The 10 Greatest NHL Forwards of All Time, Ranked

Ranking the Greatest NHL Forwards of All Time means comparing superstars from very different eras, from Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe to modern-day icons such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid. Individual production matters, but Stanley Cups, major awards, playoff performances, longevity, and dominance relative to each player’s era all have to factor into the discussion for the best of the best.

We’ve previously ranked the greatest NHL players of all time. In this piece, the focus is exclusively on the players responsible for putting the puck in the net and creating offense.

With that in mind, here’s our countdown of the 10 greatest forwards in NHL history.

10. Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard was the NHL’s first truly iconic goal scorer. The Canadiens legend became the first player in league history to score 50 goals in 50 games and the first to reach 500 career goals.

Richard won eight Stanley Cups with Montreal and captured the Hart Trophy in 1946-47, while leading the NHL in goals five times. Fittingly, the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy is now named after him and awarded annually to the league’s top goal scorer.

9. Jean Beliveau

Jean Beliveau was the definition of a winner during Montreal’s most dominant era. The Canadiens legend captured 10 Stanley Cups as a player, while also winning two Hart Trophies and the 1955-56 Art Ross Trophy.

Beliveau added the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965 after leading Montreal through another championship run. Beliveau finished with 1,219 points in 1,125 games, cementing his place among the greatest forwards in hockey history.

8. Mark Messier

Mark Messier’s resume is built around winning. The Hall of Famer captured six Stanley Cups, including five with the Edmonton Oilers before leading the Rangers to their first championship in 54 years in 1994.

Messier is also the only player in NHL history to captain two different franchises to Stanley Cup titles. He won two Hart Trophies and a Conn Smythe, while his 1,887 career points rank third all-time behind only Wayne Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr.

7. Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr combined elite production with remarkable longevity. The Czech winger won five Art Ross Trophies, including four straight from 1997-98 through 2000-01, while also capturing the Hart in 1999 and two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh.

Jagr finished his NHL career with 1,921 points, second only to Wayne Gretzky. His hockey journey continued long after leaving the NHL, and only recently did it appear that Jagr’s incredible professional career had finally reached its end at age 54.

6. Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid has already built one of the greatest individual resumes in NHL history, and he isn’t even 30 yet. The Oilers superstar owns three Hart Trophies and five Ted Lindsay Awards, while also winning the Conn Smythe in 2024 despite Edmonton losing the Stanley Cup Final.

McDavid won his sixth Art Ross Trophy in 2025-26 after leading the league with 138 points. That tied Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux for second-most all-time behind only Wayne Gretzky’s 10. If he adds some Cups to his resume, McDavid will surely be higher on this list when it’s all said and done.

5. Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin has a strong case as the greatest goal scorer the NHL has ever seen. The Capitals legend surpassed Wayne Gretzky in 2024-25 and enters 2026-27 as the NHL’s all-time leader with 929 goals.

Ovechkin has also won a record nine Rocket Richard Trophies, three Hart Trophies and an Art Ross. After already conquering Gretzky’s record, the veteran has even discussed whether an unprecedented chase for 1,000 career goals could be possible. He’ll be back for yet another season this fall.

4. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby’s combination of individual dominance, longevity and winning gives him one of the most complete resumes in NHL history. The Penguins captain has won three Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies and back-to-back Conn Smythes in 2016 and 2017.

Crosby also extended his NHL record to 21 consecutive point-per-game seasons in 2025-26. Internationally, he won two Olympic gold medals with Canada, including scoring the unforgettable overtime winner against the United States in Vancouver in 2010. That will forever be one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sports history.

3. Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe dominated the NHL for a remarkably long period, earning the nickname “Mr. Hockey” along the way. Howe helped power the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cups while winning six Hart Trophies and six Art Ross Trophies.

He also finished among the league’s top five scorers for 20 consecutive seasons. Howe’s longevity was just as impressive as his production, with the legendary winger eventually playing his final NHL season with Hartford at 52 years old. Few players dominated an era quite like Howe, and we’ll never see a player suit up until his early 50s again. Howe was built different.

2. Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux’s career was limited by injuries and serious health issues, but his production was still almost unmatched. The Penguins legend recorded 1,723 points in only 915 games, giving him a career average of 1.88 points per game, second only to Wayne Gretzky.

Lemieux won six Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies and two Stanley Cups, capturing the Conn Smythe in both championship runs. His remarkable NHL career also included returning from cancer treatment and immediately resuming his place among the league’s elite. Lemieux was incredibly resilient.

1. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky remains the standard every NHL superstar is measured against. The Great One won four Stanley Cups during the Oilers’ dynasty years, along with a record nine Hart Trophies and 10 Art Ross Trophies.

Gretzky finished his career with NHL records of 2,857 points and 1,963 assists, and he remains the only player to record a 200-point season, doing so four times. He retired holding 61 league records, while No. 99 remains the only number retired across the entire NHL.