Top 15 Best NHL Players of All Time

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The best NHL players of all time have all contributed to the sport’s history. Whether they lifted the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons or set records with the number of points scored, the best players always leave their mark. Out of all the greats over the past 100 years, who do we keep circling back to?

Here at Novibet, we are doing our bit of commemorating the best NHL players of all time. That means diving through the archives, looking at what players achieved, and their statistics. Stats aren’t everything, so we also looked at players’ impact on the league and if they drew in a crowd for game day. 

Below, we discuss the 15 best NHL players in history. We have tried to leave our opinion out of the equation, but if you think we have missed anyone, let us know! We are always expanding and updating our lists, so check back here to see who else deserves recognition.

15. Ray Bourque 

We know Ray Bourque as one of the best Canadian players in the NHL history. He holds records for the most goals and career points held by a defenceman. Having made 1,612 appearances, he totalled 410 goals, 1,169 assists, and 1,579 points in his career. He received awards throughout his time on the ice. Bourque won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman five times and was the runner-up on six occasions. He also twice finished second in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, a rarity for a defenceman.

Bourque began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, thriving for 21 seasons before he went to the Colorado Avalanche to finish his career by winning the Stanley Cup in 2001. 

In 2004, they inducted Bourque into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was one of only nine players to have their jersey number 77 retired by more than one club. In his case, the Boston Bruins and the Colorado Avalanche. His hometown of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, now calls their arena “Aréna Raymond-Bourque.”

Watch the highlights above to see Ray Bourque score his 386th career goal, holding the all-time lead in goals by a defenceman in 1999.

• Position: Defence
• Appearances: 1612 NHL
• Goals: 410 NHL
• Points: 1,579 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 1

14. Alexander Ovechkin 

Next on our list of the best NHL players ever is Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin is a left winger for the Washington Capitals, a franchise he has played for his entire NHL career. In 2004, he was the first pick for the NHL Draft. At 38 years old, he is one of the oldest players in the league. With an impressive 106 points in his first season, the Capitals knew they had signed a remarkable player. They named Ovechkin on the NHL All-Rookie and NHL All-Star teams and he won the Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season.

Ovechkin’s prolific goal-scoring reputation will be synonymous across hockey history, as very few players have achieved such a status. Throughout his career, he has scored 827 goals and 675 assists, totalling 1,502 points, over 1375 NHL games. These stats earned him many awards, including winning nine Maurice Richard Trophies and three Ted Lindsay Awards. Ovechkin has made 12 All-Star Team appearances in his career. He won his first and only Stanley Cup in 2018, ending his reputation as the best player to never win the Stanley Cup. 

Top 10 Alex Ovechkin goals? No problem. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/jEoFpaejRt

— NHL (@NHL) December 15, 2022

In 2017, after another loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, Ovechkin started preparing early for the next season by hitting the ice hard. He started the season with several back-to-back hat tricks, becoming the fourth player to score 600 goals in under 1,000 games in the 2017/2018 season. Ovechkin’s quick start was remarkable, and few players have achieved such success in the NHL. 

• Position: Left-wing
• Appearances: 1,375 NHL
• Goals: 827 NHL
• Points: 1,502 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 1

13. Jaromír Jágr

Jaromír Jágr, a Czech ice hockey player, is one of the best NHL players ever. He has represented multiple NHL teams, starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins selected him in 1990 as the fifth pick of the draft. In his first season, he ended up on the NHL All-Rookie Team. Jágr played a significant role in the Penguins’ consecutive Stanley Cup victories, but his distinguished awards came in the 1994-95 season. They selected him in seven successive All-Star teams, with six in the first team and one in the second. He also won the Art Ross Trophy five times, four in a row.

Jágr’s stayed with the team until 2001. After that, he played for the Capitals for three seasons, followed by three seasons with the New York Rangers. Throughout his career, he played for several other NHL teams, including the Flyers, Stars, Bruins, Devils, and Panthers. Finally, he played for the Flames briefly before returning to his roots with Kladno, the team where he started his career in 1988. Jágr has played for Kladno five times and is currently helping the Kladno Knights, a team he helped promote from the Czech second league, as a player.

2857+1921=4778 points in NHL in this picture 😀👍 pic.twitter.com/ZQP8EkFpC9

— Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) June 30, 2023

Players like Jágr are rare, and his achievements are remarkable. He won two Stanley Cups, three Ted Lindsay Awards, and five Art Ross Trophies. They also selected him to play on eight All-Star teams. Jágr excelled in the NHL and has experienced success playing for teams close to his heart in his home country. 

• Position: Right-wing
• Appearances: 1,733 NHL
• Goals: 766 NHL
• Points: 1,921 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 2

12. Jean Béliveau

Jean Béliveau, nicknamed “Gentleman Jean,” spent his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens. He started playing as an amateur in the NHL after signing a contract with the Canadiens in 1950 and later became a pro in 1953 after signing a professional NHL deal.

