His magical stickwork drew audiences from other venues to the Olympic hockey … Ric Charlesworth, the former Australian hockey player, is considered as one of the greatest players of all times. Gordie Howe’s 801 career goals set a then record in the NHL, and, as a member of the Red Wings “Production Line,” he won four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954–55). Wayne Gretzky. The Montreal Canadien goalie is credited... Steve Yzerman. Players in boldface were active when the list was published in early 1998. However, he refused to take the ice unless he could wear a face mask. The only player in NHL history to record 200 points in a single season, Gretzky achieved the feat a whopping four times during his career. Not the most physically gifted, “The Great One” was able to dominate thanks to his Jedi master-like perception and anticipation of the game. Let's walk through the top 25 players in NHL History. Known for his toughness, Howe’s name lives on in hockey jargon through the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick“, where a player records a goal, an assist, and a fight.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-box-4-0')}; Before we even discuss Lemieux’s NHL career, let’s just put this out there: he had 282 (!!!) All that and he has a colorful personality, entertaining fans with amusing quotes (“Russian machine never breaks”) and stunts (wearing a fisherman’s hat during a skill competition at the 2009 All-Star break). The easy part: there is no need to explain it. All-time leader in wins, saves, shutouts, games played led Devils to Stanley Cup three times. points in only 70 games in his last season of junior for the Laval Voisins. Jacques Plante. Canadian professional ice hockey player Bobby Orr is widely regarded as … Hockey” wrote the NHL record books before Gretzky took it over, putting up some incredible numbers before the offensive explosion of the 1980’s and in a time where defenders were essentially allowed to maul attackers. He ranks top 20 all-time in both goals and assists by a USA-born player. Sadly, his career was hampered by recurring bouts of bad health which forced him to retire for three seasons in his prime. A hockey fan growing up today and looking at Grant Fuhr’s career stats might scratch their head and wonder what in the world he was doing on a list of the greatest hockey players of all time. Speaking of the 100 greatest NHL players of all time, here’s another one: Ted Lindsay, the 5’8”, 163 pound left wing. In 1966 Time magazine had a makeup artist recreate all his facial injuries, and the resulting image isn’t pretty (google it). Messier is regarded as one of the greatest NHL players of all-time. Considered one of the game’s best centers, Jean Béliveau won 10 (yes, 10) Stanley Cups (1956–60, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1971) with the Montreal Canadiens. I don’t even know what an algorithm is. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In this video we are taking a look at the 10 greatest field hockey players of all time. Not that I’m condoning fisticuffs, but, unlike some players (cough, Gretzky, cough), Howe didn’t need an enforcer to fight his battles. He's maybe the most underappreciated of the Chicago Blackhawks during their mini-dynasty from 2010 until 2015 when they won three Stanley Cups in six years. That’s just insane. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. “Mr. This post about the greatest hockey players ever was first published in July 2015 by former THW writer Felix Sicard. Check out the list of top NHL fighters below and vote up the ones you'd fear most. This name might come as a surprise to some being so high on the all-time list. Sidney Crosby may have a chance of cracking it one day and some are already talking about Connor McDavid becoming one of the all-time greatest, but for now, these guys are the hockey Gods, the Mount Rushmore of the NHL, the greatest of All-Time. He recorded some truly startling stat lines throughout his career, coming oh-so close to cracking 200 points in the 1988-89 season with 85 goals and 114 assists. Enjoy! Jaromir Jagr He could easily be sniffing 800-plus career goals if he hadn’t taken a three-year sabbatical in Siberia. Bobby Orr is widely regarded as the game’s best defenseman—evidenced by his record-setting eight James Norris Memorial Trophy wins (1968–75). That’s “Mr. Over 3 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix. Three years later Pittsburgh won another Stanley Cup, making Lemieux the first person to win the cup as both a player and an owner. In 1962 he was named the league’s most valuable player, and he was a seven-time winner of the Vezina Trophy (1956–60, 1962, 1969), as the league’s best goalie. Long suffering from depression and alcoholism, Sawchuk died in 1970 at the age of 40 after a drunken fight with a teammate resulted in fatal internal injuries. He scored a then record 507 career goals and was twice named the league’s MVP (1956, 1964). Ted Lindsay | Source: NHL. Gretzky is the NHL’s all-time leader in points (2,857) and goals (894). All-time leader in wins, saves, shutouts, games played led Devils to Stanley Cup three times Johnny Bucyk Led