What follows is a listing of the 100 greatest hockey players of all time, in my opinion. As discussed earlier, the definition of greatness is a very personalized endeavor and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.
While there is no way of ever truly ranking the top 100 definitively, it is important for the creators of such lists to be open and transparent of how the came to their conclusions. That accountability allows the reader to better understand the process.
Although admittedly I'm using a completely unscientific formula, I weigh career achievements (era statistics, awards, championships) and legacy (impact on and off ice, peak dominance) equally high. I rank player ability as the third most important ingredient, as first and foremost as a tie breaker. Hence, I'm not necessarily looking for the better player, as in text book definitions of what a hockey player should be, but for players with the greatest careers and greatest legacies. Therefore the best player is not necessarily the greatest player.
The list actually came together fairly quickly, because I constantly cross-referenced other lists. I first ranked players by position, and by era, and by nationality. When I created my master list of the top 100 players of all time, I held myself accountable by staying true to those previously made lists. Some tweaking was necessary, of course, but before I adjusted the top 100 list, I had to make sure I stayed true to my original lists.
Without further ado, I present the GreatestHockeyLegends.com Top 100 Greatest Hockey Players of All Time:
1. Wayne Gretzky (C) - "The Great One" wanted to be the best every day. He was not the most physically gifted, but with unmatchable passion and intelligence he did more with less. More than anyone else, by leaps and bounds.Although admittedly I'm using a completely unscientific formula, I weigh career achievements (era statistics, awards, championships) and legacy (impact on and off ice, peak dominance) equally high. I rank player ability as the third most important ingredient, as first and foremost as a tie breaker. Hence, I'm not necessarily looking for the better player, as in text book definitions of what a hockey player should be, but for players with the greatest careers and greatest legacies. Therefore the best player is not necessarily the greatest player.
The list actually came together fairly quickly, because I constantly cross-referenced other lists. I first ranked players by position, and by era, and by nationality. When I created my master list of the top 100 players of all time, I held myself accountable by staying true to those previously made lists. Some tweaking was necessary, of course, but before I adjusted the top 100 list, I had to make sure I stayed true to my original lists.
Without further ado, I present the GreatestHockeyLegends.com Top 100 Greatest Hockey Players of All Time:
2. Bobby Orr (D) - The perfect hockey player. I would concede he had the greatest career if he lasted longer. Unfortunately that if always enters that conversation, making it impossible for me to grant him top billing.
3. Gordie Howe (RW) - Hockey is a man's game. "Mr. Hockey" is the man. Both Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky will tell you Gordie was the greatest player ever.
4. Mario Lemieux (C) - Super Mario was the most gifted player ever, even more talented than Bobby Orr. The same if enters the conversations regarding Lemieux.
5. Rocket Richard (RW) - More than a hockey player: Rocket's incomparable legacy transcended the game to reach religious levels in Quebec and beyond. Simply amazing.
6. Jean Beliveau (C) - Head of the Class: Hockey's original gentle giant set the standard of class and excellence in Montreal that lasts to this day.
7. Bobby Hull (LW) - The Golden Jet reached amazing heights. He one of the rare true superstars in a sporting world that overuses that term far too liberally.
8. Guy Lafleur (RW) - Every goal was an event for The Flower
9. Eddie Shore (D) - Old Time Hockey! Eddie Shore was the main event in the hockey world in the early days of the NHL's existence. He dominated and entertained like few others all from the blue line. Only Orr joins Shore as defensemen who were the best player in the world.
10. Patrick Roy (G) - St. Patrick saved the day. I figure each block of 10 in my ranking of 100 should have at least one goaltender. Patrick Roy is universally considered to be the greatest goalie of all time.
11-20
Doug Harvey (D) - Firewagon Hockey
Stan Mikita (C) - Overshadowed by Hull, Mikita may have been better
Howie Morenz (C) - The NHL's first superstar
Dominik Hasek (G) - Unorthodox Dominator reached highest peak
Ray Bourque (D) - Out of the shadows of Orr
Mark Messier (C) - Edmonton's native son became Manhattan's messiah
Sidney Crosby (C) - Player of Destiny
Jaromir Jagr (RW) - Based on talent alone, Jagr is a top ten player
Phil Esposito (C) - The Most Underrated Superstar?
Mike Bossy (RW) - The best pure goal scorer of all time?
