Editor's Choice
Who Were the 10 Best NHL Players Ever? A Ranking Built to Survive the Argument
Wayne Gretzky leads our evidence-based ranking of the 10 best NHL players ever, but Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, Sidney Crosby, and five other legends make the argument far richer than a list of point totals.
The Sports Encounter All-Time Hockey Ranking
Who Were the 10 Best NHL Players Ever? A Ranking Built to Survive the Argument
Goals matter. So do championships, defense, pressure, durability, position, and the distance a player created between himself and everyone else in his era. We scored them all.
Every American hockey city carries its own answer to this question. Pittsburgh remembers Mario Lemieux saving a franchise and Sidney Crosby extending its championship life. Boston still sees Bobby Orr flying through the air. Detroit has Gordie Howe and Nicklas Lidstrom stitched into its identity. Washington watched Alex Ovechkin chase a record that once looked unreachable.
Those memories explain why ranking the best NHL players ever becomes personal so quickly. A fan who grew up listening to games on the radio values a different kind of evidence from someone who discovered Connor McDavid through high-definition replays and tracking data. Both are responding to greatness. They simply met it in different forms.
This ranking tries to respect that difference. Raw points alone favor high-scoring eras and forwards. Stanley Cups alone reward players who entered strong organizations. Goaltenders cannot be judged with a scoring table, while defensemen influence hundreds of possessions that never produce a box-score event.
We evaluated peak dominance, career production within each era, playoff impact, major awards, complete or position-specific value, longevity, and influence. The result places Wayne Gretzky first, but the argument beneath him remains wonderfully difficult. Follow our continuing NHL news, history, and analysis as new careers add evidence to hockey’s oldest debates.
Fast Answer: The 10 Best NHL Players Ever
- Wayne Gretzky
- Bobby Orr
- Mario Lemieux
- Gordie Howe
- Sidney Crosby
- Dominik Hasek
- Nicklas Lidstrom
- Jaromir Jagr
- Alex Ovechkin
- Connor McDavid
How We Ranked the Greatest NHL Players of All Time
The model uses seven categories and a 100-point scale. Peak carries the greatest weight because the central question concerns how good a player became, rather than how long he remained useful. Production and playoff impact follow closely. Awards measure separation from contemporary peers, although voting patterns and changing trophy definitions require context.
| Ranking Metric | Weight | What We Evaluated |
|---|---|---|
| Peak dominance | 25% | Best seasons, separation from peers, record-level performance |
| Production and era context | 20% | Scoring, goaltending, role, pace, and conditions of the period |
| Playoff and championship impact | 20% | Postseason production, pressure performance, and Cup influence |
| Individual awards | 15% | Hart, Art Ross, Norris, Vezina, Conn Smythe, and peer-voted honors |
| Complete or positional value | 10% | Defense, transition, puck control, leadership, and demands of position |
| Longevity and availability | 5% | Elite seasons, durability, adaptability, and sustained relevance |
| Historical influence | 5% | How the player changed tactics, standards, markets, or hockey culture |
The NHL’s eras cannot be made perfectly equal. Schedule length, expansion, equipment, travel, medical care, overtime rules, defensive systems, and average scoring all changed. We used the NHL’s official historical record and 100 Greatest Players archive as the statistical foundation, then applied role and era context.
Wayne Gretzky once called Gordie Howe “the greatest player ever,” adding that the choice between Howe and Bobby Orr depended partly on perspective. Coming from the player most people place first, the remark captures the humility and difficulty of the exercise.
The modern league also reaches a wider American audience than it did during many of these careers. Our analysis of the NHL’s recent U.S. television growth shows why historical explainers now serve established fans and a new generation arriving through national broadcasts and social video.
The All-Time NHL Greatness Scorecard
| Rank | Player | Position | Peak | Production | Playoffs | Awards | Complete Value | Longevity | Influence | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | C | 25.0 | 20.0 | 19.0 | 15.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 98.0 |
| 2 | Bobby Orr | D | 25.0 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 15.0 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 94.5 |
| 3 | Mario Lemieux | C | 24.5 | 19.5 | 18.5 | 14.5 | 9.5 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 93.5 |
| 4 | Gordie Howe | RW | 23.0 | 18.5 | 18.0 | 14.0 | 9.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 93.0 |
| 5 | Sidney Crosby | C | 22.5 | 17.0 | 19.0 | 12.5 | 9.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 90.0 |
| 6 | Dominik Hasek | G | 24.5 | 18.0 | 16.0 | 14.0 | 10.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 90.0 |
| 7 | Nicklas Lidstrom | D | 21.5 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 13.5 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 88.5 |
| 8 | Jaromir Jagr | RW | 22.0 | 19.0 | 16.5 | 12.5 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 87.5 |
| 9 | Alex Ovechkin | LW | 23.5 | 18.5 | 16.5 | 12.0 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 87.5 |
| 10 | Connor McDavid | C | 25.0 | 18.0 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 86.5 |
Crosby wins the tie with Hasek because three championships and two Conn Smythe Trophies give him a broader playoff record. Jagr edges Ovechkin through all-around offensive creation and career points, although Ovechkin owns the greater goal-scoring achievement. These are editorial tie-breakers, clearly separated from official statistics.