Béliveau was a remarkable player who quickly made a name for himself as one of the league’s top scorers. He was the fourth player to score 500 goals and the second in the NHL to score 1,000 points. During his time with the Canadiens, he won an outstanding ten Stanley Cups, a monumental achievement for an NHL legend. As the team captain, he won seven more Stanley Cups, the most by any individual. He also won two Hart Memorial Trophies and one Art Ross Trophy.

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1,125 NHL
• Goals: 507 NHL
• Points: 1,219 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 10

11. Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard, also known as “Rocket,” played ice hockey for the Montreal Canadiens throughout his professional career. Widely established as one of the greatest NHL players of all time, being the first hockey player to score 50 goals in a single season. In the 1944-1945 season, he accomplished this feat in just 50 games and was also the first NHL player to reach 500 career goals. However, early in his career, Richard suffered a severe ankle injury. The injury prevented him from serving in the Canadian military during WW2, as they deemed him unfit to take part in combat. 

Although Richard could not serve in WW2, his contributions to ice hockey were significant. He set new standards and changed what we thought to be possible. He won eight Stanley Cups, five consecutively, and helped to draw more fans to the sport. Even his rival, Gordie Howe, spoke highly of him after Richard announced his retirement in 1960. Howe paid tribute to him, stating how much Richard had influenced the sport. 

“He sure was a drawing card. He brought in the crowds that helped pay our wages. Richard certainly has been one of the greatest players in the game, and we will miss him.” – Gordie Howe.

• Position: Right-wing
• Appearances: 978 NHL
• Goals: 544 NHL
• Points: 966 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 8

10. Guy Lafleur 

“The Flower” Guy Lafleur was a Right Winger who started playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 1971. Lafleur is one of the best NHL players of all time, and he was the first pick in the 1971 NHL Draft. He remained with the Canadiens until 1985 when he asked to be transferred because of a heated disagreement with head coach Jacques Lemaire. After the general manager declined his request, Lafleur retired. He briefly returned to the NHL in 1988, playing for the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.

Lafleur had an exceptional career, which involved winning five Stanley Cups. He achieved the Art Ross Trophy three times and the Hart Memorial Trophy twice. Lafleur attained the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Conn Smythe Trophy and became a First Team All-Star Right Winger six times. By being the first player to score 50 goals and 100 points in six consecutive seasons, he also earned a place among the best NHL players of all time.

In 1988, they inducted Lafleur into the Hockey Hall of Fame. They recognized him as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history in 2017. He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2022. Unfortunately, Lafleur passed away in April, shortly after receiving this honour.

• Position: Right-wing
• Appearances: 1,126 NHL
• Goals: 560 NHL
• Points: 1,353 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 5

9. Steve Yzerman

Steve Yzerman is one of the best NHL players of all time. Detroit Red Wings selected him as the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft and all of his 1,514 NHL games were for the Red Wings, serving as their team captain for 22 years. Yzerman’s remarkable career as a player earned him induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. Currently, he holds the position of general manager for the Detroit Red Wings.

Yzerman burst onto the ice, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team for the 1983-84 season after scoring 87 points in 80 games. It wasn’t until five seasons later that he won his first award, the Ted Lindsay, during the 1988-89 season. Yzerman captained Detroit to their first Stanley Cup victory in over four decades, a triumph he repeated the following year. By the time he retired in 2006, he had received multiple individual awards, including the Conn Smythe Trophy, a Frank J. Selke Trophy, and a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 

His modesty was also a well-known trait, especially when he surpassed Mario Lemieux in terms of total goals scored in the NHL. During an interview with ESPN, Yzerman showed great poise when asked about this accomplishment. 

“I don’t know the significance. If anything, it shows how good Lemieux is; he played almost five years less than I did.” – Steve Yzerman.

Regardless of your team preference, having a leader like Steve Yzerman would be a great asset. Considering his impressive goal-scoring record and his contribution to lifting three Stanley Cups. It’s easy to understand why he made our list of the best NHL players. 

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1,514 NHL
• Goals: 692 NHL
• Points: 1,063 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 3

8. Bobby Hull

Bobby Hull was a left-winger who began his career with the Chicago Black Hawks. Hull then played for the Winnipeg Jets and the Hartford Whalers. During his time in the NHL, he became known for his powerful slapshot with his curve-bladed stick and incredible speed on the ice. As a result, he scored over 50 goals in nine seasons across his legendary career. In 1966, Hull scored 54 goals, setting the record for 97 points in a season in the NHL.