21-30
Steve Yzerman (C) - Stevie Wonder did it all
Jacques Plante (G) - Plante changed the face of hockey
Nicklas Lidstrom (D) - Ageless Wonder
Denis Potvin (D) - Captain of the Isles dynasty
Ted Lindsay (LW) - Anything but terrible
Bryan Trottier (C) - The most complete player of his day
Joe Sakic (C) - No Ordinary Joe
Henri Richard (C) - Overshadowed, but little brother was more complete player
Valeri Kharlamov (LW) - Soviet star never had chance to play in NHL
Larry Robinson (D) - The prototypical NHL defenseman for any era
31-40
Paul Coffey (D) - Greatest skater rivalled Orr's heights
Terry Sawchuk (G) - Perfect Goalie, Imperfect World
Vladislav Tretiak (G) - A hero's legacy on both sides of the Atlantic
Red Kelly (D) - Superstar at two positions
Alexander Ovechkin (LW) - Alexander The Great
Marcel Dionne (C) - Scoring King
Bobby Clarke (C) - Great Villain, Great Hero
Viacheslav Fetisov (D) - Freedom Fighter
King Clancy (D) - Heart of the Maple Leafs
Jari Kurri (RW) - More Than A Wing Man
41-50
Peter Stastny (C) - Second Highest Scoring Player of 1980s
Boom Boom Geoffrion (RW) - Loud And Proud
Martin Brodeur (G) - Hockey's Winningest Goalie
Peter Forsberg (C) - Swede Sensation
Glenn Hall (G) - Mr. Goalie
Brett Hull (RW) - Hull of a shot
Frank Mahovlich (LW) - The Big M
Ron Francis (C) - Quiet Excellence
Milt Schmidt (C) - Mr. Boston Bruins
Dickie Moore (LW) - The Man Who Would Make The Fans Forget About The Rocket
51-60
Ken Dryden (G) - The Thinker
Syl Apps (C) - The Perfect Gentleman
Bill Durnan (G) - Ambidextrous Puck Stopper
Sergei Makarov (RW) - Rushin' Russia
Cyclone Taylor (D) - Hockey's First Legend
Brad Park (D) - In Bobby's Shadow
Bill Cook (RW) - Greatest Right Winger Before Howe, Richard
Ted Kennedy (C) - Heart of the Leafs Dynasty
Max Bentley (C) - Dipsy Doodle Dandy
Teemu Selanne (RW) - The Finnish Flash
61-70
Borje Salming (D) - Hockey's Most Important Player?
Chris Chelios (D) - Captain America
Newsy Lalonde (C) - Extra! Extra!
Chris Pronger (D) - Dastardly Good
Scott Stevens (D) - Captain Crunch
Pierre Pilote (D) - Last Of His Kind
Bill Cowley (C) - Early Day Gretzky
Gilbert Perreault (C) - Gil The Thrill
Dit Clapper (D) - Star Forward, Superstar Defenseman
Joe Malone (C) - NHL's First Scoring Star
71-80
Charlie Conacher (RW) - The Big Bomber
Elmer Lach (C) - Centre of Attention
Dave Keon (C) - Beloved Maple Leaf
Jonathan Toews - Captain Serious
Eric Lindros (C) - Reviled But Dominant
Luc Robitaille (LW) - Cool Hand Luc
Frank Boucher (C) - A Beautiful Mind
Johnny Bucyk (LW) - Boston's Chief
Andy Bathgate (RW) - Sharp Shooter
Turk Broda (G) - Playoff Hero
81-90
Tim Horton (D) - Blue Line Stud to Coffee Legend
Brian Leetch (D) - American Beauty
Serge Savard (D) - Minister of Defense
Sergei Fedorov (C) - Larger Than Life
Frank Nighbor (C) - Early Genius
Busher Jackson (LW) - Controversial Superstar
Bernie Parent (G) - Philly's Playoff MVP
Toe Blake (LW) - Great Player Turned Great Coach
Doug Bentley (LW) - No One Trick Pony
Charlie Gardiner (G) - The Smiling Scotsman
91-100
Pavel Bure (RW) - The Russian Rocket
Scott Niedermayer (D) - Hockey's Winningest Man
Pavel Datsyuk (C) - Dats Incredible!