The 10 Best NHL Players Ever, Ranked
Wayne Gretzky: The Record Book Still Belongs to No. 99
Gretzky’s totals remain difficult to process even after decades of repetition. His 1,963 assists exceed the career point total of every other player in NHL history. He owns the single-season records for goals (92), assists (163), and points (215), reached 1,000 points in only 424 games, and finished with 382 playoff points.
Edmonton gave him a gifted, fast roster, but Gretzky was the intelligence that made its attack feel inevitable. He read the next passing lane before defenders recognized the current one. His office behind the net became part of hockey vocabulary because opponents could see the danger and still could not close it.
The record that settles the first position
Four Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe Trophies, 10 scoring titles, and nine MVP awards remove any concern that the numbers were detached from winning. Ovechkin eventually passed his goal record, yet Gretzky’s command of total offense remains untouched. No player created a larger statistical distance from his peers.
Bobby Orr: The Defenseman Who Changed the Geometry of Hockey
Orr did not play like a defenseman with permission to attack. He controlled the entire sheet. His skating allowed him to retrieve the puck, escape pressure, cross the neutral zone, create the chance, and still recover defensively. The modern idea of a defenseman as a primary offensive engine begins with him.
In 1970-71, Orr produced 139 points, 102 assists, and a plus-124 rating. He remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy, and he did it twice. Eight consecutive Norris Trophies show how completely he owned his position.
Why a shorter career still ranks second
Damaged knees reduced Orr to 657 regular-season games. The available peak carries extraordinary weight because he won three Hart Trophies and twice captured the Conn Smythe while leading Boston to the Cup. His airborne winner in 1970 still connects families who never watched him live with the emotional history of the Bruins.
Mario Lemieux: Hockey’s Most Complete Offensive Instrument
Lemieux combined a center’s vision, a power forward’s reach, and a scorer’s touch in a 6-foot-4 frame. Gretzky produced more. Lemieux often looked physically impossible. Bobby Orr once said Lemieux could do more things than any player he had seen.
His 1.88 career points per game trail only Gretzky. Lemieux won six Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, and two Conn Smythe Trophies. He delivered 172 points in 107 playoff games and led Pittsburgh to consecutive Cups in 1991 and 1992.
The greatness hidden inside the missed games
Back problems, cancer treatment, and other health issues limited his career. In 1992-93, Lemieux returned from Hodgkin lymphoma treatment and still won the scoring race with 160 points in 60 games. Pittsburgh’s relationship with its stars remains central to the franchise, as seen again when new ownership took control of the Penguins. Lemieux’s role as player, savior, and later owner makes his impact on that city unusually complete.
Gordie Howe: Power, Skill, and Longevity in One Body
Howe gave hockey its most durable model of complete forward play. He scored, created, defended, intimidated, and remained productive across generations. Twenty-two consecutive NHL seasons with at least 23 goals say as much about his repeatable excellence as his famous elbows do.
Mr. Hockey won six scoring titles and six Hart Trophies. He helped Detroit lift four Stanley Cups and accumulated 1,850 points during an NHL career that stretched from 1946 to 1980, with a long WHA chapter between his Red Wings and Hartford seasons.
Comparing Original Six numbers with modern totals requires care. The league offered fewer roster spots and fewer games, travel was harder, and medical support was primitive. Howe survived every form of the sport placed in front of him. Gretzky’s public insistence that Howe was the greatest provides the most meaningful endorsement imaginable.
Sidney Crosby: The Standard for Winning in the Modern NHL
Crosby entered the league carrying impossible expectations and built a career sturdy enough to hold them. His edge work, backhand, puck protection, faceoff detail, and ability to create below the goal line made him more complete than his scoring totals alone suggest.
By the end of 2025-26, Crosby had 1,761 points and an NHL-record 21 consecutive point-per-game seasons. He won two scoring titles, two goal-scoring titles, three Ted Lindsay Awards, three Stanley Cups, and consecutive Conn Smythe Trophies in 2016 and 2017.
Concussions took significant time from his prime, yet he adapted as the league changed around him. Pittsburgh fans watched him grow from teenage phenomenon into the captain who connected two championship generations. Modern leadership discussions often begin with Crosby and Jonathan Toews; our feature on Toews’ retirement and Chicago legacy explores the other defining captain of that era.
