The Hockey Fanatic selects the top 100 NHL players of all-time. Based on all around play, longevity, championships won and contributions to the game of hockey. Now lists are never easy to compile, there will always be an argument for who is better than whom. So that is why we preface this list with the fact that this is the opinion of The Hockey Fanatic and the criteria mentioned above was only part of the reasoning behind the players selected. Some of the picks are undeniable while others may have their own personal preferences, there are always going to be players who are omitted from the list. Hockey fans can debate who the greatest player of all-time is. One thing is for sure the National Hockey League has seen a tremendous amount of talent fly around the ice over the past century.
We want to hear from you. Let us know who you think are the top 5 players of all-time. Reach out to us on twitter @hockeyfanatics with your selections and we will update our future editions.
Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time
Their accolades speak for themselves so we will not be adding a lot of commentary around the selections. While many of the players played on multiple teams, we are listing them with the team that they had their most dominant seasons with. Some were dominant on multiple teams (see Mark Messier with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers), so because this is a hockey fan blog written by a hockey fan we will ultimately choose what team to associate the player with. With that, The Hockey Fanatic presents the Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time – 2015 edition.
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- Wayne Gretzky – Edmonton Oilers – the Great One. The greatest point producer of the game. Here’s a look at Gretzky’s amazing stats:
- Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings – He’s nicknamed Mr. Hockey for a reason. Scoring a “Gordie Howe” hat trick in any league is an honor. The man played in six decades are you kidding me? Mr. Hockey came very close to being named our Top NHL Player of all-time.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1767 801 1049 1850 1685 157 68 92 160 220 - Bobby Orr – Boston Bruins – the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL. If you watch old tapes of Mr. Orr you can see why so many think that he was the greatest player of all-time. The eight time Norris trophy winner had exceptional hockey sense and was ahead of his time. Could you image if Bobby Orr played for the Montreal Canadiens? Yikes.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 657 270 645 915 953 74 26 66 92 9 - Mark Messier – Edmonton Oilers – perhaps the greatest leader in any sport? The Moose was my personal favorite player as a kid. He played a tough all around game and made space for himself in a league that had its share of “hooligans”. Messier won five Stanley Cups as a member as an Edmonton Oiler but probably his most memorable one was the 1994 championship win with the New York Rangers that ended a 54 year drought, and put a stop to rival Islanders chants of 1940. Nearly 1,900 points produced over 1,900 penalty minutes, for our money, Mark Messier was the second coming of Gordie Howe, except a little meaner.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1756 694 1193 1887 1910 236 109 186 295 24 - Maurice “Rocket” Richard – Montreal Canadiens – the first man to score 50 goals in 50 games. Maurice Richard is a legend in the NHL. There have been stories and movies made about him, heck people rioted over him. The greatest French Canadian to ever play the game. Richard had a certain “rage” about him that translated into his play on the ice. When people describe The Rocket they use words like tenacity and intensity. With eight Stanley Cup championships under his belt we used the word “winner”.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 978 544 421 965 1285 133 82 44 126 18 - Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks – The Golden Jet was one of the league’s greatest talents on and off of the ice. He is credited for first player to put a curve in his stick and was known for his tremendous slapshot. Nearly 1,200 points in the NHL, he scored another 638 in the WHA, Bobby Hull was the first millionaire hockey player and he lived the lifestyle as such. He jumped to rival league the WHA where he had a number of thrilling seasons as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Definitely one of the all-time greats and number six on our list.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1063 610 560 1170 640 119 62 67 129 10 - Doug Harvey – Montreal Canadiens – six Stanley Cup champions for this once captain of the Montreal Canadiens. Oldtimers around the league will name Harvey as the games greatest defenseman. Doug Harvey was a seven time Norris trophy winner and was the Paul Coffey of the Canadiens brands of run and gun “firewagon” style of hockey.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1113 88 452 540 1216 137 8 64 72 15 - Phil Espositio – Boston Bruins – Espo had nearly 1,600 points in 1,282 NHL games and was a critical piece to the Bruins success as well as Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. Who can forget his speech in Vancouver? Espo was a dominant player in the seventies and was one of the reason why we see teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL today.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1282 717 873 1590 910 130 61 76 137 13 - Guy Lafleur – Montreal Canadiens – it sure was fun to watch “The Flower” skate up and down the wings wasn’t it? As they say, “every inch of the ice surface was like a canvas for Guy Lafleur.” His smooth skating made him difficult to hit and he was a master of the puck and had skills like no other. It sure didn’t hurt that he played most of his career on a stacked Canadiens team. How many of you remember Guy playing for the Quebec Nordiques as well?