Aurel Joliat (LW) - The Little Giant
Earl Siebert (D) - Rearguard Roughian
Al MacInnis (D) - Big Shot
Bob Gainey (LW) - Admired By Russians
Sid Abel (C) - Enabling The Production Line
Johnny Bower (G) - The China Wall
Yvan Cournoyer (RW) - The Roadrunner
Comments
Thank you very much for taking the time to put together and posting the list though..
Bobby Baun and Paul Henderson were not even top 30 players at any point in their careers. Why would they make this list over Lindros?
In 1972 Canada played with USSR seven tight games. From canadian roster there are 10 players on your list, from Soviet roster 2.
In 1976 Canada played in Canada Cup three games with Czechoslovakia, two were very tight. From canadian roster there are 11 players on your list, from CSSR roster 1.
In 1981 Soviets defeated Canada 8:1 in the finals. From canadian roster there are 11 players on your list, from SSSR roster 3.
I understand international games were not the main criterion of your list, but still I think this is quite lopsided. Players like Firsov, Vasiliev, Maltsev, Suchy, Nedomansky, Petrov, Jakushev, Holecek, Larionov, Hlinka, Novy, Martinec, Krutov, Kasatonov etc. were same as good as say Clarke, Cournoyer, Dionne, Robinson, Potvin, Trottier, Parent or Dryden. On the other hand there are couple of canadian players whose legacy was far greater in Europe than in Canada, goalie Seth Martin comes to mind.
Even though I have a different view, I appreciate your effort, it´s evident you thought your list carefully over and I´ll sure spend quite a few winter evenings with it.
Neely.. he may be a god in Boston (I like him a lot) BUT without Janney/Oates or another comparable playmaker he would have been a 25goalscorer in a high scoring era messing defensemen up against the boards.
"Defined the Term Power forward"..Already before Neely there have been players who could score and were initimidating as shit (with hits and fists), e.g. Al Secord, Clark Gillies.
I still can't understand how underestimated Lindros ist.
The only thing he didn't have was a puppet string attached to his helmet to keep his head up. The first HUGE guy who combined size, monstrous hitting ability, skating, scoring, playmaking. A true one-man-show. Way bigger impact on the game than neely.
Just my opinion.
When I was posting the comment, I looked up to see the title of the post and misread it as "100 greatest "LEGENDS" of All Time," instead of Greatest Players..
Sticking "strictly to legends," Bobby Baun and Paul Henderson, IMHO, accomplished much greater and memorable legendary feats than Lindros (that is to say, no question at all that Lindros was greater, but Baun and Henderson are more legendary due to their individual feats--Baun 1964 Finals Gm 6-7 -- Henderson 1972 GW goal in Summit Series)..
Gartner: 6th in goals only one of top 12 in career goals not on the list. (Ranks 2nd all time for Caps in G, A, P.)
In fact, I would iterate that Roy could challenge Gretzky and Orr for #1 of all time. He was the greatest clutch player and was probably the closest player to "win the Cup by himself." Gretzky had Kurri and Coffey, Orr had Esposito and Bouwer. Roy's 1993 Habs did have Rob Brown and Denis Savard, great stars in their own right, but a stratosphere below Orr's or Gretzky's best teammates.
Roy was arguably the real captain of the Habs. Captain Guy Carbonneau was rumoured to be on his last legs in 1993, his Habs not expected to go far, but it was Roy who thrust them to the top.
The '93 Canadiens were similar to Florida in '96, disciplined team defense and a hot goalie.
But Roy's "heroics" are overrated IMO.
In his Montreal days he played for a franchise that had been playing one of the most disciplined team defenses for decades. And in Colorado he simply joined one of the most talented and deepest teams.
In '93 let's not forget about McSorley. Without the measurement of Marty's stick in Game 2 probably nobody would remember Roy in '93.
Giguere in '03 was way more valuable than Roy in '93. Five Shutouts to none..
Best Goalie?
Modern day era it's Hasek, no comparism. Before that I haven't seen any of the oldtimers..
Joe, thanks for your effort. I appreciate it everytime I read about a player who I couldn't find in my Hockey Scouting Reports :)
No Neely; no player has benefited more from ESPN "discovering" hockey than Neely. Revisionist hockey has him as THE power forward when he played in an era when there were plenty. Neely was good, but if it weren't for the fact that he played in Boston I don't think he even makes the HoF.