We are saddened by the passing of Blackhawks legend, the Golden Jet – Bobby Hull. pic.twitter.com/SKuRDwtcQB

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 30, 2023

However, Hull was unsatisfied with his poor salary and the Hawks’ poor performance. He agreed to a massive money move into the now-defunct World Hockey Association (WHA), where he quickly became the highlight of the league. Hull won three Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Memorial Trophies, and one Stanley Cup. He was the WHA’s most valuable player twice and the NHL’s leading goal scorer seven times.

• Position: Left-wing
• Appearances: 1,063 NHL 
• Goals: 610 NHL
• Points: 1,170 NHL 
• Stanley Cups: 1

7. Marcel Dionne

Marcel Dionne, known as the ‘Little Beaver’ from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a Center in the NHL for 18 seasons. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers between 1971 and 1989. He has had 1,348 appearances, totalling 731 goals and 1,771 game points throughout his career. 

Dionne is one of the best NHL players ever. In his debut season for Detroit in 1972, he set an NHL record for rookie scoring with an impressive 77 points. However, his best season was undoubtedly 1979–80, where he scored a staggering 137 points and tied with Wayne Gretzky for the league lead in points. They awarded Dionne the coveted Art Ross Trophy for outscoring Gretzky by just two goals, the only time he had ever won this award. His remarkable performances in 1979 and 1980 earned him the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Lady Byng Trophy in 1975 and 1977. 

Dionne’s contribution to the NHL was so significant that in January 2004, they featured him on a Canadian postage stamp as part of the NHL All-Stars Collection, along with five other legendary players. His remarkable achievements will last long in our memory. He will always be a source of inspiration to millions of aspiring hockey players around the world.

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1348 NHL
• Goals: 731 NHL
• Points: 1771 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 0

6. Mark Messier

Mark Messier began his professional career as a center in the WHA league with the Indianapolis Racers. Following five appearances with the Racers, he transferred to the Cincinnati Stingers. Messier had a brief stint with the Houston Apollos in the CHL, which ultimately helped him kick-start his NHL journey in 1979. He spent most of his career with the Edmonton Oilers, but in 1991, they traded him to the New York Rangers, where he played until 1997. After that, he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks for three seasons before returning to the Rangers and retiring.

Messier had a successful career in the NHL that spanned four decades, during which he achieved records and won several Stanley Cups. He engaged in an impressive 15 NHL All-Star Games and became a four-time NHL All-Star First Team player, twice as a left winger and twice as a center. Messier is the only NHL player to lead two teams to Stanley Cup victories, with six under his belt. He won two Hart Memorial Trophies and one Conn Smythe Trophy. Messier scored 1,887 points in his regular-season career, placing him third on the all-time list.

After a legendary 25 seasons in the NHL, Messier retired in 2004. Many of his fellow players admired him as the great Wayne Gretzky praised him with a glowing tribute. Few rank above him in the list of Canada’s best hockey players.

“Mark has done so much for the game of hockey and taught so many of our young players. He was an exceptional leader who was unselfish, hardworking, and dedicated. He was the best player I ever played with, and it was a pleasure to play with him every day.” – Wayne Gretzky.

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1,756 NHL
• Goals: 694 NHL
• Points: 1,887 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 6

5. Sidney Crosby 

Sidney Crosby is one of the best NHL players ever. He was one of the most dangerous playmakers for the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading the franchise to unrivalled success in the NHL. Crosby is a true legend of the sport, and many accolades and accomplishments have marked his impressive career. He was the first pick in the 2005 draft and has played for the Penguins ever since. He is the team’s captain and inspires his teammates with incredible skill and leadership.

A goal for the captain 🙌

This season marks the 17th season that Sidney Crosby has been captain of the Penguins, making him the longest-tenured active captain in the NHL and tied for the second-longest in NHL history. pic.twitter.com/fflJmKsGLh

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 11, 2023

Crosby has set several records throughout his career, including being the youngest player in the NHL to score over 100 points in a season. In his second season, he led the league with 120 points, earning the Art Ross Trophy and cementing his status as one of the most talented players in the NHL. Over the years, Crosby has earned two Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Memorial Trophies, and three Ted Lindsay Awards, among other distinctions. He has also won three Stanley Cups and two Maurice Richard Trophies and has made eight NHL All-Star Game appearances.

“He’s the best player in the game today” – Wayne Gretzky 2017

Despite his success, the Cole Harbour-born hockey All-Star remains humble and dedicated to his craft on the ice. He continues to push himself to new heights, striving to be the best player and captain he can be. Whether on or off the ice, Crosby is a role model for fans of the sport, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1,220 NHL
• Goals: 568 NHL
• Points: 1,535 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 3

4. Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr, born in Parry Sound, Ontario, played as a defenceman for the Boston Bruins for ten seasons. He then enjoyed two seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks before retiring in 1978. He transformed the defenceman’s role in ice hockey by utilizing his scoring, speed, and playmaking ability. Even today, he is still the only defenceman to have won two Art Ross Trophies, which are only awarded to the top scorers in the league.