Big Bad Bruins to two Stanley Cup championships; played 21 seasons in Boston He returned as a player for several seasons before his last retirement in 2006. His career totals would be impressive for a man of any size: Over 1,000 games played and 851 career points accrued. Enjoy! Many will follow in the footsteps, or skate strides, of these all-time best NHL players but few will ever reach the level of greatness that these talented men have. He also won two Stanley Cups (1970, 1972). Where will Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin be ranked? The answer is at once easy and complicated, like all truths tend to be. Maurice Rocket Richard is the BEST hockey player ever, he is the first player to score 50 goals, he is the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games, he is the first player to score 500 goals, he won 8 stanley cup and there's even a trophy to his name give to the best … With his finesse and speed, “The Great One” revolutionized the game. From this list, WHL fans voted at Top50.whl.ca to select the Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time. They won three Olympic gold medals consecutively from 1928 to 1936. Overall Time on Ice Goals Assists Points per 60 All Situations per 60 Even-Strength per 60 Power-Play per Game Shots Defensive Faceoffs; Rk Name Born Pos GP G A Led Big Bad Bruins to two Stanley Cup championships; played 21 seasons in … Besides health, Lemieux was sick of the clutching and grabbing that had taken over the game, marking the first step towards the NHL eventually revising its rules in the 2005 lockout. Is it though? Fans also regard him as the best athlete in Olympic history. Is it though? Here is a list of top 10 best hockey players of all time: 10. Jacques Plante changed the face of hockey. Serge Savard, D 1966-1983 | Montreal, Winnipeg 1,040-106-333-439. Number 2: Patrick Roy. The 59-year-old Canadian is widely revered as one of the best ice hockey players of all time after an illustrious 20-season career in the NHL. Five scoring titles, three Lester Pearson’s (now Ted Lindsay), and one Hart, Jagr has all the individual accolades of a first-ballot Hall of Famer.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; If it hadn’t been for Mario Lemieux, Jagr would have easily gone down as the greatest “big man” in hockey history; an indomitable force that could combine brute strength, size, and splendid skill to give the opposition fits. 5. times (1980–87, 1989). He holds the record for most goals in a single season with a mind-boggling 92 red lights, and also the record for the fastest to 50 goals in a season in a ridiculous 39 games. In addition to being a scorer, “Mr. However, I do know my hockey. Wayne Gretzky. During a 21-year career he won four Stanley Cups—three with the Red Wings (1952, 1954–55) and one with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1967)—and four Vezina Trophies (1952–53, 1955, 1965). Yes. To put his records into perspective, consider that Jaromir Jagr, turning 45 in less than a month, is No. Thing is, more than half of his brilliant career was spent … He’s also a three-time recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy (2008–09, 2013), as the most valuable player in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time. There’s always something to discuss in the hockey world, so why not spark a little debate with the five greatest hockey players of all time? Hockey” to you. Everything, except stay consistently healthy. India was the most dominant team in Hockey during his career. Using algorithms, spreadsheets, statistics, and slide rules, I have determined the best hockey players ever. Wayne Gretzky shattered long-standing records, notably scoring an unprecedented 894 goals. Definitely. Limited to only ten full seasons in the league, Orr dominated his era by perfecting the art of the offensive defenseman. He scored more than 1000 goals in his career from 1926 to 1948. Pete Dougherty. (Indeed, fans are arrested nightly at hockey rinks all over the continent for imitating, albeit often drunkenly and with far less flair, the very behavior occurring in real time below them.) But this is my list, and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings is on it. During his 18 years with the Montreal Canadiens, Maurice Richard won eight Stanley Cups (1944, 1946, 1953, 1956–60). Alex Ovechkin, 2009. 5) Brian Leetch In fact, he once claimed that Ovechkin was “the world’s greatest human being.” I think he was kidding. Jacques Plante changed the face of hockey. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-box-1-0')};report this ad. Overall. The NHL record book might as well be renamed “The Memoirs of Wayne Gretzky”, as he basically wrote it himself throughout his career. With that in mind, who are the all-time most feared fighters in the NHL? Am I biased? “The Rocket” rewrote the record books. He also earned four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers (1984–85, 1987–88) and was named the NHL’s MVP nine (!) Forsberg wasn’t just a points machine though; he could do it all – attack, defend, roughhouse – everything. In 1997 “The Magnificent One” retired, and two years later he helped the Penguins climb out of bankruptcy after becoming the team’s majority owner. He is currently still holds a record holder for being the second on the all-time list for his playoff points, of 295, and during the regular season games, played a total of 1,756 games. The Montreal Canadien goalie is credited with popularizing face masks. Although players such as Doug Harvey had blazed the path for defensemen to rush up in the play, Orr took that philosophy to an entirely new level. 