How do you leave a guy with two scoring titles and a Conn Smythe off a top *100* list?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMFUJfqWqrk
I would add Paul Kariya, JS Giguere, Jarome Iginla, Cam Neely and well . . . Hayley Wickenheiser and Manon Rheame just because they had the balls to try. And Theo Fleury if for no other reason than as a cautionary tale.
Thanks for making the list, it was a fun read and Lindros deserves to be there, disliking someone makes it difficult for less mature people to accept someone's talent but he was dominant in the game and its obvious from his career.
He's already proven himself to be not just a winner but a leader on winning teams on both the international and club levels, both in Junior and Senior. But on a personal level, there are absolutely no glaring flaws with his game. Some guys are better scorers than Crosby (Ovechkin), some are better stickhandlers or better defensively (Datsyuk), but Crosby is elite level at everything, which is what makes him so dangerous. (Not to mention he's the best passer in the league, has the best instincts, and is the hardest to take off of the puck). Right now he's absolutely dominating the best conditioned set of athletes in the NHL.
In terms of absolute legacy, I'm not completely ignorant of the past. I wouldn't put him at a level with Gretzky, Lemieux, or Orr. I'd probably even put him below Howe. But I think he already belongs in a class with Richard and Beliveau for sure on the basis of pure talent. Consider he has the fourth-highest points per game right now in the history of the game, and set a lot of NHL records.
Moreover, Hasek should be higher too. He's criminally underrated.
the greatest.
Lemieux had Jagr and cancer. He played half the amount of games Gretzky played
I'd put Crosby much lower as his career isn't near over and while he and Evgeni Malkin are highly marketed the Penguins haven't been a great playoff team under his leadership ever since Malkin has no longer been on an ELC. Part of that is just the salary cap era, but they haven't shown the ability to lead the team back to the Finals without that great team around them.
Lindros belongs higher because before he was injured he was the second most dominant player I've ever seen (behind Lemieux). If he'd ever had a team around hior even another abover average center to draw some attention away from him he would be much higher on the list...instead he spent his whole prime facing everything the other team had to offer. In today's game Stevens would be given 5-10 games and Lindros would have been given time to heal properly, just like Crosby was. He's been disliked (by everyone,even Philly it seems) but really, for how much longer are we going to hate a man for what he did at 18? Lemieux wouldn't even stand up when the Pens drafted him...we seem to have gotten over that.
Was Denis Potvin on the list? He was an amazing athlete and a giant on the power play.
Thanks for a great list.
Mike
I grew up under the 90`s and with collecttors album (stickers) and trading cards dlid I learn me about NHL and the stars,like Roy, Hasek, Gretzky, Lemieux and Messier.
In the Beckett paper u could also see that cards at players like Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull was valuable.
When they talk about international icehockey history at media here in Sweden, it mostly is about the Soviets biggest days. The old people who works in media could talk about Firsov, Petrov, Michailov, Charlamov, Ragulin, Maltsev, Tretiak, Fetisov, Larionov, Makarov, Krutov etc.
But the "Miracle On Ice" with US team and the big games at 70`s and 80`s between Canada and Soviet are big history here too..
It´s interested to see Hockey News listing of top-20 players at their position..
At my point of view european players like Hasek, Lidström, Forsberg, Sundin, Jagt and Selänne are phenomen that should be a higher up at the lists..
And the Soviet players i wrote higher up in my comment have so many big titles in WC and OG for their ountry.. For me, it´s unbelievable that for a example Kovalchuk (is it just for he played in NHL) are ranked better that all his older countrymen..
For me hockey is about winning too, not just score many Points and play for himself..
What Hasek did at Olympics 1998 was the perfect tournament, he was phenomenal all the way and took his Czech National Team to Gold Medal, beating all the Canada´s penalty shooters in Semi and then had a "shutout" against the Russians in the Final..
I just can compare him with Roy and Brodeur, also 2 fantastic goaltenders but for me Hasek is the biggest.
Even if I am swede (Finland biggest rival) I am so impressed of Selänne, MVP in Olympics both 2006 and 2014. Unbelieveable talented player scoring 132 points as a rookie in the NHL, showed in Sochi (OG) how intelligent player he is, so glad for him he won Stanley Cup with Ducks..
Now I come to "our own players" Lidström, Forsberg and Sundin..