Dominik Hasek: The Greatest Goaltending Peak the NHL Has Seen
Hasek looked improvised because his body could solve problems conventional technique could not. Beneath the sprawling saves was an elite reader of releases, traffic, and passing options. Buffalo asked him to carry workloads that exposed him to heavy shot volume, and he still led the league in save percentage for six consecutive seasons.
His .922 career save percentage remains exceptional for the scoring environment in which he played. Five times he reached .930 or better. Six Vezina Trophies establish positional command, while back-to-back Hart Trophies in 1997 and 1998 show that voters saw his value extending far beyond the crease.
Patrick Roy owns the stronger playoff mythology and three Conn Smythe Trophies. Martin Brodeur owns the wins and shutout records. Hasek ranks highest here because his peak created the largest gap between a goalie and his peers. The 2026 Hall of Fame discussion around Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron offers another reminder that peak value and complete play can matter as much as raw totals.
Nicklas Lidstrom: Twenty Seasons of Correct Decisions
Lidstrom rarely needed desperation because he prevented it. His stick position, outlet passing, blue-line control, and understanding of space made difficult shifts look ordinary. Coaches could build an entire defensive structure around his judgment.
Across 20 seasons, Detroit never missed the playoffs. Lidstrom won seven Norris Trophies, four Stanley Cups, and the 2002 Conn Smythe. In 2008, he became the first European-born captain to lift the Stanley Cup.
Orr reached a higher peak, while Ray Bourque accumulated more points. Lidstrom offers the most convincing blend of defense, offense, postseason reliability, and longevity at the position. His understated authority also helped establish the Red Wings as an international model of roster building, where European skill and North American playoff demands could reinforce each other.
Jaromir Jagr: Elite Production Across Three Hockey Generations
Jagr’s career contains several careers. He was a young force beside Lemieux on championship Pittsburgh teams, the league’s dominant scorer in the late 1990s, a franchise star in multiple markets, and a productive veteran long after most peers had retired.
His 1,921 points rank second in NHL history. Jagr also sits fourth in goals, fifth in assists, and among the all-time leaders in games played. Five scoring titles, one Hart Trophy, three peer-voted MVP awards, and 201 playoff points demonstrate both peak and staying power.
His strength along the boards changed how right wings protected possession. Defenders knew he wanted to turn his back, extend the puck beyond reach, and wait for support. Stopping it remained exhausting. That skill aged beautifully and explains why his offensive influence survived changes in rules, systems, linemates, and countries.
Alex Ovechkin: The Most Prolific Goal Scorer in NHL History
For three decades, Gretzky’s 894 goals looked safe. Ovechkin passed the mark in 2025 and finished the following season with 929. He also owns NHL records for power-play goals, game-winning goals, overtime goals, 30-goal seasons, and 40-goal seasons.
The familiar one-timer from the left circle can obscure his range. Ovechkin scored off the rush, through traffic, from rebounds, with wrist shots, and through the physical pressure he willingly initiated. His early years combined elite finishing with a level of hitting rarely associated with a scoring champion.
The 2018 Stanley Cup completed his case. Ovechkin led Washington through years of disappointment, won the Conn Smythe, and gave the District a celebration that remains part of the city’s sports memory. His late-career relevance belongs beside other durable stars, including the modern American icon discussed in our report on Patrick Kane’s return to Chicago.
Connor McDavid: The Fastest Player Hockey Has Had to Solve
McDavid attacks at a speed that forces NHL defenders to make decisions before their feet are ready. The remarkable part is the control. His hands, edges, and passing vision continue working at a pace that usually destroys precision.
Through 2025-26, he had 1,220 points in 794 games. His 1.54 points per game rank behind only Gretzky and Lemieux among players with at least 100 games. Six Art Ross Trophies tie Howe and Lemieux for second all time, while three Hart Trophies, five Ted Lindsay Awards, a 64-goal season, and the 2024 Conn Smythe define an all-time peak.
McDavid remains tenth because his career is unfinished and the Stanley Cup has eluded him. That is a ranking condition, not a dismissal. One championship run could move him several places. His economic value also reflects the modern superstar market explored in our feature on the NHL’s record contract era.
Career Records and Awards at a Glance
| Player | Signature Career Measure | Major Individual Awards | Stanley Cups | Defining Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gretzky | 2,857 points | 9 Hart, 10 Art Ross, 2 Conn Smythe | 4 | Anticipation and playmaking |
| Orr | 1.39 points per game as a defenseman | 8 Norris, 3 Hart, 2 Art Ross, 2 Conn Smythe | 2 | Full-rink control |
| Lemieux | 1.88 points per game | 3 Hart, 6 Art Ross, 2 Conn Smythe | 2 | Size, hands, and finishing |
| Howe | 22 straight 23-goal NHL seasons | 6 Hart, 6 Art Ross | 4 | Complete power-forward play |
| Crosby | 21 straight point-per-game seasons | 2 Hart, 2 Art Ross, 2 Conn Smythe | 3 | Edges, puck protection, leadership |
| Hasek | .922 career save percentage | 6 Vezina, 2 Hart | 2 | Reading and recovery |
| Lidstrom | 1,142 points from defense | 7 Norris, 1 Conn Smythe | 4 | Positioning and transition |
| Jagr | 1,921 points | 1 Hart, 5 Art Ross, 3 Lindsay | 2 | Puck protection |
| Ovechkin | 929 goals through 2025-26 | 3 Hart, 1 Art Ross, 1 Conn Smythe | 1 | Goal scoring and power |
| McDavid | 1.54 points per game | 3 Hart, 6 Art Ross, 1 Conn Smythe | 0 | Speed with control |
Who Just Missed the Top 10?