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1127 560 793 1353 399 128 58 76 134 67 - Jean Beliveau – Montreal Canadiens – very few players were as well respected as Jean Beliveau. He was the most successful captain of the NHL’s greatest team for ten years. He won ten Stanley Cups (once for each finger right?) with Les Canadiens. He amassed 1,219 points in 1,125 NHL games. Yet another of the all-time great Montreal Canadiens, Monsieur Beliveau.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1125 507 712 1219 1029 162 79 97 176 21 - Terry Sawchuk – Detroit Red Wings
- Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins –
- Ted Lindsay – Detroit Red Wings
- Jacques Plante – Montreal Canadiens
- Paul Coffey – Edmonton Oilers
- Ray Bourque – Boston Bruins
- Eddie Shore – Boston Bruins
- Ken Dryden – Montreal Canadiens
- Steve Yzerman – Detroit Red Wings
- Denis Potvin – New York Islanders
- Howie Morenz – Montreal Canadiens
- Frank Mahovolich – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Stan Mikita – Chicago Blackhawks
- Larry Robinson – Montreal Canadiens
- Bobby Clarke – Philadelphia Flyers
- Teemu Selanne – Winnipeg Jets
- Mike Bossy – New York Islanders
- Darryl Sittler – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche
- Martin Brodeur – New Jersey Devils
- Henri Richard – Montreal Canadiens
- Bryan Trottier – New York Islanders
- Milt Schmidt – Boston Bruins
- Red Kelly – Detroit Red Wings
- Nicklas Lidstrom – Detroit Red Wings
- Newsy Lalonde – Montreal Canadiens
- Grant Fuhr – Edmonton Oilers
- Glenn Hall – St. Louis Blues
- Dickie Moore – Montreal Canadiens
- Jaromir Jagr – Pittsburgh Penguins
- Patrick Roy – Montreal Canadiens
- Marcel Dionne – Los Angeles Kings
- Syl Apps – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Yvan Cournoyer – Montreal Canadiens
- Bernie Geoffrion – Montreal Canadiens
- Jari Kurri – Edmonton Oilers
- Johnathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
- Joe Malone – Montreal Canadiens
- Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins
- Gilbert Perreault – Buffalo Sabres
- Brad Park – Boston Bruins
- Ron Francis – Hartford Whalers
- Tim Horton – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Al MacInnis – Calgary Flames
- Bill Durnan – Montreal Canadiens
- Johnny Bucyk – Boston Bruins
- Brett Hull – St. Louis Blues
- Max Bentley – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Elmer Lach – Montreal Candiens
- Charlie Conacher – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toe Blake – Montreal Canadiens
- Dave Keon – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Guy Lapointe – Montreal Canadiens
- Peter Stastny – Quebec Nordiques
- Chris Chelios – Detroit Red Wings
- Dit Clapper – Boston Bruins
- King Clancy – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Pavel Bure – Vancouver Canucks
- Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nels Stewart – Montreal Maroons
- Busher Harvey Jackson – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Wendel Clark – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Bob Gainey – Montreal Canadiens
- Brian Leetch – New York Rangers
- Borje Salming – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Lanny McDonald – Calgary Flames
- Johnny Bower – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Turk Broda – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Gerry Cheevers – Boston Bruins
- Doug Bentley – Chicago Blackhawks
- Sid Abel – Detroit Red Wings
- Tony Esposito – Chicago Blackhawks
- Glenn Anderson – Edmonton Oilers
- Serge Savard – Montreal Canadiens
- Alex Delvecchio – Detroit Red Wings
- Adam Oates – St. Louis Blues
- Clint Benedict – Ottawa Senators
- Mike Gartner – Washington Capitals
- Dominik Hasek – Buffalo Sabres
- Norm Ullman – Detroit Red Wings
- Gump Worsely – New York Rangers
- Doug Gilmour – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dale Hawerchuck – Winnipeg Jets
- Bernie Parent – Philadelphia Flyers
- Bill Barber – Philadelphia Flyers
- Andy Bathgate – New York Rangers
- Mats Sundin – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Trevor Linden – Vancouver Canucks
- Mark Howe – Philadelphia Flyers
- Billy Smith – New York Islanders