Lidström: 4 Stanley Cup, 7 Norris Trophy, 1 Conn Smythe Trophy also won the OG with Sweden (did the clinching goal in the Final) and WC (1991). That says it all, also a fantastic leader both on and of the ice..
Forsberg: Almost all the kids here in Sweden had him as a idol when they grew up.. Sweden´s most talented player ever, so much skills and so much fighing spirit.. U knowed when he was on your team that the game never was over, always fighting to the end, hate to lose..
2 Stanley Cup, 2 gold in the Olympic Games (clinching penalty goal against Canada in the Final 1994, classic goal in Swedish hockey history), 2 golds in WC, also won Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy.. Member of Triple Gold Club (SC, OG, WC) at the age of 22, did 31 Points a 7 games in the U20 WC, probably an unbeatable reord..
Without injuries he would be even bigger..
Sundin: Fantastic player and leader that hasn´t the same luck as Lidström and Forsberg with good teammates in the NHL.. When Lidström had good player as Yzerman, Fedorov, Zetterberg, Datsyuk and more.. Forsberg had Sakic, Blake, Roy and more, Sundin had almost nothing in Maple Leafs..
Now he had to lead the club by his own and did it very well, but with better players around him, his NHL-career had been bigger, sad but true.. Very loyal player..
the Swedish National Team ever..
1991, same year as he should get 20 years, he shoot Sweden to Gold Medal in WC and break down the Soviets dominance of international hockey..
He also won the WC 1992 and 1998, but the biggest moment of his career was of course when he lead the Swedish National Team as captain to the Gold Medal in the Olympic Games 2006..
Almost every time Sundin played for his country he was a dominant player in the tournaments and often was in the All-Star Team..
Crosby and Ovi are still too high (yet). Ovi in particular. Awful player in big games.
Bossy should be higher. Again, shortened career though but the numbers suggest he might be the greatest sniper of alltime.
When he did play with remarkable players, he was dominant on the world scene, against other top countries in the world.
Sundin top 20 for sure - not based on his points alone, but based on what he did on the ice for all players around him. He made everyone better....
Jagr won the Art Ross five times for crying out loud.
And where are the Soviets?!?
Only counting NHL, it seems... No other leagues nor international games.
By default, European players start their careers in other leagues and have a hard time accumulating the same NHL-statistics as the North Americans.
Yet, European players have done very well in the Art Ross since the Gretzky Lemieux era.
That's a lie. Outside of Canada and Colorado Hasek is considered the greatest Goalie of all-time by most. Because he is.
Again I think this is a very good and informed list but now let me mention some disagreements that leap to mind:
1) My top 5 in order: Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Richard
2) I have Denis Potvin a lot higher
3) I think a separate list would be interesting where you take out the goaltenders and do a separate list for them. For me I think Ken Dryden, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall, Terry Sawchuck, and Bernie Parent should get more love. While Tretiak was the USSR goalie for the Summit Series I do not think I would have him even in the top 10 for goalies
3) For the Russians, Kharlamov and Yakushev were great
Orr defence 2 scoring titles and a plus minus unheard of.
B. Hull The most existing player of all time 60's player of the decade how many pro sports stars had and entire league built around them ( WHA )
Mario Lemieux, 61.623goals, 153.88points
Wayne Gretzky, 44.957goals, 143.67points
Gretzky's best 10 year run, 56.412goals, 162.683points (79-80 to 88-89)
Sidney Crosby, 44.506goals, 125.71points
Bobby Orr, 33.667goals, 114.09points
*For reference, Paul Coffey is 83 points, Ray Bourque is 75 points
Evgeni Malkin, 42.608goals, 111.61points
Alex Ovechkin, 57.751goals, 108.82points
Jaromir Jagr, 41.901goals, 104.58points (10 year best 112 points)
Mike Bossy, 53.134goals, 104.41points
Dominik Hasek, .917 save percentage
Patrick Roy, .913 save percentage
Tuukka Rask, .910 save percentage
Henrik Lundqvist, .907 save percentage
Roberto Luongo, .906 save percentage
Ed Belfour, .903 save percentage
Martin Brodeur, .903 save percentage
Seriously ... Tretiak has NO place on a greatest list. He was an all-time great in European and Olympic hockey, but he only played a handful of games against NHL players. A few great ones, a bunch of average and mediocre games, and several bad ones. When his team needed him most -- in the last 4 games of the '72 series -- he let in 17 goals (6 in the final game!) Not a clutch goalie by anyone's standards.
