time leader in assists. During his career, he was named MVP of the NHL a whopping nine times, and he played in an era that was loaded with some other stars.
While the NHL has started to become more popular over the last few years, it was Gretzky that really put this sport on the map and made it a sport that most had to watch.
2. Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux might have gone down as the best player in NHL history, but he missed some seasons throughout his career with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Lemieux was still able to record 690 goals throughout his career, and he was a dominant force on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Not only did Lemieux have an excellent career on the ice, but he also revived the Pittsburgh Penguins as a majority owner. Lemieux stood 6’4” but was still extremely agile on the ice throughout the majority of his career.
While he was playing, Lemieux was known as “The Magnificent One,” which was a nickname given in a nod to how close he was to Gretzky.
3. Bobby Orr
It’s hard for defensemen to get recognized on the list of the greatest NHL players of all-time, but Bobby Orr stood out. He is easily the best defensive player in league history, and he was also able to get in the scoring column on offense.
Orr was the first defenseman to lead the league in scoring, and he won the Norris Trophy eight times throughout his career. Everytime that there is a star defenseman prospect that comes into the league, you can expect that he is compared to Orr.
4. Gordie Howe
You don’t get a nickname like “Mr. Hockey” without being one of the best hockey players in the history of the league. Howe scored 801 goals throughout his career, and that was the league record when he decided to hang up the skates.
He led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cups, and he was the best player in the league that didn’t mind being physical. Howe was an imposing figure during his career, and he just refused to let his team lose on most nights.
5. Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby is an interesting name on this list, as there were a number of the best NHL players that put up better stats. What can’t be argued is the leadership that Crosby provided during his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he was the key catalyst for a number of Stanley Cup champions.
Crosby came into this league with a ton of hype, and he delivered in every single way throughout his career. His main rival during his career was Alex Ovechkin, and Crosby was not able to live up to the offensive numbers that were put up by the Russian.
Most in the league during the time of Crosby would agree that he was the perfect leader, and he just always seemed to deliver in the biggest moments. Crosby was plagued by concussions throughout his career, and that did hurt his offensive numbers.
6. Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr has had the longest hockey career in the history of the sport, and a majority of that time was spent in the NHL. He has continued to play in international leagues after his NHL days, and has been able to perform in a big way all the way up to age 50 and beyond.
Jagr was extremely fast on the ice, but he also made a career out of living in front of the net. He was an imposing figure that wasn’t afraid to stick up for his teammates.
7. Mark Messier
Mark Messier just refused to retire from the NHL as he was able to play 25 years in the league, and did so at a very high level. He ranks third in total games played, and was also a player that delivered in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, Messier is second all-time in playoff points, and he came up with some extremely clutch goals throughout his career. A 16-time All-Star, Messier was also named the league MVP twice throughout his career.
8. Connor McDavid
It’s not easy for current stars to join the list of best hockey players, but Connor McDavid has made it clear that he is one of the best players in league history. By the time his career is over, he could end up being right behind Gretzky when coming up with the top hockey players as he just continues to get better.
So Many Great Hockey Players
While this list is focused on the top hockey players at this time, there are always those that could break into the list. It appears that the talent in the NHL just continues to get better, but it won’t be easy for other players to break into the list.
These greatest NHL players have all left an imprint on the league, and they are legends of the sport for a reason.