- Wayne Gretzky – Edmonton Oilers – the Great One. The greatest point producer of the game. Here’s a look at Gretzky’s amazing stats:
- Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings – He’s nicknamed Mr. Hockey for a reason. Scoring a “Gordie Howe” hat trick in any league is an honor. The man played in six decades are you kidding me? Mr. Hockey came very close to being named our Top NHL Player of all-time.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1767 801 1049 1850 1685 157 68 92 160 220 - Bobby Orr – Boston Bruins – the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL. If you watch old tapes of Mr. Orr you can see why so many think that he was the greatest player of all-time. The eight time Norris trophy winner had exceptional hockey sense and was ahead of his time. Could you image if Bobby Orr played for the Montreal Canadiens? Yikes.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 657 270 645 915 953 74 26 66 92 9 - Mark Messier – Edmonton Oilers – perhaps the greatest leader in any sport? The Moose was my personal favorite player as a kid. He played a tough all around game and made space for himself in a league that had its share of “hooligans”. Messier won five Stanley Cups as a member as an Edmonton Oiler but probably his most memorable one was the 1994 championship win with the New York Rangers that ended a 54 year drought, and put a stop to rival Islanders chants of 1940. Nearly 1,900 points produced over 1,900 penalty minutes, for our money, Mark Messier was the second coming of Gordie Howe, except a little meaner.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1756 694 1193 1887 1910 236 109 186 295 24 - Maurice “Rocket” Richard – Montreal Canadiens – the first man to score 50 goals in 50 games. Maurice Richard is a legend in the NHL. There have been stories and movies made about him, heck people rioted over him. The greatest French Canadian to ever play the game. Richard had a certain “rage” about him that translated into his play on the ice. When people describe The Rocket they use words like tenacity and intensity. With eight Stanley Cup championships under his belt we used the word “winner”.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 978 544 421 965 1285 133 82 44 126 18 - Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks – The Golden Jet was one of the league’s greatest talents on and off of the ice. He is credited for first player to put a curve in his stick and was known for his tremendous slapshot. Nearly 1,200 points in the NHL, he scored another 638 in the WHA, Bobby Hull was the first millionaire hockey player and he lived the lifestyle as such. He jumped to rival league the WHA where he had a number of thrilling seasons as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Definitely one of the all-time greats and number six on our list.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1063 610 560 1170 640 119 62 67 129 10 - Doug Harvey – Montreal Canadiens – six Stanley Cup champions for this once captain of the Montreal Canadiens. Oldtimers around the league will name Harvey as the games greatest defenseman. Doug Harvey was a seven time Norris trophy winner and was the Paul Coffey of the Canadiens brands of run and gun “firewagon” style of hockey.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1113 88 452 540 1216 137 8 64 72 15 - Phil Espositio – Boston Bruins – Espo had nearly 1,600 points in 1,282 NHL games and was a critical piece to the Bruins success as well as Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. Who can forget his speech in Vancouver? Espo was a dominant player in the seventies and was one of the reason why we see teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL today.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1282 717 873 1590 910 130 61 76 137 13 - Guy Lafleur – Montreal Canadiens – it sure was fun to watch “The Flower” skate up and down the wings wasn’t it? As they say, “every inch of the ice surface was like a canvas for Guy Lafleur.” His smooth skating made him difficult to hit and he was a master of the puck and had skills like no other. It sure didn’t hurt that he played most of his career on a stacked Canadiens team. How many of you remember Guy playing for the Quebec Nordiques as well?