10 Best Hockey Players of All Time Alex Ovechkin. He’s my boss. The right winger was the first player to score 500 goals and the first to light up the lamp 50 times in a single season. Orr changed the game so much so that there is talk about creating a Bobby Orr trophy going to the best offensive defenseman.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-banner-1-0')}; Thanks to a swift and powerful stride, Orr was able to skate circle around entire teams, often going coast-to-coast to make plays. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Indian field hockey player Dhyan Chand is widely regarded as the greatest field hockey player of all time. Johnny Bucyk. Literally. In fact, Béliveau was so awesome that he didn’t even have to wait the customary three years after retiring before being voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1972). He received a reported 400 stitches before finally donning a face mask (see number 9). Bobby Orr. Blackhawks Improving Under Leadership of Colliton & Kane, NHL Should Market the Game Differently on ESPN, A Goal Horn Story: Ranking the NHL’s Horns 1-32, Prospects News & Rumors: Geekie, Borgström & Damiani, 4 Forwards the Hurricanes Could Target as Trade Deadline Nears, 3 Takeaways From Jets’ Entertaining Series Against the Maple Leafs, 3 Takeaways From the Golden Knights Series Against the Blues, Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Nylander, Muzzin, Andersen & Sabourin, NHL Rumors: Sharks, Lightning, Stars, Rangers, More, Then and Now: The Maple Leafs All-Time Centres, Blue Jackets’ Max Domi Making Important Strides. Flags of players born outside of Canada (regardless of nationality) are included next to their names. The archives of THW contain over 30 000 posts on all things hockey. Ranking the Top 10 NHL Hockey Players of All Time 1. A top-five New York Ranger player of all-time; usual top-five scorer. And for that, he was nicknamed 'The Wizard'. Along with other NHL legends like Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Mark Messier and Maurice Richard, these hockey greats dominated the league during their time. While with the Boston Bruins, he became the first defenseman to lead the NHL in scoring (1970), and he was named the league’s MVP three times (1970–72). 2014 NHL Draft Top 10: Where Are They Now. Kidding! Oh, and the coworker? Bobby Orr is Greatest Hockey Player of All-Time. Amonte could play in all situations and always showed up to play, rarely missing games. Ric Charlesworth . Call 'em hockey goons if you dare, enforcer type skaters are often one of the most popular players on their respective teams both with fans and with their teammates. To boot, Jagr is still a productive and sought-after NHL player at age 43 thanks to his dedication to training and fitness. Did I grow up in Michigan? He inspired the “Gordie Howe hat trick,” which was a goal, an assist, and a fight in one game. The Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time countdown will conclude next Wednesday, May 4th at the 2016 WHL Awards in Calgary, as the top-three are announced. During his 17 years as a player with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he won two Stanley Cups (1991–92) and managed to score an impressive 690 career goals despite missing a number of seasons after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The rest is history. For a … Additionally, he led the team which won the London World Cup 1986. A Hall-of-Famer, 12-time All-Star, winner of two Hart Trophies and three Art Ross Trophies, Bobby Hull is essentially on every top-10 players list you’ll find. In 1959 he was hit by a slap shot and needed 21 facial stitches. Although I don't like the G.O.A.T, it's refreshing to watch a sport where this debate is non-existent. He is the gold standard of defensemen, holding the record for most points and assists in one season by a defenseman with 139 and 102, respectively. A typical enforcer from the goon-hockey era of the 70s, Rick Jodzio played just one season in the NHL. The arguments against Gretzky’s place as the best hockey player of all-time are everywhere: he played in the right era, on the right team, in the right system, bad goalies, etc. But “Ovie” has proven himself a great hockey player. Before Wayne Gretzky rolled around, Howe was and remains the only other play in NHL history to record 800-plus goals. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. The Great One is the best scorer ever, and it's not close. My only coworker who follows hockey loves Alex Ovechkin. Others have come close, but no one did it to the degree and with the same longevity as Gretzky did, making him the greatest hockey ever.

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