Brodeur vs. Hasek.
Hasek would have had a 1.00 GAA if he'd played behind The Devils' defensive system. If Brodeur had played for The Sabres, we wouldn't even be talking about him.
To do what he did, in that era, for that long, at that level....
He played 20 seasons and 20 postseasons. He played in over 97% of all games possible.
Just insane.
The number three (soon to be number two) scorer of all time. Has played in many different eras of hockey and can still rack up stats at age 44. If this list is legends, Jagr should be way higher. No offense to Crosby fans, but he's nowhere near Jagr status.
Were you high when you thought up this list?
My only significant disagreements are that Brodure should be higher, right behied Roy IMHO, and that Jarome Iginla, Cam Neely and Igor larianov were left off. Iginla's 2 Rocket Richard Trophys, Art Ross Trophy, toughness, leadership and class seems comprable to Ted Kennedy and Bill Cook. Larianov should be between teammates Fetisov and Makarov, and rest of the argument for more Russians has already been made above. Neely is harder to place but should definitly be on the list somewhere.
Jagr HAS to be higher. For all of those making the "era" claims, come on, be consistent. Orr was a genius but he played in a league that had less teams (and somehow lost to Clarke's Flyer's team in the Stanley Cup). Jarome Iginla is a superior player to some of the names mentioned on this list. Some of the Soviet era players should also be on here, Kharlamov, especially.
Hasek is the greatest goaltender of all-time. Brendan Shanahan should be on here as well. Crosby's recent exploits suggest to be that he really is a top 20 player, and before it's all said and done, a top 10, player, of all-time. Mike Modano should be on here as well. I think, if you were to re-do the list (and it's a great list btw), you would be more inclined to make a separate list for goaltenders (it would free up room for deserved superstars like Iginla and Modano).
Very thoughtful and conscientious to include a healthy sample from every era. (But Iginla has to be on this list, some of those Flames teams didn't have any talent around him and he was still a stud). Lemieux, by eye-test standards, was the best ever. But on balance, Gretzky HAS to be #1. When you have 1000 more points than #2, that is mind-bogging. He was also he most intelligent player of all time. Datsuk gets my vote for best stick-handler of all time.
Great list. Bravo.
ROCKET RICHARD #1
Silly.
First, the only defenseman to lead the league in scoring.
If that's not enough:
Second, he changed the way the game was played for all defensemen. Without Orr, Paul Coffey doesn't exist. Without Paul Coffey, Gretzky doesn't have the impact that he did.
Nuff said.
As an aside..
Mike Bossy is probably the best example of "power forward". He had ZERO seasons under 50 goals. Different game, I know, but he belongs higher, and it's okay that Neely isn't on the list because of lack of longevity. If Neely doesn't get injured, and he wins a cup, we might be having a different discussion.
When you consider everything that makes
a great Hockey player Skills,Scoring,Defense,
Endurance,Toughness,Leadership,Respect from fans
and other players then Gordie Howe is number one.
He was all these and even raised 2 boys that
played Profesional Hockey.
THE most incredible, impressive, skilled hockey player of all time....no one else even close. You all know that.
Billy Smith was the greatest play off goalie in history. 88-36 and Roy tied him at 88-50 . Roy won 6 series in a row Smith won 19. Smith shut out and swept the highest scoring team in history and did the same to Gretzky after Smith and the Isles were well past their prime.He would not allow his team to lose more that 2 games to any opponent. The Isles won when they were supposed to and won when they weren't supposed to often due to Smith and Trottier. Bossy scored his 500th goal 250 plus games faster that Lafleur. Check your rankings.
My criteria is different from stats. Who got on the ice and during that shift had the most influence on the game. Not just put the puck in a the net but made the plays, back checked, showed determination. Goalies left out as makes no sense to rank them beside other players. Excluding current players.
B Orr
W Gretzky
B Hull
S Makita
B. Gainey
R Bourque
L Robinson
M Richard
J Belliveau
M Lemieux
Best goalies...hated them both because hey were so good. T Sawchuck and R Crozier ( both R Wings)
Best player skills
Orr
Gretzky
Mahovolich
I'm too young for the Rocket but no player after him was more exciting than The Golden Jet, Bobby Hull. No dump it in and chase. It was carry it in and BLAST. Leach, Lafleur, Bossy etc. All followed his style
Funny how time fades the spotlight of some players. In the mid 1960's 'the' player was Frank Mahovlich..bigger in the press than Howe, Belliveau and othe greats during those great Leaf years.