Leaving legends out is harder than choosing the first four. Maurice Richard became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games and won eight Stanley Cups. Jean Beliveau combined 1,219 points with 10 Cups, two Hart Trophies, and the first Conn Smythe. Mark Messier’s six championships and 295 playoff points give him one of the strongest postseason cases ever.
Patrick Roy won four Cups and a record three Conn Smythe Trophies. Ray Bourque collected five Norris Trophies and more points than any defenseman. Doug Harvey won seven Norris Trophies and helped define puck-moving defense before Orr. Mike Bossy scored 573 goals in only 752 games and won four straight Cups. Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Ken Dryden, Martin Brodeur, and Joe Sakic also belong in any serious extended ranking.
Championship context matters, but it cannot become a shortcut. Carolina’s recent title, covered in our report on the Hurricanes ending a 20-year Stanley Cup wait, showed again how depth, health, coaching, and timing surround every superstar. Front offices keep chasing that mix, whether through patient development or an aggressive move such as Florida’s blockbuster pursuit of another Cup.
What This Ranking Says About Hockey Greatness
The best career and the best peak are different questions. Gretzky owns the strongest total case. Orr and Lemieux created peaks that invite debate. Howe represents unmatched durability across eras. Hasek proves that goaltending greatness needs its own language. McDavid reminds us that history keeps moving while we try to rank it.
That movement is visible throughout the league, from major trades to smaller roster decisions such as the Rangers’ recent deal with Nashville. Every transaction gives another player a different opportunity to shape a team, a city, and eventually a legacy.
Final Verdict: Why Wayne Gretzky Remains the NHL GOAT
Gretzky finishes first because every major route to greatness leads back to him. Peak scoring, career production, MVP voting, playoff creation, championships, historical influence, and separation from peers all support the same conclusion. Ovechkin took the goals record, but Gretzky still owns the most overwhelming offensive résumé in North American team sports.
Orr follows because he expanded the possibilities of his position. Lemieux sits inches behind him with the closest offensive peak to Gretzky’s. Howe’s longevity and complete game form the bridge between hockey’s older identity and its modern stars. Crosby, Hasek, Lidstrom, Jagr, Ovechkin, and McDavid each represent a different answer to the question of how one player can control a game.
Fans will move names. That is part of the pleasure. A Buffalo supporter may place Hasek higher. A Montreal family may refuse to accept a list without Richard or Beliveau. Colorado fans can build a passionate case for Roy or Bourque. Chicago can answer with Kane, Toews, Mikita, or Hull.
The argument survives because hockey greatness has several languages. Gretzky spoke more of them, at a higher volume, for longer than anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is widely considered the greatest NHL player ever?
Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the greatest NHL player ever. He holds the career records for assists and points, won nine Hart Trophies, captured 10 scoring titles, and led Edmonton to four Stanley Cups.
Who scored the most goals in NHL history?
Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals in 2025. Ovechkin ended the 2025-26 season with 929 career goals.
Who is the greatest defenseman in NHL history?
Bobby Orr ranks as the greatest NHL defenseman because of his unmatched peak, eight consecutive Norris Trophies, two scoring titles, three Hart Trophies, and two Conn Smythe-winning championship runs.
Who is the greatest NHL goalie ever?
Dominik Hasek gets our vote because he created the strongest peak relative to his peers. Patrick Roy has the best playoff case, while Martin Brodeur leads in career wins and shutouts.
Is Connor McDavid already a top-10 NHL player?
Yes, based on peak performance. Through 2025-26, McDavid ranked third in career points per game and had won six Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, five Ted Lindsay Awards, and a Conn Smythe Trophy. A Stanley Cup would strengthen his position considerably.
Why is Mario Lemieux behind Bobby Orr?
The margin is narrow. Orr ranks second because he transformed his position, dominated award voting, drove offense and defense, and won two Conn Smythe Trophies. Lemieux has the stronger pure offensive case.
Why are active and retired players ranked together?
The scorecard measures work completed through the 2025-26 season. Active players can move as their careers develop, which is especially relevant for McDavid, Crosby, and Ovechkin.