NHL Legends, Ranked

Retired holding or sharing 61 NHL records and is the only player to top 200 points in a season, doing it four times. His 2,857 career points are more than 900 ahead of anyone else in history.

Revolutionized the defenseman position and is the only blueliner to win the Art Ross as scoring champion, which he did twice. He won a record eight straight Norris Trophies despite a career cut short by knee injuries.

Owns a 1.88 career points-per-game average, second only to Gretzky, and returned from Hodgkin's lymphoma and back surgery to keep dominating. He led the Penguins to back-to-back Cups and posted a 199-point season.

"Mr. Hockey" played 26 NHL seasons and held the career goals and points records for decades before Gretzky. A 23-time NHL All-Star, he was still competing at the top level into his 50s in the WHA.

Three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Conn Smythe winner who has been the face of the NHL for nearly two decades. He scored the golden goal to win Olympic gold for Canada in 2010.

The first player to score 50 goals in 50 games and the first to reach 500 career goals. His fiery play helped Montreal to eight Stanley Cups and the annual top-scorer trophy bears his name.

A four-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time Conn Smythe winner, the only player to win that playoff MVP award three times. He redefined goaltending with the butterfly style.

The only man to captain two different franchises to Stanley Cup titles, guaranteeing and delivering the Rangers' 1994 championship. He ranks third all-time in career points, behind only Gretzky and Jágr.

Passed Gretzky in April 2025 to become the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, a mark long thought untouchable. A nine-time Rocket Richard winner who finally won the Cup in 2018.

A six-time Art Ross winner widely regarded as the fastest and most skilled player of his era, with a 153-point season in 2022-23. Still chasing his first Stanley Cup.

Won a staggering 10 Stanley Cups as a player and captained Montreal to five of them. An elegant power center who was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965.

"The Golden Jet" was the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season and popularized the slap shot with his blistering speed. His WHA jump helped legitimize the rival league.

Held the record for career regular-season shutouts at 103 for over four decades and won four Stanley Cups. His win total stood as the goaltending record for many years.

A five-time Norris winner who holds the career records for goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. He famously won his only Cup in his final season after a trade to Colorado.

Won seven Norris Trophies and four Stanley Cups as the anchor of Detroit's defense for two decades. He was the first European-born captain to win the Cup.

Retired as the all-time leader in wins (691) and shutouts (125) among goaltenders. He backstopped the Devils to three Stanley Cups with his puck-handling and positional style.

A dominant power forward and Hart winner whose career was derailed by a series of concussions. The "Next One" hype never fully materialized into the championship legacy expected.

A notorious agitator best known for the "Avery Rule" banning face-screening of goalies, created after his antics against Martin Brodeur in 2008. His off-ice comments got him suspended and made him a league pariah.

Built a reputation for reckless, injurious hits, including a suspension for a flying blindside headshot in the preseason. A repeat offender remembered more for supplemental discipline than skill.

Infamous for a 2000 stick slash that struck Donald Brashear in the head, drawing a criminal assault conviction and a one-year suspension. He never played another NHL game.