The 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time, Ranked

The NHL has seen countless superstars dominate the ice over the years, but only a select few have truly separated themselves from the rest. From record-breaking scorers and legendary goaltenders to generational talents who changed how the game is played, narrowing down the Greatest NHL Players of All Time is no easy task.

With individual accolades, Stanley Cup success, longevity, and overall impact all taken into consideration, here are our top 10 players in league history.

10. Mark Messier

Our list starts with Mark Messier. The Hall of Famer won an astonishing six Stanley Cups in his decorated career, five with the Edmonton Oilers and one with the New York Rangers. Messier is also the only player in NHL history to captain two different teams to Stanley Cup titles. He ranks third all-time in regular-season points behind only Jaromir Jagr and Wayne Gretzky.

Messier averaged more than a point per game in his career, and his individual accolades include two Hart Trophies, a Conn Smythe, and he also won the Ted Lindsay Award twice. While Messier had a phenomenal career, he ranks lower on the list because much of his case is built on team success and longevity rather than individual dominance.

9. Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy is the only goaltender on the Greatest NHL Players of All Time list, and for good reason. The Quebec City native is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe three times, and on top of that, Roy lifted four Stanley Cups. The netminder captured two with the Colorado Avalanche and two with the Montreal Canadiens.

Roy is also the youngest Conn Smythe winner ever at 20 years of age. He broke onto the scene young, and his longevity between the posts was remarkable. Among his other accolades were three Vezina Trophies, an NHL-record 151 playoff wins, and he was also one of the primary goaltenders who made the butterfly style popular in the league.

8. Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr may not have as many Cups as the aforementioned names, but his individual brilliance is hard to match. The Czech superstar captured five Art Ross Trophies as the NHL’s top point scorer, and he was the scoring king for four straight seasons between 1997 and 2001 while a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jagr also helped the Pens win two Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992, winning his first at just 19. Jagr was named the MVP of the league in 1999, and he ranks second in all-time regular-season points behind only The Great One. He’s also top five all-time in goals and assists.

7. Connor McDavid

When it’s all said and done, Connor McDavid could be higher on the Greatest NHL Players of All Time list, but he’ll need a Cup first. The Oilers franchise cornerstone has taken Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Final twice now, but fell short both times. That being said, McDavid could be the most skilled player we’ve ever seen in the league.

The Ontario native has already won the Art Ross six times and the Ted Lindsay five times. On top of that, McDavid is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, and he was a runner-up in 2026. The Edmonton superstar has already posted 100+ points in nine seasons, trailing only Mario Lemieux (10) and Gretzky (15). He has more than enough time to catch the latter as well, but finally winning a Cup will be the primary goal for McDavid.

6. Alex Ovechkin

If Alex Ovechkin had two or three Stanley Cups, he’d probably crack the top five. But Ovi has only won one, which is why he sits at No. 6. Regardless, his individual brilliance is impossible to ignore.

Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929. He surpassed Gretzky’s 894 during the 2024-25 season. Ovi has also won a record nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies, which are handed to the league’s goal-scoring leader. The Russian sniper has also won three Hart Trophies in his illustrious career, and his longevity is ridiculously impressive.

5. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby sits at fifth on the Greatest NHL Players of All Time list. The Pittsburgh Penguins legend is still producing the goods after all these years, and his résumé is as decorated as can be. He’s won three Cups with Pittsburgh, and he won the Conn Smythe in both 2016 and 2017 en route to the title.

Sid The Kid is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer ahead of Lemieux, and he holds an NHL record for 21 consecutive seasons averaging at least a point per game. Two Harts and two Rocket Richards sit in his trophy case, and at the national level, Crosby led Team Canada to two gold medals, including the goal heard around the country at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. To this day, that game-winning goal remains one of the most iconic sports moments in Canadian history.

4. Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe may have played in a different era, but Mr. Hockey was an absolute wizard on the ice. Howe was a massive reason for the Detroit Red Wings’ dynasty days, leading them to four Stanley Cups. He also won the Hart a mind-boggling six times, and the same goes for the Art Ross.

When Howe hung up his skates in 1980, he was the league’s all-time leader in points, goals, games, and assists. His longevity was also insane. Between 1949 and 1969, Howe finished top five in scoring every single season. Oh, and don’t forget, his final NHL season was at 52. We’re never going to see that again.

3. Mario Lemieux

Before Crosby arrived, Lemieux was seen as the main legend for the Penguins. Alongside Jagr, he helped them win titles in ’91 and ’92, but it was Lemieux’s individual numbers that put him No. 3 on the Greatest NHL Players of All Time list. His production was ridiculous. Lemieux averaged 1.88 points per game in his career and finished with 1,723 points in only 915 games played.

In both championship runs, Lemieux won the Conn Smythe, and he also captured three Harts and six Art Ross Trophies. He was also extremely resilient. After going through cancer treatment, Lemieux returned for the ’92-93 season and proceeded to win the Hart Trophy and lead the NHL in scoring. What a legend.

2. Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr may have retired at 30 due to knee injuries, but his time in the National Hockey League was incredibly impactful. Orr revolutionized what a defenceman could be, showing off offensive skills we’d never seen before from a blue liner.

Aside from his two Cups with the Boston Bruins, Orr also won an insane eight consecutive Norris Trophies. He’s also the only defenceman ever to capture the Art Ross, leading the NHL in scoring twice. Orr played only 657 games in his career but finished with 915 points. We’re seeing defencemen contribute offensively more than ever, but none will ever be on Orr’s level.

1. Wayne Gretzky

It was obvious, right? Gretzky is called The Great One for a reason. While there will always be an argument that McDavid is the most talented hockey player ever, Gretzky’s brilliance in more ways than one puts him at the top of this list. The Brantford, Ontario native did it all. He won four Cups with the Oilers, and his yearly brilliance was clear.

Gretzky collected nine Hart Awards in his career, including eight straight. That’s something we will likely never see again. When he retired, Gretzky held an astounding 61 records. Among his other accomplishments are the most points and assists in NHL history, a league-record 10 Art Ross Trophies, including seven consecutive, and his No. 99 being retired across the NHL, the only number to ever receive that honor.