Speaking of Orr’s achievements, he holds the record for most points and assists in a season as a defenceman. He also won three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league’s MVP and eight successive Norris Trophies, both of which are NHL records. Although Orr won just two Stanley Cups, he scored the decisive goal and became the playoff MVP. He was one of the first players to use an agent to negotiate a contract and the first NHL player to sign a million-dollar sporting contract.

Orr remains a beloved figure in the hockey world to this day. His contributions to the sport went beyond simply entertaining fans during games. He completely changed how defencemen played and altered the landscape of player contracts. While there have been players with the same skill and power as Orr, few have had such a lasting impact.

• Position: Defence
• Appearances: 657 NHL
• Goals: 270 NHL
• Points: 915 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 2

3. Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux, also known as “The Magnificent One”, was a center for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent his entire career with the Penguins; however, he had to take a break from 1997 to 2000 to focus on his health. During this period, they diagnosed Lemieux with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and he missed the entire 1994-1995 season. Injuries plagued Lemieux throughout his successful career. Out of a possible 1,430 regular season games, he could only play in 915. 

Despite these challenges, Lemieux’s career was prolific, and he won two successive Stanley Cups in the 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons. He won six Art Ross Trophies for being the league’s point leader, three Hart Memorial Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, and two Conn Smythe Trophies. They inducted Lemieux into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 after his first retirement, making him the third NHL player to return after being introduced into the Hall. 

In 1988, Lemieux achieved greatness when he scored five goals in five unique ways to lead his team to victory against the New Jersey Devils. His goals included one from during a power play, a short-handed goal, an even-strength goal, one was a penalty, and, to top it all off, an empty-net goal. This remarkable feat is a testament to the power of determination and perseverance. 

Watch all five goals in the clip above and admire his incredible achievement!

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 915 NHL
• Goals: 690 NHL
• Points: 1,723 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 2

2. Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe, nicknamed “Mr. Hockey”, is one of the greatest NHL players ever. He began his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1946, playing as a Right Winger. Howe played for the Red Wings until 1971, establishing himself as a dominant force in the NHL. He then switched to the Houston Aeros, a team in the newly founded rival league, the WHA. Howe played for the Aeros until 1977 and then moved to the New England Whalers for two seasons. He spent his final professional season with the Whalers, who later changed their name to the Hartford Whalers for the NHL-WHA merge.

Howe played professional hockey for an incredible 26 seasons in the NHL and six in the WHA, totalling 2,186 games. He holds the NHL record for the most seasons played and has scored the second-most NHL goals of all time. Howe won six Art Ross Trophies, four of which were in consecutive seasons. He also won four Stanley Cups and was a six-time winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy. They selected Howe to 23 All-Star games across five decades.

Several of Howe’s records remain unbroken, including the most NHL regular season games played with the same team. He has the highest number of consecutive seasons with 20 or more goals in the NHL. He holds the record for the most All-Star appearances. Howe is undoubtedly the best Canadian hockey player to never have played for a franchise from his native land.

• Position: Right-wing
• Appearances: 1,767 NHL
• Goals: 801 NHL
• Points: 1,850 NHL
• Stanley Cups: 4

1. Wayne Gretzky

‘The Great One,’ also known as Wayne Gretzky, is the greatest NHL player of all time. Gretzky is a hero in the Great White North, heralded as not just the greatest Canadian hockey player of all time but as Canada’s greatest ever athlete. He had a successful and lengthy career that began in 1978 with the Indianapolis Racers in the WHA. During that season, they traded him to the Edmonton Oilers, who moved to the NHL when the WHA merged in 1979. Gretzky remained with the Oilers until 1988 when they controversially traded him to the Los Angeles Kings. He played for the Kings until the 1995/96 season when they sold him to the St. Louis Blues. Gretzky’s time with the Blues was brief before he moved to the New York Rangers to finish his career.

Gretzky has secured a well-deserved spot at the top of our list because of his remarkable accomplishments. He holds NHL records for the most total career points, career goals, and regular-season short-handed goals. Throughout his career, he has earned ten Art Ross Trophies, with seven being for the Oilers and three for the Kings. Gretzky has received the Ted Lindsay Award five times and the Hart Memorial Trophy nine times, seven consecutive. He has also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy five times, having played for three franchises. Following his retirement announcement in 1999, they immediately inducted Gretzky into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the NHL retired his jersey number 99 across the league. 

read his Hockey Hall of Fame Bio or watch the video clip above to learn more about Gretzky. We will never tire of seeing some of his best moments in the game!

• Position: Center
• Appearances: 1,487 NHL
• Goals: 894 NHL 
• Points: 2,857 NHL 
• Stanley Cups: 4