Many great ice hockey players have graced the National Hockey League (NHL) since the competition was established in 1917.
Here’s our list of the 10 best NHL players of all time.
10. Guy Lafleur
The Canadian legend played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques in an NHL career spanning 17 seasons.
Nicknamed the Flower, Lafleur, who played as a right-winger, was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals and 100 points in six consecutive campaigns.
The Flower helped the Canadiens clinch five Stanley Cup championships and was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history in 2017.
9. Sidney Crosby
The current Pittsburgh Penguins captain is already widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Nicknamed Sid the Kid, Crosby has won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL Most Valuable Player award) twice and the NHL title (Stanley Cup) three times.
Sid the Kid became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup during the 2008/09 season.
The centre also helped the USA win gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
8. Mark Messier
The retired centre played a quarter of a century in the NHL between 1979 and 2004 with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.
Messier is second on the all-time career list for playoff points (295) and regular-season games played (1756).
The two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner is a six-time Stanley Cup champion - five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only player to captain two teams to Stanley Cup championships.
7. Jean Beliveau
The Canadian legend played parts of 20 seasons for Montreal Canadiens from 1950 to 1971 and he is widely regarded as one of the Ten Greatest NHL players of all time.
Beliveau won two Hart Memorial Trophies in 1956 and 1964, one Art Ross Trophy as top scorer (1956) and the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy as play-off MVP (1965).
Nicknamed Le Gros Bill, Beliveau played as a centre and has 17 Stanley Cup championships, the most by any individual to date.
6. Maurice Richard
The Canadian sports icon played 18 seasons in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens and holds several records in the competition.
Richard was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in the 1944/45 season, and the first to reach 500 career goals.
The late right-winger won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1947, played in 13 All-Star Games and was named to 14 post-season NHL All-Star Teams.
5. Mario Lemieux
Also known as Super Mario, Lemieux played parts of 17 NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1984 to 2006.
Lemieux won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the players four times and the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player (MVP) during the regular season three times.
Super Mario also won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's points leader six times and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP in 1991 and 1992.
4. Bobby Hull
The former Canadian star played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers in the NHL during his 23-year career, achieving legendary status.
Hull won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player twice and the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading point scorer three times, while helping Hawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961.
The retired left-winger was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history in 2017.
3. Bobby Orr
The Canadian sports icon played in the NHL for 12 seasons with Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks.
Orr, who holds the record for most points and assists in a single season by a defenceman, remains the only defenceman to have won the league scoring title with two Art Ross Trophies.
He won a record eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenceman and three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league's most valuable player (MVP).
2. Gordie Howe
Known as Mr Hockey, Howe is a Canadian legend, who played 26 seasons in the NHL and spent his best years with Detriot Red Wings.
When Howe, who is often considered the most complete player to ever play the game and one of the greatest of all time, retired in 1980 he boasted 801 goals, 1049 assists, and 1850 total points which were all NHL records at the time.
They stood until they were broken by Wayne Gretzky, but he still holds the NHL records for most games and seasons played. He has won the Hart Memorial Trophy six times.
“Like the sport he played, Gordie Howe was a mixture of imposing brawn and polite character," legendary NHL commentator Mike Emick said about Howe on The Detriot News.
"There were generations of fans who bought tickets to see ‘Mr. Hockey’ and playing in five different decades, there were also generations of players who so admired his skill that they too wore No. 9.”
1. Wayne Gretzky
The man known as 'The Great One' has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters, players and the NHL itself having played for four teams including the New York Rangers.
Gretzky has made NHL history and set records in both regular season and post-season play, holding the record for most career regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857) and hat-tricks (50).
Gretzky holds or shares 61 records listed in the League's Official Guide and Record Book: 40 for the regular season, 15 for the Stanley Cup playoff and six for the All-Star Game. MOST GOALS, ONE SEASON, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS: 100 – 1983/84, 87 goals in 74 regular season games and 13 goals in 19 playoff games.
The legendary Canadian centre is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season – a feat he accomplished four times. He has also won the most Hart Memorial Trophy awards (nine).
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