1. Wayne Gretzky - Not just great scorer/playmaker, but ultimate teammate and leader.
2. Red Kelly - No coincidence he won eight Cups (four each with Toronto and Detroit), offensively dominant in a tight-scoring era, even better defensively.
3. Patrick Roy - Record three Conn Smythes, he always gave his team a chance to win.
4. Gordie Howe - Original power forward, could do everything and lead the league in scoring.
5. Bobby Orr - Catalyst in NHL's transitioning to high-scoring era, exciting offensive blueliner, still defensively strong.
6. Mario Lemieux - Incredible talent, endured much health adversity
7. Jean Beliveau - Leader of a dynasty, original Lemieux
8. Dave Keon/Steve Yzerman - I couldn't avoid a tie, but both were tremendous two-way players and leaders, delivering difficult wins.
9. Maurice Richard - Hyper-intense Rocket fuelled the original Habs dynasty, amidst early French social struggles.
10. Denis Potvin/Eddie Shore - Again, couldn't avoid typing, but both defensemen dominated game, larger-than-life leaders.
1) Any "All Time" list of players should NEVER EVER include active players, or recently retired ones. Because they could come back (ie Gordie Howe, LaFleur, Lemieux). First, the "All Time" list quickly becomes an argument about today's players, which defeats the entire purpose of "All Time". Second, current players haven't achieved all they're going to achieve, pro & con. Over the decades, LOADS of players have had 2-3 100+ point seasons and two seasons later are 3rd stringers on the Leafs. Sometimes individual success is purely a result of "team chemistry".
2) Chill out with the arguments over placing, folks. Once you get outside the Top 10, rankings barely matter. The difference between player #23 and #98 is puny, probably not much more than one playoff game shot that hit the post vs one that went in.
3) Bonus points: Longevity matters. (ie Gordie, Dave Keon, Bobby Hull, Andy Bathgate and many old-timers) Hockey's a tough game. Just lasting 20 years is a major accomplishment, especially in the pre-helmet era where stars weren't so "babied". Many old-time stars had to work summer jobs, usually manual labour at a time when "workplace safety" was a novel idea. So, injuries could get you at any time.
Also: Any top player that played 2 positions (Dit Clapper, Red Kelly, Mark Howe) deserve addition acclaim. It's hard enough to be good at one position, never mind two.
Toews is too high. So is Keon. These guys were very good players and winners, but their achievements exceed their actual skill levels. I don't think watch games just to see Toews. Basically, my reason for why he should be lower is the opposite of my reason for why Lindros should be lower: Lindros dominated and was a special attraction, but wasn't able to achieve THAT much whereas Toews has won three games and hardware but has never stood out as an all-time great because of his skills (as opposed to smart two-way play). I'd put Toews 98th or so.
Datsyuk really shouldn't be on the list. He was a bit overrated. I mean, he was very, very good; however, some acted as if he was the best player in the NHL even though he really came close to winning the scoring Title, didn't win any Harts and won "only" two Stanley Cups playing for stacked teams. For a guy who didn't quite make it to 1000 career points, did he really do enough to be worthy of being considered a top 100 hockey player of all-time? I'd put him in the 100-150 range.
Ron Francis is too high. It seems to me this is a list geared more toward talent level and impact on a game-per-game basis rather than one that puts a great deal of value in longevity and career numbers (how else does one explain the absence of Mike Gartner?). Well, was Francis really much or any better than Adam Oates or Joe Thornton as a hockey player? Sure, he put up better numbers due to longevity/playing during the high-scoring 80's/early 90's, but was he a more talented player or better play maker than either?
Bucyk is too high...
Overall, it's not a bad list...
Arguments could be made for the following players, though all of them might belong in the 100-150 range instead:
Adam Oates
Joe Thornton
Evgeni Malkin
Mike Modano
Mats Sundin
Dale Hawerchuk
Mike Gartner
Darryl Sittler
Patrick Kane
Alex Delvecchio
I'm a Leafs fan and respect Wendel, but man is the guy overrated by some. He finished in the top 50 in points in a season once in his career. He's a top 500 player of all-time... maybe.