The NHL is the premier hockey league in North America and has been the home of numerous legendary players. Today, we’re looking at the twenty most iconic hockey players to ever take to the ice in the NHL.
Brett Hull
When it comes to pure scoring, Brett Hull is among the best to ever play in the NHL. He had an impeccable knack for quickly getting the puck off the end of his stick, making him unpredictable in clutch situations. He’d be higher-ranked if he hadn’t focused somewhat exclusively on his offense, though. Notably, he wasn’t quite the legend that his dad, Bobby Hull, was.
Joe Sakic
Sakic isn’t just a legend—he’s a bit of an institution in and of himself. He’s so well-respected that he was famously left out of brawls between the Red Wings and Avalanche, with fellow players saying they all “loved him” and “thought he was amazing.” As for his own game, Sakic recorded three 100-point seasons and helped bring the Stanley Cup home to Denver in 1995.
Steve Yzerman
Speaking of that Colorado/Detroit beef, Yzerman was the captain on the Red Wings side. He helped catapult Detroit to three Stanley Cup wins, and, though he might have not been the most accomplished individual player in his era, his leadership was indispensable in bringing that iconic Red Wings team together.
Paul Coffey
The Edmonton Oilers practically called the shots in the NHL back in the 80s, and Coffey was an important (if often overlooked) aspect of that dominance. He was a defenseman who had an uncanny knack for scoring, but was often overshadowed by Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and, of course, Wayne Gretzky.
Ray Bourque
There was a point in time when you couldn’t talk about offensive defensemen without mentioning either Ray Bourque or Paul Coffey. But there’s an important element that Bourque has that puts him above Coffey, and that’s the lifetime scoring record as a defenseman that he still holds to this day.
Phil Esposito
Everyone remembers Bobby Orr’s heroics with the Bruins, but don’t forget about Esposito. His run with the Bruins in the 70s was the picture of a “sidekick” run, and he was the kind of guy who didn’t mind being called the second greatest ever—because the greatest was still on his team, and his team was still winning.
Mike Bossy
Had Bossy not been knocked out of the league before his time with a career-ending back injury, it’s quite possible he would have become the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. Still, across ten years in the league he was averaging over 57 goals per season and won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the 80s. And holding the goals per game record in the history of the league is nothing to sneeze at.
Guy Lafleur
The Montreal Canadiens were basically awarded instant respect from the team’s fans due to Montreal’s extreme passion for hockey. Lafleur was among the most respected of the Canadiens’ players with his absurd speed and extreme precision. His glorious long hair didn’t hurt his popularity, either.
Dominik Hasek
Dominik Hasek might not quite have the winning record you might expect of an all-time great goalie, but he was capable of such absurd saves that he’s renowned as one of the best to ever tend the goal. With Hasek keeping the puck out the net in any way he possibly could, he helped bring the Red Wings to two Stanley Cups. Those go with his six Vezina trophies and two MVPs.
Patrick Roy
Roy might just be the best goalie to ever compete in the NHL. He won the Cup four times across his career, but had as many detractors as fans. Roy was a deeply superstitious player who would often clash openly with his teams’ management. He also invented the modern “butterfly” style of goalkeeping that’s still used in the modern NHL.
Bobby Hull
While Brett Hull is an all-time great, his father Bobby is arguably even better. Bobby’s record in the NHL is genuinely impressive, and his numbers are perhaps even more surprising given that he spent seven years with the WHA instead of the NHL. Over only 1,063 games, he recorded 610 goals. He also won the league MVP award in two seasons, and he’s widely remembered as one of the earliest greats in the history of the NHL.
Nicklas Lidstrom
Lidstrom is one of the most well-regarded defensemen in the history of the NHL, thanks in no small part to his four Stanley Cup wins and seven Norris trophy seasons. He’s basically the picture of an ideal defenseman, with his quiet but unmistakable presence on the ice. While he was never flashy, he was always the core of his teams.
Connor McDavid
In March 2024, Connor McDavid became just the seventh player ever to have 120 points in three consecutive seasons. He joined the ranks of such greats as Gretzky, Lafluer, Coffey, and Lemieux in that vaunted club. Despite his already absurd speed, he seems to be getting faster every season and is primed to become one of the best players to ever do it.
Alex Ovechkin
Can Ovechkin overtake Wayne Gretzky as the number one goal scorer in the history of the NHL? He’s only 41 goals behind at the moment, and could easily get past the all-time great next season. Even if he doesn’t, though, his 2018 Stanley Cup win with Washington and his absurd performance in postseason appearances makes him one of the best to ever do it.
Mark Messier
Messier wasn’t just tough, he was tough and accurate. It’s one thing to be able to take a hit in hockey, but Messier could take those big blows and still find his mark with precision. Naturally, his long tenure alongside Wayne Gretzky in Edmonton makes him a fan favorite to this day. He’s such a well-regarded leader that his name graces a leadership award the NHL gives out every year.
Sidney Crosby
Crosby and Ovechkin are among the two greatest actively-playing hockey players in the world right now. Crosby won’t get a run at a huge milestone record like his rival Ovechkin, but he will be remembered for his three Stanley Cup victories and his 2010 Olympic gold medal. He’s scored an absurd number of points over his long career, and would likely be ranked even higher had he not battled so many injuries across his time in the league.
Maurice Richard
Richard had a shorter career in the NHL than some people on this list, but he was still a hugely impactful player in his era. He was the first player to ever hit 500 career goals, and the NHL named the league’s top scoring goal after him. His hot temper and intense desire to win made him a sometimes-controversial but always-respected player.
Jean Beliveau
The Canadiens were lucky to have Beliveau back in the day, and he was lucky enough to stay heathy for an absurd 20 seasons in the league. He was a bona fide star in Canada and remained a popular figure in the sport until his death in 2014. It’s impossible to discount his mind-boggling 10 Stanley Cup wins, which speak to his dedication to winning no matter the cost.
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Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr is the second most legendary hockey player ever if only because he’s singlehandedly responsible for reworking how players think about playing defense in the modern version of the game. Before him, defensemen didn’t play up the line. After Orr, that became the norm.
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Wayne Gretzky
Who else could be number one? It’s Gretzky, no question. Some of his records simply can’t be assailed. He scored over 2,800 points in his career, and the next closest player is just a shade under 1,000 points behind him. He was the face of the Oilers and holds over 60 career records. His name will always be synonymous with the NHL. Case in point: he has more career assists than any other player has points. The guy isn’t called “The Great One” for nothing.
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