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1127 560 793 1353 399 128 58 76 134 67 - Jean Beliveau – Montreal Canadiens – very few players were as well respected as Jean Beliveau. He was the most successful captain of the NHL’s greatest team for ten years. He won ten Stanley Cups (once for each finger right?) with Les Canadiens. He amassed 1,219 points in 1,125 NHL games. Yet another of the all-time great Montreal Canadiens, Monsieur Beliveau.
Regular Season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM NHL Totals 1125 507 712 1219 1029 162 79 97 176 21 - Terry Sawchuk – Detroit Red Wings
- Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins –
- Ted Lindsay – Detroit Red Wings
- Jacques Plante – Montreal Canadiens
- Paul Coffey – Edmonton Oilers
- Ray Bourque – Boston Bruins
- Eddie Shore – Boston Bruins
- Ken Dryden – Montreal Canadiens
- Steve Yzerman – Detroit Red Wings
- Denis Potvin – New York Islanders
- Howie Morenz – Montreal Canadiens
- Frank Mahovolich – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Stan Mikita – Chicago Blackhawks
- Larry Robinson – Montreal Canadiens
- Bobby Clarke – Philadelphia Flyers
- Teemu Selanne – Winnipeg Jets
- Mike Bossy – New York Islanders
- Darryl Sittler – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche
- Martin Brodeur – New Jersey Devils
- Henri Richard – Montreal Canadiens
- Bryan Trottier – New York Islanders
- Milt Schmidt – Boston Bruins
- Red Kelly – Detroit Red Wings
- Nicklas Lidstrom – Detroit Red Wings
- Newsy Lalonde – Montreal Canadiens
- Grant Fuhr – Edmonton Oilers
- Glenn Hall – St. Louis Blues
- Dickie Moore – Montreal Canadiens
- Jaromir Jagr – Pittsburgh Penguins
- Patrick Roy – Montreal Canadiens
- Marcel Dionne – Los Angeles Kings
- Syl Apps – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Yvan Cournoyer – Montreal Canadiens
- Bernie Geoffrion – Montreal Canadiens
- Jari Kurri – Edmonton Oilers
- Johnathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
- Joe Malone – Montreal Canadiens
- Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins
- Gilbert Perreault – Buffalo Sabres
- Brad Park – Boston Bruins
- Ron Francis – Hartford Whalers
- Tim Horton – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Al MacInnis – Calgary Flames
- Bill Durnan – Montreal Canadiens
- Johnny Bucyk – Boston Bruins
- Brett Hull – St. Louis Blues
- Max Bentley – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Elmer Lach – Montreal Candiens
- Charlie Conacher – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toe Blake – Montreal Canadiens
- Dave Keon – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Guy Lapointe – Montreal Canadiens
- Peter Stastny – Quebec Nordiques
- Chris Chelios – Detroit Red Wings
- Dit Clapper – Boston Bruins
- King Clancy – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Pavel Bure – Vancouver Canucks
- Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nels Stewart – Montreal Maroons
- Busher Harvey Jackson – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Wendel Clark – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Bob Gainey – Montreal Canadiens
- Brian Leetch – New York Rangers
- Borje Salming – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Lanny McDonald – Calgary Flames
- Johnny Bower – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Turk Broda – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Gerry Cheevers – Boston Bruins
- Doug Bentley – Chicago Blackhawks
- Sid Abel – Detroit Red Wings
- Tony Esposito – Chicago Blackhawks
- Glenn Anderson – Edmonton Oilers
- Serge Savard – Montreal Canadiens
- Alex Delvecchio – Detroit Red Wings
- Adam Oates – St. Louis Blues
- Clint Benedict – Ottawa Senators
- Mike Gartner – Washington Capitals
- Dominik Hasek – Buffalo Sabres
- Norm Ullman – Detroit Red Wings
- Gump Worsely – New York Rangers
- Doug Gilmour – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dale Hawerchuck – Winnipeg Jets
- Bernie Parent – Philadelphia Flyers
- Bill Barber – Philadelphia Flyers
- Andy Bathgate – New York Rangers
- Mats Sundin – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Trevor Linden – Vancouver Canucks
- Mark Howe – Philadelphia Flyers
- Billy Smith – New York Islanders
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